Make your own homemade coconut milk in a minute with canned coconut milk. It’s nice for so many uses. Homemade coconut milk is super easy to make and is so much better than store-bought coconut milk. It's also the best way to avoid unhealthy additives of boxed and refrigerated milks.
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Why You'll Like This Recipe
- It's simple; just 2 ingredients and 1 minute.
- Canned coconut milk is easily kept in your pantry
- No soaking or straining through cheese cloth or a nut milk bag as with nut milk or if making it with dried coconut flakes.
- It's versatile and usable in many ways.
For other recipes using canned coconut milk, try this coconut shrimp curry, or this creamy cauliflower soup.
Recipe Ingredients
Doesn't get much easier! Please see the recipe card for measurements. Variations below.
- Coconut milk: Choose organic, unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk in cans, easy to keep in the pantry for quick use. No worries about running out.
- Water: Use filtered water, not tap water, for the healthiest coconut milk.
Please see the recipe card for measurements.
For another terrific easy plant-based milk you can make in a minute, make this hemp milk recipe.
Recipe Instructions
Put the water and the canned coconut milk into a large container (like this glass milk bottle) and shake well or stir. It takes 1 minute!
If the coconut milk is solidified, add it to a high-speed blender with a tight fitting lid, add water and blend for a few seconds until smooth. That's all there is to making fresh homemade coconut milk.
If you dilute according to my ratios you will have a quart (liter) or 4 cups of coconut milk. For creamy coconut milk, use less water. See the health benefits section for more ratios of water to coconut milk and variable fat grams.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vanilla flavored: For vanilla coconut milk, add a little vanilla extract or vanilla paste. Using vanilla paste gives you flecks of vanilla bean.
- Sweetened: To sweeten, try this all natural syrup made from monk fruit. It adds sweetness without any sugar and blends into liquid easily. Honey works but has a definite flavor. You can also try brown rice syrup or maple syrup. Powdered or granulated monk fruit work as well.
- Chocolate: Use unsweetened coca powder. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more if desired.
To Make Coconut Milk From Coconut Milk Powder
Most coconut milk powders provide 3-4 grams of fat per 8-ounce portion. You choose the level of fat that you want and add water. Coconut milk powder gives you an easier ability to change the ratios on a individual serving. For making smoothies, just add water to the blender then add as much milk powder as you prefer.
A health note on powdered coconut milk. The powders contain an additive called tapioca maltodextrin, so it is a processed food. It is an additive (a form of starch) used as a preservative, thickener, and bulking agent. Made from tapioca, it is gluten-free but also high on the glycemic (higher than sugar) so has the potential to spike blood sugar. Here's an article with more information on tapioca maltodextrin.
I am not big on additives so prefer to use the canned coconut milk, but do what is best for your family.
Health Notes
If you are sensitive to dairy products, coconut milk is a tasty alternative plant-based milk (unless you have food allergies to coconut).
Coconut milk comes from the white flesh of a mature coconut (brown coconut), and is then mixed with water to make coconut milk. Coconut milk offers healthy fat, but it is not a low-cal beverage. If you're concerned about saturated fat, read this article for more information on the fat content of coconut milk.
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To reduce the fat, dilute the milk further or try using light coconut milk. People following a Paleo-style, Keto-style diet, or low carb diet often use it as a way to obtain their targeted dietary fat levels.
For lower fat levels consider these ratios:
- Mix 1 13.5-ounce can of full fat coconut milk with 64 ounces of water for approximately 9 servings at 10 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving.
- Mix 1 13.5-ounce can of full fat coconut milk with 128 ounces of water for approximately 17 servings at 5 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving. At this ratio of water to coconut milk it is closer to what you get from store brands such as So and Silk, but it is more fluid because there are no additives.
About Additives
You have to read labels, because a lot of coconut milk (canned and prepared) contains additives. That's the beauty of homemade coconut milk vs. commercial coconut milks. You control the ingredients. Here's a few you might see reading labels.
