Creamy, homemade coconut milk made with 2 ingredients in 10 minutes! Let me show you how.
How to Make Coconut Milk
A quick, 2-ingredient recipe for homemade coconut milk! Creamy, naturally sweet, and the perfect dairy-free alternative to milk!
Servings 6 (1/2-cup servings)
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
- 3-4 cups water (use less water for thicker, creamier milk!)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 whole date or 1 Tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup for sweetness (optional)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 2 Tbsp cocoa or cacao powder for chocolate "milk" or 1/4 cup fresh berries for berry "milk" (optional)
Instructions
- Add coconut, 3 cups (720 ml) water, salt, and any additional add-ins (optional) to a high-speed blender. Top with lid and cover with a towel to ensure it doesn’t splash. Blend for about 2 minutes or until the mixture seems well combined.
- Scoop out a small sample with a spoon to test flavor/sweetness. Add more dates, salt, or vanilla as needed. Add remaining 1 cup (240 ml) water if too thick.
- Pour the mixture over a large mixing bowl or pitcher covered with a nut milk bag, a very thin towel, or a clean T-shirt. In my experience, it benefits from a single strain either through a very thin towel or nut milk bag. You can save pulp for baked goods or to add to oatmeal, smoothies, or energy bites.
- Transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate. Will keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days (sometimes more). Enjoy cold or hot and shake before use, as it can separate in the refrigerator (due to no preservatives!). Can be used in smoothies, with granola, for golden milk, for matcha lattes, or for baked goods.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 6 (1/2 cup) servings calculated with 3 cups of water and the leftover coconut pulp nutritional content subtracted.
Nutrition (1 of 6 servings)
Serving: 1 half-cup servings Calories: 53 Carbohydrates: 2.3 g Protein: 0.5 g Fat: 5 g Saturated Fat: 4.4 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 7 mg Fiber: 1.4 g Sugar: 0.9 g
Liked this recipe? Check out our Guide to Dairy Free Milk for 5 more dairy-free milk recipes!
Angel Loupe says
What is the calcium content of this? I’d like to make my own, but the store bought is the only substantial source of calcium I get each day. What would you recommend? Thanks
Hi Angel, there’s minimal calcium in this recipe. Store-bought coconut milk gets its calcium content from fortification. A dietary supplement would have a similar effect. Hope that helps!
karen says
yet another way to make coconut milk and simplest yet. thanks. has anyone used a nutribullet?
Yes! We’ve used a Nutribullet with success. Just be careful not to overfill it. Depending on the size you have, you may need to make it in smaller batches. Hope that helps!
Amy C says
I’m keen to make this, as an almond and coconut milk… how would you suggest I make a blend?
Hi Amy, we’d suggest using 1 cup coconut and 1/3 cup almonds with 3-4 cups water. Soaking your almonds first will provide best flavor. You can reference this recipe for more details. Let us know if you try it out!
Amy C says
I tried it, and love it! Thank you. I added another 1/2 cup of water after I strained it. Thank you for taking the time to reply, I am really happy with the results. I’ve had the milk in my tea and my smoothie and I’m really happy with how it turned out.
Aw, YAY! Thank you for letting us know, Amy! xoxo
Andrew says
This is super delicious and easy. Will never drinks cows milk again!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Andrew! Thank you for the lovely review!
Heather says
Hey! Thank you so much for the recipe!:) I made in my almond cow and it was so watery :/ What type of shredded coconut are you using? I did dried coconut flakes and I’m thinking it would be better to use the soft shreds? Do you have a brand you recommend? Thank you!
So strange! What type of blender are you using? You can see the type we used in the first photo on the page. We don’t have a specific brand we prefer, but Bob’s Red Mill would be an example of a brand we’ve used. Hope that helps!
Cheryl says
Oh my! Made this coconut milk in my almond cow and it was fantastic! I needed some to make curry and honestly the fragrance and the coconut flavor was much more pronounced this way. I just left out the water in the recipe and it was divine!
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Cheryl! xo
Cheryl says
I’m looking to make a quick curry tonight but don’t have canned coconut milk. I have a high speed blender and an almond cow. I’m thinking I’ll try the almond cow with the smaller amount of water and add cashews with the coconut? That should still work but maybe it’ll be thicker with the cashews. I’m also tempted to do it in the blender like I make cashew cream but add coconut to that recipe? I’m sure I won’t get a reply tonight but I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts!
Hi Cheryl, We think either an almond cow or a blender would work great! We’d recommend mostly coconut and a smaller amount of water, but some cashews might be nice too. Enjoy!
Cheryl says
Oh my! Made this coconut milk in my almond cow and it was fantastic! I needed some to make curry and honestly the fragrance and the coconut flavor was much more pronounced this way. I just left out the water in the recipe and it was divine!
