Friends, I made yogurt! Coconut yogurt to be exact.
And if I can make yogurt, you can make yogurt – promise. Let’s do this!
There are no fancy tricks or expensive equipment involved here. Just 2 simple ingredients required!
All you need is coconut milk and probiotic capsules, which (if you’re like me) you probably have in your pantry right now. Score!
This is a 3-step process:
1) Empty coconut milk into a clean glass jar or bowl.
2) Top with probiotic and stir.
3) Cover with cheesecloth and wait.
That’s it! Seriously – it doesn’t get any easier than this. And the result is phenomenal!
I’m sure you’re thinking, “How good can homemade yogurt be?” Trust me, I’ve tried all the store-bought coconut yogurts and this by far is the best!
It’s creamy (almost like Greek yogurt!), rich, and tangy – just like the “real” thing.
Once your yogurt has activated (24-48 hours), simply refrigerate to thicken / cool and then enjoy!
I prefer my yogurt plain, but it is also delicious with maple syrup, lemon, vanilla, or fruit. For serving, I made some of my fruit compote and added some chia seeds to thicken and WOW – it was amazing with the yogurt. Dream big, friends! Just about any flavor combination works here.
I hope you all LOVE this yogurt! It’s:
Thick
Creamy
Coconutty
Probiotic-rich
Gut-healthy
Versatile
Easy to make
& SO delicious!
This would make the perfect satisfying snack or breakfast. I like serving mine with some banana, fresh fruit, and a sprinkle of Classic Granola or Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Granola and hemp seeds for added protein and fiber! Talk about an amazing plant-based treat.
This yogurt would also be delicious on top of things like my Life-Changing Banana Pancakes, Best Vegan GF Waffles, Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins, 1-Bowl Banana Bread, and more! And I put it to good use in upcoming recipes, so stay tuned!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your yogurt creations #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see. Cheers, friends!
Recipe updated 7/24/17 to reflect another round of testing and troubleshooting. Switched recommendation of light coconut milk to full fat! Other considerations:
- Please make sure your probiotic is high quality and does not contain PREbiotics.
- The combination I have had the most success with: 1 can 365 Whole Foods Full Fat Coconut Milk + 2 Renew Life 50 billion probiotic capsules.
- I have not tested this recipe in a yogurt maker or with a yogurt starter/culture. So if you try them this way, let me know how it goes in the comments!
- It’s important that you follow the recommendations of coconut milk brands I mention, otherwise I can’t guarantee good results. I believe Whole Foods 365 brand works so well because the flavor and consistency are nearly perfect. It does contain guar gum, which may be why it helps create smooth texture and prevents separation. Brands that do not contain guar gum are more likely to have some separation.
- If you have separation, that’s OK! Either stir it in, or put it in the refrigerator separated, then scoop off the creamy top layer.
- If your yogurt takes on weird colors or odd smells, something has gone wrong. This never happened to me, but it can. If this happens, throw it out! It should taste tangy, but not spoiled.
- If you made this recipe with good results and you tried other brands / methods, please leave a rating and share any tips or tricks that might be useful to other readers!
- I have not tested this recipe with any other non-dairy milks and have no further recommendations besides full-fat coconut milk.
- Lastly, if you want to thicken your yogurt even more, place two layers of cheesecloth over a fine mesh strainer set over a large mixing bowl and carefully pour in your yogurt. Then loosely cover the top (with a lid or plastic wrap), and refrigerate / let drain for several hours (draining liquid as needed) until desired thickness is reached!
Easy 2-Ingredient Coconut Yogurt
Ingredients
YOGURT
- 1 14-ounce can full fat coconut milk* (organic when possible, see below for brand recommendations // or sub light for thinner yogurt)
- 2 capsules vegan-friendly probiotic* (they need to be capsules, not pills, which have to be crushed, see below for recommendations // capsules can be easily opened and emptied)
ADD-INS optional
- Maple syrup, stevia, or agave nectar for sweetening
- Vanilla extract or vanilla bean powder
- Fruit or Fruit Compote
Instructions
- SEE NOTES ABOVE FOR MORE TIPS! It's important to select a coconut milk that's creamy and smooth (not grainy or clumpy) to ensure that the yogurt is creamy and smooth. Our favorite brands are: Savoy Coconut Cream, Aroy-D Coconut Milk, and Whole Foods 365 full fat (BPA-free). Native Forest Full Fat (BPA-free) isn't as creamy, but it still makes tasty yogurt. We would not recommend Trader Joe's (BPA-free), which was recently reformulated and is now chunky/grainy.
- Shake your coconut milk well. Then open and pour into a clean, sterilized, dry glass jar or bowl. You can easily sterilize clean jars by rinsing throughly with boiling water and letting dry completely. Just let them cool back down to room temperature before adding ingredients. For jars, I like this one from Weck. Sometimes the coconut milk is separated, so after adding it to the jar, I stir with a whisk to get it completely smooth.
- Empty your probiotic capsules (see brand recommendations below) into the yogurt and (important:) use a wooden or plastic spoon to stir, not metal, as a metal spoon can react negatively with the probiotics. Stir until creamy and smooth, pushing the probiotic up against the side with your spoon to evenly disperse.
- Cover the mixture with cheesecloth (or a very thin, clean dish towel - something that lets air in but keeps bugs out) and secure with a rubber band.
- Let the yogurt activate for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours (sometimes longer - 48 hours is my sweet spot for thickness and tang) in a warm place. The longer it rests, the tangier the yogurt will become. In warmer climates and summer it's easy to make yogurt if your house is warm (75 degrees F / 23 C and above). But in cooler climates or seasons, place the yogurt in the oven with the light on (do not turn on the oven), where it should have the right amount of heat to activate.
- That's it! Once the yogurt has reached the right amount of tanginess and thickness for your liking (be sure to sample with a wooden spoon), cover securely with a lid and refrigerate until cold. Refrigerating will also thicken the yogurt even more, almost to a Greek yogurt consistency (depending on the brand of coconut milk you used)! For even thicker yogurt, line a fine mesh strainer with two layers of cheesecloth and set over a mixing bowl. Pour in the yogurt, then loosely cover with a lid or plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator overnight or for 12+ hours. It should thicken up quite a bit more.
- You have coconut yogurt (!!), which can be enjoyed plain as I prefer it, with fruit, or even with Fruit Compote. You can also add a bit of sweetener or flavor at this point, such as maple syrup and/or vanilla extract.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for several days (mine kept for 7 days). You'll know it's gone bad when the smell is off-putting or there is mold.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without add-ins or sweeteners, using full fat coconut milk.
*Method heavily adapted from the amazing Laura Miller!
*Recipe updated 7/24/17 after another round of testing and troubleshooting!
* Recipe makes 1 1/2 cups yogurt.
Angie says
Has anyone thickens their yogurt with collagen?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Angie, it looks like another reader tried it. You can find their experience by doing a search in the comments. If you press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac, a find bar should pop up that allows you to search for specific words (such as collagen) in the post and comments. Hope that helps!
Cindy says
Best thing I’ve ever made. I can’t eat dairy anymore but would be converted anyway. I have a question about your cheese cloth. Where did you get it? It is much more luxurious than mine :-)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Cindy. We believe it was this one. Hope that helps!
Yvonne says
I checked my probiotics and it contains prebiotic. May I ask why should I exclude prebiotic? What would happen?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Yvonne, it can interfere with proper fermentation and cause the yogurt to taste/smell off.
Yvonne says
Thank you! I’ll get another probiotics then :)
Naomi says
Hello, I tried this recipe, I love the taste! but something did got wrong…. :(
for some reason didn’t get creamy, it get small tiny crumbles mixed with creamy yogurt( like tiny cottage cheese) .
Im not sure what did I do wrong but very upset with texture. Do you think you can give me a tip how can I solve it for the next time? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Naomi, so sorry to hear that was your experience! It sounds like perhaps the coconut milk wasn’t creamy before adding the probiotics? Does that sound like what happened? If so, we’d suggest trying a different brand that’s creamier. You can find our brand recommendations in the post.
Paulina says
Hi, my coconut yogurt didn’t thicken like yours did, like the way yours turned out on your video, I did all the steps, the two capsules, sterilization, 48 hours covered with cheesecloth, the the same brand yogurt. The only thing I noticed is my capsules look a little smaller than the ones you were showing, I added two capsules just like you did but they were smaller. Do think I should add three capsules next time?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Paulina, Do you mean you used the same brand probiotic or coconut milk? If you used a different brand of probiotics, that could be the issue. If so, another capsule could help. Be sure to also check out the troubleshooting tips above the recipe for additional guidance.
Rane says
Can you use homemade coconut milk in this yogurt recipe? Thanks for your help!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rane! If you’re asking if you can use pre-made yogurt in place of the probiotics, we aren’t sure! We have not tested this with a yogurt starter. In place of the coconut milk, we don’t know for sure either, as it may affect the bacteria and create spoilage. Let us know what you find out if you give it a try!
Becky says
Hi, can you recommend a probiotic that is safe for 1-2 year olds we could try?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Becky! Unfortunately we aren’t qualified to recommend a probiotic, but a quick google should help you find something that works!
Jordan Dawick says
I was super excited to try this recipe. followed the instructions using my oven with the light on as an incubator. Left this for about 24hrs then transferred it to the fridge till later in the evening. I opened the jar and stirred a beautifully thick yogurt. However there was the most horrific smell of sulphur. Made the husband sample a *tiny* bit and it tasted OK but the smell was too much. Any idea what went wrong?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no! Sorry to hear that happened, Jordan. Does the coconut milk have any sulfur additives in it? Or other ideas would be if some contamination got in there or the probiotic contained prebiotics that interfered with fermentation.
Yuri says
So easy and delicious!!!! I used two capsules but could probably do with 3 next time for extra tanginess. I used probiotics (10billion) I had on hand so that was probably why. It sat for about 24hrs and another 12 in the fridge, such a creamy and thick texture! Loove!! Paired with with your dark chocolate granola, amazing!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Love that combo granola + yogurt combo =) Thank you for sharing! xo
Stephanie says
Hi there! I wonder if you could tell me if your coconut yogurt has a bit of a…”funky” smell? Mine does, but it does not taste funky, just very very tart.
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, we’d say let it sit in the fridge for a day or two before consuming and if the smell intensifies, then something may be off.
Stephanie says
Ok, thank you!
Lynn says
I’ve made this twice using the suggested coconut milk and probiotic. After 20 hours, the yogurt has the right tanginess for me but it will not firm up. It’s like a yogurt drink – nothing at all like a Greek yogurt consistency. I’ve tried to strain it per the instructions but the liquid simply pours through the cheesecloth! I’m so disappointed! Are there any other fixes you can offer?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lynn, so sorry to hear it didn’t turn out as you were hoping! For a thicker yogurt, you can try using coconut cream.
Jeanne says
I made coconut yogurt and I used all your recommendations & it turned out ok except I can’t taste any coconut. Why is that? I love coconut. Thanks so much.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hm, we’re not sure! Perhaps the brand of coconut milk? We wonder if adding coconut extract might help.
Marie says
Can you use a hand blender to remove any lump in the coconut milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! You can use it instead of a whisk before adding the probiotics.
Rebecca says
I followed the directions carefully and the only difference I could see is the size of the probiotic capsules looked smaller. It sat for 3 days and I debated on adding more or just starting over.
I will try the second batch this week, and decided to contact the probiotic manufacturer so I can get an accurate measurement.
Thank you for your research, and being the special diet “test kitchen”.
I love to cook and understand the chemistry of cooking, but being fairly new to GF and DF with as much vegan as I can, it has made the transition more pleasant and less wasteful.
Blessings,
Rebecca
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for your kind words, and for sharing your experience, Rebecca! xo
Caroline Le Grand says
Many thanks for this great recipe! Easy and no fuss!
I tried it with coconut cream (78% coconut) and it separated. It’s still on the counter (been there for 36h now) I’m waiting for the 48h mark to take it to the fridge. I’ll probably strain it as to get a real thick yogurt.
I have two questions though:
1- Would you recommend straining it before or after taking it to the fridge? (I would guess after since it will thicken more in the fridge)
2- I really like my coconut brand (I live in Belgium, it’s Kazidomi).Do you think I could add a pinch of guar gum myself as I make the yogurt to prevent separation? how much would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your advise!
Caroline
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Caroline, thank you for sharing! We typically strain before adding to the fridge, but either way should be fine. As for the guar gum, that could help, but we aren’t sure on the amount. Let us know if you try it!
Kristi says
Hi! Thank you so much for this helpful post and video, loved it! I used Aroy-D coconut milk and “NOW probiotic-10 25 billion 10 probiotic strains” It has been sitting in my 84 degree garage for about 20 hours. I see about 1/2” of separation on the bottom and it smells a little tangy/sour. Is this all normal?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kristi, that does sound normal, as long as it doesn’t smell off and there aren’t any signs of mold. You can find troubleshooting tips for the separation above the recipe. Hope that helps!
Peggy says
Hi, just wondering where you purchased the beautiful glass container and glass lid? Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Peggy, they are large Weck jars. Hope that helps!
Cynthia Reed says
I want to thank you so very much for sharing your amazing recipe. I made it, it took closer to 3 days for mine. My husband likes a cold house. I used a nut bag to drain the separation. I’m a southern girl so I’m gonna use that liquid for cornbread and the yogurt for my baked potatoes. It tastes wonderful I’m so excited because I’m allergic to dairy. Also I get sick from commercial coconut yogurt so this is a game changer for me!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we’re so glad it was helpful, Cynthia! Thank you so much for sharing! xo
Emma says
This is my go-to yogurt recipe these days! No more watery store bought yogurt.
