Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
Yes, you can use almond milk to make yogurt, and it actually turns out creamy and delicious when you do it right.
Almond milk yogurt is a fantastic dairy-free option for anyone who’s lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply curious about plant-based alternatives.
The catch is that almond milk doesn’t behave exactly like dairy milk, so you’ll need a few tricks to get that thick, tangy yogurt texture you’re after.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to use almond milk to make yogurt, why it works, and the little adjustments that make all the difference.
Let’s get into it.
Why You Can Use Almond Milk to Make Yogurt
You can use almond milk to make yogurt because the fermentation process doesn’t actually require dairy — it just requires the right bacteria and a food source for them to feed on.
Here’s what makes it possible:
1. Live Cultures Do the Heavy Lifting
Yogurt is all about the bacteria, and those little cultures don’t care whether they’re swimming in dairy or almond milk.
When you add a starter culture to almond milk, the bacteria get to work converting sugars into lactic acid, which is what gives yogurt its signature tang.
That’s the core reason you can use almond milk to make yogurt without any dairy at all.
2. Added Starches Help With Thickness
The one thing almond milk lacks compared to dairy is natural thickness, but that’s an easy fix.
Adding a little tapioca starch, cornstarch, or agar agar gives the yogurt body and helps it set properly.
So when you use almond milk to make yogurt, don’t skip the thickener — it’s what turns a runny liquid into something spoonable.
3. It’s Naturally Dairy-Free and Gut-Friendly
Another big reason people use almond milk to make yogurt is that it’s completely free of lactose and casein.
That makes it a great choice if you’re lactose intolerant or following a vegan lifestyle.
Plus, almond milk yogurt still delivers those live probiotics your gut loves, just without the dairy.
How to Use Almond Milk to Make Yogurt
Ready to actually do it?
Here’s the simple process for using almond milk to make yogurt at home:
1. Start With Unsweetened Almond Milk
Always use plain, unsweetened almond milk for yogurt-making.
Sweetened or flavored versions contain additives that can interfere with fermentation.
If you can find one with a higher protein content, even better — it helps the yogurt thicken more easily when you use almond milk to make yogurt.
2. Heat and Add a Thickener
Warm your almond milk gently, then whisk in about one to two tablespoons of tapioca starch or agar agar.
This step is crucial when you use almond milk to make yogurt because it gives the cultures a better structure to work with.
Let it cool back down to around 110°F before moving on.
3. Add Your Starter Culture
Whisk in a couple of tablespoons of plain store-bought yogurt or a specific dairy-free starter culture.
This is the good bacteria that will ferment your almond milk.
Make sure the starter you choose is unsweetened and contains live active cultures.
4. Keep It Warm and Wait
Pour the mixture into a clean jar and keep it warm — around 100–110°F — for 8 to 12 hours.
You can use a yogurt maker, an oven with the light on, or even a warm spot near a radiator.
The longer you wait, the tangier your almond milk yogurt will get.
5. Chill Before Enjoying
Once it’s set, pop your almond milk yogurt in the fridge for a few hours to firm up.
This chilling step is what gives it that final creamy consistency, so don’t rush it.
Tips to Know When You Use Almond Milk to Make Yogurt
A few extra pointers will help you get the best results every time you use almond milk to make yogurt:
1. Choose a Higher-Protein Almond Milk
Almond milk with added protein sets much better, so check the label before you start.
2. Don’t Skip the Thickener
Without a thickener, your almond milk yogurt will likely be too runny to enjoy.
3. Keep Everything Sterile
Always use clean jars and utensils, as rogue bacteria can ruin the batch when you use almond milk to make yogurt.
So, Can You Use Almond Milk to Make Yogurt?
Yes, you can use almond milk to make yogurt, and with the right starter culture and a bit of thickener, it turns out wonderfully.
Almond milk yogurt is dairy-free, gut-friendly, and easier to make at home than most people think.
Just remember to use unsweetened almond milk, add a thickener, keep things warm during fermentation, and chill before eating.
Hope this post has shown you exactly how to use almond milk to make yogurt so you can enjoy a fresh, homemade batch any time you like.