Grace says
I halved the recipe as I have Nutribullet, and used 1/2 tbspn maple syrup – it is fantastic and so simple to make! Thank you.
We’re so glad to hear it, Grace! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Leslie says
I’m not sure I have the right blender.. I just got tiny pieces of coconut & coconut cream floating in water. They didn’t combine at all. Do you have any suggestions for an emulsifier? Or how to get them to combine into milk?
Hi Leslie, what kind of blender are you using?
Leslie says
One of those Ninja triple blade blenders. It’s only one speed, but definitely better than a cheap regular blender
It should work in a Ninja blender, how long are you blending it for?
Leslie says
I blended for at least 5 min, probably more. Long enough for half of it to turn to coconut cream! Other recipes don’t list an emulsifier either, so I’m not sure what’s going on!
Strange! What type of coconut did you use? Was it fresh coconut vs. dried?
Aeiman says
Hello! I don’t have a blender unfortunately — do you think an immersion blender would be okay?
Hmm, we don’t think it would be powerful enough, but possibly! Maybe try soaking the ingredients in step 1 for 15-20 minutes before blending to help the coconut soften? Let us know if you try it!
Lori Makosiej says
Is this made with packaged coconut or fresh coconut??
Dried, not fresh!
Riinu says
I just made this and it tastes delicious. If I put it in fridge, it separates and forms a solid top on it so it’s hard to use it cold. Is this normal and how can I avoid it?
Hi Riinu, it is normal, but it sounds like yours may be especially solid/thick. We typically give it a good shake before use. You could try adding an emulsifier.
jean c says
great and easy. Where can you buy the nut milk bags
jc
Hi Jean, you can usually find them at health food stores or online. Our preferred brand is linked in the instructions. Hope that helps!
Gicela says
Hello! I have tried to make coconut milk, cashew milk n almond milk. I have a vitamix and use a nut milk bag when straining. I still feel the fibers when drinking it, which doesn’t make a drink like a latte smooth as desired. I’ve let the nuts soak, but that didn’t help
1. Do you have more tips on how to make it smoother?
2. What brands of coconut milk and nut milk do you recommend if making it doesn’t work. I am looking for clean products
Thanks:)
Hi Gicela, blending the nuts and water together on high for longer will help it be smoother! For store bought we like a variety of nut milks. If you’re looking for a brand that only has 2 ingredients (nuts and water) we suggest checking out Elmhurst, Three Trees, and Malk. There are others that are great as well though! We suggest checking the label to make sure it has only the ingredients you personally want in a nut milk! Hope this helps. xo
Gicela Nufio says
Thank you for the quick response! I used to really love Malk, but I noticed that they changed their recipe and it seems thinker than before. I will have to give it a try again. Maybe it was just that batch. Also, what brands of do you recommend for coconut milk?
Hi Gicela, for store-bought coconut milk, it depends what we’re using it for, but we typically go with canned and dilute with water if wanting a thinner consistency. You can find some of our favorites for making coconut whipped cream here and coconut yogurt here.
Lydia says
Can sweetened shredded coconut be used?
Hi Lydia, For this recipe, we highly recommend shredded unsweetened coconut! Let us know if you experiment with the recipe though. Good luck!
Ann says
It tastes delicious and is quick to make.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Ann. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Qasim says
Can I use shredded not fresh coconut?
Can I replace water with low fat or skimmed milk?
What does salt do? Can I not use salt?
Hi Qasim, this recipe uses shredded, but fresh would be fine too. We haven’t tried replacing the water with milk, but it should work. The salt enhances the flavor, but could definitely be omitted! Hope that helps!
Amy says
Can you can Coconut milk? I know they sell canned coconut milk, but I’m wondering if you can can it without any preservatives. Do you know the science behind it by chance? I can’t find much information on How to Can Coconut Milk. Thanks!
Hi Amy, we think it would be possible to can your own coconut with traditional canning methods, but we haven’t tried it ourselves so sadly we don’t have much advice. Let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
Gordon Elliott says
Ah–has anyone tried this?
I only want to make “coconut milk” (to substitute for boxed milk that is becoming hard to get in my area), for making smoothies. But if one use of the strained pulp is to add to smoothies, why not skip the straining step and just use at that point. Make correct amount by scaling recipe for the single smoothie recipe. So has anyone tried this?
Hi Gordon, it will be more fibrous that way, but would be okay. Adding just some of the pulp back in would be best!
Edie says
D0ES THIS TAKE PIace of canned coconut milk
Hi Edie, this coconut milk is much lighter and more watery than the kind you will get in a can. We wouldn’t recommended subbing it for canned coconut milk unless the recipe calls for light coconut milk, but it will still be a bit thinner and we haven’t tried subbing it ourselves. Hope this helps!
