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.
Jari says
I made this twice. The first time with Whole Foods light coconut milk and two jarrow 50 billion probiotic capsules; stirred with a plastic fork and tried to work it in there; let it sit for 48 hours, tasted delicious but didn’t thicken up. Second time, used full fat Whole Foods coconut milk and two jarrow 50 billion capsules; bought a small wooden paddle spoon at Sur Le Table; I mixed the coconut milk really well first in a big bowl; I then used a 16 ounce wide mouth mason jar and dumped the powder of the two capsules in there first; I poured one tablespoon of the full fat coconut milk in there and beat the powder into the little bit of milk with the wooden paddle spoon and really worked it against the sides of the jar and it was much easier to see the clumps since there was only a tablespoon of the milk; once I beat the heck out of it for a few minutes and couldn’t see any big clumps I added the rest of the milk and beat it again for two minutes and covered it with cheese cloth and left it on top of the laundry room shelf; waited 48 hours and voila! Thick, rich, tangy tasting! I put it in the fridge to thicken some more and it’s so perfect! Hope this helps someone else. Don’t give up! Super worth it. I served it with lemon juice, lemon zest, honey and fresh blueberries!
kristy says
Is the Trader Joes coconut cream no good either?
And thank you! Coconut milk yogurt has been on my to do list forever!
Erika says
Hi! I am so excited about this!
I used a can of full fat 365 and 1/2 teaspoon of Jarro 12 billion probiotics, and left out for about 58 hours. There was a super tiny bit of mold starting to grow but just scooped it off and then refrigerated.
– Besides smell and color, is there anything else to look for if something went wrong? I tried a little taste before refrigerating and it was super tangy. I know I can add sweetener but want to make sure it’s is seemingly ok to consume. Thanks!
Carolyn says
Looks amazing!! Can’t wait to try this. I have no idea where I can get probiotic capsules from. Will have to investigate!
Darcy says
Hi I am during the process of making this and only after 48 hours it seems to have started to thicken. Just wondering how long can I leave the yogurt out before putting in the fridge. Thanks
Katherine says
Hey Dana, my rating is wrong in my first comment. It should be a 5 STAR…. I think I might have mis-clicked or something. Sorry about that. I do love your recipe.
Maya says
This recipe is so simple it’s hard to believe that it could be this good but it is! I let mine (I used full-fat coconut milk) sit on the counter for about 36 hrs, and it was the perfect amount of tartness for me. This yogurt is light, creamy, thick, and delicious! I will be making this yogurt all of the time I love it so much.
Alisha says
So I tried this recipe out Saturday night (2 days ago) and when I check on it this morning it smelled sour, like rotten egg sour. I didn’t think that was right so I just dumped it to be sure. I used Thai kitchen full fat coconut milk. Any thoughts as to why it might of gone bad? Should I try a different probiotic?
Natalia says
Same thing happened to me, I used the same coconut milk, and Renew life probiotics, don’t know what went wrong :(
Steph S. says
I made this and loved it! I used the Thai Kitchen Lite Organic coconut milk and Ther-Biotic Complete probiotic. Mine didn’t thicken up as much as in the pictures; I’d say it was was little thinner/runnier than Yoplait yogurt. It tasted tangy and yogurt-y, though! I followed the directions exactly, leaving the yogurt on my counter for 48 hours (my house was always above 70 degrees). I got a little separation, so I stirred it, tasted it, then popped it in the fridge for 14 hours. It was delicious with homemade granola! I’ll definitely make it again, but I’ll try the full fat coconut milk to hopefully get a thicker consistency.
melissa says
Hi! I made my own coconut milk, with blended shredded coconut and water. So far it’s looking pretty good, although I did get some separation this morning and was wondering if that should be okay? Doesn’t smell bad! I gave it a good stir and we’ll see what keeps happening! Thank you!!!!
Anita says
Hi Dana,
I used Thai Kitchen full fat coconut milk and two of the exact same probiotics you used. It never thickened. It did separate ( I stirred it a couple of times to combine). It has been 48 hours and it’s still thin and runny. I think I’m going to whip it up later – add some confectioner’s sugar and use for something else so I can at least salvage the can of milk. Oh well.
Albert Sain says
hey Dana ,
I really love your recipe and now i think i should try this at once an i will share my experience after try this awsum minimalist baker . Thanks for sharing :)
Lori says
Ok, here I go!
I bought lite coconut milk before I noticed that you’d changed your recommendation, so we’ll see how it turns out. I had the Jarrow 10 billion probiotic, so added a few more capsules thinking that would more compare to two of the 50 billion caps. Do you think that was necessary, Dana?
Even if it comes out thin it’ll still be good in my smoothies and I’ll try full fat milk next time.
Thanks so much for this recipe! I love it when I can make my own anything rather than buying it!!
Averil says
I made this. Worked like a treat. I have ended up with some watery liquid on the bottom, however all the yogurt is thick on top. I live in Australia and the daily temps are probably around 27 degrees Celsius. Left it on the bench for 48 hours. I am really happy with the results.
