Coconut is one of the most versatile ingredients in the bakers kitchen (and one of my personal favorites). It comes in many forms and today we will be looking at coconut butter and coconut cream.
I will let you know the difference between these two great coconut variations and how to best use them in your baking.
So read on for the complete rundown on coconut cream vs coconut butter.
What Is Coconut Butter
So what exactly is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is the meat of the coconut that has been whipped until it forms a rich and creamy consistency similar to nut butters.
Coconut butter can be purchased pre-made from most grocery stores or you can make it at home.
Making coconut butter is quick and easy. All you need is a coconut and a blender or food processor.
Add as much coconut meat as you want to your blender and process it until it is completely creamy. This usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes. Just pause every now and again to scrape down the edges of your blender.
The blender is going to do the heavy lifting of breaking down your coconut and getting the natural fats to combine into a creamy consistency perfect for many different uses.
What is Coconut Cream
So what is coconut cream?
Coconut cream is created by reducing coconut milk until it reaches a thick and creamy consistency.
Making coconut cream is more involved than making coconut butter but it can still be done at home.
To make coconut butter, coconut is combined with milk or water and simmered for about 10 minutes. The mixture is then strained and set aside to cool.
As it cools your mixture will thicken creating a thick portion at the top. The thick portion is your coconut cream and can be scraped off the top and stored or used immediately.
If making it at home isn’t for you, coconut cream is also readily available at most supermarkets.
What Is The Difference Between Coconut Butter and Coconut Cream?
The primary difference between coconut cream and coconut butter is that coconut cream is denser than coconut butter.
While many recipes call for one or the other, both of these coconut based ingredients can be used interchangeably in nearly all recipes.
Baking With Coconut Cream VS Coconut Butter
Both coconut cream and coconut butter are used in recipes to impart a rich coconut flavor. Because these two ingredients are quite similar it is possible to substitute one for the other.
Which one you use will often depend on what is available at your local grocery store (unless you’re making your own).
You can also read the guide for the complete list of coconut butter substitutes.
You may also find you have a personal preference for one or the other (I usually bake with coconut cream as it imparts a bit more richness in my experience).
If you do substitute either of these ingredients for the other, a 1:1 ratio generally works well.
Bottom Line
Coconut butter and coconut cream are both delicious, rich, coconut derived ingredients that form from the meat of the coconut.
The main difference between these two ingredients is that coconut cream is rich and dense while coconut butter is light and creamy.
While the two can be used in a variety of baking recipes interchangeably, they may create slightly different results.
If you have a personal preference for one or the other (I lean towards coconut cream) it may be best to stick to one when baking.