Have you seen coconut milk powder at your local health food store? This coconut product may be one of the best things to keep in your pantry!
“What’s powdered coconut milk, and how do I use it?”
This is a question I’ve been getting more and more lately.
First, I want to say how happy I am to see so many coconut products becoming available. When I first started using coconut oil, I had to order it online. I couldn’t find it in any store, not even the health food store. Now, I see isles of coconut products at Walmart, Whole Foods, and Natural Grocers.
Powdered coconut milk is a newer coconut product that’s come into play over the last few years. In this post, I will share ways to use coconut milk powder in your kitchen.
What is Coconut Milk Powder?
Coconut milk powder is similar to regular evaporated milk powder, except it isn’t derived from cow’s milk. Instead, it’s made from dairy-free coconut milk.
How To Use Coconut Milk Powder
Coconut milk powder produces coconut milk simply with the addition of hot water. Very convenient! I store a bag of it in my family camping trailer. It’s so much lighter than packing canned coconut milk!
But beyond milk, you can also make coconut cream from this powder, which is very helpful for specific recipes. The powdery nature also makes it a great addition to beverages like hot chocolate, soups, sauces, yogurt, ice cream, shakes, and is the key ingredient in my golden milk latte mix!
For any recipe that calls for coconut milk, coconut milk powder will work just fine. It’s beneficial when making curry because of the powder’s improved capability to bind to the spices. If you’re a smoothie lover like me, try adding a tablespoon of it to your next smoothie. I also like to add it to my soups! Its rich flavor will add delicious tropical flavor to your smoothies. I use it to make my Pina Colada smoothie because it gives the smoothie a rich coconut flavor. Coconut milk powder also tastes great as a coffee creamer! Just add a scoop to your warm cup of joe and mix well. Your coffee will be creamy and delicious!
Another reason I love to use coconut milk powder is because it’s a great alternative to dairy powdered milk. Be warned: Some coconut milk powders contain casein, a milk derivative.
My favorite coconut milk powders
To get the best quality (and healthiest) product out there, generally you want organic, single origin, no extra chemicals, additives, or preservatives. If you don’t feel like checking the label, I’ve done the hard work for you.
Below are my favorite coconut milk powder brands:
- Native Forest Coconut Milk Powder: This vegan-friendly coconut powder is one of my favorite brands and is often available to health food stores. You can find this brand on amazon as well.
- Wildly Organic Coconut Milk Powder: This brand is another great option. It’s also keto friendly! Unfortunately, It does contain casein, so it isn’t dairy-free or vegan.
FAQ
Yes, most brands of coconut milk powder are dairy free. Always check labels, because some brands may use milk derived ingredients in their coconut milk powder.
Yes, the two milk powders are both a good substitute for each other in recipes. Generally I’d substitute them 1:1.
Yes, but make sure you add water first! Coconut milk powder is consumable and works well when diluted with water.
The ratio is three tablespoons of coconut milk powder to one cup of hot water. You can read more in the recipe below!
Homemade Coconut Milk (From Coconut Milk Powder)
Make coconut milk quick and easily with coconut milk powder and hot water.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coconut milk powder
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
Stir the coconut milk powder with hot water. Add more if you like creamier milk!
Notes
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Protein: 1.5g
What coconut milk powder would I use in a Candy recipe, as in an Almond Joy candy bar? I have a recipe but the site that has the recipe doesn’t sell it!
Linda
Hi Tiffany, You didn’t state which coconut powder you use and where can I buy it. Thanks
Hi,
I am very new to using powdered coconut milk. I just purchased some online. However, when it arrived, it was rock hard and cold- because it is in the 30s outside! So, is it ruined? Can you even freeze powdered coconut milk?
I would greatly appreciate the any help! I ordered 2 brands- “native forest” and “wildy organic” if this helps- due to ingredients! I wanted to try some of your recipes, so I ordered these, but I wanted to make sure they were still usable.
Also, how long can you keep powdered coconut milk? Do you have an article on how to store all the different types of coconut products by chance?
Thank you!! A
Thank you for you instructions my daughter has developed a dairy allergy and I want to bake for her and her family. I ordered dairy free powdered coconut milk because I could use it instead of regular milk.
Does coconut milk powder taste more coconut-y than coconut flour or less? I am thinking of trying coconut milk powder to help absorb some moisture in baking, but I’m not terribly fond of a lot of coconut flavor. Thanks.
How long can I store organic coconut milk powder in an airtight container? Thank you
6 months to a year as long as it’s stored properly in a cool dark place.
Hi Tiffany
Is it wise . And what will happen if I add a pinch of cmc to powdered coconut and water then refrigerate it for use readily
Hi Tiff,
How can i make coconut milk powder?
Hmm not sure! I haven’t tried to make it.
You can buy Anthony’s Coconut Milk Powder on Amazon not too expensive and can be added to several cooking and baking items
Hi Tiff, a lot of liquids can be either dehydrated or freeze dried then ground into a powder. We just got a freeze dryer so I’m thinking I might give this a try. If you have a dehydrator, you might give it a try. I’m thinking I might try both ways.
