For desserts that need to hold their shape
If you’re making a mousse, ganache, ice cream or filling, the thickness of the coconut base may matter more than simply having a coconut flavour.
Who is this choice for?
For adding variety to your home baking
For cakes, creams or flans, you may want a creamy coconut milk that works in a range of recipes, without always having to choose coconut cream.
For choosing based on ingredients
If you want to compare different recipes, check the stated proportion of coconut and whether the label lists any thickeners.
What should you look for?
For home baking, first decide whether your recipe calls for coconut milk or cream. Then compare the labels and consider how much you’ll actually use.
Coconut milk
Choose this if : you want a coconut base to mix into cakes, flans or creams.
Bear in mind : coconut milks can vary in both their ingredients and fat content.
Coconut cream
Choose this if : you’re looking for a thicker base for a mousse, ganache or filling.
Bear in mind : if a recipe calls for coconut milk, replacing it with cream may mean adjusting the other liquids.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How well the dessert holds its shape | Whether it’s labelled “milk” or “cream”, and its fat content. Compare products using the same unit, such as per 100 ml. | For a mousse or ganache, I’d prioritise the required consistency over a base that’s simply runny; around 42% of consumers would make consistency their top priority. |
| Versatility in baking | The stated percentage of coconut extract and the recommended use for the product you’re considering. | When I’m making a cake one day and a cream the next, I want a coconut base that works in several recipes; versatility would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and leftovers | The ingredients list, pack size and storage instructions after opening. | If my recipe only uses some of the pack, I want to choose the ingredients and plan how to use the rest; this would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes to avoid
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Swapping cooking coconut milk for a coconut drink
Just because two products contain the word “coconut” doesn’t mean they’ll work equally well in a ganache, mousse or ice cream.
Check the product name, ingredients list and fat content before changing the recipe.
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Assuming “mature” means a specific concentration
The term doesn’t replace the information on the label. For example, Carrefour France product listings show coconut milks containing 55% coconut pulp for Markal and 74% coconut extracts for AYAM.
Compare the details for the exact product rather than guessing its ingredients from the word “mature”.
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Forgetting storage instructions after opening
Storage times vary by product: the Joybuy France listing for 400 ml Vietcoco coconut milk says to refrigerate for 24 hours after opening, while the Carrefour France listing for Markal says four days.
Choose a pack size that suits your recipe and follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
A pack that’s too large may leave you with leftovers that need using up quickly.
Brands to compare
AYAM
The Carrefour France listing for 400 ml AYAM coconut milk states that it contains 74% coconut extracts and 21 g of fat per 100 ml. It also mentions desserts.
- The ingredients list for this product states that it contains coconut extracts and water.
- Check the ingredients for the specific product and pack size you’re buying.
Jardin Bio Etic
According to Carrefour France, this 400 ml organic coconut milk contains 68% coconut extract and has 17 g of fat per 100 ml.
- The product listing mentions baking and specifies the proportion of coconut extract.
- The recipe contains guar gum. An organic label alone doesn’t tell you what texture a dessert will have.
Markal
The Carrefour France listing for 400 ml Markal coconut milk states that it contains 55% organic coconut pulp and water.
- The stated ingredients help you make an informed choice if a short ingredients list is your priority.
- The listing says to use the product within four days of opening, so choose a pack size that suits your recipe.
Vietcoco
Joybuy France lists 400 ml Vietcoco coconut milk containing 85% coconut extract, and 400 ml Vietcoco coconut cream containing 95% extract.
- These two products make it easy to compare milk and cream by their product names and stated extract proportions.
- Milk and cream aren’t always interchangeable in equal quantities in a recipe. Also check the storage instructions for the pack you choose.
Coconut milk and cream on Joybuy
These coconut milks and creams offer two options for home baking: milk as a base for a range of recipes, or cream when your mixture needs to be thicker. Compare the product name and pack size before using one in your recipe.
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Vietcoco Coconut Cream, 20–22% fat, 400 ml
Worth considering for a mousse or ganache if the recipe allows you to use cream instead of coconut milk.
According to the Joybuy France listing, this 400 ml cream contains 95% coconut extract and has 21 g of fat per 100 ml.
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Vietcoco Coconut Milk, 17–19% fat, 1 L
Worth considering if you’d rather use coconut milk in several recipes than opt for cream.
Think about how the 1 L pack size compares with the quantities in your recipes, so you can plan how to use the rest.
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VDS Creamy Coconut Milk 17%, 1 L
This coconut milk is worth comparing if your recipe calls for milk rather than cream.
Its name includes “17%” and it comes in a 1 L pack. To choose based on its ingredients, check what this percentage refers to and read the ingredients list on the product.
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CHAOKOH Coconut Cream, 22% fat, 400 ml
Worth considering for a dessert that calls for coconut cream, taking into account the liquids already in the recipe.
This product comes in a 400 ml pack. If the proportion of coconut extract matters to you, check this information on the label.
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Sunlee Coconut Milk 17–19% Brown, easy-open, 400 ml
The 400 ml pack is worth considering for a recipe that uses coconut milk rather than cream.
“17–19%” appears in the product name. Before comparing it with the coconut extract proportions or nutritional values of other products, check what the percentage refers to on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
What does “mature coconut milk” mean for baking?
On its own, this term doesn’t tell you what concentration or texture to look for. To choose a product for your recipe, compare its product name, stated proportion of coconut, fat content and ingredients list.
When should you choose coconut cream over coconut milk?
Coconut cream is an option if your mixture needs a thicker base. Joybuy France describes its 400 ml Vietcoco cream as thicker and creamier than coconut milk, and states that it contains 95% coconut extract. If your recipe calls for milk, though, check the quantities of the other liquids before swapping it.
What should you compare on a coconut milk label?
First, compare the product name, ingredients list and fat content using the same unit. The DGCCRF states that ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Also check the proportion of coconut, if stated, and whether the pack size suits your recipe.
How long can you keep coconut milk once it’s opened?
Follow the storage conditions and time limit stated on the product you’ve opened. For comparison between specific products, Joybuy France says to refrigerate its 400 ml Vietcoco coconut milk for 24 hours after opening, while Carrefour France gives four days for Markal coconut milk.