Recipe Note

One creamy, sweet, and slightly tropical recipe. We consider this drink the perfect treat for a hot summer day. One of the main charming of this recipe – besides being a creamy and delicious way to start your day – is that it’s totally vegan and dairy-free. Instead of using heavy cream, we have decided to use cream of coconut to create a decadent iced drink

Is coconut good in coffee?

Like most things in food and drink, there are no hard and fast rules of what you can and cannot substitute in your recipes. Of course, you can put coconut in coffee, but if you’re still unsure, ask yourself this:Do you like the flavor of coconut milk and all things coconuts?If the answer to is “no, yuck, I hate it,” then coconut milk or cream of coconut in coffee might be a no go. Coconut has a signature profile, and not everyone loves it. That’s okay! But chances are you might have to try it first to realize if you actually like it or not. In case you are the type of person that loves to add nutritional things to your daily morning coffee, you’ll be surprised to know all the potential health benefits coconut milk has. First, coconut milk fat is high in MCTs – medium-chain triglycerides – which can help you feel fuller after eating, exercise better and even provide immediate energy to the brain. Coconut milk also contains lauric acid, which has been studied to demonstrate antimicrobial (body defense) properties.What is Cream of coconut?In case you’ve never heard of cream of coconut, it’s basically a coconut cream that's been sweetened and processed so it has a thick, syrupy texture. For the most part, it’s used as a mixer for drinks and cocktails, but it is also used in desserts or as a vegan alternative to milk or cream.Cream of coconut is also easy to confuse with other coconut products, mainly coconut cream and coconut milk, since the names and packaging and nearly identical. In case you are now wondering what is the difference between coconut cream and coconut milk, following the Codex Standards for Aqueous coconut products (CODEX STAN 240-2003), coconut milk should contain at least 10% fat, and coconut cream should contain at least 20%. This product can easily be purchased at a grocery store or online. But you can also make it at home just by mixing coconut milk with sugar and a pinch of salt.

How to Make Cream of Coconut

Simply combine 1 cup of full-fat coconut milk, 1¾ cups granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and cook on low until the sugar is dissolved. You can also add a tablespoon of coconut powder for an extra coconut flavor, in that case, use a stick blender to blend the mixture smooth. And with that, you have a perfect, additive-free, creme of coconut recipe ready for mixed drinks. Don’t forget to store it in an airtight container, it thickens up slightly but doesn’t solidify. With the high sugar content, it can easily last a month or more. This is no more difficult to make than simple syrup, and this recipe can save your bar money.The proportions for the cream of coconut are below, but you can easily scale the recipe up or down based on how much you want.