I’ve been making this for about 2 months with Native Forest full fat and it works beautifully. I buy in bulk on Amazon.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks for sharing your experience, Emma! xo
Sara says
Hi! Love to try this recipe out and before that, I have a question. Is it possible for me to keep a portion from the last batch and use it to culture the new yogurt? Thanks!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sara, We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work. Hope that helps!
Sara says
My coconut concoction smells like eggs! Is this normal? It also hasn’t thickened up over 48 hours– It’s still very runny. I used Aroy-D and a non-prebiotic capsule. I made sure to sterilize everything as shown in the video. Where did I go wrong? Has anyone else had the sulfur smell?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no, sorry to hear that! It sounds like something did go wrong. What strains of bacteria were in the probiotic? What is the brand?
Rikki Bobchin says
Mine also smells like eggs too but tastes okay. When I opened the coconut can it did smelled a little, so maybe the coconut in the can was bad? I used Savoy
daria faïn says
Hello!
the first time I made the yogurt it was perfect : )
the second time i doubled the doses with 2 cans and 4 probiotic capsules and left it for 48h but it remained liquid.
any clue why?
thank you!
daria
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Daria, is it possible any of the brands you used were different? Or the room temperature?
NOORHANI DICKSON says
I tried this recipe this weekend and wow, it turned out awesome! I used the WF 365 Full Fat Coconut Milk and ReNew Flora 50 billion. Do you have any experience if this can now be used as a master for more yogurt or do I need to start the process over each time?!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! We tried that and didn’t find it to work with this recipe. But if you try it, let us know how it goes!
Karen says
I’m going to have to make this again. Oh yea, I made it allright, then left it on top of the refrigerator. For. Weeks. My sweet husband “uhhh, what’s THAT?” Me, “I dunno.” Then “oh, just a science experiment” as I’m tipping the colorful mixture into the poor trashcan. It was quite pretty though…
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no! Let us know how it goes next time!
Emma says
I tried this with coconut milk and probiotics and didn’t have much luck at all. Perhaps the weather wasn’t warm enough, but it just stayed runny no matter how long I left in the warmest spot I had, nor did it thicken in the fridge. I now have tried with Kara coconut cream and probiotics and used with my normal yogurt maker – mixed it in the jar, added boiling water and it was ready 24 hours later! So yum!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Emma! Room temperature can make a difference. Glad it turned out in the yogurt maker!
Cari says
Delish and hella easy! I used the recommended brands then tried some others. My face is Kara coconut cream because it’s super cheap in Thai grocery stores and it comes in 32 ounce size.
I have an old-timey gas stove, so I store the fermenting yogurt in the bottom next to the pilot light and it’s always perfect. I tried it in a room and it went funky on me, so I stick to the stove now. I thought a room would be warm enough because I live in LA, but it wasn’t apparently.
I mix it up in a large pitcher first, then pour into smaller jars to make it easier.
Also, the whey leftover is great in baking or smoothies.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great! Thanks for sharing, Cari!
Marie says
I love the Cocojune yogurt, it is thick, creamy, smooth and delicious. Would this recipe taste like that, I do not like any of the other brands because they are too sour.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Marie, it will depend on the probiotics you use and how long you let it ferment. We’d suggest checking it at maybe 18 hours to see if you’re liking the taste? Hope that helps!
Yv says
How come there is whey? I thought that will only happen with dairy?
Aimee says
The liquid wouldn’t be whey as this recipe is dairy free recipe.
Jos says
Excellent recipe. Thick, tangy, and delicious. Have your tried this recipe with only one probiotic capsule? What do you think the results would be? Probiotics are a little spendy so I just want to save a little.
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jos, we haven’t. But it would likely be less tangy.
Ash says
Hi, I’m just about to try your recipe, looks so simple. I have a shelf stable probiotic with the strain lactobacillus rhamnosus 12 billion. Would that be okay to use? Thanks!
I’m not familiar with that one. Let us know how it goes!
Sue says
Is it possible to use this exact recipe, but with oat milk instead of coconut milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Unfortunately that won’t work! Oat milk would be too thin and require heating for safety.
Emma says
Hello! I just made this yogurt a few days ago. The instructions made it very simple to do! I used the 365 Full Fat Coconut from Whole Foods and the Garden of Life Raw Women’s Probiotic. My yogurt sat for over 30 hrs. I put it in the fridge after that and now it’s thick and tangy! The only thing that I am curious about is why there are some lumps in it? My guess is that I didn’t shake the coconut milk up enough before pouring it in my jar. Id love some feedback on how to make it smoother for my next batch! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emma, thanks so much for sharing! We’d suggest giving the coconut milk a whisk before adding the probiotics. Hope that helps!
Daniel says
Hello ! I want to know if this recipe works with your homemade coconut milk recipe.
Thanks !
I’ve tried it and unfortunately it does not!
Jennifer says
I am thinking about adding a protein powder to my yogurt. Have you tried that yet?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t! If you try it, we’d suggest doing so just before transferring to the refrigerator so that it doesn’t interfere with fermentation. Let us know how it goes!
FARIZA BT ZAINUL ARIFFIN says
I love the taste sooo much. Thank you. Can you please advice how do i make it more sour taste
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Fariza, we’re so glad you enjoy it! You can try adding more probiotics or fermenting longer.
Savarna says
Hi
Can you use a yogurt maker?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Laura Williamson says
So delicious! I used Organics full fat coconut milk from Safeway and the Renew Life probiotic tablets recommended. I had to let it sit for nearly 48 hours because we’re living in the mountains and it’s cold at the moment. But so creamy with perfect level of tartness!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Laura!
Katelyn says
I am so sad/confused. I followed all the steps properly to the best of my knowledge. I used Savoy coconut milk and Renew Life probiotics and everything seemed like it was going perfectly. It had separated during fermentation and after refrigerating, I went to go scoop all of the yogurt off of the liquid and even though the top tasted fine, OH MY GOD. THE SMELL FROM THE BOTTOM LIQUID. It smells like the worst rotten eggs. What could I have done wrong? Everything else seemed great so I would love to try this recipe again, but I’m super sad that this batch is inedible.
Hmm, sounds to me like there was some bacteria introduced from improperly sanitized equipment! Did you sanitize properly?
Ann says
I was super excited to find this recipe for vegan yogurt. I’d planned to make it today, but unfortunately, when I looked at the Renew Life probiotics label I learned that milk products were included. Soy, too, but that’s not a problem for me. I’m going to look for a brand that is definitely dairy free, and then make your delicious-sounding yogurt. I honestly can’t wait!!
Yay! Let us know how it goes, Ann!
Ann E says
Hi Dana. I did find dairy free probiotics so I made this yogurt and it turned out perfectly! It’s opened up a whole world of food for me. Some recipes call for buttermilk or yogurt, and whatever I could find had a funky taste or consistency. Even those that claimed to be “plain unsweetened” were no good for tzatziki because of something identified on the ingredient list as “flavour“. What the ?? Yogurt already HAS flavour. And it’s yummy!! I’m so happy I found your recipe. Thanks a million! :) 👍
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad to hear that, Ann. Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Steven holmes says
I know that with regular yogurt, you can use a previous batch for “starter” for the next batch because you are transferring a culture. Am I right to guess that a new prebiotic needs to be put in with each batch and you can’t use an old batch as a “starter”?
We tried that and didn’t find it to work with this recipe. But if you try it, let us know how it goes!
Jade says
I made this coconut yogurt using 2.5 capsules of my probiotics which have 10 billion active probiotics each, I let my yogurt sit activating in a warm environment overnight and checked it around the 19-20hr mark and it was very tangy in taste but not very thick at all, therefore I put it in fridge to harden up, when i came to check it about 2 hours later it had bubbled up a lot and even leaked out of the jars lid, what could have gone wrong? (I used the Aroy-D coconut yogurt)
Hmm, sounds like your probiotics were very active? I’ve never experienced that kind of change, especially not after refrigeration!
Makayla Endo says
Hi there,
I am wanting to make this for my 8 month old and am wondering if I can use a baby probiotic, Renew Life Ultimate baby flora probiotic. Do you think this would work. If not, do you think that adult levels of probiotics is safe?
Um, without being familiar with that product I can’t guarantee it but it should work considering it’s high quality, a powder (tablet) not a (crushed) pill, and does not contain prebiotics. I can’t speak to whether an adult probiotic would be safe for children – consult your doctor!
Taylor says
Yeah so it smells similar to buttered popcorn and it tastes like tangy, whipped, unsalted butter. When I made it the first time, I used coconut milk that was too watery (only 2g of fat) and it smelled like a coconut dessert and tasted like yogurt more or less but it was the consistency of kefir. I couldn’t get it to thicken beyond that, which was fine but I wanted to try with full fat coconut milk. The second time I used Andre Prost unsweetened coconut milk (13g fat/serving). The probiotics both times were Nature’s Truth Probiotic-14 (25 billion active cultures). The second time (the buttery one) the mixture was already super thick immediately upon mixing it with the probiotic. Thanks for getting back to me!
Taylor says
Hello, I made this recipe with full fat coconut milk, and it smelled like butter after it started to ferment. I tasted it and it sort of just tastes like tangy butter. I was a bit put off by that, as in I wasn’t expecting it. Is this normal/something you experienced or is this something weird on my end? Thanks :)
Hmm, tangy butter. Tangy is normal. Not sure what you mean by butter? Which brand of coconut milk / probiotic did you use?
Summer Ward says
Hi there! I have a couple questions. The wooden spoon… does it need to be sterilized as well? If so, does a quick rinse in boiling water suffice? I’d hate to dry it out too much! Also, can I keep it warm on the yogurt setting of my instapot for the 24-48 hours? I would want to cap it with a lid as I make curry dishes in there and wouldn’t want the smell to transfer. Is the air getting in necessary for culturing? Meaning does it need to be covered with only a cheese cloth or can I put a lid on it in the pot?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Summer, The wooden spoon should be sterilized and a quick rinse with boiling water is fine. And yes to the Instant Pot!
Summer Ward says
Thank you! Yogurt is in the pot 🤞🏻Does keeping it at a consistently warm heat in the pot shorten the culturing time at all?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, a bit!
FARIZA BT ZAINUL ARIFFIN says
How do I increase the shelf life of vegan yougurt
Thank you
This yogurt should last for at least 1 week (often several) in the refrigerator!
Kristi says
So is it OK to use a yogurt maker? My oven doesn’t get very warm with just the light, I have tried using it before.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Amanda says
Hi! I have a probiotic powder (youtheory spore probiotic) with 6 billion CFU. The recipe recommends a probiotic capsule with 50 billion. Will that make a difference?
Thanks so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amanda, we haven’t tried this recipe with spore-based probiotics, so we aren’t sure how it will turn out. For best results, we’d suggest a mix of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains.
Marci says
Ok I Dont get how you deal with the chunk of fat that separates to the top of the can????? It does not blend in without heat and you make no mention of that
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Marci, it’s important to start with a brand of coconut milk that’s already smooth and creamy.
Devon says
Hi! I made this and it tastes great! It also smelled great, until I put it in the fridge! I transferred it to a different jar and covered with a metal lid. I think my partner has also been serving with a metal spoon. Does this matter? It just has a sulfur-y scent at first when the jar is opened. Thoughts?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Devon, the metal lid/spoon shouldn’t make much difference after it has already fermented. But we wonder if something got in there that caused it to go bad? Did the brand of coconut milk you used have any additives like sulfites?
Devon says
I used Aroy-D Coconut Milk. The only added ingredient there is Polysorbate-60. It seems like sulfur is naturally occurring in coconut from what I’ve been reading. I found a company called The Cultured Coconut that says their product smells sulfur-y when first opened. And have found a few other recipes online that say the same thing.
It tastes great, but I’m still going to play it on the safe side and toss this batch. Will try making another.
Thanks for your help!
Beth says
If this works for me can I then use a spoonful as a starter in another batch?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Beth, We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work. Hope that helps!
Kamran H. says
Hi there! Amazing recipe! I was wondering can you make this without the probiotic capsules? Thanks for your time!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi, you could try using a yogurt starter, but you need some sort of beneficial bacteria to promote lactic acid fermentation.
Amber says
I just used whole food 365 coconut cream. They were out of full fat tonight. Also, Natren probiotic, but i put 4 in. They were a gel, not powder. Do you think this will work? Hoping so til i can get the exact ingredients!
Alyssa says
Hi! I’m getting ready to attempt this yogurt for the first time. I already have in my fridge the Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics, Mood+ capsules. They’re powder filled. Do you think this brand would work?
Thank you in advance =)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Alyssa, it looks like that product contains PREbiotics, so it might interfere with fermentation.
Betty says
I have a question for Alyssa… Wondering if this might get to her…
I have the same product, so I wonder if you tried it and, if so, what were the results?
Tracy Conley says
My yogurt taste really good however; it’s really runny-like milk: how do I firm it up?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Tracy, you can place two layers of cheesecloth over a fine mesh strainer set over a large mixing bowl and carefully pour in your yogurt. Then loosely cover the top (with a lid or plastic wrap), and refrigerate / let drain for several hours (draining liquid as needed) until desired thickness is reached!
Stef says
Thanks for your recipe. I am currently doing a lod fodmap and scd diet. As per scd, I can’t have any commercially made yogurt, so homemade is okay, but i can’t use anything with guar gum added. I bought 2 brands of coconut milk from Noah’s that doesn’t contain any thickener, but in the end it didn’t turn out. One was completely liquid the other was semi liquid/runny even though I stirred it. I think it could be because there’s no thickening agent to the coconut milk? Any suggestions? I’m wondering if I should try refrigerating the coconut milk, then only using the solid part for the yogurt, reserving the liquid for something else. Do you think that might work? Thanks so much again
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Stef, that might work! Or try a thick and creamy coconut cream such as Savoy!
