Homemade Vegan Yogurt – in Crockpot or Instant Pot

Easy homemade yogurt recipe. Make the creamiest, thick vegan yogurt in a crockpot or instant pot with this no-hassle recipe. Works with all types of plant milk whether making silky coconut yogurt from coconut milk or coconut cream, delicious cashew milk yogurt, creamy oat yogurt, or copycat homemade soy yogurt. Make it as a plain yogurt or add your favorite flavors with a bit of added sugar and berries.

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If you are looking for the best vegan yogurt recipes that’s a creamy, cooling all-vegan yogurt that’s better than store-bought yogurt then you’ve come to the right place. This simple recipe for homemade vegan yogurt made in a crockpot or instant pot is delicious, silky, and fresh. And it’s the easiest way to make vegan instant pot yogurt which is why it’s my favorite thing to eat in the morning and the versatility make it my very favorite vegan yogurt recipe. It tastes so much like regular yogurt and can be used to make yogurt smoothies, dips, and even cakes…or your own vegan yogurt can be enjoyed just as is in a bowl topped or in many different ways such as served with crunchy granola and fresh berries. 

Easy Homemade dairy-free yogurt that’s made in a crockpot or instant pot. Whether you’re making coconut yogurt in a crockpot, soy yogurt, instant pot almond milk yogurt or oat yogurt we’re covering it all in this post. 

When I chose to go from vegetarian to vegan I knew there were a few things I wanted to find delicious substitutes for. Yogurt was one of those things because I find that probiotics are such a necessary part of my overall well-being. And because I quickly realized that making your homemade vegan yogurt was a bit of a jungle, I have collected all my tips and tricks (and several recipes) to help you make your own non-dairy yogurt in a crockpot.

So, let’s get right into the details. 

How to make homemade oat yogurt in a crockpot 

• Oat yogurt is one of my favorite types of homemade vegan yogurt. It’s a delicious, creamy, and low-calorie yogurt that’s simple to make and budget-friendly. All great things if you ask me. And because it’s made with rolled oats it has all the health benefits and nutrients you find in oats. 
• Heat oat milk (or other non-dairy milk) in a saucepan or pot and whisk in agar-agar or cornstarch if using. Let the milk simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside and let the oat milk cool to room temperature (around 40 Celsius)
• Once the milk has cooled to room temperature whisk in the probiotics (use a wooden or plastic whisk, no metal). 
• Pour the mixture into your crockpot or instant pot and use the yogurt setting to ferment the yogurt for 10-20 hours depending on how thick and tangy you want your yogurt. The longer it’s left to ferment the more the probiotics will develop and make the yogurt taste sourer. A great idea is to make it in the morning and you will be ready to eat it the next morning. 
• Once the yogurt is ready, pour it into clean glass containers and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before eating.

How to make homemade vegan coconut yogurt in a crockpot 

• Coconut yogurt is naturally more runny so I recommend adding 2 tablespoons cornstarch or 1-2 teaspoons agar agar to the recipe to make sure it thickens properly. 
• Heat coconut milk in a saucepan or pot and whisk in agar-agar or cornstarch if used. Let the milk simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside and let the coconut milk cool to room temperature (around 40 Celsius)
• Once the milk mixture has cooled to room temperature whisk in the probiotic powder (use a wooden or plastic whisk, no metal). 
• Pour the mixture into your crockpot or instant pot and use the yogurt setting to ferment the yogurt for 10-20 hours depending on how thick and tangy you want your yogurt. The longer it’s left to ferment the more the probiotics will develop and make the yogurt taste sourer. For a tangier yogurt allow the fermentation process longer time to work. 
• Once the yogurt is ready, pour it into clean glass containers , mason jar or pint jars and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before eating.

Important note on homemade yogurt in a crockpot 

It’s normal to have a bit of separation of the yogurt when you are done. For thicker yogurt, simply pour the excess water away and you should be left with a creamy, silky yogurt texture. For a lighter less thick yogurt, just stir the liquid into the yogurt with a wooden or plastic spoon and it should come together. If there’s more than 50/50 separation between the firm yogurt and the liquid something is off and your probiotic culture may not have worked properly. Depending on the type of probiotics you use they occasionally need more time to “wake up” and begin working their magic. Just save 3-5 spoonfuls of your “failed” yogurt and mix it into a new batch. Usually, the probiotics will be working properly the second time around. 