Jared says
This is so good to know, thanks for sharing. Would love to know which coconut yoghurt you used?
Lindsay Nelson says
not very good. I used native forest coconut milk and my flora probiotic, and I have to say, I threw it straight in the trash after sampling. tasted like really bad quality, thick kombucha. wouldn’t recommend it, but it was fun to make.
Jennifer Marlowe says
My dairy free journey began last summer because my newborn was showing signs of cow’s milk protein allergy. I cut out all dairy and saw huge improvements with my baby. We’ve been dairy free ever since! Dairy free yogurt from the grocery store leaves a lot to be desired, so I was very pleased to see this recipe.
I let mine culture for just over 48 hours. It is delicious! I mixed in some fresh strawberries and strawberry compote and OMG SO GOOD. The texture is perfect. The tanginess is spot on. This will definitely be something I keep in my fridge all the time.
Thank you so much! Your next task, should you choose to accept, is dairy free cottage cheese and/or cream cheese. ??
Sophia says
Hello, if has separated and I want to stir it in, do I stir it before I put it in the refidgerator or after it has been refrigerated? Thank you! I hope mine turns out :)
Hi! Give it a stir after its been refrigerated as it may separate again!
Jill says
Mine was watery as well. I’m wondering if I didnt use enough probiotic. If the recipe is two 50 million then we should be using equivalent to 100 millions worth? My probiotics are 10 million and I only used two. Maybe I’ll try it again using 10 capsules? what do you think?
Shunan says
I tried this recipe using my instant pot and it worked quite well! I made mine using aroy-d coconut milk and jamiesons probiotic capsules with 10 billion. I left it slightly too long for my taste (8 hours?) Using the instant pots yogurt setting. Also, it did separate but not too much, after stirring it, it was thick enough but not yet greek yogurt thick. Still, it was a good attempt, next time ill leave it for shorter since it was too tart for me :)
Lauren says
This is awesome! I already have digestive enzymes on hand, but not probiotics… do you think those would work? I tried googling it, but was unsuccessful.
Sincerely,
Lactose intolerant yogurt lover!
Jenny says
I made this with Trader Joe’s Organic full fat coconut milk (without gust gum) and Udo’s Flora Hi potency probiotics. No go. ? Stayed completely liquid.
Suzy says
What can i use in place of cheese cloth?
Hi! You could try using a thin dish towel!
Renee says
I tried this with Thai Kitchen coconut milk and grocery store brand probiotics (all I had). It was a disaster. It was still milky and smelled awful after 2 days in a warm place then overnight in the refrigerator. I’m assuming that my mistake was the kind of probiotics I used because I believe I did everything else correctly. Would you have any other suggestions?
Renee says
I purchased the renew probiotics as called for in this recipe and realized my mistake. The probiotics that I used were only 4 million while renew is 50 billion. Being smarter now, I’m going to try it again.
Deb says
Yay!
At first it didn’t thicken up but it tasted yogurty so I strained it over night in the fridge and presto.
Thank you for the recipe <3
PS: I let the yogurt process for 72 hours and strained it overnight so it was quite tart but a little honey and yum.
Karen Brown says
Any way to avoid the sulfur smell? I used full fat Thai Kitchen coconut milk and even though I stirred it well it is a tad crunchy sometimes when eating because of the higher fat content. May try with light next time if I can find it.
Ines says
So delicious and tangy (just like Greek yoghurt)!! I topped it with fresh berries, banana, some homemade granola and honey!
I used the Whole Foods coconut milk and the light milk. The whole milk came out creamier and the light is more of a Kiefer texture. I also used the Renew Life 50 billion probiotics. Our house is kept cool in the summer at around 73-75 (for the Florida heat and humidity). I will try this one again in my NYC apartment and see how it comes out! Kinda feeling like temperature might have something to do with it.
Jayme says
Dana, I just wanted to chime in with my results. I made this using the same ingredients you did (365 full fat coconut milk and 2 Renew Life 50 billion capsules) and after 48 hours it didn’t seem very thick – I stirred it and wasn’t happy with how runny it seemed. I left it for another 24 hours (72 hours total) and it seemed to only thicken slightly. It was similar to kefir consistency. I put it in the fridge at that point and by the next day it had thickened up nicely! Maybe not quite as thick as yours appears, but thicker than store bought vegan yogurts I’ve tried so I was quite pleased! It is quite tangy (borderline too tangy!) and I’ve been mixing in a little maple syrup and some granola I made (used your recipe for dark chocolate sea salt granola – SO GOOD!) and it is delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe and all your hard work that’s gone into it :)
Kristina says
Hi Dana! I cannot wait to try this recipe out. I was wondering if maybe a paper napkin could work to cover the jar instead of a cheese cloth? I don’t really know where I would buy a cheese cloth, and I kinda don’t want to buy it just for this recipe… but will if it ensures the best quality results! Thanks so much :)
Jayme says
I used a paper napkin (opened up all the way so it was thinner for air flow) with a rubber band holding it in place. Worked well for me :)
Kristina says
Thanks, Jayme!! I’m going to try this, and hopefully mine is a success too… fingers crossed! :)
Molly O says
Soooo good! Tried it the first time &I it didn’t turn out right, but only because I used probiotics WITH prebiotics. So the suggestions made in the notes are very helpful ??