Carrageenan
Extracted from red algae, carrageenan is considered a natural ingredient. Manufacturers use carrageenan as a stabilizer, thickener, and for giving products a better mouth-feel.
Carrageenan is common ingredient in non-dairy beverages like coconut milk. There is a lot of debate about whether it is healthy as it causes digestive upset for some people. Here's a great article that explains it well.
Guar Gum
Another natural additive you might find in canned coconut milk is called guar gum, made from the guar bean. Guar gum is considered safe in small amounts for most people. It is used for the same reason as carrageenan, as a thickener and binder. If you have a sensitive digestive system, guar gum may cause you digestive upset.
For no gums, buy Native Forest Simple canned coconut milk. If you're fine with a small amount of guar gum and prefer a thicker, creamier texture coconut milk, use this version from the same brand. Here's a great article on gums.
Chef's tip: When buying canned coconut milk (or any canned goods), be sure it's in a BPA-free can (Native Forest is).
Serving Suggestions
- Homemade coconut milk is wonderful in smoothies in place of nut milks or cow's milk.
- In coffee as a creamer (make it thicker with less water).
- Over top oatmeal and porridge.
- Almost anywhere you would use dairy milk.
- Serve warm or chilled.
- In pureed soups such as this creamy cauliflower soup recipe.
- In place of almond milk for this breakfast overnight chia oats recipe.
- Pour some over a bowl of homemade granola with berries.
Homemade coconut milk lasts about 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container or glass jar. Shake before using if needed.
If it smells sours or off, curdles, turns grayish or gets cloudy, toss it and make fresh. Do not store at room temperature.
Coconut Milk FAQs
It is a few cents cheaper per serving, but the best thing is canned coconut milk is easy to have in the pantry as a staple. Less running to the store for store bought milk. Another option is using coconut milk powder.
Yes, homemade coconut milk can be better than store bought. You control exactly what goes into your coconut milk and can dilute it to your preference, thicker or thinner. Buy canned organic coconut milk with no additives. Here is the brand I buy.
Yes, but using canned milk is easier and faster. With coconut flakes or shredded coconut you must soak in hot water, puree well, strain, then decide what to do with the leftover coconut pulp.
More Recipes for Non-Dairy Milks
For more smoothie recipes to use coconut milk in, get ideas on this page. Its delicious in this sheet pan roasted pepper soup too.
⭐️Did you Make This?
If you make your own coconut milk, please comment and let me know. I enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5 star rating! They really help other readers.
📖 Recipe
Quick Homemade Coconut Milk
Ingredients
- 13.5 ounce can organic coconut milk
- 20 ounces filtered water 2 ½ cups
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Instructions
- Shake the canned coconut milk well (if needed) and pour canned milk into a tall container or large mixing cup, add filtered water and stir well. If needed, add to a blender and briefly blend on low to smooth it out. Taste for your preference and add more water if desired.
Notes
- Vanilla flavored: For vanilla coconut milk, add a little vanilla extract or vanilla paste. Using vanilla paste gives you flecks of vanilla bean.
- Sweetened: To sweeten, try this all natural syrup made from monk fruit. It adds sweetness without any sugar and blends into liquid easily. Honey works but has a definite flavor. You can also try brown rice syrup or maple syrup. Powdered or granulated monk fruit work as well.
- Chocolate: Use unsweetened coca powder. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more if desired.
- Mix 1 13.5-ounce can of full fat coconut milk with 64 ounces of water for approximately 9 servings at 10 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving.
- Mix 1 13.5-ounce can of full fat coconut milk with 128 ounces of water for approximately 17 servings at 5 grams of fat per 8-ounce serving. At this ratio of water to coconut milk it is closer to what you get from store brands such as So and Silk, but it is more fluid because there are no additives.
Porsche Guy says
So easy, better than buying and cheaper love it in my smoothies. Thanks!