Nicole Zombotti says
The only capsules I have contain both pro and prebiotic. Why do you recommend against using pre?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
They interfere with the fermentation and cause it not to work.
JoAnne says
After having a failure at making oat yogurt, I tried your recipe and was so worried that like the oat it wouldn’t thicken, so I added 2 tsp. of Agar powder and didn’t have a probiotic so I used a store bought coconut yogurt as a starter.
OH MY Goodness, it was DELICIOUS and REALLY thick. It was in my slow cooker for 24 hours and thick when it came out.
THANK YOU dear and God Bless and keep you healthy.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! We’re so glad it turned out well. Thanks for sharing, JoAnne! xo
Cheryl says
Hi Dani, a vegetarian culture can be ordered from the Cheesemaking
Workshop and Deli in Coffs Harbour. My coconut yoghurt with Ayam coconut milk and cream was great.
Dani says
Hi,
I am trying to make this recipe as, however, I do have a questions before I start. I am based in Australia and it is hard to find the probiotic brands you have recommend. I was wondering if there are any suggestions about what probiotic brand I can use that is available in Australia.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Dani, we aren’t familiar with brands of probiotics in Australia. Another idea would be to look for a (vegan) yogurt starter as it will likely have the types of bacteria that promote proper fermentation. Hope that helps!
Lucy says
Hi minimalist baker and Dani, I’m in Australia and I have made this twice! I Use Nutrivital 50 billion probiotic. It’s vegan (only a small symbol tells you this) and it’s shelf stable. It seems to hit the criteria, and the yoghurt was yummy! You can get it ina Go Vita store if you have one..
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Lucy!
Rebecca says
Glad I found this comment, I will try this brand, thank you Lucy! :)
Christa windle says
Hi I just made your coconut yogurt after hrs looking on internet to find dairy free yogurt without boiling milk! And not costing a fortune Thank god I found you was about to give up,I’m wondering if I use a quarter cup of yogurt I made as starter to next batch if it will have as much probiotic as using 2 capsules every time? I take a capsule every day usually of 50 billion
Thankyou soooooo much christa from nz😊
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Christa, We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work. Hope that helps!
Michelle Wilmott says
Thanks for recipe I tried it last week but the smell was awful. I did taste it and it seemed fine but the smell was so awful I couldn’t eat it.
Any ideas? Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Michelle, it does sound like something went wrong. We’d suggest double checking that your probiotic does not contain prebiotics. There are additional troubleshooting tips in the videos.
Krystal says
Hi! I just made this and it is amazing, very thick and creamy and the perfect tanginess. I was wondering if I could then use this as the starter for future yogurts (ie put a spoonful of this yogurt into another can of coconut milk and have yogurt). Has anyone done this/had success?
I would love to be able to make yogurt from each batch before as the starter and then not need to buy the probiotics as often.
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Krystal, we’re so glad it turned out well! Some readers have mentioned using it as a starter, but in our experience it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken.
Gayatri says
Have you guys frozen this yogurt? Mine was full fat coconut milk, it came out so thick in fact that it felt like butter/ice cream consistency. I’m assuming because it was 18gms of fat that’s what caused it to get so thick.
So I was wondering have you guys tried freezing it after refrigeration, and what that does?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Gayatri, we haven’t tried freezing it. Let us know if you do!
Lyndsey says
I’ve made this twice and neither time worked – the first time, I left it out for 24 hours then in the fridge for 24 hours. It didn’t thicken or become tangy. The second time, I left it out for 48 hours. 12 hours after moving it to the fridge, I took it out and found mold. Both times it was covered with a cheese cloth. Any idea what went wrong? The brand I use is only made of fresh coconut kernel extract (as per the can…)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lyndsey, sorry to hear it didn’t work out! It sounds like the probiotics aren’t active and/or the room isn’t warm enough.
Nicole says
I’ve been making this recipe for a few years now and it’s always worked out very well. I’ve found a brand of coconut milk that works well for me – the Aroy-D brand is widely available and while it does separate it creates a yogurt with a great mouthfeel and lovely, gentle tang.
The problem I’ve had, though, is with my yogurt giving off a strong sulphur-like smell that to others makes a room smell as though someone has passed gas recently. The yogurt tastes perfectly fine but the odour produced by fermentation means I can’t eat my yogurt anywhere but at home. (I don’t dare send my kid to school with it and the local brand of this yogurt Is getting quite expensive at $8 per 500 ml jar!) I assumed it was the strength of the probiotic I was using (50 billion count). I tried using half a capsule and my yogurt fermented but tasted off and had an odd pinkish film over the top that made me think it had gone bad.
I’m curious if you think a higher count of probiotic could create greater fermentation and lead to a smelly yogurt? And since you mentioned using a probiotic with just 10 billion units, perhaps it wasn’t a lesser amount of good bacteria but contamination that lead to my other yogurt going off?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Nicole, we wonder if a sulfur-reducing bacteria is getting in there and causing the smell. We wouldn’t recommend eating it if it develops a pink film. Did you switch brands of probiotic or just the amount of probiotic? We’d suggest making sure your probiotic has at least one of these strains: Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and/or Lactobacillus acidophilus. Or you could also try using a yogurt starter. Hope that helps!
Nicole says
Hello! I’ve been making this recipe almost since you posted it back in 2017. With one exception, I’ve used the same probiotic every time and have always had the same sulphur smell. The exception was that I tried one other probiotic (20 million units) and it didn’t work; the yogurt just didn’t ferment at all.
The strains you mention have been in the capsules I’ve used, though I wonder if it isn’t some other strain that causes the smell ones. Clearly, the pink film was all kinds of wrong and I would never eat that.
Trying a yogurt starter is a good idea – would I use it in the same way as the capsule or would I have to use a yogurt maker? (I don’t have one of those or means of making something like it, so I may just try another brand of probiotic.) Thanks for your help!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ah, gotcha! Thanks for clarifying. It does sound like the capsules may have some other bacteria or there’s some sort of contamination happening. Yes, you can use the yogurt starter similarly to the capsules and we’ve had success without a yogurt maker.
Nicole says
Fantastic! Imma get me some of that yogurt starter. Thanks! :D
Nicole says
Something interesting to note that I’ve discovered since the last time I posted here…I found a brand of canned coconut milk with a statement on it’s label saying “…may contain naturally occurring sulfur dioxide.” Sulfur dioxide does give off a stinky smell akin to what I described and, sure enough, my next batch of yogurt turned out with exactly the the same stink despite me using a different brand of coconut milk and a new probiotic with all the bacterial strains you mentioned above. Perhaps this is a compound that naturally occurs in coconuts and is present to some degree in all coconut milks. I fermented my yogurt for two days and it was only on the second day the stink developed. After the first day, the yogurt smelled just fine. I think a shorter culturing time is probably key as well. (My home is super cold in the winter but I get the exact same result with this yogurt regardless of the time of year.)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing this info, Nicole!
Cheryl says
I made coconut yoghurt in Australia with 2 cans 400ml Ayam coconut milk and 1 can 400ml Ayam coconut cream with a culture for non dairy milk, simply mixed together and in a yoghurt maker and it was great, consistency and taste excellent!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks for the lovely review, Cheryl! xo
Gaya says
Hi there! Thank you for this simple recipe! I tried it and it came out, FANTASTIC. I’m based in Australia. I sanitised my jar, got fullest-fat coconut milk (18g), probiotic capsules, and put them together. I don’t have a cheesecloth, so used 2 layers of clean kitchen wipes (the blue and white ones because they have holes).
I checked after 24 hours – it was thick on top, I tried a scoop and it tasted great, although the inside of the yogurt was still a tiny bit runny. So I popped it in the fridge – and it got REALLY thick. Kind of like coconut oil.
I would like it to be more like yogurt (so slightly more watery) – any suggestions? I also really want to cut down on the fat content (18-20g is a bit too much). I may try this with a lite coconut milk (8-10 g fat).
I know you said to not use lite milk – What has been your experience with lite milk, like what happens?
Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Gayatri
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Gayatri, it sounds like you would prefer a thinner consistency in which case lite coconut milk may actually be more what you are looking for. Hope that helps!
LindaLu says
I want to make this recipe before I do, I have a question. I have cans of the Native Forest Simple full fat coconut milk. The milk you recommend is their Classic formula. Can you tell me if the one I have will work?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Linda, we don’t think that one will work as well because it doesn’t have emulsifiers so it’s typically more chunky. But if you open it and it’s creamy, it could work!
Steven says
I covered my jar with a lid rather than cheesecloth. I used organic whole coconut milk by Native Forest – no guar. Per different instructions I let it sit for four days. It’s like cottage cheese on the top and rest is liquid. I used Raw Probiotics by Garden of Life. I’ve had the probiotic sitting in a closed jar for several months. Any suggestions?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Steven, we wonder if it may have cultured too long. We typically culture closer to 1-2 days. Does it smell funky?
Tracy Conley says
My first batch in my yogurt maker was delicious!!!!! So good. It’s really runny – the top is thick and I can see liquid on the bottle.
It was soupy but still delicious. I will continue trying to perfect it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Tracy! We’d suggest a thicker coconut milk/cream and also checking out the notes above the recipe for more info on how to thicken. Hope that helps!
Olivia Layne says
Hi there! Can I use homemade coconut milk or is it not creamy enough?
I bought a vegan yogurt starter, can I use that instead of the probiotic pills??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Olivia, homemade coconut milk needs to be heated before making the yogurt for safety. With canned, it’s heated during processing which kills any harmful microbes. If your homemade coconut milk is extra thick, then maybe it would work with heating. We haven’t tried a vegan yogurt starter, but it should work well!
Vegan-ish says
I have the EasiYo (non electric yoghurt maker) and also a yoghurt setting on my oven (I think this is maybe 30-40C). Would this be too hot for this vegan yoghurt recipe (not sure how the probiotics in capsules compare with that in a live dairy yoghurt starter?
Also any recommended UK brands of coconut milk? Would the long life coconut milk 1litre cartons work eg. Alpro/KoKo etc or are these not creamy enough?
Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi, That temperature isn’t an issue, just know it will ferment faster. We aren’t familiar with brands in the UK, but we’d suggest doing a search in the comments to see what other readers have found. If you press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac, a find bar should pop up that allows you to search for specific words (such as “UK”) in the comments. Hope that helps!
Fiona says
Hi Veganish, I think they are talking about the cans of coconut milk you find on the shelf for Asian cooking, not the coconut drinks like the Alpro and Koko. Those won’t work. You need the thick, white coconut solid stuff in the can for yoghurt.
Tracy Conley says
Trying this tonight in my yogurt maker. If you add fruit, when do you do that step?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Tracy, add it after fermenting- just before transferring to the fridge. You can check out this recipe for further guidance. Hope that helps!
Jade Amoy Palmer says
Can I use this as a substitute for plain curd? I saw a video on how to make a pizza white sauce without cheese, and it’s mostly vegan aside from that ingredient.
Hmm, I’ve never tried that! But if you do let us know how it goes!
Rebecca says
Hi, my first attempt didn’t work so now attempting to troubleshoot what the issue is. I ended up with a beige film on top and while it smelled and even tasted fine, it gave me a stomachache after having a tiny amount just to taste. I ended up tossing out just in case.
I will be doing better about the sanitizing step (may have been the issue), but had a question about the probiotics. I have the Renew Life 50 billion you recommended but the capsules are much smaller than yours appeared to be in the video. Should I use three?
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rebecca, sorry to hear that! Renew Life recently modified to make smaller capsules with the same amount of bacteria, so we don’t think you need to adjust that. Let us know how it goes with additional sanitizing!
Rebecca says
I just wanted to report back and let you know the extra sanitizing step made all the difference. Also, I made sure to use 365 brand coconut milk and that just made a perfectly creamy and smooth end result. I can’t speak to your other recommended brands but I had the best results with the 365 brand milk. I tried a few other brands I had on hand already and the yogurt never really thickened up as much.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks for the update, Rebecca!
Em says
I’ve had a go but when I’ve retrieved my yoghurt after the 48 hrs it has a thick creamy wrinkled layer on top? Is this a bad sign or is this the separation to mentioned?
It may be a bad sign, but without seeing it it’s hard to say. How does it smell / taste? A film isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Rebecca says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Would it work in a yogurt make or would that be too warm and not enough air flow? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried it that way, but it should work well!
Alycia says
Can I still make this with the renew life probiotic but the 30 billion rather than the 50 billion you suggested?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! You could add an additional capsule for more tang.
Charmaine says
Hi! This recipe really really worked! I used really twice because I am in awe and so excited!
I made two batches in one day – I was rushing and somewhat skimmed the recipe so for the first batch I used a metal spoon. After I mixed it I went back to read the recipe and discovered that a wooden spoon was best, so I covered the metal spoon one with cheesecloth anyhow, just in case and made a batch with a wooden spoon. I used two vegan 10billion capsules in each container and full fat coconut milk.
After 48 hours I went to try the metal spoon one and it was the same consistency so I let it sit in the fridge for two more days – no change. I decided to just use a splash of it in my smoothies and just now in my kitchari.
I completely forgot about the second batch until now – I used up all of the first batch in my kitchari and remembered i had a second jar and when i went to pour it, it was yogurt! Tastes good tooo! I am going to make a peach compote to go with it!
Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe – the metal spoon really does make a difference! I am glad I made one with a wooden spoon as well.
<3
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Charmaine! So helpful! xo
Manon says
Oh Dana!
