Cream of Coconut Recipe

By Timo Torner / Last updated on March 21, 2023

Cream of coconut is a thick, rich, sweet cream made with coconut milk and coconut fat, and it's a fantastic cocktail ingredient. Learn how to make it at home with our recipe.
Cream of Coconut recipe

Cream of coconut is the key ingredient to turning an average Piña Colada into a true masterpiece. But cream of coconut is not always easy to get since only a few brands are producing and selling it. 

But don't worry, here's an easy recipe to make an excellent version of creme of coconut that can keep up with the product from Coco Lopez - one of the most famous brands.

You don't need artificial ingredients like emulsifiers, polysorbate, alginate, and such, that store-bought products usually contain. 

You can easily make an amazing one with our cream of coconut recipe by only using coconut milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt. And the best thing is, it will be even better than industrially produced versions.

Cream of Coconut vs. Coconut Cream

Before we get started, let's quickly talk about the difference between cream of coconut and coconut cream:

They are two different products used for different purposes. You can not simply replace cream of coconut with canned coconut cream. The texture won't be right, the sweetness won't be right, and the result will be miles away from how it is supposed to taste. 

If you want to know more, check out my article comparing cream of coconut vs. coconut cream.

The cream of coconut recipe

You don't need a lot of elements to create this tasty cocktail ingredient. And the ones you do need are pretty easy to get and affordable. 

Quality coconut milk with around 10 - 15 % of fat, granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt is all you need to get this right. Regarding coconut milk, I like to use Aroy coconut milk from Thailand, but you can use any brand that fits the brief.

Cream of Coconut

Cream of Coconut

A delicious homemade version of cream of coconut
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Course: Syrup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: coconut
Calories: 130kcal
Cost: $1.50

Equipment

  • 1 sauce pan
  • 1 sealable container

Ingredients

  • 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
  • 1 cup Coconut milk (10 - 15% fat content)
  • 1 pinch Salt

Instructions

  • Add the coconut milk and granulated sugar into a small saucepan.
    0.75 cup Granulated sugar, 1 cup Coconut milk
  • Increase heat to medium to medium-high and constantly stir the mix. Ad the salt while everything is heating up.
    1 pinch Salt
  • Cook the mix for around 3-4 minutes on medium heat or until the sugar is completely dissolved. The mixture should have a very thick and syrupy texture.
  • Remove from heat and let it chill. Once it's cooled to room temperature, you can bottle it and store it in your fridge.
  • You can store your homemade cream of coconut for up to 7 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz | Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 4.5g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Sugar: 21.7g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Difference between coconut milk and coconut cream

If you wonder what the difference between ordinary coconut milk and coconut cream is, it's mainly the fat content. The more pulp of coconut is used in the product, the higher the fat content. 

For making cream of coconut, I highly recommend using coconut milk because the canned coconut cream is already so "dry" and fatty that the result won't turn out great.

Keep in mind that when cooking coconut milk, water will evaporate. Ultimately the fat content of the final mix will also increase.

Cream of Coconut cost per serving

If you buy your cream of coconut from the supermarket, the cost per serving will be around $0.25. That is alright, but you could save up to 80% on that by making your own cream of coconut. 

The sugar and coconut milk will add up to roughly $0.045 - $0.07, depending on what you spend on the coconut milk. That's only a fraction of the price of, for instance, the product of Coco Lopez.

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