Vegan protein yogurt 

Vegan plant-based yogurt does not naturally contain a whole lot of protein, but there’s a quick fix for that that makes it an excellent choice full of vegan protein. Just add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to the yogurt right before serving to make your instant pot yogurt recipe a high protein meal. It may thicken the yogurt a little, but not too much. I like using a vanilla-flavored vegan protein powder because it enhances the creaminess and makes it taste almost like a dessert when served with a granola topping and fresh berries. 

Homemade yogurt vs. Greek yogurt 

Homemade vegan yogurt can be just as thick, rich, and silky as real Greek yogurt. And made in a crockpot it’s a simple process and a very budget-friendly alternative. 

For many years Greek yogurt was my favorite breakfast stable. Topped with berries and a drizzle of syrup (or Greek honey) it’s a super easy, creamy, and healthy way to start the day. Deciding to become vegan meant I had to look for a just as delicious vegan option that would be able to rival the creamy thickness of real Greek yogurt. 

To get that Greek yogurt consistency you may need to add a little thickener to the yogurt, such as corn starch. 

How to add flavor to your homemade yogurt 

Adding flavors to your homemade yogurt takes the yogurt to the next level. Whether you choose to add lemon zest to make it fresh, or vanilla extract to make it more creamy and dessert-like, there’s an easy way to do it. 

The trick is to add the flavor of your choice after the yogurt is done fermenting and right before you bottle it and refrigerate. 

Homemade berry yogurt: To add a berry flavor, simply blend fresh berries and mix them with the yogurt. A small teaspoon of vanilla extract will further enhance the berry flavor.

Vegan vanilla yogurt: If you’re opting for pure vanilla yogurt, simply mix in the vanilla extract right at the beginning. Vanilla is okay to be heated and will deliciously permeate the yogurt when added at the beginning.

Lime or lemon yogurt: I prefer to use the zest from lime or lemon because it has a more fragrant flavor. It’s also much easier to work with the yogurt when you’re using zest rather than juice as the juice would alter the liquid balance and make it harder to thicken the yogurt. Just add zest from 1/2 lemon or lime to the yogurt before bottling it and refrigerating.

How to make homemade vegan yogurt Troubleshooting tips and tricks

How to fix runny yogurt 

Runny yogurt is usually an indication that the probiotics haven’t done their work. This can sometimes be the case with the first yogurt batch depending on the type of probiotics you use. Some probiotics need more time to awaken and begin their work. Some plant milk types are also naturally more runny (such as coconut milk) and will make it harder to get a thick yogurt unless you add 2 tablespoons corn starch to 1-liter coconut milk. 

But don’t worry. Even if your yogurt turns out too runny there are a couple of easy ways to fix it. 

How to fix runny homemade vegan yogurt in 3 easy ways – even if you don’t have a crockpot 

Option 1. This is by far the simplest way to fix runny yogurt so you don’t lose the whole batch and have to start over. Simply add 1-2 tablespoons agar agar to each glass container of yogurt, combine well and allow it to set for an hour. This should thicken the homemade vegan yogurt and make it creamy and rich. Stir together again before eating. 

Option 2. Reheat your yogurt in a pot on the stove and whisk in 2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Allow the yogurt to thicken and bring to a quick boil. Turn the heat down and let the runny yogurt simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool until it reaches room temperature. Whisk in a new batch of probiotics and pour the yogurt into your crockpot or instant pot. Let the yogurt simmer on the yogurt setting for 10-24 hours depending on how thick and tart you want the yogurt to be. When you are satisfied with the consistency of your yogurt, pour it into clean glass containers. Cool in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before eating.

Option 3. If you don’t have a crockpot and need to fix your runny homemade yogurt this is the method for you. Reheat your yogurt in a pot on the stove and whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Allow the yogurt to thicken and bring to a quick boil. Turn the heat down and let the runny yogurt simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool until it reaches room temperature. Whisk in a new batch of probiotics and pour the yogurt into your crockpot or instant pot. into clean glass containers. 