Gordon Elliott says
Havn’t tried yet but been looking for coconut “milk” recipe to substitute for boxed coconut milk. This recipe is certainly not a substitute for the canned high fat that I would usually call “coconut cream” (but recognize also called “milk” on the can).
Sarah says
LOVE this recipe! Super easy and quick to make. Tasted fresh, clean and smooth! Will definitely continue to make and enjoy. Thank you for sharing it Minimalist Baker :) I also enjoy you short easy to understand videos of the cooking/creating process.
Woohoo! So glad you enjoyed this coconut milk, Sarah. Thanks for the great review!
Charlie says
2 cups of water with vanilla bean extract and honey for substitutes (because of no regular vanilla extract or maple syrup) created a delicious result.
Yumm, thanks for sharing, Charlie!
Dena says
I tried it. We’re in a foreign country now where any kind of plant based anything is really expensive. This really tasted great and was so much cheaper than what we could get. Wonderful stuff!!
Yay! So glad this recipe was helpful to you, Dena. Glad you enjoyed!
Angie says
This recipe was my first time using my nut-milk bag, with great results. This milk is naturally sweet and very flavorful. I made it with less water so it would be thick enough to replace store-bought coffee creamer. It took minutes to make. No more weird ingredients and one less plastic bottle being purchased each week!
Woohoo! Sounds so yummy as creamer. Thanks for the lovely review, Angie!
Holly says
Angie
How much water did you use to make it as coffee creamer?
Baha says
I just did it it tastes so good! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Any tips how can we use the leftover pulp for?😊
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Baha! You can use it similarly to almond pulp (we have ideas here). Hope that helps!
Jess says
I made this and I love it BUT it turns rock solid in my fridge overnight so I had to warm it in the glass bottle in a low boiling pot of water…Doubt my fridge is too cold Wonder what I can do? I used lakanto syrup and vanilla extract only. Would adding hemp hearts and reducing coconut help?
Uh oh! Sorry this happened, Jess. Sometimes the top layer will solidify in the fridge, but if you give it a good shake (and let it come back to room temp), it should be fine. If it was completely solid, perhaps the coconut does need to be reduced?
Ayunda says
I made it and I love this milk.
Thank you for the recipe!
Do you think I can make coconut butter from the pulp?
Hi Ayunda! So glad you enjoy the milk. The pulp might work for butter… but we’re not sure if it will have enough fat left after the milk is made? Let us know how it goes if you give it a try!
Ayunda says
You’re right. I’ve tried to make coconut butter from its pulp but it didn’t work. It’s too dry.A
Bummer! If you’re looking for another way to use it, we think you could use it to make coconut flour. Similar to this method. Or use it in one of these recipes. Hope that helps!
Juliette says
So excited to make this reciepe thanks! Can I make coconut yogurt from it? I ask, as I tried to make coconut yogurt from coconut milk made from coconut powder and it didn’t work. I’m guessing not enough fat.
Hi Juliette, we don’t think it would thicken enough. But perhaps with less water? You would need to make sure to heat the coconut milk and let it cool before adding the probiotics.
Julia says
Hi! I don’t know if someone already asked this question but would it work if I used a food processor? Would I have to let the coconut soak in the water before hand to soften it? Thank you!
Hi Julia, we think the liquid might splash out and the coconut wouldn’t get extracted as well. But if you want to try it, we’d suggest soaking the coconut and using the least amount of water possible to get it to blend while reducing splashing.
Denise Taylor says
Do you have an Amazon recommendation for brand on the
coconut chips/shred? I moved to the country from the city and cannot find a lot of these items without traveling an hour away. Amazon has become a close friend.
Hi Denise, We like Bob’s Red Mill coconut flakes. Hope that helps!
Michaela says
Hello, please could you advise if this homemade coconut milk could be used for homemade coconut yogurt?
Hi Michaela, you would need to heat it (for safety) and probably use less water so it’s thicker, but we haven’t tried it. Let us know if you do!
Sara says
Made this today. Hopefully, this will become a regular in our house. I normally make oat milk but I was looking for something else. I only used one date and one teaspoon of vanilla. Do you have any recipes for the coconut pulp or the oat pulp?
Thank you for sharing, Sara! We don’t have any specific recipes for coconut or oat pulp, but you can use it similarly to almond pulp (recipe ideas here). Hope that helps!
Juanita says
I apologize if this was already asked but if I’m making the coconut milk to make banana smoothies, is there any reason to remove the pulp? I think I would like it with the pulp but wanted to ask anyways. Thank you so much!
Hi Juanita, removing the pulp will yield a creamier result, but it’s not essential for a smoothie, especially if you have a high-powered blender. Hope that helps!
Juanita says
Thank you. I don’t know how high powered it is but we will see! :)
Nazifa says
Hi, I loved how easy this was to make and how good it tasted when I made it the first day, but I’m not sure what I did wrong because the next day it just solidified and I couldn’t drink it?
