Almond-Coconut Milk vs Coconut Milk: The Ultimate Verdict

The world of milk and milk alternatives is a place of endless experimentation, and one of these products from that experimentation is almond-coconut milk. Almond-coconut milk is a blend of almond milk and coconut milk, bringing together their unique properties, flavor, and nutrition together. Almond milk is celebrated for its light, nutty taste, and coconut milk boasts a rich tropical flavor and creamy texture. In this comparison article, we’ll be comparing the best-of-both-worlds milk blend and classic coconut milk!

Comparing almond-coconut milk vs coconut milk

	Almond-coconut milk	Coconut milk
Type	Plant-based (nuts)	Plant-based (nuts)
Allergens	Tree nuts	Tree nuts (though most people with tree nut allergies can consume coconut products)
Vegan?	Yes	Yes
Paleo?	Yes	Yes
Keto?	Yes	Yes

Almond-coconut milk and coconut milk can adapt to nearly any diet, especially if you’re following a paleo, vegan, or keto lifestyle. But there’s a catch – both almond-coconut milk and coconut milk come from tree nuts, which means they pose an allergen risk for those with nut allergies. However, most people with tree nut allergies can safely consume coconut products as their protein composition is different from typical tree nuts like almonds.

Differences between almond-coconut milk and coconut milk

The key difference between almond-coconut milk and pure coconut milk is their consistency. While almond milk is naturally very thin and coconut milk comes in different thicknesses, almond-coconut milk takes advantage of additives like sunflower lecithin and gellan gum to achieve a creamier, more indulgent mouthfeel. This thickening and emulsifying strategy prevents the fats from separating from the liquid for better consistency. Blending coconut milk and almond milk together will boast the natural sweetness of almonds with a touch of coconut flavor, creating an incredible flavor experience.

There are actually two types of coconut milk: canned and carton. Canned coconut milk is very high in fat and mostly solid at room temperature, whereas carton coconut milk is liquid and ready to drink.

Canned coconut milk is typically used in cooking, made by heating high-fat coconut pulp in hot water and then extracting the liquid. Meanwhile, carton coconut milk is made by blending thick coconut milk or coconut cream with water, typically fortified with calcium and vitamin D. 

How to use almond-coconut milk vs coconut milk

Almond-coconut milk:

• Use as a base for smoothies and shakes.
• Elevate your coffee or tea with a splash of almond-coconut milk.
• Pour over cereal or stir into oatmeal.
• Infuse into baked goods for a unique flavor profile.
• Make rice pudding or custards.
• Try in savory recipes like quinoa dishes.

Coconut milk:

• Add to exotic Thai, Indian, or other Asian curries.
• Create vibrant smoothies, such as this coconut milk berry smoothie.
• Make delicious hot and iced coffee.
• Add to creamy soups like tom kha gai (Thai coconut soup) or butternut squash soup.
• Make desserts like coconut milk pumpkin ice cream.
• Use in marinades and sauces, like this coconut milk chicken with lime recipe.

Can you substitute almond-coconut milk for coconut milk?

If you’re looking for a coconut flavor with a touch of almond sweetness and don’t mind almond-coconut blend’s thinner consistency, the swap can work with no problem. But if your recipe specifically requires the thicker, creamier texture and full coconut taste of pure coconut milk, it might not be an ideal swap. 

As well, you’ll want to keep in mind the specific type of coconut milk in your recipe, as canned coconut milk is thicker and richer than the carton variety.

Nutrition: Almond-coconut milk vs coconut milk

Almond-coconut milk and pure coconut milk are very similar in their core nutrition — calories, protein, carbs, fat. The differences are that almond-coconut milk has less saturated fat and has a slightly lower calcium daily value percentage. On the other hand, pure coconut milk is richer in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which can provide a quick energy source. Other great benefits of the almond-coconut option is that it contains good monounsaturated fats, as well as prebiotic fiber for a healthy gut. Unfortunately, both as extremely low in protein, so don’t count on them for your daily protein intake!

Per 1 cup (237 ml/8 oz.)	Calories	Total fat (sat. fat)	Total carbs	Total sugars (incl. added)	Protein	Calcium	Vit D
Almond-coconut milk	40	3.5 g (1 g)	1 g	0 g	1 g	35% DV	25% DV
Coconut milk	40	4 g (3.5 g)	2 g	<1 g (0 g)	0 g	45% DV	25% DV

How to store almond-coconut milk and coconut milk

All cans and most cartons of coconut milk and almond-coconut milk are shelf-stable if unopened but need to be refrigerated right after opening. If you’ve made homemade coconut milk or almond-coconut milk, it will need to be refrigerated straight away. Both will tend to last around 7 – 10 days in the fridge once opened and a few months unopened on the shelves. 

Note that canned varieties of coconut milk don’t tend to stay fresh for as long as carton coconut milk once opened, but you can freeze coconut milk – just remember that it may alter its texture.

Almond-coconut milk vs coconut milk: What’s the verdict?

The verdict all depends on the intensity of texture and flavor you want in your recipe — are you looking for the creaminess and tropical flavor of full-fat or carton coconut milk or the milder and more balanced almond-coconut blend? Pure coconut milk is best for whipping up savory curries and stews and using it in decadent cocktails and desserts, while almond-coconut is great for cereal, coffees and teas, and smoothies. And, of course, if you have a tree nut allergy, you should probably steer clear of almond-coconut altogether!

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