Hi Coconut Mama
Thanks so much for this post, I recently bought some organic coconut milk powder as I have been wanting to stop using the canned coconut milk because of the tin levels in the cans. Anyway, I was wondering if a recipe asks for a 400 gram of coconut milk how much of the milk powder do I need to use and with how much water?
I am the WORST math deciphering person in the whole world but since Coconut Mama didn’t answer I will take a stab at it.
400 grams = 2 1/2 cups water
( she uses 3 TBS powder per cup)
So, that’s 7 1/2 TBS powder to water!!!
3 tablespoons of coconut powder to a cup of hot water is the recipe I use to make coconut milk when I am out of milk.
You can Google conversion charts for grams to ounces and other measurements, liters etc. really helpful for baking recipes from foreign countries that use different types of measuring
I used 90 grams of coconut powder (12T) to a quart size mason jar, put a little hot water in it, shook it up until the powder was dissolved and then filled the rest with cold water and it was perfect.
Invest in a digital scale. About$10 at Walmart. Very much with the price.
Interesting article! Very informative. Is coconut milk powder same as coconut flour?
Can I use coconut milk powder to make pancakes, cakes, pudding and smoothies? And even bread?
No, it’s very different from coconut flour and should not be used the way coconut flour is used.
Maybe a silly question. Making a curry recipe that asks for 1 cup coconut milk powder. I was about to put in 1 cup of the powder but then realised there is no other liquid to this recipe. So would you take it as 1 cup made up coconut milk from the powder??? If yes the recipe is badly written for part time cook like me! I nearly dumped 250gms of powder into my curry – but that would be like 5 cups milk!
She uses 3 Tablespoons Coconut powder to 1 cup of water
What ratio of water to powder would you use to make coconut CREAM, as opposed to coconut milk, for a recipe that calls for coconut cream? Thanks so much!
She uses 1 cup liquid to 3 Tablespoons of powder. Add more if you want it creamier!
How do you make coconut cream from coconut milk powder?
Lord have Mercy! She answered.
1 Cup water plus 3 Tablespoons Coconut powder!
No she didn’t! She is asking how to make coconut CREAM! You are giving her the ratio to make coconut MILK! As a guess, I would answer by saying, maybe use 1/2 of the amt of water to get cream instead of milk.
Rude
Is desiccated coconut the same as coconut flour
Hi Coconut Mama!
I make homemade shampoo and I am looking for a substitute for aloe vera powder. Do you think this could be used in a shampoo recipe?
I honestly haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure! Please let me know how it works if you try it.
How much powder should I use to replace e.g. a cup of coconut milk?
Thanks!
Mix 3 tbs with 1 cup of water to make coconut milk.
I just added some coconut powder to gelatin for a no bake cheese cake. YUMMMM I’m sure it’ll set. It was already setting before I popped it in the fridge. Looking forward to dessert tonight.
Do you have any recipes (like ice cream 🙂 with the coconut powder?
Hi Molly, I haven’t tried making ice cream with coconut milk powder yet! That’s a great idea!
Perfect for adding to sponge cakes, changing the twist slightly and adding a subtle coconut taste, lime and coconut sponge cake, what’s not to like! 🙂
Do you modify the cake recipe at all … or just add the powder? A few tablespoons?
Just learning about the wonders of coconut. Please tell me the difference between coconut milk powder and coconut cream powder. It seems like it should be obvious; maybe just use more milk powder for a creamier effect or add more water to cream powder to weaken … but not sure. Thanks for all your great information!
Can we directly add the coconut milk powder to make Thai curry or should it be converted to coconut milk first?
I added it to my butternut squash soup, but I did make a “cream” out of it first. I would think it would become lumpy if you added it directly into the dish. It needs mixing in a liquid first. There is so much fat content that clumps up.
I’ve been trying to find a recipe for making powdered creamer for my tea using coconut powder. I want something to take camping (REAL camping, in a tent or hammock) that doesn’t need refrigeration. Almost all either use coconut milk or powdered milk. Just getting an idea of proportions would help.
where can I buy natural foods coconut milk powder
Melonie I just recently found a great price for Coconut Powder ( to be able to rehydrate for recipes.)
DesiMarket
It is an Indian store on line and has a very low amount of purchase that qualifies for free shipping.
You’ll be please! They ship Fast!
I’ve never heard ofCoconut pwd&I thought I knew everything about coconut! It sounds amazing,but I sure would like to know how processed it is& how healthy? Thanks for letting me know of the product…I can’t wait to try????
Thanks for all of the wonderful recipes and tips. How do you make coconut cream using the coconut powder?
This will definitely put me in the October groove. Thanks!
Thanks for the explanation. I have noticed the coconut milk powder on the shelves in a couple of the health food stores, but was not sure exactly how / where to use it.
Very helpful! 🙂
Is there a difference between coconut oil powder and coconut milk powder? I have the coconut oil powder and wonder if it is the same.
Absolutely love your recipes. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Been wondering, there are so much coconut products, where does all the coconut come from? I know virgin coconut oil is the one to use. Are we ever sure all are pure?