Hi Nazifa, the top layer will solidify in the fridge, but if you give it a good shake (and maybe let it come back to room temp), it should be fine!
Nazifa Arna says
Got it, thank you!
JoAnne says
Love this milk, but in my usual attempt to make it healthier, I replace the water with coconut water and I combined the finished product to your oat milk. Now I am getting additional minerals and vitamins.
THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. My God keep you safe and healthy!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, JoAnne! xo
Lara says
Can I use frozen coconut for this?
We haven’t tried it with frozen coconut, but we think it would work.
Sandra says
Wow! Was that easy or what! Thanks for this, I wanted to try the Easy Vegan Golden Milk but did not have Coconut Milk… tried your very easy version – Winner! And the Golden Milk was “On and Poppin’!!” Thanks for making my Saturday morning a great one!
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Sandra! xo
Kedi says
I make sure to ALWAYS have this on hand! I use this all the time for your palak paneer, chia pudding, funfetti cupcakes…the list goes on and on. So much tastier than store-bought coconut milk. I don’t have a nut milk bag and it gets a bit messy using a towel, but I found a way to improvise—I put a mesh strainer basket into a mixing bowl, pour the milk through the basket and squeeze the pulp out by pressing a rubber spatula into the sides of the basket! And then all that’s left in the mixing bowl is coconut milk. I honestly have so much fun making this recipe. Thank you!!!
Lovely! thanks for sharing, Kedi!
Kathy says
great recipe and very cute milk bottle! where did you get it?
Thanks, Kathy! We got it years ago at World Market.
lucy says
https://www.amazon.com/vintage-style-glass-milk-bottle/dp/b00cxafgn6
Kathy says
Thanks, Lucy, I saw this but it’s no longer available. I went ahead and got plain bottles.
johnny says
can i use a strainer
Hi Johnny, we don’t think a typical strainer would remove enough of the coconut pulp!
Dana Ps says
Just made it and love it. Best of homemade plant-milk.
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Dana! xo
Cecilia says
Can this coconut milk be frozen?
Yes! We like freezing in ice cubes trays.
Sabrina S-L says
This was the best coconut milk ever! Me and my family loved it! 🥰❤️
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Sabrina! We are so glad everyone enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Zack says
Hi! How did you calculate the nutrition left in the pulp? I’m curious how many nutrients in the coconut don’t transfer during the blending process.
Hi Zack, it’s just a rough estimate assuming that half of the nutrients are removed from straining.
Lucy says
Want to try this but don’t have a high power blender…could you use a nutri bullet?
That should work!
Don says
Can this replace the canned coconut milk or cream asked by some recipes?
Hi Don, It can be subbed in place of lite coconut milk. We’d suggest reducing the amount of water by at least half if subbing for canned full-fat coconut milk and even less water for coconut cream. Hope that helps!
Erica Crowe says
Does this mix well with coffee?
It does yes, but our favorite for coffee is this creamer or our homemade Oatly.
Crystal says
Could this be made just by soaking the coconut flakes in water overnight and then straining the liquid? I found using a blender to be very messy and I had to scrape the flakes off the sides and inside of the lid several times in the course of only a couple of minutes.
Unfortunately I think it would be too weak and wouldn’t really make milk (only watery coconut).
Crystal says
Thank you! I will try a double batch next time. Maybe a full blender will help.
Kinder Banwait says
I used fresh coconut, opened the shell, washed, chopped & put it into blender & added filer water to it, strain with the strainer. It was very easy. Very tasty. I made it yesterday the 1st time, but saw this video recipe before. Actually, I landed on this page searching for the benefits of it.
Thought to share my experience as you can use fresh coconut instead.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Kinder!
Richa says
Hi will it be possible to make coconut condensed milk from this milk?
Thanks
Hm, maybe! We’d suggest using less water and adding more sweetener. Let us know if you try it!
Patricia Nanjobe says
Best coconut milk recipe ever ….. thank you
I love my milk😊😊😊😊
Aw, yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Patricia!
Danya Shegoleff says
Ah! Hoping to get away from the cans, I’m on your website to learn how to make coconut milk, so that I can make my own coconut yogurt. Thanks for the suggestion about bringing to a boil.
BTW is was your recipe for coconut yogurt that was a game changer for me. Particular brand plus very high probiotic capsules.
“The combination I have had the most success with: 1 can 365 Whole Foods Full Fat Coconut Milk + 2 Renew Life 50 billion probiotic capsules.”
We’re so glad it’s been helpful! Thanks for sharing, Danya!
Leslie says
I love your recipes they are so clear and easy to follow. I made this milk today and have made the oatmeal chocolate one too, even my really picky sister loved it. Thank you so much for the delicious coconut milk!!!!.
