Choose your coconut milk after adding up the quantities needed for all your recipes. A 1 L carton is suitable if several batches will genuinely use it, while 400 ml tins or smaller cartons let you open only what you need. Also check whether your recipe calls for coconut milk or coconut cream. For the sale, prepare allergen information based on every ingredient actually used, not just the name ‘coconut milk’.
If you’re planning several cakes, a larger container can save you from opening multiple packs. But the recipes need to use its contents, and your preparation schedule must allow you to follow the storage instructions once it’s opened.
If the number of cakes or the amount of coconut milk needed for each recipe is likely to change, smaller packs mean you can open only what you need. Check the storage instructions on each pack once opened.
To give families the right information, your team needs to record the ingredients actually used in each cake. The name ‘coconut milk’ alone neither confirms the presence of cow’s milk nor tells you about the recipe’s other allergens.
First, add up the quantities listed in your recipes, then check the product name and ingredients. The 1 L and 400 ml sizes featured by Carrefour France, along with Auchan France’s pack of 3 × 20 cl, suit different measuring needs.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Batch size | Work out the total quantity needed in millilitres, then compare the 1 L, 400 ml and 3 × 20 cl packs with the number of batches you’re planning. | If I’m making several cakes, I want enough for the recipes without leaving a large container partly used. Around 40% of consumers would prioritise choosing the right size. |
| Recipe texture | Check whether the recipe calls for coconut milk or coconut cream. Compare the coconut extract and fat content on the same basis, per 100 ml or per 100 g. | For my batter or filling, I want to achieve the intended texture rather than swap milk for thicker cream without testing it first. Around 30% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Allergen information | Keep the ingredients list for every product you use and prepare the information based on the finished recipe. For cakes sold unpackaged in France, Légifrance sets out the requirements for providing information about allergens present. | Before serving the families, I need to be able to identify the allergens actually present in each cake. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise this traceability. |
The name ‘coconut milk’ alone doesn’t tell you which allergens are in the cake. The ingredients lists published by Carrefour France for Carrefour Sensation and Real Thai don’t mention cow’s milk, but you’ll need to check the other ingredients in your recipe too.
Keep the packaging or clear photos of the ingredients lists, and prepare information for every recipe you actually make.
A large container makes it easier to prepare several batches at once, but only if they use its contents. Otherwise, you’ll have opened coconut milk left to store according to the product instructions.
Note how many millilitres each cake needs, add them up, then choose the number of packs that suits your baking plan.
Auchan France describes Vietcoco cream as thicker than coconut milk. Using it instead in a batter or filling could change the texture you’re aiming for.
Stick to the product type specified in the recipe. If you’re thinking of using cream, test the recipe with a small quantity first.
In its advice for school fêtes and fairs, the French Ministry of National Education recommends choosing bakes that are generally lower risk and lists cakes with crème pâtissière or Chantilly cream among those to avoid as a rule.
Choose a recipe that suits the transport and serving conditions, follow the storage instructions for the ingredients, and confirm the arrangements with the school.
Two 400 ml tins of coconut milk to consider if your batches don’t call for opening a larger container.
Coco cuisine UHT is available in a pack of three 20 cl cartons, so you can open them as needed.
The 1 L carton of coconut milk featured by Carrefour France is suited to recipes that use a large quantity across several batches.
The product described by Auchan France is a 400 ml tin of coconut cream, not coconut milk to swap into a recipe without checking.
The 200 ml carton of organic coconut milk featured by E.Leclerc lets you measure out a small quantity for a recipe.
This selection includes 1 L containers for recipes that use that quantity and 400 ml tins, so you can measure out each batch one pack at a time. Before baking for the sale, check the ingredients and storage instructions on the packaging you’ll use.
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The 1 L container is suitable if your planned batches will genuinely use its contents.
The product name states 17–19% fat. Check the ingredients and storage instructions after opening on the packaging you use.
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This 1 L bottle can be used for several batches if their total requirements justify opening one large container.
Measure out what you need from the PET bottle, and check its ingredients and storage instructions on the label.
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The 1 L size is for recipes spread across several batches that use this quantity.
The product name states 17% fat. Check the packaging for ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
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The 400 ml tin lets you open packs as you work through your batches, when the total quantity you need is still to be confirmed.
You may need several tins for a large recipe. Check the ingredients and storage instructions after opening on each pack you use.
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This 400 ml tin lets you spread your purchase across medium-sized batches.
The product name states 19% fat. Check the ingredients and storage instructions on the tin before planning your baking.
No. You can’t assume a product contains cow’s milk just because ‘milk’ appears in its name. The ingredients lists published by Carrefour France for Carrefour Sensation and Real Thai don’t mention it. However, check the packaging you use, any ‘may contain’ warnings and all the other ingredients in the cake.
For cakes sold in France that are unpackaged, packaged at the customer’s request or prepacked for immediate sale, information about the allergens listed in Annex II and still present in the finished product must be provided clearly on or near the product, under the provisions published by Légifrance. Prepare a sheet for each recipe based on the ingredients actually used, and also confirm the arrangements with the school.
400 ml tins or smaller cartons let you open packs as you go, rather than opening a 1 L container straight away. Estimate the quantity based on your recipes and check each product’s storage instructions once opened. For its 3 × 20 cl pack of Coco cuisine UHT, Auchan France advises keeping it in the fridge for five days.
Only if the recipe can accommodate a different texture, or after testing and adjusting the mixture. Auchan France describes its Vietcoco cream as thicker than coconut milk, so it isn’t automatically a like-for-like swap in a cake.
Choose recipes that can be transported and served while meeting the storage requirements shown on the products. For school fêtes and fairs, the French Ministry of National Education recommends choosing bakes that are generally lower risk and lists cakes with crème pâtissière or Chantilly cream among those to avoid as a rule. Confirm the school’s instructions before you start baking.