Will def be making this weekly from now on. Yum!!
amy says
Hi Dana, thanks for such an easy recipe! I made this with Earth’s Choice organic full fat coconut milk & Bio-K+ probiotic “mild” ( 12.5 billion) and it came out perfect! so thick and delicious!
Jennifer says
This recipe doesn’t work for me, no matter how obediently I follow the instructions. I have no clue what I’m doing wrong.
Sofia Mesa says
I have been vegan for two years now and I am not a huge fan of coconut (I know, shocking). Sometimes I find that store bought coconut yogurts have an overwhelming coconut taste and taste more like coconut oil than a vegan yogurt. This recipe was absolutely wonderful. I used the Thai Kitchen coconut milk and other than the very top of the yogurt (I believe I didn’t whisk it enough), it was completely creamy and smooth. My only complaint is that I wish I made more! Also because the consistency was a little denser than I expected I think this recip also a nice “vegan cool whip” if you continue to refrigerate it! I am about to make another because frankly, I am addicted.
Tebereh says
Hi – followed recipe, but after 48 hrs, it had not thickened at all and was covered in mold. Any idea what could have gone wrong? Thanks.
Mélina says
It worked!! I’m Canadian so I don’t know if this brand is sold everywhere, but I used one can of Native Forest classic coconut milk and three 10 billion probiotics pills. Left it out on my counter for 48hrs and I just put it in the fridge for about 2hrs and it already has the consistency of Greek yogurt! My room temp is also at 75, so that might also be a contributing factor. It’s so tannngyyyyyyy, bless the lords! Oh I have so missed tangy yogourt. 100% better than store bought. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I honestly think this recipe needs a perfect combo of a good full fat coconut milk+ room temp+ the right amount of probiotic.
Jennifer Marlowe says
Mine is so tangy too! I love it! I agree with you— 100% better than store bought dairy free yogurt!!
Natalye says
Hi Mélina, did you crush the pills first or? I tried making Coyo in my Instant Pot with pills and it didn’t work so I’m going to try this version but wanted to see if maybe I should do something with the pills (mine are also 10 billion probiotic).
Sierra says
I used Thai Kitchen coconut milk and 2 probiotic capsules for this, after 48hrs in the house (in San Diego – warm), I tasted it and it was not tangy at all… tried putting it in the oven with the light on for another ~30hrs… still not tangy? am i doing something wrong?
Loren says
This worked out so well for me and it’s so yummy! I used the brands Dana recommended and full fat coconut milk. My house tends to be a bit cooler during the evening, so I did let the mix rest for an additional twelve hours in the warmest part of my house. It really thickened up after 48 hours for me. I’m already makin batch two! :)
Chrissy says
Can I use Coconut Cream instead of milk? Seems that would make it thicker.
Natalie says
I used 365 full-fat yogurt and 2 probiotics (not sure of the strength) after 24 hrs it was still pretty thin so I added 2 more probiotics and waited 24 more hours. It got plenty thick and even more so after I refrigerated it. Just had a serving for breakfast, SO GOOD!! Thanks for the great simple recipe!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Cindy Bennett says
Will this work with coconut creamer?
Emma says
Tried and tested UK brands:
x1 can of Essential organic coconut milk
x2 capsules of Solgar Multi Billion Dophilus
Left out to ferment for 2 and a half days and then refridgerated a couple of days before eating. Worked great. Nice and thick!
Laura-lee says
Hi
How did you work with the cooler climate here in the U.K.? I’ve tried to make it and it isn’t thickening and I’m thinking this is probably because it’s too cold
Laura
Emma says
I made it in the summer, but my flat is generally above 20c for a lot of the year as I live in a concrete high-rise.
I haven’t tried it in truly cold conditions yet, but I am expecting that I may have to put it in the oven to keep it from drafts, or maybe have it on the keep-warm setting in my slow cooker.
Laura-lee Man says
unfortunately my oven as to be turned on fully there isn’t a pilot light only option.. my slow cooker only as low medium high so would probably cook it.. I’ve now put a wolley sock around the jar and placed it at the back of my fridge it’s warm there! Hopefully this works!
Marie-Eve says
I tried this with light coco milk and it turned out a bit thin but the taste is amazing! I added chia seeds to thicken it.
Lilly says
I DID IT!!!!!!! Haha I’m so excited!
1st attempt: I used a glass pie jar (closest I could find to a glass bowl), Thai Kitchen Organic full fat + Deva Nutrition Vegan Probiotic (came up first on Amazon, so I figured it would be good). This combination FAILED. I left it out for over 48 hours, tried the oven, tried outside, went to the fridge and it never thickened.