Thanks for the video 😍
I tried the recipe a few years ago, I was a little hesitant and mine didn’t turn out right. I gave up on it until today where I decided to check the recipe again…
and surprise: a video! Yassss
Your video is given me the tips I was missing and as a non-native speaker it just is so much easier to see you do it.
You’re fab fab fab, thank you again!
Amazing! Hope it works, Manon!
Frances says
Why do you use 50 billion CFU for non-vegan, but only 10 billion CFU for the vegan? Don’t the CFU’s make a difference?
We suggest adding more of the 10 billion (4 capsules vs. 2).
Marie says
Do you know if acidophilus would work?
We haven’t tried just that strain alone. But if you do let us know how it goes!
Michal saragani says
Hello, I think I put a little amount of probiotic capsules, each capsule contains 5 billion bacteria and I put 4 of them.
The yogurt had been almost a day and had not thickened at all except for a little foam on top. I would love to know what to do in such a case, maybe it is possible to add capsules?
You could possibly add some capsules! The foaming sounds normal. The thickening happens mostly in the fridge. Sounds like you just need to throw it in the refrigerator once it’s tangy enough! And follow the additional tips if it doesn’t thicken enough.
Juli says
Hello! I miserably used a metal whisk instead of wood. Do I need to throw this out or is it salvageable? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’d say it’s worth continuing to see if it will work! But if it smells or looks off, it’s best to toss it.
Belle says
The first time I tried this with Whole Foods 365 coconut milk & Natren Megadophilus (which I already had in the house), it didn’t work, didn’t set up. I out the milk in the jar, added the powder, and tried to stir it in (with a bamboo spoon) but the probiotic powder stayed in chunks floating on the top. Not sure if that’s why it didn’t work.
Second time I used the recommended Renew Life 50 billion and it worked great, took 48hrs in a cold kitchen but near my stove. This time I put the powder in the empty jar first, then added about 1 tablespoon of coconut milk, stirred it to make sure the powder was distributed, then added about 1/4 cup more milk, stirred agian, then added the rest of the milk and stirred. I wanted to make sure the powder was fully distributed, and maybe this helped make it successful the second time. Just made it a third time in the same fashion and it worked again!
Question: Can you make this like you would homemade dairy yogurt, where you start a new batch with some of the yogurt from the previous batch? Would save $$ on the probiotics, which are pretty pricey and makes it not much cheaper than buying the same amount of non-dairy yogurt. Otherwise great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Belle, thanks so much for sharing your experience! We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work. Hope that helps!
Hannah says
Could I use reduced fat or lite coconut milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It won’t be thick and creamy, but more like a drinkable yogurt.
Megan says
This was my first time trying this! I think it was an OK first attempt, but I can’t figure out where my error was to make it better. It had a weird chalky texture to it.
I think I followed the directions precisely – even watched the helpful video. I used the full fat 365 brand coconut milk, and 2 Renew Life 50 billion as recommended. Shook the coconut milk and poured into glass jar that I’d rinsed with boiling water; used wooden spoon to stir/smear around sides of jar to evenly distribute probiotic, covered with the cheesecloth, and set in oven with light on for 48 hours. My little ambient temperature reader said it was 85 degrees in there!
There were about 2 inches of liquid at the bottom (not sure why), so as recommended, I used the bowl + strainer + cheesecloth method to thicken it up in the fridge for another 24 hours.
No foul smell, no mold, and it certainly thickened up. It was really, really tangy — maybe too tangy?! The flavor had such a strong bite to it I could barely eat a sample even with honey and golden kiwis mixed in — but the main thing for me was the texture. There were these little chalky bits in it. I tried stirring and stirring the final product to get that really smooth greek yogurt texture, and no dice. I could not get rid of the chalky bits no matter how hard I tried.
Any thoughts on what that was about and advice on how I can try to improve this next time?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Megan, sorry to hear it didn’t turn out! It almost sounds like it was a dud can of coconut milk? We’re not sure what else would cause a chalky texture. For the tanginess, you could try cutting back on the amount of probiotic or fermentation time.
Eric Busby says
Hoped to start a batch tomorrow, but realized that the probiotics that I have are 1 billion.
Any recommendations on the amount that I should use, as 50 would be extremely excessive. Even 10 would seem a bit much.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Eric, maybe 2-4? Let us know how it goes!
Mike says
My first attempt at this was a mixed bag. I used Savoy Coconut Cream and Now Probiotic-10 25 billion. The flavor was pleasantly tangy, though milder than I like, and it hadn’t thickened at all after 36 hours.
My second batch, however, was a tremendous success, setting up as delicious and creamy in fewer than 24 hours. Since I changed up the coconut brand (Shoprite Organic), the number of capsules (4 Probiotic-10 25 billion) and the method (i introduced more heat since my house is really cool in winter, it’s hard to tell what worked. All I know is that it really did. As you promised, it’s the best yogurt I’ve ever tasted.
Incredible! Thanks for sharing, Mike! Love your changes! So helpful.
Mike says
Thanks for this great post.
I tried this using Savoy Coconut Cream and NOW brand probiotics. After 36 hours it has a very pleasant tangy flavor, but doesn’t seem to have thickened up at all. Also, mine tastes a good bit more like coconut than the So Delicious coconut brand I buy at the store. Would it become less coconutty and more yogurty if I let it set up longer? I don’t mind the coconut taste, but I’m just curious what my expectations should be.
Also I’m wondering if the coolness of my house is slowing things down. I’ve been using the oven light trick, but my oven doesn’t seem to get noticeably warm. Do you know anything about starting this off by warming the coconut milk first? I notice that people who do this with cow’s milk often use heat.
Hi, Mike! The longer it sets unrefrigerated, the tangier it will become. Our sweet spot is usually ~48 hours. And yes, a warm home / environment helps. My other go to place is the laundry room where it’s usually kind of warm / humid. Just avoid direct sunlight.
SueB says
I have made this recipe a few times now using either the Arroy-D or 365 coconut milk as suggested, as well as the suggested Renew Life 50 billion capsules. Both have turned out great when left in the oven for 24 hours with the light on (only). The only differences were that the Arroy-D was not as thick so I put 3 tbs of chia seeds in before putting in the fridge to cool, turns out awesome. My next batch, I will try one capsule of 100 billion, instead of two 50’s. I say this because for $3 more you get the 100 billion but only need to use one capsule instead of two – hopefully it will work as I’ll be able to make twice the amount:). Thanks for the recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it’s worked well for you! Thanks so much for sharing!
Bri says
Would thai kitchen coconut milk work
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Another reader mentioned it worked great for them! Let us know how it goes!
Talia says
Hello! I’m super excited to try this. I’ve completed all the steps and currently have my yogurt in the oven. However, I’ve noticed there are little chunks of the probiotic powder despite my stirring and attempted smoothing. Will this impact my yogurt?
Thanks so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Talia, it might, but there’s a possibility it will still work. If it looks, smells, or tastes off, it’s best to discard and try again.
Tashi says
Mine came out perfect I used the 360 coconut milk and sprouts brand probiotics. I left it in my microwave (off) for about 35 hours. I grew up eating plain tart yogurt with everythin. I have a dariy sensitivity so I no longer am able to do that. This is the best replacement I have found. I have tried everything on the market
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Tashi. We are so glad you enjoy it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Lisa says
Hi! I just mixed the probiotics with the coconut milk…really curious to see what happens!
If it comes out nice, would a spoonful of the yogurt work as a starter for the next batch?
Thanks as always for the wonderful recipes and tips!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lisa, We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work. Hope that helps!
Selina says
I have cashew milk in my pantry (sadly no coconut milk), can I use that instead?
Thanks
It unfortunately won’t thicken up.
Rainbow Warrior says
Hey! I saw oatmilk in the store the other day. So that means you CAN use other milk options to make yogurt. The culture will grow through the milk substance. To thicken, one can use agar, arrowroot starch, or gelatin to achieve desired thickness. I have not tried this method. But I know it exists! You’ll know the culture process is underway when it tastes tart or tangy like standard yogurt.
Another coconut yogurt recipe I found mentioned the use of starches to thicken the yogurt once the culture has grown.
Ihope this helps!
I’m making my yogurt from a scoby culture. We’ll see how it works out!
Laura says
I used the only brand I could find, “Native Forest simple”, with the same probiotic you used, sprinkling and stirring it into the milk. I used glass and no metal. It made a too-thin yogurt (more like kefir) which smelled and tasted nice. It had the normal yogurty smell and taste. But 10 min after I ate it, I got a stomach ache and cramps. I almost never get stomach aches, so it made me worried I had dome something wrong. What do you recommend for next time?
OK strange. Have you consumed this probiotic before? Perhaps it was too active for your system? The other possibility is it was rancid or went bed, but if you said it smelled and tasted fine that wouldn’t have been it.
Laura says
Yes, when I bought the RenewLife Probiotic you mentioned, I began taking it every day, too. No issues there. Usually with fermented foods, if they smell pleasing to our noses, they should be mostly the good bacteria. I am used to eating store-bought coconut yogurts, and I’ve never had an issue there, either.
On another note, the yogurt was just thin. I knew it might be, because you said this brand was not the best for thick yogurt. But I don’t usually see those better brands around. I’ve read other coconut yogurt recipes where gelatin can be added for thickness. Do you recommend it for those who are eating animal products?
I’ve never tried adding gelatin but if you do certainly let us know! I’m not sure what else may have upset your stomach, unless it was the coconut milk itself.
Laura says
I am accustomed to the coconut milk as my only milk because I’m on the AIP for RA. — I used a yogurt maker, which has a 9 little jars. Every single jar had the same smell and taste. So, it’s not as if a stray bug got into one and dominated over the probiotic bugs. It’s something that was there in the original mix. I’m really confused about it. But I will try again and see what happens. The RenewLife bottle is new, too. I’ve had it only 2 weeks.
Taya says
Wondering if my probiotic is only 2 billion or 5 billion, should I add more capsules??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It might work without more, but we’d say double it for best results!
lori says
I love your video on making own coconut milk.
while the brands of coconut milk/cream and probiotics may not be available in my area.
I am having difficulty determining which ones would be acceptable and work.
so what ingredients would I then look for in particular and which ones to stay away from.
It’s not so much the ingredients (although important) as it is where they’re sourced from (which determines quality). You can reference this post for more guidance!
Gary casares says
Hi I did my best to make this coconut yogurt and after two days nothing happen I used organic coconut mike and probiotic I used 30 billon caps is this were I went wrong on my third day and still nothing I added two more pills that would make it a total of 150 could it be that I bought a bottle that the seller labled probiotic and it just something else that seller wants you to believe but not. Nothing added to the coconut. Milk thanks for your time
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Gary, we’d suggest looking at the ingredients on the probiotic bottle to see if there were PREbiotics added (inulin, oligosaccharides). That could cause issues.
Lillian says
Used whole foods coconut milk. Came out PERFECT. I am SO impressed how thick mine got without any extra straining. Left it on the counter for 36 hours, then threw in the fridge overnight.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad it worked well! Thanks for sharing, Lillian! xo
Emma says
Hi! I’m so excited to make this! Is there a cheaper probiotic you could recommend? Is there a specific amount (how many billion) it needs to be?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emma, we haven’t tried any others that we would recommend. High quality probiotics are best here, which tend to be more expensive. Sometimes you can get a packet or sample size to make it more affordable.
Michelle Johnson says
If we accidentally preheat our oven to 400 and realize when putting in food the yogurt is in there will it be okay? 😭😭
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no! Sorry that happened, Michelle! Maybe if you caught it early? We like to put a sticky note on the oven that says “DO NOT TURN ON OVEN” when making yogurt.
Michelle Johnson says
Such a great idea!!! Thanks!! The yogurt has been in the fridge for a day and it didn’t thicken at all. Did maybe something go wrong from it being heated in the oven?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Michelle, it’s possible, but if it doesn’t look or smell off, it could also be that the type of coconut milk wasn’t thick enough. We’d suggest looking at the note just above the recipe for tips to thicken and watching the video.
sharon says
The heat probably killed the probiotics.
Maryanne says
Good Morning Everyone :)
Just a little bit of history :
I made yogurt for the first time – I had tried my hand previously with kefir but it didn’t go well for me and found out I’m not able to do dairy seems I had Crohn’s Disease and didn’t know it. So I’m finally back to doing the AIP diet seems when I did this before I had my best time with my body as a whole. So I’ve now on to the main attraction the beautiful coconut yogurt.
I used the following ingredients as I’m in NS, Canada and the coconut milk I had used is of 2 ingredients as I’m not able to do anything with guar gum, xanthan gum that I react very badly to them (An experience I don’t plan to repeat)
Coconut milk – Cha’s Organic coconut milk premium – has only organic coconut, water
The probiotic is Jamieson Probiotic 10 Billion active cells w/ 14 Unique Strains
So I completed this, last night I followed the directions provided by Minimalist Baker
My yogurt did separate and I refrigerated just like that, no stirring I want to have the yogurt cool down.
I have to say just like the Minimalist Baker did at the beginning about if I can make it, anyone can, I will reuse their line here as it is very true.
The visual of the yogurt could go for another 24hrs to be in total 48hrs in the oven – My husband was asking why we needed to keep the light on all night …hahahah
This morning I was very surprised how warm the oven was. Due to my oven being over 20+ years old
The taste of the homemade coconut yogurt without a yogurt machine was creamy and tangy- there was a slight smell but not a bad sour smell and no mold
I was very surprised how well it did taste.
So thank you as I found out I’m off the charts with inflammation and yogurt is supposed to be very good to rebuild your gut flora :)
Other options as it seems me and sugar don’t get along in my body so I’m probably going to try adding once it cools down shredded coconut – either non sweetened or sweetened.