Aw, thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review, Leslie! xo
Zainab Hussain says
Can it be used in thai cooking
Yes, but you may want to make a thicker version (by using less water) and omitting the sweetener.
Helen says
I use 2 cups canned coconut milk, 2 cups plain greek yogurt, 1/4 cup chia seeds, 1 tsp vanilla and 3 tbsp swerve. I Mix it all together, set in the fridge. Each day my husband and I have 1/2 cup with 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 tbsp bran buds and 1 tbsp granola.
My question is this:
If I mix the home made coconut milk into the yogurt, will it go into solid chunks from the fat in the coconut?
Hi Helen, we haven’t had success making coconut yogurt from homemade yogurt. You’d likely need to heat it as canned coconut milk has already been heated to kill any harmful bacteria.
Sandra says
Hi , what are the shelf life for the coconut milk for cooking foods.
This keeps in the fridge for 4-5 days and can be used in cooked dishes. Is that what you’re asking?
Linsey Dawson says
How hot would you need to heat it? Can you boil it and then leave it to cool before adding probiotic capsules?
We’re not sure as we haven’t tried it that way.
Pam says
Hoping I can make a comment here because there was no place where I could start a new thread. I question the caloric and fat count. I know it was an estimate. But when I buy coconut milk, it’s 170 calories for half a cup and 17 grams of fat.
Because it’s strained of pulp, and watered down quite a bit, the fat and calories is much lower!
Anna says
So yummy! I don’t think I will buy a carton of coconut milk again!
=) SO glad you enjoy it, Anna! Thanks for sharing!
Ella says
Can I use coconut water instead of mineral water?
Hmm, we wouldn’t really recommend either in this recipe- coconut water would be sweet and mineral water bubbly. Filtered water or regular tap water would be better.
Jason says
Can I use this for making coconut ice cream… I was going to follow your recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/vanilla-bean-coconut-ice-cream/
Hi Jason, we haven’t tried it, but if you do, we’d suggest using less water so that it is thicker. Let us know how it goes!
Cat says
Hi,
I have seen a few recipes that add salt. Can you tell me why salt is added?
Flavor balance, but it isn’t necessary :D
Andrei says
I made this recipe with a twist:
1 raw coconut (about 200g of raw chopped coconut)
1 tbs honey
1 tsp ground pink Himalaya salt
1/2 vanilla extract with seeds
1 litre of water
I was wandering if anyone knows if it’s possible to keep/use the coconut that is left after draining the water?
Awesome recipe, thank you!
Hi Andrei, thanks for sharing! We’d suggest using it similar to almond pulp. Hope that helps!
Zee says
You can make coconut flour.
Nikita Chouhan says
I want to prepare the milk for someone suffering from ulcerative colitis. So I can not add dates in the milk. Is there any alternative to it or not using the dates would not affect the milk taste?
Hi Nikita, you could omit it for a less sweet milk or sub another sweetener such as maple syrup. Hope that helps!
Adriana says
Hello! I love your blog.
I made the recipe with fresh coconuts, stored it in a pitcher (no top), a few hours later the milk smelled/tasted wrong. Do you have any suggestions?
I added 3 cups water and 1 cup of the coconut water inside. Maybe that could have been it? Or the storage? Any other suggestions?!
Hi Adriana, it sounds like there may have been some sort of bacterial contamination. We’d suggest storing it covered next time.
Marina says
I just made it to try , tastes amazing! Very few ingredients 👍Going to try to adding in curry! :)
Thank you.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Marina. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Christiane M. Arnaert says
I made this coconut milk and used one date and 1 tsp of vanilla. I forgot the salt. Next time I will just use the coconut and water. I don’t particularly want my coconut milk to be sweet, but it is delicious. Definitely recommend this.
Marci says
Quick question…can you turn a can of coconut cream into coconut milk? If so, how might you suggest it be done using a high powered blender and the ratios that you’d use. Appreciate it!
Yes! I do that all the time by adding to a large jar and then topping with water (amount depends on how thin / thick you want it). Then shake or whisk until combined!
Kisha Mungkornpanich says
Do the coconut flakes need to be soaked overnight?
Nope, just 10 minutes in warm water in our experience.
Cléa says
Hello,
I’m wondering what the nutritional values are for the recipe made with 4 cups of water ?
Thank you :)
Hi Cléa, the values would all be slightly less. We’d suggest calculating with nutrition software such as cronometer for specifics. Hope that helps!
Ciera says
Loved this recipe! It was quick, simple, and all natural (which I love most)! I used half of a date since my date was rather large and I know that dates have a high sugar content. It turned out great! I am keeping the pulp to use for a facial mask, add back into a smoothie or dry and use as coconut flour! Thanks for the great recipe!
