I know most people say they miss cheese the most when giving up dairy, but for me it might be whipped cream! Fluffy clouds of perfectly sweetened cream on my pie, coffee drink or a pile of strawberries…. Is there anything better? I think not. Over the past decade of being vegan, I have experimented with different dairy free whipped toppings, like my aquafaba vegan whipped cream, which is quite delicious but definitely not as rich and creamy as I’d like. That version tastes a little more like marshmallow fluff than traditional whipped cream. Pretty dang good, but not exactly whipped cream. Coconut whipped cream, however, completely hits the spot for me. It’s super rich, fluffy, creamy and light with just a hint of coconut flavor. If you truly despise coconut, this whipped cream is not for you, I’ll just tell you that right now! I’ve been attempting coconut whipped cream for years now, but I finally went all in and figured out the best tips and tricks for success, and I’ll teach you everything I know! With only a few ingredients and 15 minutes, you can make this amazing whipped cream, too!
What does coconut whipped cream taste like?
This dairy free topping does have a slight coconut flavor, but other than that my version is perfectly sweetened, rich and creamy, similar to real whipped cream.
How to make it
Before you actually make it, you’ll need to refrigerate your coconut cream (or cans of coconut milk) at least a day ahead of time. 48 hours or longer is better, so make sure you put those cans straight in the back of your refrigerator when you bring them home from the store. Then you will have coconut cream at your disposable any time a craving strikes!
Use immediately, or store in the refrigerator for about a week. It can also be frozen.
Tips for success
Use a good brand of coconut cream or full fat coconut milk: I prefer coconut cream, and this is the kind I used: Native Forest. They came in little cans so I used 3 of them, but I have also had good luck with Whole Foods 365 brand full fat coconut milk. Coconut cream is best if you have it, because you will get more cream out of each can. You will need 2-3 cans of coconut milk if you can’t find coconut cream. You have to chill the coconut for at least 24 hours. No exception! It needs to be chilled so the coconut cream can separate from the liquid and become hardened. Chill your bowl, mixer whisks and spatula. Starting with everything chilled will help the coconut not melt. Heat is the enemy of coconut whipped cream! Sift the powdered sugar if clumpy at all. You don’t want clumps of powdered sugar in your whipped topping, so sift it if necessary.
How to stabilize coconut whipped cream
The most important part of having stable, fluffy whipped cream is to chill everything before starting, and then keep it cold by storing it in the refrigerator when not using. Using powdered sugar also helps stabilize it, so I don’t recommend using a liquid sweetener. If you choose to use maple syrup or agave, use only a tablespoon as more than that will make it too runny. The other trick I use for stabilizing is Whip it, which was easy to find. It helps firm it up a bit more, and you can’t taste it. But it’s not necessary, so don’t worry if you can’t find it.
My coconut cream has chunks in it that won’t get smooth. Help!
I’ve noticed that some brands of coconut milk or cream can have very hard lumps or chunks that are difficult to smooth out with a hand mixer. If that’s what you are seeing, you can actually make it in a high powered blender instead. Chill your blender in the freezer for 10 minutes, then add all ingredients and blend, using a tamper until everything is smooth, but DO NOT over blend or it will get warm and runny. The blender version is slightly more runny and less fluffy, but it works pretty well!
Chocolate coconut whip
To make chocolate coconut cream, add 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder that has been sifted when you add the powdered sugar. Yum! This also makes a delicious frosting, especially on a single layer cake (it’s not very stable for a middle cake layer).
What to serve coconut whipped cream with
Vegan Pumpkin Pie Vegan Chocolate Pie Vegan Banana Cream Pie Vegan Waffles Vegan Strawberry Shortcake Vegan Hot Chocolate
& so much more! Check out my Vegan Desserts section for more ideas.