Penny4YourThoughts says
Im going to try this but this brand is not at my grocery store (Kroger). How do you know the difference in canned coconut milk becuase some smells gross and is for cooking only and not drinking like the Thai brand. Also, What do you recommend for powdered coconut milks to use that are organic? Ive been trying Anthonys but its VERY sweet tasting to the point that my son almost doesnt like it compared to the Organic Califia almond milk which has almost NO flavor. Im trying to find an alternative becuase Califia is $7 for not even a half gallon.
Sally Cameron says
Hi Penny. I've used different brands but this is my usual purchase. I've never bought canned coconut milk that smells bad and certainly would not use a brand that did. I prefer organic, and read the can labels for sweeteners or additives. I'll add a section the post about using coconut milk powder for you. Good thing to add, thanks for the comment. As for the sweetness of the Anthony's brand, I looked at the ingredients and see it is not sweetened so I am not sure why it's so sweet. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with what they add; tapioca maltodextrin. When I have questions like this I contact the company and recommend you do to.
Emily Gibson says
Is the nutrition facts listed for the full recipe or per serving of 8oz coconut milk?
Sally Cameron says
Hi Emily, the recipe is for 4-8 ounce servings, and the nutritional calculation at the end of the recipe card is for 1 8-ounce serving. Hope that helps.
Emily Gibson says
How much water should I add to cut the calories and fat down to mimic the store bought version found in the grocery?
Sally Cameron says
Emily, I've added this information to the post under the Health Benefits section. Take a look and let me know if this helps or if you have more questions. Best, Sally.
Emily Gibson says
Thank you!
Sally Cameron says
If you check in the recipe card, the calculations are for 1 8-ounce serving with the water to coconut milk ratio. Then in the notes section at the end of the recipe card I've listed other ratios and numbers per serving. Please let me know if this helps.
AmythystRaven says
I've made this, and after a day or two in the fridge in a sealed plastic container it got very slimy... pouring it looked like pouring mucus. Any idea why this might have happened?
Sally Cameron says
Hi, hmmm no. I've not had that happen. Two questions. What kind of coconut milk did you use? Did you shake or stir before you used it?
LT says
not always, but sometimes, i put my can of coc milk in my vitamix and add a couple of cups of water and it mixes creamy and beautifully. sometimes, it separates into bits and isn't smooth AT ALL. anyone know what is happening?
Sally Cameron says
Hi Lynne. It's probably due to the high fat content in coconut milk, the fat solidifies at cold temps but it then smooths out again when it warms up. Just like if you have a jar of coconut oil on the counter to cook with its liquified in summer weather and solidified in winter. After I read your comment this morning, I made smoothies and looked at my milk (almond milk/coconut milk combo) and it had little lumps, but smooths out in the blender.
AmC says
How do you determine the calorie content if doing 50/50 (coconut milk/water)?
Sally Cameron says
To figure it out, read the cans nutritional label for grams of fat per serving. The brand I buy lists a serving as 1/3 of a cup. At 2:1, twice the water (2/3 cup) as coconut milk (1/3 cup), you're still at 15 grams of fat per serving and you'll have an 8-ounce cup of coconut milk. Does that make sense? There are also nutrition calculators on the internet you can use for different ratios. Also see the section I've added with different ratios and grams of fat. Note - if you use a nut milk, that adds it's own fat and protein grams, different from water.
Hari Chandana says
What a beautiful capture!!
Cindy says
This is great! Thank you for a simple way to have this awesome drink on hand! Is there a similar alternative to almond milk as well? Ps, your roasted cauliflower recipe was awesome!
Sally says
Hi Cindy. Homemade almond milk is also really easy but does take an overnight soak. Recipe under beverages or breakfast. And read the post, about buying truly raw almonds. I order mine off the web or buy at the farmers market.
Shut Up & Cook says
So simple, but must admit I've never thought to do this. Thanks for the tip!!
Sally says
No kidding, me either until just this week! That's why I wanted to share!