Great idea, Ciera! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Sophia says
Hello! Great simple recipe. Have you tried making this with hot water? I followed your recipe and was super thrilled to see the coconut fat slightly build up against my blender container. I was wondering if heating the water slightly would allow to keep all the coconut fat inside the milk during straining?
Hi Sophia, we haven’t tried it with hot water, but would use caution depending on your blender! Maybe warm water though? Let us know if you try it!
Katie Gallagher says
I’ve watched and listened to many of your videos and I love what you are about! This recipe for coconut milk is SO delicious. I will never want to buy it from the store again. Plus, you know exactly what is in it and fix it to your liking! The sweetness from the date was simply perfect and the vanilla made it taste just like regular dairy vanilla milk! I love thicker and creamier milk so I did 1 cup coconut flakes to 2 cups of water, 1 date, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with a pinch of salt! This recipe made 3 1/2 cups of coconut milk! Thank you again! I will be following your recipes closely! Love what you put out!
Aw, thanks so much, Katie! xo
Chelsea says
Hi! This sounds delicious! Can’t wait to make it. By the way, I love the bottle in the photograph. Where did you buy it?
Thank you!
Thanks, Chelsea! I got it years ago at World Market.
Tessa says
Is this really 53 calories a gram? In that case it would be a days worth of calories in a cup. Could you clarify the nutrition information?
Hi Tessa, thanks for alerting us to the error. That is for a half cup serving, not 1 g serving. We’ll make that modification.
Prak says
Could this coconut milk be used for chia pudding? Wondering if it might thicken up in the fridge overnight.
Yes, it would work great!
Vicky says
Hi, I made it and it’s delicious, thanks!
How do you know when it’s gone off? Mine separated and the top went very thick and like jelly. It didn’t smell but it put me off – should I just shake to mix and carry on?
I don’t want to waste it so any advice appreciated!
Separation is normal- just shake and mix! You’ll know if it is off by the smell/taste.
Danitza says
Is it possible to make yogurt with this milk? I was having issues trying to make it with homemade coconut milk.
Thanks
Hi Danitza, you may need to use less water for a creamier consistency, but it should work! You’ll also need to heat the milk for safety.
Inder says
Thanks for the video… just want to know where you get the fresh coconuts from … thanks
Hi Inder, we use shredded coconut in this recipe rather than fresh coconuts as they can be more tricky to find, especially in certain parts of the US.
Amy gerber says
Would this be the equivalent of light canned coconut milk?
Similar! Maybe a little less thick?
Laura says
Wow! There’s so many great comments here – lot’s to scroll through! I was wondering if you would recommend a method or ingredient that would help slightly thicken the milk (say to be used in a curry, but not as thick as yoghurt).
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Hi Laura, we would say use less water and that should be perfect!
Megan says
Hi Laura, I’ve used this coconut milk in a curry. It works well. I didn’t thicken it. Enjoy!
april ruhlet says
can it be used after 1 day instead of 6 days?
Hi April, we’re not sure we understand your question. Mind clarifying?
Jenn says
There is no comparison to coconut milk from the store in a carton. This milk tastes so fresh and yummy, thanks so much for the recipe.
Christine Allard says
Hi!
I’ve made the exact recepe and I put it in my fridge.
For some reason, it froze… it looks like a hard coco oil.
Is this normal?
Thank you!!
It does get a little solid on the top when refrigerated. But it shouldn’t look frozen. Try shaking it in a sealed jar and that should help!
Erin says
You always have the best music in your videos! Are they actual songs or just accompaniment made for video clips? (What’s the song played here?)
We just get our music from a licensed music site! Glad you enjoy it!
LP says
Does anyone have any good ideas for what to do with the leftover coconut shavings at the end instead of throwing them away?
You can save the pulp for baked goods or to add to oatmeal, smoothies, or energy bites. Hope that helps!
Dd says
Yes, mix with tapioca, roll into a ball and bake or fry.
Jane Lustgarten says
How do you make yogurt from CoConut Milk? I am lactose intolerant.
Find that recipe here.
Claudia Cantori says
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that your conversion from cups to grams is not correct. Two cups are approx 400 grams not 160.
This recipe sounds great I am gonna try it straight away!
Hi Claudia, the brand of shredded coconut we buy indicates that 3 Tbsp = 15 g, so we calculated 80 grams per cup and 160 per 2 cups. Mind sharing how you came up with 400 grams? Is it a different type of coconut?
Kimberly says
Absolutely delicious. I cannot believe I’ve waited so long to try making this. I drink a lot of coconut milk and I am happy I tried this. No additives is making me excited! I tried it warm right out of the blender and YUM! I used a Vitamix for a couple minutes with 2.5 cups of water and it is really perfect, much thicker and creamier than out of the Coco box! Thank you so much for posting this.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Kimberly!