2nd attempt: I used a mason jar, 365 Organic Full Fat + Jarro Probiotic. Boom! In 24 hours I could already tell it was thickening, by 48 hours it was super thick and after a few hours in the fridge, wow. I honestly can’t believe how delicious this tastes!! It tastes totally different from plain coconut milk yet it’s the same thing, crazy! I’m obsessed. I ate it plain, with fruit, with blended strawberries, with homemade granola… all YUM!
The only problem for me is the fat content. I wish I could sit down and eat the entire jar, but that would be around 600 fat calories :(
I want to attempt to make it with Lite Coconut Milk, although I understand that will make it thinner.
So for those who failed, I would 100% use the exact brands Dana recommends!
And major props to Dana for dealing with all of us whining about how it wouldn’t work!!
Nicole says
I was so happy to find this recipe and try it out! IT WORKED! I have to say, Dana, thanks for your meticulous attention to getting this recipe right and responding to so many questions and comments. What an incredible effort!
Here are the details that made it work perfectly for me:
Native Forest Unseweened Coconut Milk (full fat & has guar gum)
RenewLife Ultiamte Flora (50 billion) 3 capsules
Weck Jar
Cheesecloth
I mixed with a plastic spoon making sure to get the probiotic powder to separate. This took a little while. I put the cheesecloth on with a rubber band and left on my counter for about 24 hours. Worried it was too cold, I did put it in the oven with the light on only for another 12 hours. If felt a little warm so then for the last little bit it was on the counter. This morning, after 39 hours it was looking thick and I popped it in the fridge.
I think the full fat coconut milk with guar gum and fresh new probiotics that were stored in the fridge paired with patience and keeping an eye on the temp in the house made this work!
THANK YOU!
Ella says
Like some others, mine smelled like eggs pretty bad when I finally tasted it! Does anyone have any idea why this might be? At first it smelled just like great yogurt, but after a night in the fridge… the sulfur smell was overwhelming. My probiotics aren’t expired, my equipment was clean… I would just love to narrow down the problem.
Thanks!
Natalia says
Yes! this is exactly what happened to me too :( it smelled very yogurt-y until after it went into the fridge. Everything was clean, I used the recommended coconut milk and probiotics. Don’t know what went wrong :(
Ildiko says
Wouldn’t you need to boil and cool the coconut milk first to kill any bacteria that may be in there? I am just thinking we do this with regular milk when making yogurt, so why not with coconut milk?
alessia says
This is so good I kept for dessert after lunch. I’m eating it with my homemade strawberry compote and I’m currently stocking on coconut milk for the next few months..don’t want to risk it!
Thank Dana
Amber says
So happy I stumbled across your site. This looks so good too!!!
xoxo -Amber
Allie says
I just made this and oh.my.goodness. I used whole fat (I always do w/coconut milk) and used just my everyday probiotic: RenewLife 15 billion. I don’t have a cheesecloth, so I used my nut milk bag and left it on my counter for 48 hrs. After the 48hrs, I put it in my fridge where is separated some, but stirred it in. Mine was the consistency of super thick Greek yogurt, and after I stirred, it was just like normal Greek yogurt. It’s super delicious and amazing with vanilla bean paste! Enjoy!
Lovely! Would you mind adding a rating, Allie? That would be so helpful! Thanks!
Hope says
This worked great! I feel for you after watching all of your Instastories and reading the comments, haha. I used Thai Kitchen full fat coconut milk and Genuine Health 15 billion (2). Had it on the counter for almost 48 hours, had quite a bit of separation and it’s in the fridge getting thick. I tasted it and it tastes so good!! Great recipe. Thanks
Yay! thanks for sharing! xoxo
Paola says
Hi Dana,
I’m from Italy, so I can’t buy the same coconut milk and probiotics, but I made a research and today I’ve done your recipe. Now the yogurt is resting; a minute ago I checked it out and I noticed that it already smells a bit tangy!!! I’m so excited. If it works with my ingredients I’ll share the products name.
Finger cross!!
And thanks for this amazing recipe. :-)
Paola
Leah says
Hi! I have left my coconut milk with probiotics mixed in on the counter for about 36 hours. What I’m uncertain of is whether it’s now safe to eat. The smell is VERY sour and tangy, and kind of off putting. I would say it’s even a little stinky. I’ve put it in the fridge to thicken up more (it has already thickened some). How would you describe the smell of your completed coconut yogurt? Really sour? Or just a little bit? Thanks for any thoughts. I’d rather toss it out than risk food poisoning, if yours does not have that strong a sour/ stinky smell. I used Thai Kitchen light coconut milk (purchased before you updated the recipe to use full fat).
julia says
QUESTION! I strained my yogurt into a metal mixing bowl,, does that mean that I cannot use the liquid in the metal bowl bc of the problem w/ metal and and probiotics ?? I didn’t realize my mistake until after I strained it):
Chloe says
Mine was unsuccessful the first time so I will try again and thanks for your other videos ?
