Did you know you can make a decadent whipped cream by using a can of coconut milk? Not only is it simple to make, but it’s easily the best-tasting whipped cream I’ve tried.
I know whipped coconut cream isn’t new to many of you – people have been making coconut whipped cream for years and years. I first read about it a couple years ago on Vegan Joy’s website and have seen it popping up everywhere.
In today’s post, I’ll show you just how easy it is to make. I can promise you, your life will change when you taste this stuff!
1. Grab a can of full-fat can coconut milk (without guar gum listed as an ingredient) – Update: Native Forest now puts guar gum in the ingredients and this causes the cream and water to emulsify which is not what we want. The can must also be full-fat because you will be whipping the solid cream. Do not use light coconut milk because it won’t turn out. In summary – look for a full-fat can of coconut milk that does not have guar gum listed on the ingredient list. Cool?
Many of you have had trouble making whipped coconut cream with certain brands because some cans don’t always separate. A reader let me know that Thai Kitchen has changed their formula so that it doesn’t separate anymore. Apparently they are coming out with small cans of pure coconut cream instead. Be on the look out! I used Native Forest with decent result, although I have had some duds before.
2. Place can in the fridge overnight. This is another crucial step. You need to chill the coconut cream until it’s very firm. I once tried to make whipped coconut cream without chilling the can – big mistake! It was a watery mess. I like to keep at least a couple cans in the back of my fridge just in case I need a quick whipped cream for a recipe. Then you always have it on hand and don’t have to wait overnight to use it. A few extra cans of chilled coconut milk never hurt anyone.
Just before you make your whipped cream, place a mixing bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes or so. This helps keep everything cold and will be especially helpful for those of you in very warm climates. You can also put the beaters in the freezer too, but it’s not necessary.
3. Remove the chilled can from fridge and FLIP it upside down.
Why flip it upside down?
The liquid coconut milk (the part that doesn’t harden) will now be at the top of the can! Note: Not all cans work for this – check yours.
4. Open the can. See the liquid at the top? You won’t be whipping this part.
5. Pour the coconut liquid into another bowl. You should have just under 1 cup of liquid, but this yield will vary a bit by brand and even by can.
Don’t throw it away – I like to use it in smoothies along with mango, kale, banana, and chia for a fun tropical smoothie. You can also use it in baking and cooking.
As you can see below, you are left with only the hardened coconut cream! Come to mama!! This is exactly what we want to use to make our coconut whipped cream.
6. Scoop the coconut cream into your chilled bowl. (I don’t recommend using a shallow bowl like this one – I only used it for photo purposes so you could see it better!)
As you can see, you get a lot of hardened cream to work with!
7. Whip the cream. Grab a hand mixer (alternatively, you can do this in a stand mixer – just chill the bowl first) and whip the cream until fluffy. It’s really too much fun.
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Coconut Whipped Cream
Yield
1 cup (250 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
You can easily create a decadent, fluffy whipped cream by using a can of full-fat coconut milk. Not only is the technique simple, but it’s easily the best-tasting whipped cream I’ve tried. You can use this whipped cream just like regular dairy whipped cream. I like to use it in a bowl of fruit, on top of a fruit crisp, or stirred into Banana Soft Serve. The options are really endless! One important tip: you’ll want to chill the can of coconut milk for at least 24 hours before you begin to ensure the white coconut cream solidifies (be sure to read all my tips below on how to buy the right coconut milk for this recipe).
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce/398 mL) can full-fat coconut milk, chilled for 24 hours*
- 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 mL) sweetener (maple syrup, powdered sugar, cane sugar, etc), to taste
- 1 vanilla bean, scraped or 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) pure vanilla extract (optional)
Directions
- Chill the can of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 24 hours. I like to keep a few cans in the fridge at all times so I don’t have to wait.
- About 1 hour before making the coconut whip, chill a mixing bowl in the freezer.
- After chilling the can, open the can and scoop the solid white coconut cream into the bowl. Discard the coconut water or save it for another use (such as coconut water ice cubes).
- Using an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the cream until fluffy and smooth. Add in sweetener to taste and vanilla.
