An Updated Ranking of the Best Vanilla Yogurt

Vanilla yogurt seems boring by virtue of its ubiquity. Every crummy coffee shop parfait you’ve ever overpaid for has been made with it, right? But the best vanilla yogurt is a different story. It’s somewhat neutral and makes a great breakfast, sure, but when it’s good, it’s decadent and delicious enough to stand in for dessert, too. Seriously, during this taste test, we were making such sensual sounds, we’ll probably hear from HR.

Over the course of two vanilla yogurt taste tests, we looked for yogurts with a nice, creamy consistency, and a pronounced and genuine vanilla flavor. Don’t worry. We made sure to seek out the best vanilla Greek yogurt, the best dairy free vanilla yogurt, and the best zero sugar vanilla yogurt. If you thought you were over vanilla yogurt, we promise, you’re about to be very into it again.

Best Zero Sugar

Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla

Instacart

Sugar free yogurt can kind of suck, but Oikos makes a shockingly good zero sugar vanilla yogurt. It definitely tastes a bit like artificial sweetener, but, all in all, the flavor is smooth and mild, and it has a nice yogurt tang that makes up for any aftertaste. It’s also absolutely packed with protein—17 grams per 6 oz serving. That added protein impacts the texture just a touch; if you’re feeling critical, it might come off as a little chalky. But it’s a great option for people who need to cut back on sugar, and it’s the best zero sugar vanilla yogurt we tried by a mile. —Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best All Natural

Mountain High Original Whole Milk Vanilla Yoghurt

Instacart

I don’t know why Mountain High spells yohgurt this way, but I have no choice but to accept it. Guess what? I’m going to start spelling it youhghourt. How do you like that? This all-natural vanilla yogurt isn’t as thick and creamy as some of the others we tried, but, hey, not everyone likes a super thick yogurt (sorry, youhghourt). Plus, the tasty, mild flavor makes up for any misgivings we may have had about the consistency.  This all-natural yogurt really tastes natural, and we really liked that.. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Cream Top

Brown Cow Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt

Instacart

Brown Cow advertises “cream on top,” harkening back to a time when farm-fresh milk came in a jug and the sweet cream rose to the top. That cream occurs because Brown Cow uses milk that isn’t homogenized, resulting in a silkier texture and sweeter taste. This is also made without artificial growth hormones, flavors, and sweeteners. There are very few ingredients here, which leads me to believe this one is actually good for you. There’s sugar and fat, sure, but it’s not too egregious. Plus, the vanilla flavor is probably the most pronounced of the bunch. If you like a big vanilla taste, Brown Cow makes one of the best vanilla yogurts. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Dairy Free

 Vanilla Dairy Free Oui Vanilla

Instacart

I already raved about this coconut-based vegan yogurt in our dairy free yogurt ranking, but I can’t stress enough how delicious it is. It’s not as thick and custardy as the dairy-full Oui (see #2 on this list), but it’s smooth and creamy and has an excellent coconut base that tastes so good with the vanilla flavor. Every time I taste this, I freak out a little. I like it more than a lot of dairy yogurts and that’s really saying something. It’s the best dairy free vanilla yogurt, but dairy eaters will love it, too. —Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best with Fruit

Wallaby Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Bean Yogurt

Instacart

Wallaby whole milk vanilla yogurt hits all three key factors for me: It’s creamy, sugary, and milky. There’s a real fatty quality to Wallaby, although it has less saturated fat than some other brands on this list (we did not shy away from fatty yogurts here). I love the vanilla flavor. In fact, this yogurt is so damn luxurious you could make a dessert out of it with fresh fruit. Some citrus would pair well with the indulgent flavor and help tame that fat, too.  —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Sweet

Noosa Vanilla Bean

Target

My notes for Noosa were “wow,” “whoa,” and “what the hell?!” This was so good I was shook. Noosa has a ton of saturated fat and sugar, but it tastes so damn luscious you won’t mind. The vanilla flavor here is quite good—it tastes like it actually originated in a vanilla bean instead of a bottle of extract (you know that sharp, alcoholic flavor when you taste it). Noosa goes hard on flavor and it’s not the healthiest option in the world as a result. But who cares? Noosa is an expertly made product with an amazing taste. If sweetness doesn’t scare you off, this is some of  the best vanilla yogurt. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Target

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Overall Flavor

The Greek Gods Honey Vanilla

Instacart

This is one of the most delicious yogurts I’ve ever tasted. Honestly, it would probably be in the number one spot if the flavor wasn’t so complex that it feels like too much of a departure from pretty much every other vanilla yogurt at the store. See, combined with honey, the vanilla in Greek Gods yogurt tastes almost like cooked sugar or caramel. It reminds me of flan! Who doesn’t want yogurt that tastes like a delicious caramel custard?! But don’t worry: It’s got tang, too. It’s sweet and tart and satisfying. This may not be the best vanilla yogurt on this list, but I still think you should buy it immediately. —Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best for Topping

Oui French Style Vanilla Yogurt

Instacart

This is so thick and creamy you can see the indentations your spoon leaves in the yogurt. Oui is a Yoplait product, and it’s lightyears ahead of their other vanilla yogurts. Per serving, this has more fat and saturated fat than brands like Noosa and Wallaby. To me, that’s a good thing. I dig how dairy-forward this one is. It has a really pure, creamy, milky flavor that reminds me of Italian mascarpone, ricotta, or even cheesecake. Is this yogurt or pie filling? It’s hard to tell. I’d top some pancakes, frozen waffles, or french toast with this. Use it like a sweet condiment or indulge in a full jar. Either way, you won’t be disappointed. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Sarah Demonteverde / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

La Fermiere Vanilla Bean

Instacart

This isn’t just the best vanilla yogurt. This may be the perfect food. It’s dense and fatty and creamy. The vanilla flavor is subtle and natural. And it has the perfect amount of tang. This legitimately tastes like Pinkberry to me. This isn’t a yogurt to mindlessly eat every morning for breakfast, it’s a yogurt to treat yourself to with Sunday brunch in bed. Plus, it comes in a French blue glazed terra cotta vessel that I couldn’t help but save. I want to plant some herbs in these containers, line my window sill with them, and sit and stare outside while I think about how good this yogurt is. —Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other products we tried: Great Value Vanilla Yogurt, Tillamook Vanilla Bean Yogurt, Good & Gather Greek Vanilla Nonfat Yogurt, Siggi’s Simple Ingredient Vanilla Skyr, Simple Truth Organic Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt, Whole Foods 365 Organic Vanilla Whole Milk Yogurt, Chobani Vanilla Zero Sugar, Chobani Vanilla, Fage Blended Vanilla, Siggi’s Vanilla Cinnamon Skyr

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