Alexandra Jennings says
Hey Dana! I made two “versions” both using 365 full fat coconut milk and 1/2 tsp of Country Life Baby Care Probiotic powder. 1 version I simply stirred it all together and the end result was a chunky and not creamy situation. The second, I started by giving a quick pulse to the milk and probiotics in the blender and that came out perfect! You mentioned metal will react to the probiotic; how affected do you think that pulse gave my yogurt? I’m so happy with the result but I’m skeptical of my method!!! Thank you!
danielle forrester says
i made it! i used thai kitchen organic coconut milk, one can, and ProBiota 12 probiotic. i only used one capsule and waited 48 hours. it wasn’t creamy at 24. turned out really great!! thank you!
Yaella says
My yogurt has separated after 12 hours. Should I give it a stir now or at the end of the 48 hour process?
Jenica Griffith says
Hey!
I’m a little confused regarding the amount of probiotics, could you specify how many cfu’s are required/optimal? ~ I have 50 billion and 150 billion probiotic capsules, if I add two of the 150 that would be vastly more than if I added two of the 50…..
I tried it once with 2 of the 50 billion and had a major fail ~ after 24 hours the coconut milk smelled and tasted putrid, not like it was off but waaaaaay too “tangy” in quite an unpleasant way.
I want to try again with my other probiotics but am unclear on how much I should use.
Thanks!
Elisabeth McCall says
How long is it good for? Thank you :)
1 week, sometimes more!
Danielle says
Yaaas! Love the fine tuning of the recipes. Especially this one. I was so excited you were making this. I only have TJ’s on hand so I will go get the recommended brands. I can’t wait! I NEED this in my life! Thank you!
Yay! Yeah, TJ’s is a no go. Try the others!
Danielle says
Made it! Used 365 coconut milk and culturelle. At about 36 hours it seemed ready so I put a little splash of mable syrup and refrigerated and it’s GREAT! Nice and thick and delicious. So happy to pair this with my homemade granola. Already started a second batch!
Ashlyn says
Yay! I was so excited to make this, and it turned out great!
I used Thai Kitchen, full-fat coconut milk and 3 Jarrow capsules, set out for about 50 hours. Not as thick as I was hoping, but it was just fine.
I have another batch going with Sprouts’ brand coconut milk, excited to see how it turns out. Thanks for this recipe!
Lovely! thanks for sharing!!
Lisa Kelly says
I used the Renew probiotics and used a large mason jar-about every 8 hours, the yogurt essentially foams almost out of the cheesecloth. A quick stir brings it down and the consistency seems great thus far, but Im wondering if this is supposed to happen?
Does your probiotic contain prebiotics? I’ve heard of that happening with prebiotic versions!
Elizabee says
Did it turn out alright? I have a probiotic with prebiotics and would prefer not to go buy a different one … :)
Kate says
The final end all question is….. can you whip it ? Like the coconut cult ? Thanks!
I’m wondering if you would whip it FIRST (before adding probiotics0. Or, if you thickened it using my straining method and then whipped it. Let me know if you try it!
Addy says
I blended the coconut milk with a handful of raw cashews in a Vitamix, transferred it to a glass jar, and then stirred in the probiotics and let it sit for 48 hours — it turned out super thick and almost whipped like Coconut Cult!
Laura says
Hi!
Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe, I think it is amazinh, I looove coconut yogurt so much!
I tried to to it with just my regular coconut milk (where I live I can’t get the coconut milk you suggested) and I also tried using store bought soy yogurt for culturing it because I didn’t want to buy probiotics. So far it is going quite well, it just doesn’t thicken up as much as yours, but maybe when I refrigerate it tomorrow morning.
Your tips and suggestions are great, I think everyone can now find a way to work it out.
I am so excited to try it and I will let you know then!
Katie Y says
Hey Dana! I’ve been looking for a simple recipe/method for making coconut milk yogurt recently and this came at the perfect time!
I tried it out a few days ago with the Thai Kitchen full fat coconut milk, and the probiotics I used are Garden of Life. It definitely got tangy after being on the counter for roughly 24 hours, but it never did thicken up much, even after I refrigerated it for a few days. Do you have any suggestions? Should I try a different brand of probiotic? Btw love love love your recipes and blog!! <3 <3 thank you!!
Hi Katie! I’ve never used Garden of Life, but it *should* have worked. If using full fat, next time you might just try draining off some of the clear liquid from the coconut milk before adding the probiotics. Otherwise try my straining method above!
Katie Y says
Hey Dana thanks for the reply! Sorry I really didn’t read the comments above before I added that, I probably could have solved my own problem without repeating the same questions you’ve been getting, ha! I will try straining next time!
Amie says
What if my probiotics are green (powder)? Should they not be, is that not good quality? Because it turned the coconut milk green as soon as I stirred it in, not sure I will be able to eat green yogurt :/
I use Garden of Life Whole Food Probiotic Supplement – Primal Defense ULTRA Ultimate Probiotic (15 billion)
Hmm, not sure about that. I’d recommend find one that’s white for best color / results.