- Return whipped cream to fridge until ready to use. It will firm when chilled and soften at room temperature. This will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 week or you can freeze it in an airtight freezer-safe bag for up to 1 month. After chilling in the fridge, allow it to sit at room temperature until it softens slightly and then you can re-whip it as needed.
Tip:
- * Some brands of canned coconut milk will be better than others for making whipped cream, and even some cans within the same brand can vary quite a bit. For whatever reason, the cream and water in some brands or cans do not separate. A few of the most consistent brands for making coconut whipped cream are: Thai Kitchen full-fat coconut milk, Trader Joe’s Coconut Cream (just the cream—no water in the can!), and Native Forest. I always keep at least a few cans of full-fat coconut milk in my fridge at all times just in case I get a “dud”—then I know I have more on hand. If you happen to get a dud don’t be discouraged. Try out one of the brands above, and be sure to chill it for at least 24 hours. Odds are you will find your perfect brand after some trial and error!!
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
There may be a strong urge to shove your face in the bowl.
8. Add in a touch of sweetener and vanilla extract and whip it again.
You can use regular cane sugar, confectioner’s sugar, or even a touch of maple syrup. I find 2-3 teaspoons usually does the trick for my taste buds. I also like to add about 1/4-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract or a vanilla bean. The vanilla really takes it over the edge – I don’t suggest skipping it!
The first time I made this I could not get over how amaaaaazing it tastes. Eric even said he wouldn’t be able to tell that it wasn’t made from dairy. Two big thumbs up from us!
How to use:
You can use this whipped cream just like regular dairy whipped cream. I like to use it in desserts & frostings, it’s amazing over a simple bowl of fruit or pancakes, and sometimes I add a dollop on my vegan overnight oats for an extra creamy bowl. You can even spoon a bit on top of a pie or fruit crisp or stir some into a bowl of banana soft serve. The options are really endless! Have fun making different kinds of flavours and fooling your friends and family.
If making a whipped frosting, I suggest storing the decorated cake/cupcakes in the fridge until ready to serve.
Storing:
Have leftovers? You can easily store it in the fridge for at least 1.5 weeks (probably longer) in a sealed container. It will firm up a bit more in the fridge. Simply scoop it into a bowl and re-whip it when you need it.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! For those of you who’ve been making it for a while now, what’s your favourite way to prepare/enjoy it?
This looks like it might be a great alternative frosting for a cake I plan to make this weekend. How much does one can make, though? Would it be enough to frost a cake or would I need to do two cans? Thanks for the great recipes!
Hi Angela, I am in the middle of making your delectable cake ball little treats for my girlfriends who are coming over tomorrow night, one is vegan and one is gluten free. It’s my gluten free friend’s birthday so I want to have your cake balls with candles to sing happy birthday to her. My problem is that I had actual coconut cream in the can and thought heh, that should work perfectly without having to put the can in the fridge overnight. Well needless to say (and as you did warn me lol)….nope….it didn’t whip up much at all so now I have put another can of the coconut cream in the freezer hoping I can speed up the process in order to have them decorated before tomorrow rolls around. Have you ever tried it using actual coconut cream? I am using Earth’s Choice organic coconut cream. Any suggestions would be so appreciated. Also just as a side note, I’ve already done up the peanut butter balls and they are in the fridge and are really yummy and I ordered your cookbook from Amazon today. :) Thank you kindly. Cheers!
I bought this exact brand of coconut milk and it didn’t have the solid part at all… it was all liquid :( Any suggestions for when that happens, or do I just have to buy multiple cans when I’m planning to make this? Thanks!
Hi Charlie, Unfortunately – for whatever reason – sometimes the cream and water don’t separate, even in a trusted brand. I always keep at least a few cans in my fridge at all times just in case I get a dud. It happens!
I am using the organic Natual Value brand which was highly recommended in all sorts of blogs and by the Whole30 community. It separates, looks just like the pictures. I chill it etc. but then it won’t whip. Not even a little. I’ve tried 2 cans so far. Anyone know what this could be? Thanks.
I tried this tonight for a vegan cake made for a vegan potluck. Everyone loved it. Thanks for posting it. It was the hit with all the guests.
not sure what happened. I followed all the istructions but did not work out.
Oh no! If you tell me a little about your results, maybe I can help you out for next time?
