Even if you’re a card-carrying egg scrambler and dairy buff, vegan whipped cream made from coconut milk is so good that you may willingly trade it for the conventional stuff. Not only do its lush, velvety billows rival those of regular whipped cream, but it’s made from pantry ingredients and it lasts days in the fridge without deflating, so you can whip it ahead of time.
Recipe Spotlight
The Best Whipped Topping Comes from a Can (of Coconut Milk)
You don’t need to be vegan to love this lush and billowy nondairy topping—which also lasts days without deflating.
Published Oct. 7, 2021.
Here's the basic two-step process:
- Skim the solid top layer from a couple cans of coconut milk (the full-fat kind is a must).
- Whip the cream in a stand mixer until soft, voluminous peaks form.
Two tweaks that make the topping even better:
- Chill the unopened cans for 24 hours to ensure that the solid cream separates from the milky liquid and is easy to skim from the top, and use only the very thick portion.
- Add a tablespoon of sugar, which enhances the coconut cream's fruity sweetness, and a teaspoon of vanilla to complement its mild coconutty flavor.
Dollop the topping anywhere you might use conventional whipped cream: over fresh fruit or desserts such as pie, tarts, and mousse. Or just spoon a dab from the bowl for a hit of pure, gossamer-light joy.
Sign up for the Cook's Insider newsletter
The latest recipes, tips, and tricks, plus behind-the-scenes stories from the Cook's Illustrated team.
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.
Whipped Coconut Cream
You don't need to be vegan to enjoy this lush, billowy nondairy topping.Get the Recipe