Amanda says
I tried this recipe with 1 can of Whole Foods 365 full fat coconut milk and 2 Renew Life 50 billion probiotic capsules. Turned out perfectly! Super impressed and excited to have access to sugar free coconut yogurt!
Question, have you tried making more/bigger batches using leftover of the original yogurt? Or do you start from scratch every time?
Yay! So glad it went well. I haven’t tried that, but I’m thinking that would work! Maybe just add 1 probiotic to help? If you try it let me know how it goes!
Natashia says
Is there a way to make this via Almond milk? I recently found out I have food allergies to anything with coconut. So now I’m having Soy milk store brand yogurt but really wanting to make my own with almond milk and not many I can find in stores with already made almond milk options. I notice this a lot recently with “ice-cream” to, that coconut is very popular.
Please see the notes above the recipe.
Lisa R says
Whole foods 354 light Coconut milk. 2 brand new fresh probiotic capsules. 48 hours on the counter .. my house is PLENTY warm enough with no central air.. tasted with a spoon and it was tangy but had not thickened at all. So I figure what the heck.. popped it in the fridge… 24 hours later.. it is as runny as if I just opened the can of milk… Oh well…..
Rachel says
I just used Spriuts organic coconut milk and Culturelle probiotic. It’s been about 16 hrs and it’s very thick so it seems to be working well :)
Awesome! Thanks for sharing. Will you check back when it’s done and leave a rating!? That would be so helpful! Thanks, xoxo
Rachel says
Ok so it’s been a full 48 hours andddd… ITS AMAZING. Very rich and creamy. It’s not crazy tangy but that’s ok with me. The consistency is thick but velvety. Basically, perfection.
Rima Berzin says
Ah great. I use Culturelle 15 billon and was wondering how many I needed to use to make the yogurt. Can you tell me how much you used please?
Rachel says
Hey! I used 10 billion so for me it was 3 capsules per can of coconut milk. You should be good with two ;)
Paige says
Delicious!! I used the thrive market brand and though I did whisk it up, it’s still a little gritty. I have the 365 brand in the pantry and will try it again. But the taste and thickness is perfect!!
Lovely! would you mind leaving a comment about your experience with a rating? That would be so helpful!
Darcy says
Really excited to try this, just wondering why does using a probiotic with prebiotic not work?
I have heard from several people that it made their yogurt foam up and overflow! I don’t understand why, but I advise against it.
MerrySoul says
FYI future makers…I couldn’t find any affordable probiotic capsules at the store and had some kids Culturelle powder packets at home so I tried 2 of those. Figured that would be about the same amount as two capsules. It’s sat for 2 days now and flavor seems fine but after being in the fridge for several hours it’s still runny like when I started it. Anyone else had this problem? What other probiotics have you all tried?
Sara says
This is my new go to yogurt! It turned out great using full fat Goya coconut milk and probiotics capsules I got at GNC. I let it sit for exactly 48 hours. It looked a little runny but after a couple of hours in the fridge, it was thick and perfect.
Annaliese says
Yep, I can affirm that the Trader Joe’s regular coconut milk is a no-go on this recipe. It was all I had, and I still ended up with some tangy coconutty-liquid for smoothies. I tried blending the coconut milk in my Vitamix, but duh, that sheared the fat so it all coalesced into one giant blob…so, I scooped out the coconut solids (cream) and also enjoyed those in smoothies and on top of warm oats! Will def try the other brands of coconut milk for this next week….also, I used Floragen probiotics!
Yeah, sorry, TJ’s didn’t work for me at all either. Glad you salvaged it though! New recommendations above, btw.
Patti Kim says
Do you know how many CFU’s of probiotics you used? Your photo looks like you may have used 2 capsules (so 100 billion if you were using your Renew ones or 20 billion if you were using the Jarrow?). In your Instagram post, it looked like you maybe used 4 capsules (so 200 billion or 40 billion depending on which brand of probiotics you used). PS. As a sidenote, I’m a Naturopathic Doctor and the Renew is better as far as OTC probiotics. I’ve cultured raw dairy on the counter for 1-2 days before but I’m nervous to make this since coconut milk is not a live food and I want to make sure I add in enough probiotics so the coconut milk will actually culture and not just go bad. Thanks! I’ve been so curious about the Coconut Cult yogurt but haven’t wanted to spend $32 on a jar so I’m eager to try this.
Brittny says
The coconut cult plain yogurt is delicious and with a surpring hint of sweetness in a good way. I also hate the price tag of it but its the best yogurt I’ve ever had.
Jasmin Ortega says
Hi there. First, thank you so much for taking the time to dedicate so much time to this post, trial and error and responding to all of our comments. Your dedication and honesty is noticed and appreciated.