Leave the yogurt on the counter at room temperature for 10-24 hours to allow time to thicken. Check the yogurt after 12 hours and only place it in the refrigerator once it has reached a proper thickness. (Note: the yogurt won’t be as creamy and silky when you fix it as it would have been on a first try).

5 ways to use yogurt that’s too runny

Just because your yogurt didn’t turn out as you had hoped doesn’t mean you have to toss it out (and don’t worry – my first time making homemade yogurt produced what could at best be described as thick milk). But there are still lots of ways to use a runny vegan yogurt. Here are my top 5 ways to use runny yogurt:

1. Add 3 tablespoons to your overnight oats to give them extra creaminess. You won’t believe how good this is.
2. Use the yogurt to make fluffy vegan pancakes. Yum.
3. Add the yogurt to baking such as cakes, cupcakes, Greek yogurt bread, and more. You can thank me later.
4. Make it into yogurt and berry ice cream. This has to be one of my favorite ways to turn a yogurt accident into a dreamy recipe. Think creamy frozen yogurt ice cream just ready to eat. Yum. You can find one of my favorite quick yogurt and berry ice creams farther down on the page.
5. Use it to make creamy smoothies like my favorite one you’ll find right below.

Other ways to eat vegan crockpot yogurt

Yogurt smoothie recipe

Yogurt smoothie is amazing. Whether you choose to use vegan coconut yogurt or vegan oat yogurt making a fresh berry smoothie with vegan yogurt is one of the best ways to start the day.

Whichever vegan yogurt you choose you never go wrong with this versatile recipe.

• 1 cup vegan yogurt 
• A cup mixed berries of your choice
• 1 tbsp maple syrup 
• 1 tbsp cacao

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add a few cubes of ice and your yogurt smoothie is ready to drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will vegan yogurt work in vegan tzatziki?

Yes. Vegan yogurt is just what you need to make vegan tzatziki. For the best results, you should use as thick of a vegan yogurt as possible. If you think your yogurt is too runny you can use a thickener (agar-agar, cornflour or similar can all work).

How to make vegan yogurt into frozen yogurt 

My favorite way to make vegan yogurt into frozen yogurt is to blend vegan yogurt with a cupful of frozen berries and 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup. It will instantly create a thick, creamy frozen yogurt that can be served right away. 

Tip: for an extra boost of nutrients you can also add a tablespoon of matcha powder or maca powder.

Does vegan yogurt have probiotics?

Yes. You add vegan probiotics to the yogurt to start a healthy batch. From then on just save 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt from your first batch and add it to the new batch to keep the healthy probiotics developing. 

Is vegan yogurt healthy?

Yes. Vegan yogurt is a great and healthy meal. You can use it in a smoothie bowl, with cereal, topped with granola and fresh berries, or even use it to make healthy low-calorie dips. Vegan yogurt can do it all.

How many calories are in vegan yogurt?

It depends on the type of vegan yogurt. Coconut yogurt typically contains around 250 calories per serving. Oat yogurt typically contains around 70 calories per serving (1 serving = 6oz or 170g)

Lactose-free yogurt

Vegan yogurt is naturally lactose-free, making it a great choice if you are lactose intolerant.

Can I use homemade yogurt in frozen dog treats?

Yes. Vegan yogurt is great in frozen dog treats. Add any flavor you want such as blueberries or freeze them as is. Most dogs especially like coconut yogurt and almond yogurt.

Can homemade yogurt go bad?

Yes. Homemade yogurt will be good for around 7-9 days in the refrigerator. After that, it starts to become more like cottage cheese and is best used in baking. Homemade yogurt can go bad and if you notice a funky smell or green things growing on your yogurt don’t eat it. Just throw it out and make a new batch.

Looking for more easy vegan breakfast recipes? You might like these fan favorites:

• Vegan Granola Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
• The best Creamy Vegan Porridge
• Amazing vegan Apple Cinnamon Muffins (Gluten-free)