Thank you for provided this recipe and I give it a thumbs up and hope this helps others that may have gut issues or not having the exact same ingredients.
Thank you and send through lots of positive vibes
Have a fantastic day everyone :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience, Maryanne! Sending lots of healing vibes your way! xo
Lisa L says
I am struggling. I have tried this four times. I am now draining it in the fridge to see if I can get it thicker. it’s SUPER tangy. more than I like. I am afraid it’s gone off. I have an extremely limited diet due to my autoimmune disease, ankylosing spondylitis. I eat about 5 things (protein, about five vegetables, almonds, walnuts and in moderation berries, honey and maple. I can have coconut products as well) I can’t eat anything containing starch, any eggs, any dairy, or other inflammatory foods. I make almost everything from scratch as we try to eat clean without processed foods (greek yogurt, granola, protein bars, dressing, all bread products, all condiments, doggie cookies, crackers … the list goes on). I can’t eat most of the things I make but my family can. But I can’t seem to get this down. I was SOOOO hoping to add coconut yogurt to my limited diet as store bought brands usually have a starch in them. I followed the instructions. I used biona coconut cream and my probiotic
I followed the instructions to the T. help me please!!! Can I use a yogurt starter instead of the probiotic? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B011050G20/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2EQNLS61VWRO4&psc=1
Is this the same one you recommended? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007SVLEW2/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A1WJZ404QZG1DE&psc=1
Any help is appreciated! TIA
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lisa, it looks like that probiotic contains inulin which is a prebiotic and likely causing the issue. We’d suggest using a different probiotic that doesn’t contain inulin or oligosaccharides. Either of those coconut milk brands should be fine.
Lisa L says
Oh my ! I had no idea! I was looking for something saying prebiotic. Thanks for letting me know. I will try another. Can I use a yogurt starter probiotic? The ones sold specifically to make yogurt.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lisa, we haven’t tried that, but it looks like some other readers have. To see what they did, we’d suggest searching the comments (“ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac). Hope that helps!
Judith says
MaryAnne!
Finally, someone like me! I’ve never heard of anyone who reacts to xantham gum/guar gum the same way that I do. 😞
I’m also in Canada, in London Ontario, and discovered my sensitivity to gums via coconut milk. I’ll look for the brand you mentioned. Where I live, I might be able to find a brand with no guar gum but it’ll have polysorbate 80, which I hear isn’t great for you, either.
Based on your review, I’ll give this yogurt a try!
Mara says
Hi! I made the coconut yogurt with the brands recommended, the taste turned out great but the consistency was more watery than I’d like. Any tips to get a thicker consistency? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mara, see the note just above the recipe about straining through cheesecloth. Otherwise, you could try making with coconut cream next time. Hope that helps!
Melissa Reynolds says
I had to put the jar in the oven (off) with the light on to get the temp up to 74. However, I checked the temp in the morning after sitting overnight under the oven, and the temp was 101. Is that too high?
Also have you ever tried Goya? I couldn’t find the other brands you recommended.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Melissa, that should be fine! We haven’t tried Goya, but other readers have mentioned it works well.
Vasilisa says
OMG!!!!! I have made this twice already and it’s so so gooood!!!! I use the 12oz mason jar and I eat the whole thing at once! so bad it takes me 2 days to make and only 5 minutes to eat what’s stated as 6 servings?! oh wow! but it’s so so good I can’t help myself! I did get the separation twice, but I don’t really care, because I like it thick, so it turned out to be the perfect consistency for me. I used the whole foods coconut yogurt and Garden of Life 80 billion CFU probiotic! I’m just curious, can I do a double batch in a large mason jar at once, or it’s better to do separate small containers? because I really want to eat it every single day, it’s so so so good and soooo easy! next time I will try the mango variation! thank you so much for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Vasilisa! We don’t see any reason a double batch wouldn’t work. Let us know if you try it!
Faezeh says
Hi Dear
Is it possible to make this yogurt out of home made coconut milk? I did so and I got 2 seprated fase with a heavy sour smell. It doesnt look like yogurt.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Faezah, Canned coconut milk is heated during processing so if using homemade coconut milk, you would need to heat it first. We haven’t tried it though.
Karen says
Hi, thank you for all of these tips! Great resource for starter yogurt-makers. I’m curious if you’ve tried the 365 brand of the coconut cream (not coconut milk). It also has guar gum, and I’m curious if that also works but just makes a creamier texture. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Karen, we haven’t tried it! But we think it would work. Let us know if you try it!
Karen says
I made it over the weekend with the regular Whole Foods 365 coconut milk (not cream), along with Renew Life Ultimate Care Women’s Care probiotic (only because that came in a smaller quantity at Target and I just wanted to test it out). It “firmed up” after about 36 hours and into the fridge it went. I’m going to try with the 365 coconut cream as well sometime soon. I’m so grateful for this recipe and for the “tips” video that helped me to avoid a lot of the pitfalls. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you found it helpful! Thanks for sharing, Karen!
Betsy Briggs says
I am so excited to make this!! recently have become vegan so looking for different things i enjoy eating. just a comment
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Enjoy =)
Bahar says
I made the yogurt followed the instructions bought the same probiotic. The yogurt was thick for sure but it had sour taste and felt chuck like I didn’t use organic milk so not sure what went wrong there can you please help.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Bahar, just to confirm- you used canned coconut milk? Was everything fully sterilized? We’d also suggest taking a look at the troubleshooting tips in the post and video.
Lucas says
Hi. Can I make yogurt by adding probiotics to mashed up banana? Or do I need the fat from the coconut? Thx!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lucas, We don’t think that would work, unfortunately.
Christy L Janes says
I made this & it smells like bread. It looks good. Haven’t gotten the courage to try it yet because of the smell.
Interesting. Did you modify anything and what brands coconut milk and probiotic did you use?
Rena says
I was super excited to try this easy recipe. But not sure if the yogurt is suppose to have a brown layer on top… Has a bit of a stink but yogurt doesn’t smell good anyways… so wondering if the brown thin layer on top is a NO NO… I’ve not tried it…honesty afraid to…
I did was the glass jason jar with HOT water, used wooden spoon (Clean but not washed) Bio Kult Probiotic. Please advise… Thank You.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rena, it does sound like something went wrong. If the wooden spoon wasn’t sterilized, that could be the issue. Otherwise, make sure the probiotic doesn’t contain any prebiotics. We have more troubleshooting tips in the post and video. Hope that helps!
Rena says
Yes! This helps… Thank you so much.
Lauren says
I tried to make this. My apartment usually runs at about 77 degrees during the day and 72 at night. To start, I dumped boiling water into the mason jar and then dumped it out. I’m not sure if that was sufficient sanitizing? Then I dumped the coconut milk in it and stirred in the probiotic with a plastic spoon that had been washed (the probiotic has been in my fridge and is good through february I believe- and I don’t think it contains an prebiotics..its the renew life but 90 billion so I only used 1 capsule). However, after 24 hours I went to taste the yogurt iand it gave me a pretty immediate bad stomach ache (just from a small amount). After 48 hours, the same thing happened. It tasted tangy and smelled fine but it made my stomach hurt. I usually have no issues tolerating coconut products and there was nothing else in the can of coconut milk so I’m wondering what went wrong. Any ideas? I’m afraid to try again as I don’t want to consume bad bacteria as I already have gut issues. I was hoping this would help with that.. I’ve been trying to read up on whether leaving this on the counter in the heat is safe as you say, but haven’t been able to find anything. However, I have been reading through some of the comments here and someone mentioned that “so much can go wrong”..any way. I’d love some ideas I’d like to try again but I’m afraid to get sick.
Hmm, so strange. What brand of coconut milk did you use? It was either a spoiled / bad coconut milk or your probiotics weren’t fresh. OR something wasn’t properly sanitized…
Lauren says
I think the native forest one? I just purchased it…probiotics definitely have been in my fridge and have an expiration date of february I believe..I will try it one more time I got a different brand this time. what is the best way to sterilize the jar and a plastic spoon?
Hot soapy water, rinse with very hot (almost or just boiling) water. I think the native forest one should be fine. But if you get a stomachache again it’s either the coconut milk or the probiotic. Have you tried the probiotic and the coconut milk on their own (separately) before?
Lauren says
i haven’t tried the coocnut milk on it’s own in a while but I have had coconut milk before with no issues (probably not that brand but there was no guar gum or anything else in it) I never have issues with any other coconut products though either I eat them daily! I also was regularly taking that probiotic prior to making this (although it had been a month or two). I will try the probiotic again on its own..and I’ll try this one more time. Thank you!!
OK! Strange then. Let us know how it goes, Lauren!
LAuren says
so I didn’t re try making this yet but still trying to figure out what the issue was. My probiotics were refrigerated…then they got put in a warm environment..do you think that could have caused it to go bad?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lauren, it’s possible. We’d suggest watching the video for more troubleshooting tips!
Garrison says
Hello, I was wondering if you have ever tried starting your next batch of yogurt using the last of your previous batch as opposed to using probiotics again. Thank you!
I did and it didn’t work as well. But if you do some experimenting let us know how it goes!
Sehaj says
I have the coconut cream by the brand rooster and the Jamieson brand 10 billion probiotics; would that work?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sehaj, we haven’t tried those specific brands, but it looks like that probiotic might contain PREbiotics (such as inulin) which can cause issues. Hope that’s helpful!
Scott D Mccanles says
Hi, If you wish your Yogurt to be thicker, do you do the cheesecloth step after the 48 hours?
Thank you,
Scott
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Jake says
Nice simple recipe; however, I modified the recipe a little by first sterilizing everything. I used two cans of your recommended coconut milk to which I added 2Tbsp of maple syrup. I also used what probiotic I had which was Strengtia K-61 30 billion ct. I put the mix into my dehydrator set at 105ºF and let it sit for about 14 hours.
Unfortunately it didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped. The yogurt had separated which was fine but when I mixed it up with a whisk it began to effervesce. It also had a strong yeast odor. Not bad – just smelled more like a sourdough starter but nothing like the sourness of yogurt.
The only thing I can think of is that after looking into my probiotic a bit more, it turns out it contains prebiotic as well.
Any ideas about what went wrong? Should I toss it out and start with a different probiotic or yogurt culture?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jake, it does sound like the prebiotics caused that. We’d say try again with a different probiotic!
Xamatha says
Thanks for posting this recipe. Excuse my ignorance but I have never made coconut milk yogurt before so I have no clue at what point do we introduce the “ad-ins”, it is mentioned in the ingredients section so Im assuming its incorporated in the making process, can you update?
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi, we’d suggest adding them just before transferring to the fridge. Hope that helps!
amy says
Hey,
Im just about to give this one a go! Can’t wait to see how it turns out, i love all of your other recipes i have made so far. I was just wondering, my oven light doesnt stay on and it is still fairly cold her in Australia, my oven does have a keep warm function which turns it on at 30 degrees celcius, would that work ok? for the moment i have put it in the microwave as that can keep the light on. thanks ! amy (:
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amy, we think that should work! Let us know how it goes!
Kacie says
Hi! I’m really curious because I love yogurt without sugar, If you don’t add any sugar, what does the bacteria feed on if it’s just coconut milk and probiotics?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Coconut milk naturally has some sugar in it
Misty Dawn says
Can you add vanilla, if so, at what point?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sure! We’d suggest adding it right before transferring to the fridge.
Mandisa says
I have no probiotics on hand and am wondering if I can substitute with fermented rice water?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hm, we aren’t familiar with that ingredient so we’re not sure!
Raciel Fernandez says
This seems like the easiest recipe I’ve seen so far. I’ve had several fails so far with other recipes. Can you tell me if it has a coconut taste when it’s done? Or is it undetectable? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Raciel, there will be a slight coconut taste.
Celia says
This recipe looks amazing and nice and simple. I wpuld love to try it out. Although I’m unsure if my probiotics are adequate, I have asked my dietician for his opinion on them but he didn’t respond. Are you aware if there particular strains of L & B that are required? I noticed the one I have has several of the same strains as your but there isn’t any of the L. acidophilus strain neither B. bifidum.. and I’m wondering if it will still work
I haven’t gotten that scientific about it, unfortunately. Perhaps just test a half batch to see if it works!
Celia says
Thank you, I’m trying one out now. Would like to let you know I love your blog and recipes 😊 thanks for sharing
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Celia! xo
Alesk says
Hi
I would like to try to make this yogurt recipe, would you be so kind as to let me know what size Weck jar you use and where did you get the wooden spoon. I noticed you did have a link to the Weck jars but when I click it, it takes me to a page that says “this page is not secure and may be …. we advice you go back to original page”. So I can’t open the link to see what size you used.
Thank you,
Alesky
OK interesting. You can buy weck jars through their website or through amazon (the link is to amazon so maybe that’s why it’s saying it’s not secure?). That one is the Weck 743 3/4 mold jar.
Adriana says
Hello could I make this with fresh homemade coconut milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Adriana, With homemade coconut milk, it needs to be heated and cooled to kill any bacteria. The canning process does this so that’s why we recommend using canned.
Deborah Garren says
Hello, I have to use homemade coconut milk because I cannot find any canned coconut milk that is free from gums. So, if I heat my homemade coconut milk first – what temperature should I heat it to? I am on the AIP diet due to an autoimmune disease and cannot eat any gums. Thank you for any help!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Deborah, we haven’t made it from homemade milk so we’re not sure on the details. As for canned coconut milk without gums, there should be lots of options available online, such as Savoy. Hope that helps!
Donna says
Great tutorial on making Coconut Milk Yogurt! I would have just used a Plastic Fork to mix the Probiotic into the Coconut milk. All good though!