I did try this with two different brands that I bought (1-local health food store full fat milk, 2-EarthFare brand full fat brand). I also bought the recommended Renew Life probiotic for $39.99 At first my milk responded just like everyone else’s and separated. but after 48 hours I placed the jars in the fridge and voila, they thickened just like greek yogurt! Now, I used Ball Mason jars with lids and didn’t use a cheesecloth which I will no longer do in the future because I realized the bacteria needs to “breathe” and cheese clothes, a loose thin towel or the like is necessary for the process. So, even though it didn’t “work out” in the beginning, it seems to have done it’s job in the end and even smells and tastes like regular yogurt. I hate coconut milk as a stand-alone but I LOVE the taste as a yogurt.
My question though, is, the probiotic I bought was what you highly recommended and was sold in my grocer’s refrigerated section of “Probiotics”. At another grocery store I saw they had the same product but on a shelf and not refrigerated. How do you store your probiotic and is there a suggestion or comment you have for this?
Good question. I find that the refrigerated probiotics are generally higher quality, and am also surprised when I see the same ones unrefrigerated at various stores. I always recommend refrigerating for best shelf life.
Stephanie says
I tried this twice and had no luck. I used one can of lite coconut milk, and then tried again with regular (full fat) coconut milk. Both times, they stayed liquidy with no visible thickening. A good idea, and sounded promising, but it didn’t work for me. I actually already had the same probiotics that Dana recommended, so I’m not sure what happened, other than the fact that my house is a little cool (73 degrees).
Hi Stephanie, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you! Thickness of coconut milk can vary from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Lisa says
Thanks for this awesome idea! I tried it twice with the wholefoods coconut milk and all, but it always stays super liquid… how did you get it so thick and creamy??
Please help!
Recipe updated! Check out my new recommendations.
Marina says
Even if it’s still runny after 48 hours, the only solution at this point to see if it thickens is to put it in the fridge?
I used:
The full fat 365 brand with the Renew Life 50 billion probiotic (bough at WF, not online – heat, etc.), pushed the probiotic to the sides with a wooden spoon, stirred, left it inside the oven with the light on. After the 48-hour period, there was less separation than at the beginning but still very runny.
What went wrong?
Agnes says
Can you mix both full fat and light coconut milk to get a consistency between greek yoghurt and runny yoghurt?
Yes! I tried that today actually. But I would still recommend using slightly more full fat to keep it thicker. So, maybe 1 can full fat, 1/2 can light, and 3-4 probiotic capsules. Good luck!
Emily says
This is such a great recipe! So yummy and simple. I have one question, how do I make it thicker? I used all the suggested brands (Thai kitchen organic coconut milk and the Ultimate Flora probiotic capsules), I left the yogurt sit out probably around 35 hours, then refrigerated it over night. The consistency is still a little too soupy and runny for me. How can I get the thickness you were talking about in the next batch? I don’t want to add any sweeteners, I prefer it plain with some fruit. Thanks for your help!
Emily! Try full fat next time and it should thicken right up!
Océ says
As a lot of other readers, I tried it and it never got thick, remained completely liquid, after more than 48h…
Hi Océ! I’m sorry it didn’t work out the first time. I am thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Océ says
Thanks a lot for your consideration, very appreciated!! Will try again!!
Lucia says
How much probiotics do I need at least? My probiotics contain 3 billion per capsule.
Hmm, that’s pretty low. I’d recommend maybe 3 capsules? But I’m not sure as I have only tested with 50 and 10 billion.
Maren says
I was very excited to try this! I used the recommended WF lite coconut milk and Jarrow 50 billion, and had the same disappointing experience that quite a few others have described. It separated and stayed liquid.
Hi Maren! Sorry to hear that. I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Laura says
I was so excited about this, I tried 3 times and each time it separated. Is there something else I can try?
Thanks!
I’m sorry it didn’t work for you, Laura! I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Megan says
I tried two batches: both with homemade coconut milk but one with Jarrow and the other with a different probiotic. No luck! It got funky after 24 and 36 hour check points and separated with about 1/2 inch of thick, smelly, foamy yogurt-like stuff. Bummed, might try with Whole Foods brand milk :(
Hmm, it if got smelly and funky I’m wondering if it was a bad reaction with your homemade coconut milk, as I’ve never tested that. Otherwise, it may have been your container wasn’t sanitized properly and some bad bacteria got in?
I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues as of today, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Megan says
They both had prebiotic in the formulas — will try one with just probiotics and the WholeFoods brand milk. Hoping to crack this code since is looks so tasty!
Lorraine says
I tried it for a second time. It started separating looking thicker I stirred it with a wooden spoon completely , separated again, and then stirred and back to being thin again. It tasted like yogurt but its thin like a yogurt drink. It tastes delicious but would love to have the texture you listed on your page. This is my second time trying. Not sure if I will try again but really want to have thick yogurt.
I’m sorry it didn’t thicken up, Lorraine!! I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Lorraine says
Hello. Tried a third time with Thai brand coconut milk full fat. On the counter for 2 plus days. No luck.
What probiotic are you using?
Hannah says
I followed your recipe exactly, and used the same coconut milk, but my yogurt didn’t get thick? It’s about the consistency of kefir. I’m wondering if there is a way to trouble shoot this or something I did wrong to fix for next time?
