Coconut syrup is amazing for delivering that shot of coconutty goodness to any recipe. It’s a great replacement for other all-natural sweeteners like maple syrup or honey when you want to add in some tropical flavors…and of course, if you’ve ever had a pina colada, you know exactly how good a little coconut flavoring can be with the right mix of drink ingredients.
I’ve done the hard work of compiling a list of the very best coconut syrups you can buy for all kinds of different uses – so let’s dive in!
Different kinds of coconut syrup
“Coconut syrup” is kind of a broad heading that can include a lot of different stuff. Generally I found they sorted into two categories: 1) What I call the pancake syrups, and 2) drink flavorings. Let’s break down some of the key differences between these.
The pancake syrups are usually mostly about delivering sweetness as efficiently as possible. They tend to have few ingredients (or at least, the good ones do) and are usually pretty light on the coconut flavor, as they’re focused on replacing maple syrup or honey as a topping or in a baked good. There’s some coconutty goodness there, but it won’t overwhelm other flavors.
The coconut drink flavorings, by contrast, are focused on delivering coconut flavor, and because of that their recipes generally require a little more modulation – so they have more ingredients and are generally geared to a specific level and amount of taste. The whole point is to overwhelm other flavors so you get a coconut-flavored beverage.
Coconut syrup substitutions
Generally speaking, when subbing in coconut syrup for another sweetener, you can use a 1:1 substitution ratio. So if something calls for 1/4 cup of honey, or 1/4 cup of maple syrup, or 1/4 cup of sugar – the same amount of coconut syrup should do the trick.
Generally speaking, drink recipes where subbing in coconut syrup for another ingredient makes sense will call for it specifically – otherwise, best to stick with the ingredients you already have. If you’re trying to amp up coconut flavors or add a tropical twist to something, start with 1/4 teaspoon of coconut syrup and work your way up from there.
Top recipes using coconut syrup
For the “pancake syrup” type coconut syrups, you’re going to see lots of opportunity with recipes like:
- This delicious almond flour banana bread recipe. Remember that coconut pairs well with bananas and other tropical fruits – by subbing out the honey for an equivalent amount of coconut syrup, you’re going to get an even more festive loaf!
- This Keto coconut cream pie. Sub out the erythritol for coconut syrup for a more natural sweetness, plus you get to amp up the coconut flavor even further!
- Coconut flour cookies. Replace the 1/4 cup of maple syrup with coconut syrup and see how it really boosts the subtle coconut flavor from the flour.
On the drink flavorings side – which, again, is a different kind of coconut syrup that is much more about delivering a focused shot of immediate flavor – you’ll love recipes like:
- This homemade pina colada mix. (It’s virgin, but you can add alcohol.) You’ll notice that one of the ingredients is two tablespoons of coconut sugar or sweetener of choice – that’s where coconut syrup can really amp up the flavor and deliver an even better experience.
- This amazing DIY coconut margarita. I’d just add a dash of syrup – say 1/4 teaspoon – to the mix and see how it adds sweetness while amping up the coconut flavor! You may need to add a little more tequila to balance it out, which is definitely not a tragedy!
- Pineapple coconut juice. Coconut water gives you a hint of that coconutty goodness, but why not amp it up with 1/4 teaspoon of this? (And more if that’s not enough.) Simple, easy, straightforward, delicious.
How to find the best coconut syrup
Here are the exact criteria I used to rank the top coconut syrup brands, ensuring you get nothing but the best:
- Ingredients: When it comes to ingredients, we want the good stuff – as few as possible, with as much coconut as possible. Strong preference for organic. I had to compromise on preservatives because most of these store-bought syrups contain them, but no artificial flavors here. Of course, because we believe in total ingredient transparency, you can see all of them below.
- Consumer feedback:Â On top of my own taste tests, I paid close attention to what other amateur bakers and mixologists had to say. Their honest opinions helped me curate this list of top coconut syrups.
- Track record: I looked into the brands’ track records to ensure they consistently delivered high-quality products over the years.
- Price: Great coconut syrup doesn’t have to break the bank. So, I made sure to include options that balance cost-effectiveness with everything else I discussed above.
The best coconut syrup you can buy
#1 Best Overall: Wildly Organic
If you only buy one coconut syrup, make it this one. Wildly Organic’s coconut syrup is – shocker – organic, and it’s made with just two ingredients – organic granulated coconut sugar and water. Wildly Organic’s products are one of my automatic go-to’s whenever I’m looking for high-quality organic ingredients. And with its subtle, delicate flavor, this coconut syrup is well-placed to sub in for honey, maple syrup, or granulated sugar WITHOUT overwhelming your dish with coconut flavor.
Ingredients: Organic Granulated Coconut Sugar, water.
#2 Best Coconut Syrup for Coffee: DaVinci Gourmet
DaVinci Gourmet’s coconut syrup is designed with coffee in mind, so it brings a light and playful flavor without the use of heavier ingredients like coconut milk and coconut cream. That means it can be used in addition to coffee creamer. (Try this easy and delicious coconut coffee creamer recipe for coconutty goodness + the thickness you expect from a coffee creamer!)
