Cream of coconut

photo credit: gourmetsleuth

Other Names:coco lopez, cocoa casa

What is Cream of coconut

Cream of coconut is a thick, heavily sweetened form of coconut milk which is used for making drinks (like Pina Colada) as well as desserts. See the ingredients below for these two popular brands include Coco Lopez and Cocoa Casa. Don't confuse this with coconut milk or coconut cream which are used in cooking many Asian savory and sweet dishes.

Do not use cream of coconut as a substitute for coconut cream or coconut milk.

Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream, Cream of Coconut Compared

Here is a quick comparison of these three common ingredients.

Coconut Milk = Made from coconut extract, water, citric acid, assorted preservatives.
Coconut Cream = Made from coconut, water and a thickener (like guar gum). No added sugar.
Cream of coconut = Some are made from coconut (Cocoa Lopez) and Cocoa Casa is made from coconut water. Both have added sugar and both have added thickeners and preservatives.

Substitute for Cream of coconut

If you don't have cream of coconut you can substitute:

Equal parts of coconut syrup (like Torani syrup)
OR> Sweetened condensed milk with coconut extract to taste
OR> Coconut Liqueur (Kalani is a good brand) plus a drop of coconut extract. Use this for drinks but not for baking.

Non-dairy Milk and Cream

Ingredients

cream of coconut Ingredient list from Cocoa Casa:
includes sugar, coconut, water, salt, polysorbate 60, hydrogenated soybean oil, xanthan gum, sodium metabisulfite (preservative).

Ingredient list from Coco Lopez:
Coconut, Sugar, Water, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Monostearate, Salt, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Mono And Diglycerides (Emulsifiers), Citric Acid, Guar Gum, Locust Bean Gum.

Favorite Cream of coconut Recipes

Coconut Pot de Creme
Our Coconut Pot de Creme recipe is made with Coco Lopez cream of coconut, fresh coconut and 10 egg yolks. It is a very sweet, rich dessert so you'll probably want to keep the portion size very small, 3 ounces at the most.
Chocolate Coconut Fondue
A recipe for Chocolate Coconut Fondue. You can make this fondue up to 8 hours ahead then just warm it gently before serving. The ingredients include Chocolate, Cream of Coconut, whipping cream, bittersweet chocolate and coconut extract.
Zen Blossom
Looking for the perfect adult drink for your Easter dinner? Try this new take on iced tea from James Labe featuring Zen Green Tea Liqueur.
Tropical Frappe
Tropical Frappe recipe. This recipe makes a great alternative to a pina collada because it uses no alcohol. This is a mocktail made with cream of coconut, passion fruit juice, pineapple and banana. This is a great drink for the designated driver.
Coconut Cloud Martini
A Coconut Cloud Martini is a drink recipe from that features Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum, vanilla vodka, coconut rum and cream of coconut. Serve this cocktail in a wide martini glass. The drink is topped with toasted coconut.