Why does vegan yogurt have to be so darn expensive??? I swear, I love brands like So Delicious and Silk, but they can be so pricy. And full of additives too - sometimes I really want yogurt without a billion starches and gums and carageenan, especially since some of the ingredients can be so irritating to my stomach. Sort of cancels out all the benefits of healthy gut bacteria, if you ask me.
After some trial and error, I discovered a great recipe for coconut yogurt that tastes WAY better than store bought, and is much healthier for your gut (and your wallet). With the ingredients I used, it came to about $1.30 per 6 oz. of yogurt. Compare that to So Delicious plain coconut yogurt at $2.50! You just need 4 things:
- 1 14 oz. can full-fat coconut milk, room temperature
- 1/2 tbsp real maple syrup
- 1 vegan probiotic capsule
- 1 16 oz. mason jar
Instructions
Take the can of coconut milk, preferably organic (I used Thai Kitchen), and shake it vigorously until you can hear a lot of liquid. You may need to put it on top of a warm stove or under a kitchen light before opening so there aren't any clumps. Pour the contents into a 16-oz mason jar or similar container. Add the maple syrup/agave/sugar/whatever sweetener you prefer - the probiotics need some sugar to feed on. Unscrew the probiotic capsule and empty the powder into the jar, and whisk it until there are no clumps. Put the lid on the mason jar and shake it vigorously one more time. Let the jar sit in a cupboard for 36 to 48 hours, or until it has thickened to your liking. Shake it about every 12 hours to make sure it's uniform. It should smell very yogurty and be thick after about a day and a half to two days. When you are pleased with the consistency, put the jar in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving so it will thicken up even more. Serve with berries, coconut sugar, nut butter, granola, or any toppings you prefer.
Notes
- I know plenty of tutorials say to heat the coconut milk in a pot so the texture is uniform, but if the can is just slightly warm and you shake it, there should be very few lumps or no lumps at all.
- Other tutorials say to put the jar in the oven with the light on as it sits. However, if you do this, the coconut milk can get too warm and can start to separate over time, and as it cultures, it can start to smell like rotten eggs. Gross.
- I have only tried this with one brand of probiotics, so if you find another vegan brand that works (or doesn't work) comment below!