If you are making coconut cream for a pie or even a vegan dessert, a common issue I am asked about is how to thicken a runny coconut cream.
Luckily there are a few ways to thicken coconut cream. Some preserve the coconut flavor better than others, so depending on your goal, any of these thickening methods can be used.
How Do You Thicken Thin and Runny Coconut Cream?
I will start with the method that best preserves your coconut flavor. It is quick and simple. Some of the other methods take more time but they all work well for fixing thin cream.
If you used coconut milk to make your cream them this is also my go to method for thickening it up!
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is a great thickening agent. It will thicken up your coconut cream without causing any other undesirable effects on your recipe. This is a vegan friendly option as well if that is what you are looking for.
Simply take out some of your liquid coconut cream and mix a little coconut flour to it. Stir it to make a slurry and add it back to your original batch. Mix it together and repeat until desired thickness is reached.
Add Cornstarch
If flavor is less important to you then adding cornstarch is a method worth using to thicken your coconut cream. It will lighten the overall coconut flavor of your cream so only use this method if that is ok with your particular recipe.
Again you will make a slurry in the same way as above and add it back to your original batch. Use caution not to overdue the cornstarch. You can quickly overuse it if you are not careful. Start with no more than a tablespoon and check if consistency is what you are looking for.
Reduction Method
This method works well when you have more than enough cream for your recipe. Reduction works well but it will lower your yield.
Start by simmering your cream in a saucepan without a lid. This will cause the water content to evaporate, thus thickening your yield. Stir while simmering and remove from heat when desired thickness has been reached. You can combine any of the top two methods with reduction if more thickness is desired.
Bottom Line
Coconut cream is a wonderful and versatile ingredient in your gluten free vegan kitchen. If you are not using it already then you should start! It is quick and easy to make and can be substituted for heavy cream or half and half quite easily. I hope this article has helped you learn how to thicken runny coconut cream. If you have any other tips that are worth sharing, please comment below.