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi Hannah! I’m sorry it didn’t thicken the first time! I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Hannah says
Thank you so much for all of your great recipes and your help! I will definetly try again, but with full fat coconut milk.
I really appreciate the advice! :)
Hannah
Jenny Blose says
I was so excited when I saw you were going to be making this since we can’t get coconut cult in Oklahoma and I am dying for a thicker yogurt. I made it with Sprouts (brand) full fat Organic coconut milk. At 24 hrs it was not thick so I left it till about 45 hrs. It is thick and creamy! Love it!! You are a plant based angel.
Awesome, thanks Jenny!
Sara says
This is my new go to yogurt! It turned out great using full fat Goya coconut milk and probiotics capsules I got at GNC. I let it sit for exactly 48 hours. It looked a little runny but after a couple of hours in the fridge, it was thick and perfect.
Thank you!
Lauren Rex says
I made this using organic full fat coconut milk from No Frills (holla fellow Canadians) and two capsules of 2 billion probiotics. Let it sit and ferment in my apartment (approx. 22 degrees celcius) for two days. It did separate after about 24 hours and didn’t thicken up even after being in the fridge. However, it had incredible yogurt-y flavour and was delicious with some oats and granola. Next time I will use the same brand of coconut milk as Dana as well as try a 50 billion probiotic.
Thanks for sharing! As a note, I’ve updated the recipe with some more recommendations. Hopefully that’s more helpful for next time!
Liette says
This is a full flop. Did everything you say. And it is liquid. Didn’t work at all.
Very disappointed.
Hi Liette. I’m sorry it didn’t work out the first time! I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Ashlee says
I used a can of organic Thai full fat coconut milk and 2 capsules of 50 billion probiotic and it turned out perfectly!!! I ate it with Blueberries and raspberries and it was so delicious! Thank you for this!
Yay! Thanks Ashlee!
Sheri says
Unfortunately, this didn’t turn out for me at all. Despite buying the recommended brands for coconut milk and probiotics, it never thickened up or turned into anything resembling yogurt. After 24 hours on the counter and a night in the fridge, it smelled so rancid I tossed it.
I’m sorry it didn’t work out the first time, Sheri! I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Alana says
Approaching hour 36. Trying to stick with it. At 24 hrs was a centimeter of seperation at the bottom of the jar, so I swirled it around for a min to remix it. At 36 hrs has not seperated again, yet is still thin amd same consistency as I started. Will wait the 48 and then go to the fridge.
Used thai light coco milk and Align.
Thanks for sharing, Alana! I am now wondering if the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot peoples’ issues. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Amy Allen says
Sadly mine did not thicken up :( It won’t go to waste as I’ll use it in my coffee. Any idea why it did not thicken? I’ve been considering buying a yogurt maker (and using canned coconut milk).
Hi Amy! I’m sorry it didn’t work out the first time. I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot people’s issues, and now recommend full fat for best results. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Amy says
Good morning!! I did try it again with good results. I used a can of full fat coconut milk and processed it for 48hrs. It came out very good ?
Danielle says
I can’t believe how easy this recipe was! I made it two days ago and I am absolutely thrilled with the result. It is creamy and tangy–like a jar of CoYo, without the expensive price tag.
I used full fat coconut milk. No separation, and upon refrigeration it got incredibly thick. I can’t wait to experiment with flavors next time!
Amy Allen says
I will try again with the full fat type. Lite did not thicken up for me. Thanks for sharing your results. ?
Awesome! thanks for sharing!
Michel says
I just tried this recipe, but the milk separated. It had a real yogurt smell, but it was a bit acidic and liquid. Did I do something wroung? I would love to try this again.
Hi Michel! I’m sorry it didn’t work out the first time. I am now thinking that the thickness of “light” coconut milk varies from brand to brand, and even can to can. So, I’ve retested and attempted to troubleshoot people’s issues. New recommendations above! Hope you try it again.
Tressa Klassen says
I made it and loved it! For those of you having a problem with it being creamy- it’s probably your brand of coconut milk. Make sure you use one of the brands Dana recommended. An extra step that would help, is throwing the milk into a blender to make sure it’s well combined. Just be sure to wait to add the probiotics since blenders have metal inside.
Thanks again for the awesome recipe Dana!
Annaliese says
Just be cautious as some coconut milks will separate the fat phase and liquid (water) phase with shear.
Yes, thanks for sharing!
Kelly says
Loved the yogurt! When I made mine, I used full fat coconut milk and Genuine Healths 15 billion probiotic x 4 capsules. At first when it was resting the liquid and solid separated but at 24 hrs I stirred and and put it in the fridge and it did get solid after roughly 6hrs of being in there. I would definitely make it again!
Thanks Kelly!
Alexis says
Hi Dana, Do you think this would work in a yogurt maker with small containers? This is how I have had success making low-lactose dairy yogurt that ferments 24 hours.
I am not sure about that and have only tested my methods above.