Sami P. says
This is SO delicious and easy. I used Garden of Life’s unrefrigerated 100 billion probiotic per 1 can of Whole Foods coconut milk and it came out perfectly! I’ve now made it 3 times and will continue to keep it as a staple in my fridge. I even use it as a substitute for sour cream in things like chili, as it’s perfectly tangy!
Thanks for this awesome recipe. It’s very impressive to tell people you make your own yogurt ;)
Conny says
Thanks for a wonderful recipe. I am not only vegan, but also practicing “zero waste” as much as possible. Therefore I have not eaten yogurt in years, since they all come in plastic containers (or plastic coated cardboard). This recipe offers an easy, cheap & eco friendly solution (if you do not count the plastic bottle of the probiotic capsules).
I used the recommended WF coconut milk and the probiotics from “NOW probiotic-10 25 billion”. 50 capsules cost only around $14.
Therefore a glass of yogurt cost around $2.20! Which is also much, much cheaper than store bought yogurt!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you’re able to enjoy yogurt again =) Thanks so much for sharing, Conny!
Marianna says
Hi Dana, can you use yoghurt made this way to start your next batch? If yes, how much would you use for a can of 400ml coconut milk? Any other instructions?
Btw, made using Aroy-D, great taste but runny (don’t care much as long as it tastes this good:)).
Love your recipes btw, the Almond Joy Granola has been one of my best friends for year.
Thanks, Marianna
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks Marianna! We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work, but we are going to stick with using probiotic capsules for now. Hope that helps!
Anni says
Thank you for such a well-researched and detailed recipe! Hope I don’t jinx myself, but it worked for me on the first try. (I used WF organic coconut milk and the Renew Life probiotic.) So creamy and just the right amount of tang—and much better texture than store-bought yogurt! Have you tried doubling the batch? Just wondering, as sometimes doubling a recipe does not end well.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad it turned out well, Anni! We haven’t tried a double batch, but assume it would work? You could make in two jars just in case?
Sami P. says
I nearly doubled my batch, but did 1.5 as my jar was too small for two whole cans. I used 2 100 billion probiotic capsules and it worked great!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Sami!
Em says
Question: If the yogurt does culture but doesn’t thicken, is there any harm in throwing in a bit of chia to thicken it up? I know that’s an added ingredient but if you want thicker yogurt and you like chia, it might work.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That would be fine to add when transferring to the fridge!
Meghan Mullin says
If I accidentally used a metal spoon, should I scrap the batch and start over?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’d say try culturing it and look for signs that it smells/looks off!
Ferment4Life says
You should be able to use stainless steel safely. It’s nonreactive. I make milk and coconut milk kefir and this is what I’ve been doing and advising my customers for years.
Amy Berman says
I followed all of your instructions and used the correct coconut milk and probiotic and sterilization but made the mistake of adding vanilla and maple syrup from the beginning – it’s now about 18 hours in the oven with the light on and it is still liquid – is it going to solidify at all or did I ruin the recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amy, it might still be okay even if it doesn’t thicken! Just make sure it doesn’t look/smell off. Which brand of coconut milk did you use?
Amy Berman says
Can you please tell me how to flavor this yogurt so that it becomes a coffee yogurt?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amy, we haven’t tried that, but maybe try adding instant coffee powder after it has fermented? Let us know how it goes!
Hope says
I am trying this for the first time! I forgot about the no metal and used a small stainless steel metal whisk to stir in the probiotics 😕. Everything else is just as you suggested. Do you (or anyone else) think this batch is doomed? Have you ever had success when stainless steel is involved?
Watch and see! It may still turn out! Keep us posted.
Carla Keith says
I made the coconut yogurt per the instructions, but after about 20 hours, it had not thickened up at al (I was afraid that my probiotics were too old). I put it on the counter as we were using the oven to bake something, and I left it there overnight. I looked at this morning (around 11:00 am), and it had thickened nicely. I was just wondering if I left it out too long since it was past the 48 hour point? Will it be safe to eat? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Carla, as long as there are no signs of mold and it doesn’t smell bad, it should be fine! Use your best judgment though!
Laura Nesmith says
😩😩😩😩 I have tried it 3 times so far and have yet to succeed.
I’ve been using the 365 Full Fat can, and 50 billion probiotic just as suggested. I have sterilized and followed everything to a T. There is quite a lot of liquid separated at the bottom and the top seems to just be the coconut cream, nothing different other than a bit tangy. I’ve tried leaving it longer than 24 hours and still no difference.
Any other suggestions as to why the liquidy bottom and not thickening and becoming creamy? I want to perfect it so bad cause buying coconut yogurt has become quite expensive!
Help?
Thanking you in advance!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Laura, so a little separation is normal and you can stir before transferring to the fridge. But if you prefer a thicker yogurt, maybe try with coconut cream instead? Hope that helps!
Laura says
It’s very separated though. It is as if the top is just the thick hard cream. The bottom is liquidy with some apperance to yogurt.
Laura, this is due to the variability in quality of coconut milk. No two cans are alike. You can either stir to combine once fermented, then strain if desired to thicken (see notes above). Or you can use Savoy or Aroy-D brands, which have been more reliable for us as of late. Hope that helps!
Marilyn M Paladino says
Can I make this in my electric yogurt maker?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work!
Beth says
Can you add protein powder and/or mix in dehydrated fruit before adding probiotic, or will that mess up the process?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Beth, protein powders sometimes contain PREbiotics which we’ve found can mess up the fermentation process. We think it would be better to add them when transferring to the fridge.
Fanny says
Ok so my first attempt at making coconut yogurt was kind of a fail… 🤦♀️I did use Aroy D coconut milk as you suggested and left it to ferment for 48hours. There was about 1-2 cm of liquid at the bottom of the jar and it didn’t really thicken up. Tasted fine though so I still ate it all. 😊 I’m not giving up though! I will get this right! I love how many tips and troubleshooting ideas you give and I’m thinking maybe I didn’t add enough probiotics or the ones I used weren’t the freshest. Either way, thanks for this recipe! I appreciate how thorough you are.
Thanks for sharing, Fanny! Yogurt is a practice makes perfect kind of dish!
Hanna says
What about Lets Do Organic Creamed Coconut? Have you tried it?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t. If it’s smooth & creamy, it should work.
Josephin says
I’m Curious if you could ferment this in a yogurt maker? Maybe to expedite the wait? Excited to give this a try though!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work!
Chris says
I followed the recipe except I used a fermentation airlock and I used a 5 capsules with 2 billion CFU each. It came out great! But, it was thin even after leaving it in the fridge for a full day. So, I just blended it with frozen fruit and made an awesome, frozen yogurt/sherbet thing! A creamy desert that doesn’t shred my bowels? Nice.
Questions:
Will bumping the probiotics up to 50 billion make it thicker?
Can I use the Airlock instead of the cheesecloth?
PS – If you don’t know, Airlock’s release the bacteria’s carbon dioxide without letting air in. Also, I have cheesecloth I can use.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Chris, we haven’t tried using an airlock so we’re not sure about that! Increasing the probiotics may help with thickness, but we find it more so has to do with the creaminess of the coconut milk you use. We’d recommend using a thicker coconut milk or using coconut cream for thicker yogurt. Hope that helps!
Chris says
I used Grace Classic Coconut Milk which I consider to be as thick as Whole Foods Organic Coconut Milk. But, after a closer comparison, Grace has preservatives and emulsifiers that probably fudge up the fermentation. For my next batch, I’ll try the Whole Foods and Trader Joes’ Organic Coconut Cream.
Regarding airlock question, I simply should have asked:
Does the bacteria need plenty of air to ferment?
Thanks again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Chris, we wouldn’t recommend the Trader Joe’s- they changed their formula and its now very oily. Our understanding is that lactic acid bacteria does not need oxygen to survive.
Chris says
Awesome! Thanks for the details. They also call him Sneaky Joe!
Steve-o says
If dairy milks thickens into yogurt due to the protein how does the coconut milk thicken? I ask because I’m two tries in with no success. I switched to the Whole Foods brand on my 2nd try thinking that there was something different in the ingredients but their wasn’t. I guess I’ll try Renew Life probiotic – it does have 2 or 3 different strains than the one I bought. But still would like to know how it is actually thickening it. Definitely makes you wonder if certain ingredients are not being reported.
coconut milk generally thickens because of the fat content. Use our tips (of straining and refrigerating) for thicker yogurt!
Danielle says
I followed the recipe exactly, and the consistency is right, but the yogurt seems really yeasty. I’m assuming that means I did something wrong?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, yes, it shouldn’t be yeasty. Could it be the type of probiotic you used?
Amber says
On the RenewLife blog, they also have a recipe for coconut yogurt. The ingredients include their Daily Probiotic + Prebiotic powder. In the instructions they heat and cool the canned coconut milk before adding the powder. My question is: does heating and cooling the coconut milk make the difference in having success using a pro/pre combo?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, good question! We wouldn’t think so, but maybe?
Amber says
I tried it and it worked!
I used 1 can of Native Forest unsweetened organic coconut milk and 1 capsule of Swanson ultimate probiotic formula 66.5 billion CFU (contains FOS).
Thanks for the inspiration!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That’s great! Thanks for sharing, Amber!
Steevie says
It may be that the heating process kills any existing bacteria so that you have a ‘clean slate’ for the bacteria that you are adding yourself
Misty says
Can you add the fruit to your containers and store it in the refrigerator or should you add fruit just before eating?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It depends on the fruit, but in most cases, adding it before storing would be fine.
EJ says
Can you use almond milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi EJ, we have not tested this recipe with any other non-dairy milks. We doubt it would thicken properly, but if you do some experimenting, we would love to hear what you learn!
Drew says
This is my new favorite recipe! I love love love coconut yogurt, but I don’t love all the gums and sugar that can also find their way in. Plus really good, natural yogurt like Culina can cost an arm and a leg. Short of selling my kidney, I went on a hunt to find a yogurt recipe that was easy and didn’t require a ton of extra stuff and I ended up here! Thank you for creating this recipe!
TIPS: I used the exact probiotic you recommended from my local HEB, but I found that swapping the coconut milk to Thai Kitchen ORGANIC coconut milk worked really well because I couldn’t find the ones you recommended. It also works with Thai Kitchen coconut cream. This recipe did not work with a Taste of Thai coconut milk. Just like another user recommended, ALWAYS BE SURE TO SANITIZE! I make my own kombucha and am used to sanitizing with my dishwasher or using an antibacterial soap and hot water to get the job done. For this, I wash all my supplies with soap and warm water (even if they are already “clean”) and then use boiling water from a kettle dumped into my jars, dump out, and wait to cool. Always have clean hands and use clean towels as well. You don’t want to grow mold or nasty bacteria!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Drew! Thanks so much for sharing your tips!
Nsk says
I love this blog! All of the recipes are great except for this one… :( I tried it three times and it never turned into yogurt.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! We’re so sorry you’ve had trouble with this recipe! Many readers say it works great, but for others, it seems to cause issues. Did you watch the video for additional troubleshooting tips?
Melanie says
Hi there! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I left my coconut yogurt sitting on the counter for two days now and it hasn’t thickened at all. In fact, it has a bitter (not a tangy) aftertaste. I love Aroy-D (have used it for the past year) and used the kind that’s 100% coconut milk. I used Thorne probiotics, but would have had to use an entire bottle (very expensive) to get to 100 billion for each batch (I made a large batch), so I probably only used 20 billion per batch. Should I just scrap it and try again with a different probiotic?
I’m assuming if I used two 14oz cans, then you’re recommending 200 billion in probiotics? Just making sure I have this right before I try again. ;-)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Melanie, sorry to hear that! It does sound like something went wrong. We wonder if the probiotics you used had prebiotics in them? We have used 20 billion for 1 batch successfully with Jarrow brand probiotics. But yes, use more probiotics if doubling. We’d recommend watching the video for more troubleshooting tips!
Melanie says
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. No, the probiotics don’t have prebiotics in them, but it must be user error on my side somewhere. I’ll update you here when I finally get it right! :)
RA says
Thank you so much for this! It’s so incredibly simple, quick, and easy. I’ve had success with a number of brands not listed. Helpful tip: if you don’t have a cheesecloth, you can just cover your jar with a double layer of paper towels and secure with a rubber band. Works like a charm!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing!
Floria says
Love this recipe. So simple! It taste less like coconut and more closers to milk than any other alternative milk. I use it by itself, with honey, with cacao, mix with with broth for a creamier version…delicious!
Question – can you use some from the made batch to start the next, instead of starting from scratch with another probiotic capsule?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Floria! We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work, but we are going to stick with using probiotic capsules for now. Hope that helps!
Alyssa says
Hi! I made this and it just reached the 48 hour mark; putting it in the fridge now to thicken up! Question: it kind of smells how (dairy) sour cream tastes, if that makes sense? It doesn’t smell bad, but it smells tangy and savory, not sweet. (I didn’t add any sweetener, though.) Does that sound normal/correct?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Alyssa, it should be tangy, but not taste bad! You can add sweetener at this point, if desired. Hope that helps!
Manal says
How many pills of Jarrow probiotics 10 billion I have to use?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Manal, you can use 2.
Virginia says
Hi, Once started, can a spoonful or two of the coconut yogurt be used as the “starter” for the next batch (as can be done with traditional dairy yogurt)?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Virginia, We tested that idea with adding 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt to a batch and found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. It’s possible that using more would work, but we are going to stick with using probiotic capsules for now. Hope that helps!
Kay says
Can I use a taste of thai coconut milk? It’s what I have.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried that one, so we aren’t sure how it’ll turn out. But if it’s thick and creamy, it should work.
Chantelle Claire Croeser says
Hi there!
