I’ve always had a complex relationship with coconuts. I love guzzling a cool carton of coconut water. But I absolutely despise the texture of shredded coconut on my birthday cake, especially when I specifically told my mom to get a cake with no coconuts! I’ve also been bonked on the head by a bunch of coconuts because I used to live under a coconut tree, but that’s another story. The epitome of coconuttiness is coconut cream. What is coconut cream? Is cream of coconut the same as coconut cream? What is cream of coconut? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is coconut cream?
I didn’t just fall out of a coconut tree. I know coconut cream is like cream but made from a coconut. But what does that really mean? Coconut cream is just coconut and water—no cows involved. Take four parts shredded coconut and mix it with one part water and then strain.
Is coconut cream the same as coconut milk?
You may have seen cans of coconut cream on the shelves of your local grocery store. Brands like Thai Kitchen and the Trader Joe’s store brand usually have both coconut cream and coconut milk. Is coconut cream the same as coconut milk? That’s a big no. The difference between coconut cream and coconut milk is similar to the difference between dairy cream and milk. Coconut cream has a higher fat content.
Basically, both these coconut concoctions are made using the same ingredients: water, shredded coconut, and sometimes guar gum for texture. Coconut cream is a more concentrated mix of that formula. Coconut milk can be made with one part shredded coconut to one part water while coconut cream is made with four parts shredded coconut to one part water. That’s a lot more coconut.
Coconut milk will give your recipe a nice coconut flavor. But if you need a thicker texture, like if you need to thicken up your curry, then coconut cream is where you want to go.
How do you make coconut milk from coconut cream?
You can actually make coconut cream out of coconut milk. Put your coconut milk in the fridge for around four hours. The cream will separate from the rest and you can scoop it off the top with a spoon.
Is cream of coconut the same as coconut cream?
Cream of coconut is another story all together. While coconut cream and coconut milk are different versions of the same thing, cream of coconut is super sweet.
What is cream of coconut?
Cream of coconut is a highly sweetened verison of coconut cream that has the consistency of a thick syrup. So what do you use this stuff for? Tropical drinks, of course! Bars keep a bottle of cream of coconut on hand to make tropical favorites like the Pina Colada.
Go out to your local tiki bar and order a Pina Colada, a Chi Chi, and a Painkiller if you really want to get the full cream of coconut experience. But make sure you go there with some friends because that is too many drinks for one person to be ordering at once.
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!