I love that they made this choice, because it meant that I didn’t have to marry the thickness I wanted from creamer with the amount of coconut taste added – I could hold one constant while increasing or decreasing the other. Also, DaVinci Gourmet’s syrup was the cheapest I reviewed (without sacrificing taste or relying on artificial ingredients).
Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Water, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid.
#3 Best Organic: Organic Nectars
Organic Nectars’ delicious coconut syrup (which is intended to replace maple syrup, honey, or sugar for baking) has literally just one ingredient: Pure organic coconut palm nectar. So it’s simple, organic, and all-natural. (And absolutely delicious, with a buttery/caramely taste and a little hint of salt at the end.) That natural sweetness is just fantastic in any baked good.
Plus – and this is important – it won’t break the bank. Organic has this reputation of being “too expensive” for most people, and Organic Nectars’ coconut syrup is just another example in a long line showing that you CAN have it all:
- Healthy
- Organic
- All-natural
- AND inexpensive.
Give it a try. I bet you’ll love it.
Ingredients: Pure organic coconut palm nectar.
#4 Best Cocktail Syrup: Monin
You probably did not expect me to come to this conclusion, because Monin is ubiquitous, but here we are. Fact is, Monin syrup is incredibly popular…and that’s for a very good reason: It’s a good price point, it has just a handful of ingredients (none of them artificial), and their product tastes great. I used Monin coconut syrup when I was a bartender, and people loved my pina coladas.
With Monin, you’re going to get a consistent, great experience. And really, when making cocktails, isn’t that all you want?
Ingredients: Pure cane sugar, water, natural flavors, citric acid
#5 Trusted Brand: Torani
Pepsi is to Coke and Mastercard is to Visa as Torani is to Monin. I think most people view them as pretty interchangeable (I don’t, but more on that in a moment) because they make similar flavors, they compete closely on price and appearance, and they’re both ubiquitous.
I like Torani quite a bit because they’re a B Corp, which means they have to hold to a rigorous set of ethical and business practices to benefit all their stakeholders (not just business owners, but also customers, employees, and suppliers), and I generally find their products to be almost as good as Monin’s.
There are a few more ingredients and preservatives than Monin, but Torani has built up a well-deserved reputation for great products, and it shows.
Ingredients: Pure Cane Sugar, Water, Natural Flavors, Acacia Gum, Citric Acid, Ester Gum, Potassium Sorbate (to preserve freshness), Sodium Benzoate (to preserve freshness).
#6 Best Pancake Syrup: Uncle Bob’s Butter Country
Even if I hadn’t told you it was pancake syrup, you probably could have guessed from the title. Here’s the thing: Many (most?) pancake syrups are a mess of high-fructose corn syrup and other nasty chemicals and artificial ingredients. Uncle Bob’s is one of the few that really isn’t. It’s got a rich creaminess that other syrups lack because it has buttermilk and whipping cream in it – which makes for a decadent breakfast topping!
Because it’s so much thicker than regular syrups, I’d recommend warming it up before you pour. And trust me, you’re gonna want to pour a lot.
Ingredients: Sugar, Buttermilk (cultured lowfat milk, salt), Whipping Cream (heavy cream, carrageenan), Natural Flavors, Baking Soda, Coconut Flavor, Organic Gum Acacia, Xanthan Gum, Salt.
#7 Best Non-GMO: Liquid Alchemist
Liquid Alchemist’s coconut syrup (intended primarily for drinks) is pretty different from what you’ll get from a Monin or Torani – it’s a lot thicker and packs a real flavor punch. That’s great if you’re making a pina colada or something else that would normally require cream of coconut – just be aware that if you’re adding it to a thinner cocktail or to coffee, it’s going to change the consistency.
Just look at those ingredients – coconut creme, coconut milk, cane sugar, water. Hard to get simpler (or more all-natural) than that without going all the way up to my pick for “best organic”, #3 above. Plus, Liquid Alchemist’s coconut syrup is made with all non-GMO ingredients!
Ingredients: Coconut creme, coconut milk, cane sugar, water.
#8 Best Powdered Syrup: Kauai Tropical Syrup
Generally, I don’t love ingredients that are “just add water.” All too often, they’ve got lots of weird chemicals and artificial flavors. However, obviously there are reasons someone would need this kind of thing (for saving space if for no other reason), and Kauai has done a good job of providing a product that scratches that itch without too many compromises in the chemical zone. It’s a good product, and delicious when it’s fully reconstituted (add 10 fluid ounces of water to make a full batch, or you can add less for a more concentrated flavor).
Ingredients: Cane sugar, coconut powder, cornstarch, maltodextrin, sodium caseinate, salt.
Other brands reviewed
Most of these got rejected because of artificial flavors or high-fructose corn syrup. And while some of them may still be the ‘best’ in their zone (Jordan’s, for example, is the best sugar-free coconut syrup I’ve found – more on that if I write a full article on it)…I want to focus this article on as many all-natural (and ideally organic!) flavors as possible. Here were the rejects:
- Hawaiian Sun
- Jordan’s Skinny
- Hawaiian Shaved Ice
- Syruvia
- 1883
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