How would you suggest keeping the yogurt warm in a cold climate without an oven?
Hmm, that’s a little tricky. Are there any parts of your home that are warmer than others, perhaps sunny spots or in the laundry room?
Lorraine Stokes says
I just purchased 2 billion probiotic capsules and then saw you recommended 50 billion. I’m guessing the ones I ordered won’t work, or is it worth a try still?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lorraine, it probably won’t be as tangy, but you could try it! Or maybe add a few extra capsules?
Sara Hierstein says
I’m seeing a lot of comments here that indicate spoilage due to poor sterilization techniques. Someone used a wooded chopstick to stir? Another simply ran their supplies under hot water? Everything that touches that coconut needs to be sterilized first or you are going to be growing unfriendly bacteria. A breezy kitchen is enough to intro bacteria. A dirty can lid that dips into the milk as it’s opened is enough. I think people need to be advised on how careful they need to be to have this turn out not contaminated. Heat that milk first! Cool to 110. And pour into a sterile jar and use a sterile utensil. Have clean hands and work quickly. The coconut milk is essentially a petri dish. What grows seems to be a crap shoot based on the comments section. Not all harmful bacteria stinks.
This is helpful – thanks for sharing, Sara!
Brian says
A little wild on the recipe (Thai Organic Coconut Milk from Costco, and used ~3T of Nancy’s Whole Milk Yogurt as a starter). But my question is about separation:
You say ‘a little separation is okay’ — but mine essentially separates entirely, like coconut milk would regularly (about half-and-half or so). Is that entire separation expected (what you refer to above as ‘a little’), and you would just stir it in before placing in the fridge?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Brian, the degree of separation will depend mostly on the consistency of the coconut milk. We’d say try coconut cream or a thicker coconut milk next time. Hope that helps!
Julia says
Hey! I tried making this and it just turned sludgy and goopy. It didn’t really thicken very much. I thick that it is because my coconut milk was too chunky like you pointed out. I was wondering if coconut cream would be a better idea?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, coconut cream will make a thicker yogurt!
Damien says
Thanks for the simple and great recipe! Question: Does it matter how many Billion Live Cultures are in the probiotic? For example, could I end up with same/similar results using the Renew Life 30 Billion versus the 50 Billion you recommended?
Thanks again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Damien, more probiotics will make it more tangy. So it depends on what you prefer!
Lisa says
Thanks for this simple recipe! I have made it about 7 times through with Earth’s Choice Organic Guar Free 21% Coconut Cream and Garden of Life Once Daily Probiotics, with a 48-hour activation time.
I did experience some graininess the first few times I made this yogurt, but because I was mainly adding it to overnight oats the texture was not a problem. I noticed the yogurt came out smoother once I switched to a wide-mouth mason jar, so wonder if increased air flow might improve the science somehow??
Appreciate this recipe and your notes very much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Interesting! We would think the graininess has more to due with the type of coconut milk and how creamy it is, but maybe there’s something else to it. Thanks for sharing!
Anne Christine Miller says
Should it taste like a super sour Greek yogurt? I want to make sure that’s what it’s supposed to taste like before I eat it.
Yes! Depending on how long you fermented.
Kendra says
I’ve been following you for years, and I have not been vegan, but I have made a lot of delicious vegan meals because of your recipes. I have recently decided to go vegan, and you were the first person I knew to look up tasty, awesome recipes! Keep up the awesome work. Also this yogurt is awesome!
Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks so much, Kendra! xo
Lauren says
I sterilzed the jar, used Aroy-D canned coconut milk and poured in 2 Swiss Natural brand probiotic (Lacotobacillus & Acidophilus) capsule contents, stirred it with a wooden chopstick, and left it covered with cheesecloth for 36 hours in a warm room but at 36 hours it smelled really awful and was not thick at all. I had to throw it away which was really disappointing.
What did I do wrong?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear that, Lauren! We aren’t familiar with that probiotic- does it contain PREbiotics? Did you make sure to sterilize everything thoroughly prior to use?
Ken says
I was excited when, as a vegan, I saw I could make non dairy yogurt so easily. I went right out shopping for the probiotic capsules. What I found was tiny bottles of capsules and powder for between $46 and $54 Canadian. Is this the stuff I should be looking for, or is there a better alternative I haven’t yet discovered? Thanx in advance.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ken, that tends to be about the price range for a good quality probiotic. Hope that helps!
Anna says
I’m not sure what I’ve done wrong. My yogurt has thickened up after 32 hours, but it’s got an eggy smell to it. I used the recommended coconut milk and probiotics. Not sure if I left it outside in the heat too long
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Anna, that’s possible! Was everything sterilized properly? We’d recommend checking out the video and tips in the post if you haven’t already.
Jennifer says
Would Arroy D coconut cream cartons work instead of cans? Also, what is best to use: Arroy D coconut cream or milk?
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jennifer, we aren’t familiar with that product so we’re not sure! We like using Aroy D coconut milk from a can.
Sersha says
Works perfectly with AroyD coconut milk and Renew Life probiotics (only one capsule). After 24 hours it’s ready and there is separation. After forming in the fridge I just strain it with cheesecloth for 30 mins and it’s like Greek yogurt.
The smell is a little pungent (more than store bought) but the taste and texture is perfect.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well, Sersha! You could try fermenting less time if you prefer it less pungent. Hope that helps!
Jessica says
This is one of the easiest and most delightful yogurt recipes I’ve ever had! Reading all of the ingredient labels at the store, it’s so hard to find unsweetened & free of additive dairy-free yogurts. This tastes better and is ultimately a fraction of the cost of all of them. I realized we only had coconut cream in the house (Fresh Thyme brand) but it worked flawlessly! I used the Fresh Thyme multi-flora probiotic (two capsules) which was relatively new. I made sure to pour boiling water in the glass jar I used and on the silicon spatula and let them air dry. Since it was a 90 degree day, it took just under 24 hours – I was tasting it every hour or so near the end. There are some large curds in it but they disappeared once I stirred it. Great recipe! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks so much for sharing, Jessica!
lacey says
This recipe turned out so well! I used native forest coconut milk and jarrow probiotics. I usually dislike store bought yogurt because of weird textures and added sugars so i am happy I found this recipe. I will be making it regularly now!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Lacey! Thanks for sharing!
Mark says
Hi can’t wait to try this recipe. Just wanted to know first, you say coconut milk but you are using cream, which one do I use? And you like the brands that have Guar Gum to keep it thicker but use the one without, so do you add Guar Gum to this?
Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mark, the goal is to use a thick and creamy coconut milk or cream to produce the most creamy yogurt. Savoy and Aroy-D are naturally thick and creamy without gums, while brands like Whole Foods add a gum to make it that way. So the ingredients are less important than what the milk/cream actually looks like. Hope that helps!
Mark says
Awesome thank you 🙏🏼
Joanna says
May I know why my coconut yoghurt turns fizzy? Thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Joanna, that might just mean your probiotics were very active!
Lisa says
Hi! I started my yogurt on Thursday at 1 Pm. Exact products from your list. I think my home might have been on the cool side because it still isn’t set. I moved it to the oven with a bulb today. Ive had good luck making dairy yogurt before but this is my first time with coconut. Is there a maximum time you can let it ferment? Im at day 3.
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lisa, we aren’t aware of a maximum. If it isn’t setting, that could also mean the coconut milk wasn’t thick and creamy to begin with. We’d suggest trying one of the brands in the notes for next time if you didn’t already. Hope that helps!
Lorri F says
Hi,
Tried the recipe and made the compote just as directed. Easy and good tasting. Not runny, perfect texture.
My problem is after trying it tonight my stomach is rumbling! Feeling just slightly nauseous. The yogurt had no odor or separation. I don’t think it’s that. Wondering if two probiotics was too much for me?
Otherwise, great recipe! Happy to find you. ☺️
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lorri, that’s possible!
Rashmi Rao says
Do I need to warm the coconut milk?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
No, not if using canned as it has already been heated in processing.
Andrew says
Wonderful recipe! Was wondering about the necessity of the cheese cloth. Will any other cover do? Why is the cheese cloth important?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Andrew, another cover would be fine! It helps keep out unwanted debris, dust, etc.
Sharon says
Hi! Okay…I made the first try in a mason jar and one can of the coconut milk and mistakenly put in 4 capsules. It turned out a little runny but tasted good. I think because I had hard time finding place to keep it at a good temperature. Kept having to move it from the oven because my household using oven so often. My second try I used what I had left over from my fresh coconut milks from a local distributor who makes it fresh and from scratch( I mixed tumeric and matcha coconut milk together) and a can of coconut milk plus the probiotics. This time lots of separation and mould on top of the yogart so I tossed it. I’m presently making it again with the can of coconut milk and 2 probiotic capsules but doubling the recipe…I know it’ll work with one so I hope it works if I double it so I can’t wait. The only trouble I have is the spot to store while fermentation happens….thanks for such a great recipe. Stay tuned.
Perhaps you could offer an easy coconut kefir recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Sharon! When using fresh coconut milk, it has to be heated to kill off unwanted bacteria, so that’s likely the issue with the second try. We’ll add coconut kefir to our ideas list!
Nasrin says
Hello, can we use coconut cream bar, instead of canned ? Thanks.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Hasrin, we’re not sure what that is? Sorry!
Sue Ann Teo says
Hi, can I add fresh coconut milk to the remaining yogurt that I have now to make new batch of yogurt or do I have to make new from scratch?
Thanks for the recipe and tips. They are very helpful.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sue Ann, we’d suggest searching the comments to see what others have tried! Some other readers have reported success. But when we used 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt as a starter, we found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. Let us know if you try it!
Lorri says
Hi,
So happy to find your recipe. What size Weck jar? The link takes you to a list of Weck jars. Is it the one L Weck on the site or smaller? Thank you!
Lorri
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lorri, we used a large weck jar. Hope that helps!
Jo says
Hi,
Thanks a lot for the recipe. Did anyone give you feedback about this recipe in a yogurt maker with starter culture?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jo, to see what others have tried, you can press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac. A find bar should pop up that allows you to search for specific words in the post and comments- hope that helps!
Jo says
Just wondering: Why do you say not to use PREbiotics?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’ve found they caused the yogurt to not ferment properly.
Jennifer says
I just realized I used a probiotic that has a prebiotic ingredient FOS in it, is it 100% a lost cause or is there a chance it will be ok? It’s been 24 hours and it doesn’t smell off or anything. I was going to let it ferment for 48 hours.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jennifer, it’s possible it will be okay. Hope it works for you!
Liz says
Hi,
I have a probiotic that is 25 billion cfu. Your recipe is two 50 billion capsules, (100 billion total) Does this mean that I need 4 capsules to equal 100 billion?
Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Liz, it might work okay with just two. But for best results, we’d say try 4 capsules.
Amanda says
Thank you so much for sharing his recipe! I just tried the batch I made and I love it! I used Thai Kitchen Organic coconut milk because they sell it in a 6 pack at Costco for a great deal. I used 2 capsules of PB8 brands vegetarian probiotics with 14 billion active cultures. I ended up letting my yogurt sit out for 48 hours. I tried it at the 24 hour mark and around the 36 hour mark and it wasn’t as tangy as I wanted. The yogurt didn’t thicken up as much as I thought it would initially, but I put it in the fridge for a couple of hours before I tried it with some fruit and it was a perfect nice thick texture once it was chilled. Thanks again for sharing! I will definitely be making this again soon!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well, Amanda! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Irisel says
Hi! I used Thai Kitchen Organic coconut milk and Solgar avanced acidophilus plus (500 million), since that’s what I had and couldn’t find the brands you recommended in the local store. It’s pretty hot where I live (PR – 80-100F) so I left the mix on the kitchen countertop for 36 hours instead of 48. When I took the cheesecloth out this morning, there was a thin foam on the top and it smelled more like cheese than yogurt. Is this normal?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Irisel, we haven’t had that happen! It does sound like the high temperature made it ferment faster. We’d suggest trying just 24 hours next time. Let us know how it goes!
Cynthia Hauris says
Is it ok to use a silicon coated whisk for the coconut yogurt?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We think that would be fine
Paulette Miller says
I really appreciated your presentation, factual, succinct, and the recipe is easy. I now understand the difference between coconut milk products offered and how to choose the best ones for making yohurt. The Weck jars recommended will be perfect for giving yogurt as gifts too.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re glad you found it helpful! Thanks for sharing, Paulette!
Victoria says
Hi! So I tried to make this twice now with no success. The first time I definitely blamed the probiotics and the outcome was that sulfury egg smell. The second time I followed every single step to a T with arroy D coconut milk and renew life probiotics but I bought the ones that say 30 billion cultures instead of 50. I didn’t realize there were two kinds but I just don’t see how this could have caused it to smell terrible again. The consistency was good and it tasted tangy but the smell was just so bad so I had to throw it out. I’m so dissapointed don’t know what I’m doing wrong :( Any suggestions? I sterilized the mason jar and used a plastic spoon and even ran that under hot water and then dried it before I stirred the probiotics in!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Victoria, we’re so sorry to hear that! We wonder if the room isn’t staying at a high enough temperature for fermentation? Did you check the video and post for more troubleshooting tips?
Victoria says
Yes I watched the whole video I can’t figure it out :( and our room is probably right around 75 degrees!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So strange! The only other thing we can think of is if the probiotic was not stored at a refrigerated temperature and lost its potency?
Victoria says
To respond to your last message I never put the probiotics in the fridge it says on amazon that it’s optional and they don’t need to be refrigerated?
