It’s also a good choice for those who are allergic to nuts and/or soy since most alternatives to dairy milk and cream are sourced from one of those foods. Pros of Coconut CreamĬoconut cream is a godsend for vegans and those who are lactose-intolerant. Just as with any food or beverage (with the possible exception of water and leafy green vegetables), there are nutritional pros and cons to consider. It’s also delicious.Īll of those attributes don’t necessarily mean coconut cream is good for your health. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free and keto-friendly (within reason). Since coconut cream is plant-based, it’s great for use in vegan recipes. And cream of coconut is also different it’s processed coconut cream with a syrupy texture similar to condensed milk.) It’s the liquid found inside a young, green coconut. (If you’re wondering about coconut water, it’s a different product. But even though it’s unsweetened, coconut cream contains more carbohydrates, fat and calories than coconut milk.

The coconut cream available in stores may have one other added ingredient: guar gum, which chemically stabilizes the mixture and ensures better consistency.Ĭoconut milk and cream each taste like coconut, of course. You can do essentially the same thing to create homemade coconut cream, by simmering shredded coconut meat in water and then straining the liquid through cheesecloth. When left to sit, the liquid will separate into thinner coconut milk at the bottom and thicker coconut cream at the top. Meat is harvested from mature coconuts, and the fluid it contains is mechanically extracted water may also be added. (We’re not talking about light coconut milk full-fat coconut milk contains more cream and less water.)

So even though coconut milk is not the same as coconut cream, it helps to understand how full-fat coconut milk is produced. Coconut cream is the thicker liquid that rises to the top when coconut milk is made. Heavy whipping cream is essentially the fat that collects at the top of milk before it’s homogenized. It’s the non-dairy equivalent of heavy cream, derived from the meat of coconuts.

Coconut cream pie healthy