12 ways to flavour homemade yogurt without fresh fruit

Nuts, spice, and all things nice.

If you’re looking for innovative and delicious ways to take your homemade yogurt to the next level, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together an inspiring new list of pantry-friendly mix-ins to make your homemade yogurt even more irresistible.

Recently, we shared 12 delicious ways to flavour homemade yogurt with fruit. This time, we’re exploring a different approach, using nutrient-dense whole foods like nuts, warming spices, and homemade spreads to create rich, satisfying flavours. These pantry-based additions bring depth and texture to your yogurt, proving that fresh fruit isn’t the only way to build beautiful flavour.

Perfect for breakfast, a nourishing snack, or even a light dessert, these yogurt variations start with a base of creamy, probiotic-rich homemade yogurt. They’re packed with far more protein and health benefits than store-bought flavoured yogurts, and you’re always in control of what goes in.

Enjoy them any time of day, and feel free to double or triple the recipes to make larger batches for the week ahead.

How to sweeten homemade yogurt

For some people, it can take a little time to adjust to the taste of homemade yogurt, especially if you’re used to sweetened store-bought varieties. The good news? There are plenty of ways to add sweetness without compromising nutrition or probiotic benefits.

Natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup gently enhance flavour while keeping things wholesome. Start with just one teaspoon and gradually increase until it suits your taste.

Sugar alternatives like agave, rice syrup, coconut sugar, coconut syrup, stevia, erythritol, and monk fruit sweetener are also popular options. When using sugar substitutes, always follow recommended serving guidelines, as many are much sweeter than sugar and some may have a slight aftertaste. In the recipes below, we’ve used honey and maple syrup—but feel free to omit, swap, or adjust to suit your preference.

Flavouring with vanilla

Sometimes simple really is best. Adding a touch of vanilla — on its own or paired with a natural sweetener, is an easy way to elevate homemade yogurt. For the most luxurious flavour, choose pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. A little goes a long way. 

Mocha Yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
½ teaspoon instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
Grated chocolate or cocoa powder to dust

Method: Combine yogurt, coffee, cocoa and sweetener in a bowl. Top with grated chocolate or dust with cocoa powder.

Baklava Yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
2 tablespoons honey
¼ teaspoon vanilla pean paste
¼ cup crushed walnuts
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon of crushed pistachios

Method: Combine yogurt, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and walnuts. Top with crushed pistachios.

Nutella yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
1-2 tablespoons Nutella (try making your own here)

Method: Combine in a bowl.

Gingerbread Crumble Yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
2-3 crushed ginger biscuits
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

Method: Combine yogurt, sweetener, cinnamon. Top with crushed biscuits and walnuts.

Pecan pie yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1-2 chopped medjool dates or 1 tablespoon homemade date paste
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
2 tablespoons crushed pecans

Method: Combine yogurt, dates, sweetener, cinnamon. Top with crushed pecans.

Hazelnut chocolate yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
2 teaspoons cacao powder
¼ cup hazelnuts crushed
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
Grated chocolate or cocoa nibs(optional)

Method: Combine yogurt, cocoa, hazelnuts and sweetener in a bowl. Top with grated chocolate or cocoa nibs.

Salted caramel Yogurt (made with date paste)

½ cup homemade yogurt
¼ cup homemade date paste
Pinch salt

Method: Combine in a bowl.

Peanut Butter Yogurt

½ cup yogurt
1-2 tablespoons peanut butter (try making your own)
¼ teaspoon vanilla pean paste
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste

Method: Combine in a bowl.

Bounty Yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
½ teaspoon cocoa power
¼ teaspoon vanilla
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
¼ cup of desiccated coconut (optional: lightly toast for extra flavour)

Method: Combine yogurt, cocoa, vanilla and sweetener in a bowl. Top with coconut.

Chocolate Yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon vanilla pean paste
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
Grated chocolate (optional)

Method: Combine yogurt, cocoa, vanilla and sweetener in a bowl. Top with grated chocolate.

Carrot cake yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
¼ cup finely grated carrot
1 teaspoon raisins
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste
1 tablespoon crushed walnuts

Method: Combine yogurt, carrot, raisins, cinnamon and sweetener in a bowl. Top with crushed walnuts.

Chai spiced yogurt

½ cup homemade yogurt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
Pinch of ground cloves
Maple syrup, honey, or sweetener of choice to taste

Method: Combine in a bowl.

PIN THIS RECIPE