I tried to make the yogurt again but this time in the oven with the light on. Just over 24 hours, no smell, it smelled like when you cook coconut oil which is good! It was tangy so I transferred it into the fridge to store and thicken up since I felt it was ready. A few hours later I checked it and I got that awful smell back! What is going on!? I’m so frustrated :( I used the larger size mason jar and when I put it in the fridge I took the cheesecloth off and put the normal mason jar covers back on it. Could that metal that’s on the cover of mason jars turned the yogurt?! I can’t understand why I keep getting that terrible smell!
Also as a side questions at what stage do you add in the sweetener if you want to use one?
When I tasted the yogurt at 26 hours it was a nice tang but I felt like it needed a tiny bit a sweetener. That is if I can ever get this right! ***sigh***
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Victoria, some people have expressed concern about purchasing supplements on Amazon due to storage conditions and fake supplements. We wonder if the probiotics may not be active? Once the yogurt is in the fridge, it isn’t a problem for it to touch metal. For the sweetener, we would recommend adding it just before transferring to the fridge. Good luck!
Nicolle Serrano says
Hi!! So I tried making it and maybe left it for a few hours after the 48. I put it straight in the fridge however, it smelled really bad. Kind of egg smell so I am not sure what I did wrong. I used coconut milk from can and Probiotic 25 Billion from Now brand. Any feedback? Also, if I try homemade coconut milk, does the process change?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Nicolle, it looks like that brand contains PREbiotics (FOS) which can cause issues. We’d suggest trying a different probiotic. With homemade coconut milk, it needs to be heated and cooled to kill any bacteria. The canning process does this so that’s why we recommend using canned.
Beverly says
Hi Minimalist Baker:
i saw a yogurt maker advertised for $27 on Amazon. Have you tried a yogurt maker? if yes, is it helpful?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Beverly, we haven’t found a yogurt maker to be necessary. But let us know if you try it!
Ryan Woei says
Hello,
what happens if you use pre/pro biotic?
Kind regards
Ryan
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
In our experience, prebiotics cause it to spoil and not ferment properly.
Adrienn says
Hello! Long time user of the site. And huge fan of coconut yogurt. It’s improved so many dishes, thank you MB/Dana for working on and posting it. I’ve made this dozens of times (replaced my oven light several times now…made all the difference this winter since I live in the D.C. area) and I’ve learned a couple of things about canned coconut milk. First, I suspect MB is so popular, that when something is recommended, it sells out quickly in stores and then online and when available again, at surprisingly higher prices (if you can find it again). So I’ve had to go completely off grid with my full-fat coconut milk choices. First, a surprising good bet are organic store brands. My new favorite (which yes, I’m seriously considering buying by the case), is the Harris Teeter organic coconut milk (chain owned by Kroger). At about $2.20 a can, it’s a reasonable price. The Harris Teeter HT Trader version is also good, though not quite as smooth as the organic. But for $1.40 a can, it’s a good price. I realize that not everyone has Harris Teeter in your area, but I hope this encourages others to try some other store brands. Took me weeks of stopping in to a number of different stores to find the right coconut milk. I’ve used the probiotics that MB recommends and even got lucky with finding it on sale in HT. Love the yogurt with a healthy amount of chai seeds to thicken it up and a large handful of mixed berries. Usually lasts me about four days. Best of luck to everyone out there!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you so much for sharing, Adrienn!
Ana says
Hi there, I want to test this out but the only probiotic capsules I have the Sakara Life vegan probiotic. They are a non-refrigerated probiotic and probably not as powerful? Do you think these should work?
Thank you for your awesome simple recipes, I now make your coconut hemp milk on the regular and have completely replaced my needs for store bought nondairy milk!
Ana
Hi Ana! We haven’t tried this brand but let us know how it goes!
p says
I noticed you use a metal whisk. Does this not disturb the process? Thx.
On the front end, no. As long as it doesn’t touch the probiotic.
Sheri Decaro says
HI!
I made this a few times with one of the less recomended brands and it turned out thin but really good. I found Savoy and tried it , it turned out amazingly thick and creamy however it had a sulfer smell when i opened the jar after cooling it in the refrigerator….it tasts ok… is it still edible?
thank you
If it tastes OK it should be fine. Sulfur smell isn’t good though. I’m wondering if there was a sterilization issue?
akari says
May I ask what size Weck Glass is used to make coconut yogurt ?
Thanks.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Of course! Here are the ones we used.
Mc says
Hi! After less than 24 hours I checked on my yogurt and it tasted very fizzy and carbonated. Is this still safe to consume?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi, that might just mean your probiotics were very active! But look for signs that it smells, looks, or tastes off.
Hannah Shams says
Hi! The only coconut milk I have on hand is the trader Joes reduced fat can. Is it worth making this if I only have this brand? (I’m planning on using it for your caramel apple cheesecake recipe for context).
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Hannah, unfortunately, we don’t think it would work. It’s too liquidy and oily.
Alessandra says
Hi MB. Im gonna try this recipe, I found man others on internet and I like your explanation and tips.
I would like to know if I can use two or perhaps three spoons of this yogurt as starter for another batch, to save in capsules. Please and thanks in advance.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Alessanda, we’d suggest searching the comments to see what others have tried! Some other readers have reported success. But when we used 2 Tbsp of coconut yogurt as a starter, we found that it wasn’t as tangy and didn’t really thicken. Let us know if you try it!
Naomi says
Hi! Can I use my first batch as a starter to make more yogurt?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Naomi, we did test that ourselves but didn’t find it to be successful as the coconut milk never thickened up or got tangy enough. However, if you do some experimenting let us know how it goes!
Kim says
I successfully used about 1/4 cup from my previous batch as a starter and used the yogurt setting on my Express Crock. 8 hours later, I had great yogurt!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Kim!
Kimia says
Hi, any idea why my coconut yogurt is not as smooth ? I see super tiny grains in it ?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kimia, it’s probably the brand. See our brand recommendations in the post.
Amber Eaton says
Is there a minimum of “probiotic billions” for the recipe?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
There isn’t. We would say aim for 50+ billion
Mindaugas says
Can you make it from homemade coconut milk? Would it work?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
It would have to be made really thick, but it might be possible. Also, you may need to heat it since canned items have already been heated for safety. Let us know if you try it!
erica says
Hey there,
I’ve got a couple of cans of coconut milk and a vegan yogurt as a starter.
Is this method still safe for using a yogurt starter rather than capsules?
I also question why some recipes refer to this method without heat, but the majority require heating the coconut milk before adding culture and jarring.
Could you speak to which method is right for what situation?
Thanks very much!
Hi Erica, we did test that ourselves but didn’t find it to be successful as the coconut milk never thickened up and got tangy enough. However, if you do some experimenting let us know how it goes!
krisyy says
Can I put in my vegan omegas?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We don’t see why not!
Tanya Jean says
Hi!! I’m ready to make this!! Do you use 2 capsules of the Renew Life Ultimate Flora 50 billion?? Or just one capsule?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Two capsules
Kim says
I made mine with WF365 coconut cream – that was all they had – it was amazing. The taste of plain yogurt doesn’t do it for me and i always jazz it up. But I wanted to eat this straight from the jar. The flavor was amazing!
Have you tried the Thai Kitchen Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk? It was not listed in the video. This was at my local store and was wondering.
Thanks for sharing! We find Thai Kitchen to be a little unreliable (some cans are good quality, while others aren’t). Glad you enjoyed this, Kim! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful to us and other readers! xo
Cristina Capobianco says
Hello! I accidentally used a metal spoon. I used a can of Whole Foods coconut milk and two probiotics. Will I get sick if I eat this? Or will it just not turn out as good?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Christina, it might be okay. Just look for signs that it smells/looks/tastes off.
Maggie says
Hello! Thanks for this great recipe. I carelessly stirred my yogurt/probiotic mixture with a metal spoon. How will this affect the yogurt? Should I just toss it? :/
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Maggie, it might be okay. Just look for signs that it smells/looks/tastes off.
Ivanne says
I’ve made this twice now using the recipe suggestions: ArroyD coconut milk and Renewlife probiotic (exact, no prebiotic) and left in oven with light on for 36-48 hrs each time. First time thickened well but second time did not. Bigger issue is both times, smelled like sulfur/eggs! What happened? I tried coconut yogurt in the instant pot Yogurt setting, and used regular dairy yogurt as the probiotic instead, and it doesn’t seem to have the sulfur issue but the instant pot also creates a lot of steam condensation. What went wrong?
Hmm, did you sterilize everything properly? It sounds like either the probiotic wasn’t fresh or something went awry as bacteria got introduced.
Amy says
Look up videos on making instant pot yogurt. Usually people take off the ring and leave the vent open to help with condensation. I like to just use a regular glass lid that has some vents. Maybe a clean towel or cheese cloth would work too?
Jolene says
I just made it with Aroy-D as well and had the exact same problem. But, I have noticed a weird smell sometimes when I open the cans that goes away and the taste is never off. I’ve never made coconut yogurt before so I have nothing to compare it with.
Meital says
Hi! I left the yogurt out on my counter so far for 24 hours, its still very watery. Should i give it another day to ferment or add another probiotic?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Meital, if it tastes tangy enough, we’d suggest giving it a stir and adding to the fridge. Otherwise, go ahead and let it ferment a little longer. If you want to thicken your yogurt even more, place two layers of cheesecloth over a fine mesh strainer set over a large mixing bowl and carefully pour in your yogurt. Then loosely cover the top (with a lid or plastic wrap), and refrigerate / let drain for several hours (draining liquid as needed) until desired thickness is reached!
Naomi says
I only have the probiotic with prebiotic. What will happen if I use that instead of just the probiotic?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We find that prebiotics cause it to spoil and not ferment properly.
Hannah says
This might be a really silly question, but after you refrigerate it, can you use a metal spoon to eat it?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Not a silly question! Yes, avoiding metal is only important before the refrigeration step. Hope that helps!
Jackie says
I too made yogurt milk yogurt using 1 can full fat Thai Kitchen organic coconut milk, 2 capsules MegaFlora, and one package vegan yogurt starter. Left on the counter 48 hours. Once cooled in the frig, it thickened into a great vegan yogurt!
I’m going to experiment to try increasing the tang.
Maybe without the starter as you have.
Maybe increase the probiotic and or time left out. I’m afraid leaving out too long it might spoil?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jackie, we’d suggest increasing the probiotic for more tang
Brinn Busch says
This is the second time I made it. The first time was perfect! The second time I used a different coconut milk brand and used a plastic container instead of a glass jar like the first time. Would this have affected the process?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Brinn, we wouldn’t expect that to cause an issue, but it’s possible!
Hilary says
This is really good.Store bought Yoghurt I had was strong coconut taste and no yoghurty tang. This is less coconutty and more tangy.it looks a bit greyish so it would be good to add something with a little colour
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Hilary! Thanks so much for sharing!
Delilah says
Hi, I just made the yogurt :) it’s been on the side for 3 hours but it’s separated; basically thicker on top and then opaque liquid underneath :/ – what do I do? Thanks 🙏
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Delilah, some separation is normal. Once ready to put in the fridge, you can just give it a stir. Hope that helps!
Jaclyn says
How do I tell if the coconut yoghurt turns out bad? Mine came out not as thick as I want (but because I couldn’t get hold of any of the recommended brands), no mould or change of colour but it is pretty sour. No bad smell but it does have a bit of sour/vinegar smell to it. I only had coconut yoghurt once (really love it) so can’t remember how it should taste.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jaclyn, it should have a bit of a tangy taste and if it didn’t thicken, that usually just means the coconut milk wasn’t as thick. If you see mold or it tastes bad, then we wouldn’t recommend eating it.
Martha says
I only have the probiotic drops here , can i use this instead of the capsules?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried it, but we don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Let us know how it goes!
Amelia Leonard says
I accidentally went half way thru making mine using a metal spoon, but in a glass jar. Is it ruined? Is it still safe to eat?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amelia, it might be okay. If it looks or smells off though, we would recommend discarding.
Jessica says
I’ve made this recipe twice now using Trader Joe’s coconut milk. First time with full fat and it came out amazing! Second time I tried light and it just didn’t thicken or set up as I would have liked. I’m wondering if there’s a way to use my failed attempt in another recipe? Have you been able to do this? Not sure how the probiotics would play a role in a transformation, but in this day and age I hate wasting it! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jessica, we would suggest using the second attempt in smoothies!
Happy says
Hi
I made mine, I left it in the oven, properly wrapped for 2 days, it came out smelling fermented, light and the water has separated, I tossed it.
It was overly light, what could have gone wrong?
Is it the coconut milk brand??
P.S. it wasn’t as thick as the brand you used.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Happy, a little separation is normal- give it a stir before adding to the fridge. But for a thicker yogurt, we’d suggest trying one of the brands recommended in the notes. Hope that helps!
Teva says
i really want to try to make this yogurt, but i cant find any cheesecloth in the country i’m in and because of corona ordering online isn’t an option… do you have any Recommendations for another method so that i can make this yogurt and enjoy it :) looks delicious !
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Teva, if just using it to cover- a clean, thin dish towel should work. Hope that helps!
Shannon L says
Hi I was just wondering would this work with a liquid Probiotic?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Shannon, we haven’t tried it, but we don’t see any reason it wouldn’t!
Emily says
Hello!
I wanted to ask the same question but I was wondering how much liquid probiotic you recommend using? A couple of teaspoons perhaps? Thanks so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emily, we aren’t sure as we haven’t tried it. We’d recommend looking at the CFUs of bacteria and compare to the amount in the capsules we used. Hope that helps!
Jaimie says
Great texture and taste, awesome when you have that yogurt craving!
Marta says
Should the can of coconut milk/cream be refrigerated or not, prior to starting the yogurt making process?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
No need to refrigerate it. It should be at room temp.
Marcy says