Sabryna says
I tried making this recipe in the past but it unfortunately froze in the fridge overnight. I bought the sulphate free shredded unsweetened coconut flakes from Bulk Barn. Any idea why this happened/how to prevent it? I LOVE coconut milk!!
Hi Sabryna, The separation is normal- we recommend giving it a shake before drinking! Alternatively, if it really bothers you, you could try adding an emulsifier (store bought brands often have guar gum). Hope that helps!
Anna Lorraine Heppenstall says
I just made this and used yacon syrup. Sooooooo easy and sooooooooo good!!
rita kumari says
Our family is managing Celiac Disease, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, Fructose Malabsorption, over 25 food allergies combined and many food intolerances as well. I used to NEVER cook ANYTHING, but now I cook nearly everything from scratch. I am just learning to do water kefir (which was a HUGE stretch for me), but the alternative milks I had already regarded as too difficult for me and was sure I would ruin it somehow. I told myself it just wasn’t worth my effort and considered it “off limits”. I knew it would be a waste of money because I would miss some crucial, complicated step and just ruin it. I was seriously afraid to even try. My ASD son is also anaphylactic to Carrageenan, among tree nuts, soy, and many other things, and intolerant to dairy. My two daughters have multiple GI conditions and can’t digest fructose. Two of us are Celiac and nutrient deficient as well. We’re a mess, I know! (We’re doing GAPS). My son is not getting enough healthy food options like smoothies, because I couldn’t figure out what to do about this milk issue and the rest of us are getting things we don’t need in our coconut milk and not getting the things we do. Your post has given me the confidence and encouragement I need to take this final plunge. Thanks so much for a wonderful, positive, truthful, you-can-do-this post!
Julia says
You may want to look into nemecheck protocol. I read that it can help with leaky gut and food allergies. Im trying the protocol right now for chronic 24/7 headache that started 5 years ago plus migraines… plus leaky gut. I can hardly eat anything besides some fruit and veggies…. hoping this protocol can help. People who are more sensitive he starts with just the inulin powder before the fish oil…
AM says
Thank you for your recipe. Is there a way to fortify the coconut milk with calcium or vitamin D?
We haven’t tried that, but think you could potentially add a supplement to the liquid after straining and shake or blend to incorporate. Hope that helps! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes!
Cortney says
Do you have any suggested uses for the left over coconut pulp? I hate to throw things out :P
We haven’t tried it, but some people use it in baked goods such as cookies!
Jana Refaie says
Hello!! I want to try this recipe however I don’t have a raw coconut.. I have coconut flakes. I’m going to try it with that later on. Do you think it’s going to work??
Hi Jana, we didn’t use a raw coconut. We used dried shredded coconut. Coconut flakes will also work!
Heather says
I just made this today because my cute little glass milk jugs arrived. The recipe is super easy and the results are so delicious. The coconut flavor really shines through (unlike storebought milk).
I’m impressed and can’t wait to have it on my cereal tomorrow morning!
Thanks! ??
June says
I want to make my own coconut milk but only have Sweetened Coconut. Can I use this to make the coconut milk?
For this recipe, we highly recommend shredded unsweetened coconut! Let us know if you experiment with the recipe though. Good luck!
Ruja says
Hi! Where I live there is only dried finely shredded coconut. Would that do? Are the coconut shreds you use fresh? Can I make the milk with dried coconut flakes as well?
Thank you!
Any should work!
melanie perrone says
I used this recipe to make coconut milk. I added liquid stevia so I could eat it with my shredded wheat cereal and it tasted perfect! It also tasted very good straight from the glass. I will definitely use this recipe again :)
Sarah says
Can coconut milk be frozen? You mention freezer time in some of the other milk blogs but not this one. ?
Yes, you can freeze it for up to 1 month!
Danielle says
Hello!! Just curious, what’s the difference between shredded coconut and coconut flakes? Can I use coconut flakes for the recipe?
Shredded coconut pieces are smaller than flaked. They look like thin strands. A grater with holes has a rough edge and as you scrape, it cuts long and thin strip.
Jessi Castro says
Can desiccated work? I have grated coconut in a bag sorted in my freezer.
Yes, that should work!
ellen says
could you use this in a curry recipe in substitution for a can of coconut milk?
Yes, that should work!
Ruthie says
I’ve just noticed that you are using the big flake coconut. I’m glad I was able to enlarge the photo as I purchased the tiny shredded coconut ;)
Fiorella says
Please can you tell me which brand of coconut flakes do you use ? Thank you
Nicola says
Can you use this milk for the coconut milk yogurt recipe ?
Hi Nicola! We cannot guarantee the results using almond milk and have not tried it!
