9 Best Substitutes for Coconut Cream in Cooking and Baking - Tastylicious (2024)

Coconut cream is a rich, white liquid often used in low-carb recipes and dairy-free dishes. It adds a smooth, creamy texture, a subtle sweetness, and a hint of coconut flavor. However, coconut cream has a high calorie and fat content, so some might need a substitute for coconut cream.

The best coconut cream substitutes include coconut milk, heavy whipping cream, Greek yogurt, cream of coconut, evaporated milk, almond milk, plant-based milk, coconut butter, and homemade coconut cream if you need an alternative.

Some coconut cream substitutes add only a smooth, creamy texture, while others impart only the flavor. So, choose the right substitute for the dish you’re making since not all coconut cream alternatives will work for all recipes.

Best Substitutes for Coconut Cream

1) Canned Coconut Milk

Canned coconut milk is the best substitute for coconut cream. It has a very similar flavor to coconut cream, and a slightly lower fat content that some believe makes it a healthier alternative. You can also buy coconut milk in cartons, but those kinds are typically more diluted than the canned ones.

You can use coconut milk interchangeably with coconut cream in cooking. However, it might not always work for baked goods since fat coconut milk has a thinner consistency than coconut cream. You cannot substitute it for the whipped coconut cream often used in baking.

To replace coconut cream with coconut milk, use 1 cup of coconut milk for every cup of coconut cream needed in the recipe. Since coconut milk has a thinner consistency, expect your dishes to turn out lighter.

2) Heavy Whipping Cream

Heavy cream can be a great substitute for coconut cream if you can consume dairy. It has a slightly higher fat content than coconut cream but none of its flavors. However, you can still use it as an alternative since heavy cream has a similar consistency to coconut cream.

You can also replace coconut cream with light cream, but heavy cream has a closer consistency. You can use heavy cream as a coconut cream substitute in cooking, baking, and making ice cream. If your recipe calls for whipped coconut cream, heavy whipping cream will work especially well.

To use it as a substitute for coconut cream, replace each cup of coconut cream needed with 1 cup of heavy cream. Then, if you need the coconut-y flavor, you can just add coconut extract or desiccated coconut to taste.

3) Greek Yogurt

If you can add it last to the recipe, Greek yogurt will work as an excellent substitute for coconut cream. It tastes a bit like sour cream and has a slightly lower fat content and similar consistency to coconut cream. Greek yogurt, like coconut cream, can add a creamy texture and thicken dishes.

You can use Greek yogurt in most recipes that need coconut cream. However, yogurt curdles when boiled, so make sure only to use Greek yogurt as a substitute for coconut cream if you won’t have to boil it. Add your Greek yogurt near the end, and don’t heat it past simmering for best results.

To use it as an alternative, swap each cup of coconut cream needed in the recipe with 1 cup of Greek yogurt. Add coconut oil, coconut extract, or desiccated coconut if you need the coconutty flavor. Adjust the taste as needed.

4) Cream of Coconut

If you can’t find coconut cream, cream of coconut can be a good substitute. Cream of coconut contains added sugar, preservatives, and thickeners. It is also called condensed coconut milk or sweetened condensed milk.

You can use cream of coconut in most recipes, but it’s best used as a substitute in sweet recipes and for whipped coconut cream.

One cup of condensed coconut milk will replace each cup of coconut cream, but keep in mind that cream of coconut is sweeter. So, consider reducing the total amount of sugar used in your recipe.

5) Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk is a canned substitute for coconut cream that you might already have at home. Made by evaporating water from regular milk, evaporated milk is creamier, thicker, and sweeter. It tastes very similar to dairy milk.

Evaporated milk is slightly sweeter and thicker than coconut milk, so it’s best used for making baked goods. You can use it as a topping for chocolate porridge or when cooking soups or creamy dishes, such as oatmeal.

To substitute coconut cream with evaporated milk, replace each cup of coconut cream with ½ to ¾ cup of evaporated milk. Consider reducing the amount of sugar used elsewhere in the recipe since evaporated milk already tastes pretty sweet on its own.

6) Almond Milk

Almond milk is another dairy-free substitute for coconut cream. It has a lower fat content, neutral flavor, and a less creamy texture than coconut cream. As a bonus, almond milk also has a lower calorie content.

Only buy unsweetened, organic almond milk, or you can make your own at home if you can’t find any. All you’ll need are some almonds, water, and a blender. You can use almond milk for baking to make desserts or cook savory dishes.

For each cup of coconut cream required, you will need 1 cup of almond milk. If you want to make it more similar to coconut cream, you can mix 2 teaspoons of coconut flour into each cup of almond milk. Doing this will bring its texture and flavor closer to coconut cream.

7) Plant-Based Milk

Aside from almond milk, you can use other kinds of plant-based milk and nut milk to substitute for coconut cream. These include cashew milk, oat milk, rice milk, and soy milk. These have a thinner consistency than coconut cream and a slightly different flavor, but it won’t make much difference in the dish.

These alternatives work for vegans as well. For example, you can replace coconut cream with plant-based milk in cooking savory dishes, soups, and sauces. However, not all of them will work well in baking since most varieties have a lower fat content than coconut cream and cow's milk.

Replace coconut cream with any type of plant-based milk at a 1:1 ratio. If you want it to thicken, you can cook it a little longer or add two teaspoons of coconut flour also to add a little flavor.

8) Coconut Butter

Coconut butter can be an excellent substitute for coconut cream in baking. You can also use any kind of nut butter, including almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter, but these won’t have a coconut flavor.

To make a creamy substitute for coconut cream, mix 5 ounces of coconut butter with 1 cup of water. Add a little water at a time to make it easier to combine the two. Once fully combined, you can use 1 cup of the nut butter mixture for each cup of coconut cream needed. This is also how you make cashew cream using cashew butter.

9) Homemade Coconut Cream

If you have some unsweetened shredded coconut flesh, you can use them to make coconut cream at home. Or you can also use fresh coconut meat since it has more flavor and moisture. Aside from the coconut flesh, you will need a blender and a strainer.

Recipe

No matter what recipe you follow, stick to a 1:1 ratio whenever you use homemade coconut cream instead of coconut cream.

Summary

Ready to find the best substitute for coconut cream? Check out the list we have prepared below along with their remarkable qualities and comparisons with coconut cream and other substitutes.