Help. I used pure coconut cream and followed the instructions.. i ended up wth coconut cottage cheese. Any ideas what went wrong?
I can’t have whipping cream or the fake cool whip. Is this stable enough to use in a mousse or cream pie??
Hi, thanks for a great site and I did download your app on my ipad, but unfortunately, I use my note 5 for a quick look when I am not home. The whip cream sounds great, but so far it seems impossible to find coconut milk without guar-gum. I shopped all over looking for the native brand to find it also had the guar-gum and then read your blog that the brand you show on your site now has guar-gum. I am at a lost. I live in Sarasota FL, but originally from New England.
If you have any ideas of what brands to purchase I would appreciate your help. You’re recipes are spectacular! God bless you and your family…
Hi Irene, Thank you for your support! I hope you’re enjoying the app so far. I think most of the coconut milk brands I buy all have guar gum in them, so I’m sorry I don’t have any to suggest! I would also check out this Q+A post on another site: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread60447.html
Hi Angela,
Will the whipped coconut cream recipe still work if the can has guar gum in it? You mentioned at the top of the tutorial to find coconut milk without guar gum. I have no issue with guar gum, I just want to make sure the recipe will work.
Hi Ann, Guar gum causes the cream and water to emulsify, which will spell trouble for the recipe. So it’s best to look for a can of full-fat coconut milk that does not contain guar game in the ingredient list. :)
Can you use tinned coconut cream instead of coconut milk – surely this makes it easier given it is thicker or does it not work? Thanks
Hi!
If you use Trader Joe’s coconut cream, do you still need to chill it? How does using this Trader Joe’s product make the coconut whipped cream process different? Thanks for your help! I’ve been LOVING your site!!
~Maggie
Wow! Amazing taste better than diary whipped cream and stays in the fridge for 3 days!!! I will never buy diary cream again! Love this recipe!
I wonder if this would hold together nicely if I froze the coconut cream, then added Xylitol while whipping. Since a person cant whip it long before it starts resembling coconut milk and the xylitol takes a while to melt. I like Xylitol because it doesn’t have a bad aftertaste.
I think this is going to become a staple in my house now just like frozen banana turned into ice cream is. I always have some form of fruit in my house so a quick topping on top of fruit slices is a great go-to when wanting something sweet. I made this for the second time last night and I much prefer what I did last night: whipped coconut milk with vanilla and coconut palm sugar (lower glycemic natural sugar). I’m going to try stevia with it. If I like it with stevia then I have an even healthier dessert for me. :) Thanks for posting
Thank YOU for the thoughtful comment! :)
I’ve made this before but I’ve never liked it nor found it easy until I saw this recipe. The flipping the can upside is genius. I add Stevia for 0 on the glycemic scale or Coconut Palm Sugar which is second lowest healthy/natural sugar on the glycemic scale. I now enjoy adding it on top of sliced fruit and a pinch of cinnamon on top for a quick, healthy dessert. Thanks!
I’m glad that trick works for you, Marie!
I will definitely make this soon… Thanks so much for this recipe, am very lazy when it comes to preparing food but following your style makes everything easy
Hello,
I notice that all the cans of coconut milk/cream contain guar gum (including Native Forest). Will the whipped coconut cream process still work if the can contains guar gum? Has anyone in Canada found a brand that has no guar gum?
Thanks
if you are looking for a retail product, then i’d recommend the rich’s whipped cream, but only the unflavored one is vegan. http://www.richgraviss.com/
Is there an exact amount of coconut cream that is used? Is it possible to use actual coconut cream rather than the full fat coconut milk as mentioned in your recipe?
Do you mean a can of pure coconut cream? I suspect it should work, but I haven’t tried it myself so I’m really not sure. If you give it a try, please let me know how it goes!!
This is a recipe blog, right? I read some comments to get more ideas about recipes tried and used. Ended up in some editorials on meat eaters verses vegetarian/vegans. Why? Who cares. Eat what you want. Go where you want. Stick to the topic.
Thank you for your recipe and directions. I found what I was looking for. Worked great for me. Now, can we talk about why you used an orange bowl while you made this? Because a clear bowl makes so much more sense since you can see what’s going on while you work. While the handle of your can opener looked black, which doesn’t fit the decor set by the orange bowl.