Lauren says
That wasnt what she asked and I had the same question! Can you use this milk to make the coconut yoghurt? nothing to do with almond milk! :)
Oh, sorry about that. No, you can’t. We’ve tried it and doesn’t work. The milk never gets thick enough in our experience.
Lauren says
Ah brilliant thanks for replying Dana! Ill stick to canned then for the yoghurt x
Sam says
Hey Dana! I was wondering if you could use this milk when making hot oatmeal? Would it thicken up or give an odd flavour? Thanks
That should work, Sam!
Patricia Shipley says
Can a coffee filter or a fine mesh sieve be used for the straining? Thanks for your recipe. I would love to make it in the morning.
Hmm we have had most success with a nut milk bag, a very thin towel, or a clean T-shirt, and wouldn’t recommend a coffee filter or mesh sieve. If you give it a try though, let us know how it goes!
Jessi Castro says
How’s a cheesecloth? I want to make it like right now and it’s all I have.
Its worth a shot!
Thara says
Can u whip this coconut milk for whip creams?
Not this one, but this may be of help to you!
Romy says
Love your recepies by the way and can i use frozen coconut to make the milk??
romy stanway says
Thats not the answer i was looking for. I asked if i could make coconut milk with frozen coconut. I have frozen coconut chunks and decided they are too gridy in my smoothies so can i turn them into milk instead?
Hmm we’ve never made coconut milk from frozen coconut so we can’t say for sure! I would think you can? But we haven’t tested (yet)
Kathleen Anast says
So creamy … Excellent
AmberEm says
Mine froze at the top, too. I used Trader joe’s brand. Which brand do recommended??
kim says
i am doing a egypt prouject and do you guys think you have tried egypitian coconut milk
Natalia says
Hi Dana. We love your recipes! I was wondering will it work if I used a fresh coconut taking out the water and extracting thr pulp from the shell?
julie says
Hi Natalia! I made it today with fresh shredded coconut and it’s delicious, I used hot or boiling water though, which a lot of recipes recommend for a creamier texture so I figured it couldn’t hurt.
Jessi Castro says
I was wondering the difference between adding boiling water to the coconut and regular water. I’ve seen many people use boiling water. So can it be done with this recipe in particular?
Kelly says
Can I use a whole coconut for this recipe? If I grate the white meat of the coconut?
Lizzy M says
This is how it’s done in Asia and the South Pacific. Try looking for a Filipino recipe. They’re pros!
Trish DeThomas says
I am so happy that you put the nutritional aspects of each recipe! Love knowing calories per servings. No one else does this. Thank you so much!
Tiffany Lobner says
I have a bag of frozen coconut flesh chunks in the freezer. Could this be used in place of the shredded coconut flakes?
Hi! We haven’t tried it, so we can’t say for sure! I am not sure it would work though!
carmen says
wow, i’ve been making my own alternative milks for like …. 7 years. how have I never made coconut milk?! HOW?! my favorite part of this recipe was not having to plan ahead and soak the coconut shreds. It tastes diiiivine. also I feel like a champ when I make a recipe in less time than the recipe estimates ;-) thanks dana!
jcbiosearch@gmail.com says
THANK you so much for your recipes! Your ideas have been a boon to me as I transition from Vegetarian into more vegan like. They’re wonderful!
Alyssa says
Can this be used for your yogurt recipe??
Hi Alyssa! We haven’t tried it so we can’t say for sure. If you do let us know how it turns out!
Natalie says
Homemade coconut milk won’t work for that yogurt recipe. You end up with slightly tart coconut milk. No thickening. Still great in a smoothie, though!
Alexis says
could the coconut be used in your macaroons?
Mariana says
Hi Dana! I’ve made this recipe a couple of times and find that I cannot store the milk in the fridge because if I do, it separates (fat/cream v water) and the cream on top freezes over. How do I prevent this from happening? I am only able to make it and use it immediately to avoid freezing!
thank you!
Hi Mariana! Not sure why it would freeze, we’ve never had that problem before! As for the separation, that is normal! Just shake before drinking!
Arleta says
It happens if your shredded coconut isn’t a good quality, the flakes are too dr,y I notice. If I buy a really good organics they never freeze.
T Mac says
I had this problem , and saw that somebody pasteurised there milk ( almond in this case )
And it stopped separation and allows for longer keep time !
Jessica says
Hey! Do you have any tips on how to make the “cream” at the top of milk when it’s in the fridge? Every time I make coconut milk is different, sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t!
Thanks so much!
(I am in love with your recipes, made the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies today (all gone) and the quinoa taco meat is in the oven!)
Sara says
Do you dehydrate the leftover coconut pulp before using for other things? I do this with almond pulp (to make almond flour) but never know what to do with coconut…
Hi Sara! Yes you can!
Vicky says
Hi can you use dessicated coconut or does it have to be flakes
Either one works!