4 Ways to Make and Eat Coconut Cream

It's paleo, it's vegan, it's gluten-free, and it's inexpensive; it's not superman, but it is is the superstar of whipped toppings nowadays! It's coconut cream, and not only can you make it in about two minutes, you can use it everywhere you would use whipped heavy cream.

Making Coconut Cream

The process couldn't be easier:

• Refrigerate a can of coconut milk overnight, or freeze for one hour (1 cup of coconut milk solids will yield approximately 2 cups of whipped coconut cream)
• Open can and scoop only the solids out from the can; discard gooey liquid underneath
• Whip by hand, with a hand mixer, or in a stand mixer until fluffy; it takes about a quarter of the time as whipping heavy cream
• Once whipped, add 1 tbsp sugar or other sweetener, or more to taste, and combine

And while this is super delish on its own, did we mention you can add any flavors that you would to regular whipped cream? That's right, just throw in some vanilla, peppermint, almond, or chocolate extract and you have yourself a flavorful combo.

Basic Do's and Don't's

Even though it's easy to make, there are some important steps to take to ensure your coconut cream comes out perfectly. They are:

• DO use full fat coconut milk; low fat won't become solid
• DON'T shake the can before refrigerating
• DO wait until the cream is whipped before adding sweetener; just like with heavy cream, it will whip better alone
• DON'T panic if the cream breaks—sometimes you get a bad can and it just won't work; it's rare, but it's not your fault if it happens!

How to Enjoy

Here are some tried-and-true recipes that make use of whipped coconut cream.

Fast Fruit Parfait

The best part about this dessert is that it highlights fruit in season and it stands up to frozen fruit if you so desire. Customize it any way you want to end a meal on a healthy sweet note, or for an afternoon snack.

What you'll need:

• 2 cup whipped coconut cream
• 2 cups cut mixed fruit, such as berries, apples, oranges, and/or peaches

What you'll do:

In individual glasses, layer equal amounts of whipped cream and fruit; if using frozen fruit, thaw and drain well first.

Chocolate Mousse

Paleo, vegan, gluten free chocolate mousse? It's not only possible, it's addiction-level good. It will keep in the fridge for a few days, so don't be afraid to double the batch!

What you'll need:

• 2 cups whipped coconut cream, divided
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp sugar or other sweetener
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

What you'll do:

1. Whip 1/2 cup coconut cream with remaining ingredients until well combined, with no bits of cocoa powder visible
2. Gently fold cocoa cream mix into remaining whipped cream

Peanut Butter Trifle

You can use any nut butter here, but peanut butter will offer the most mainstream and lovable taste. By whipping the peanut butter into the coconut cream, you create an array of flavors with very few ingredients, making this dish seem more complex than it is!

What you'll need:

• 3 cups whipped coconut cream, divided
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 yellow or white cake
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

What you'll do:

1. Whip peanut butter with 1 and 1/2 cup whipped cream
2. Add vanilla extract to remaining plain coconut cream
3. In a trifle bowl or large mixing bowl, layer slices of cake, peanut butter cream, and whipped coconut cream alternately until all ingredients are used up

Honey Vanilla Frosting

Use this quick recipe to top cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and more. You can also use it to fill cupcakes or little cakes by putting it into a pastry bag and piping.

What you'll need:

• 2 cups whipped coconut cream
• 1/4 cup light honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

What you'll do:

Whip all ingredients together until well combined