Coconut Milk Substitutes

Out of coconut milk? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert coconut milk between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the coconut milk converter.

What to use instead of coconut milk

  • Milk

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup milk

    Cow's milk swaps 1:1 by volume for full-fat coconut milk and pours thinner and less rich (258 g vs 240 g per cup), with a clean dairy taste in place of coconut sweetness. Use it in curries, cocoa, or pancakes when the coconut flavour and dairy-free body are not needed.

    See milk substitutes →

  • Coconut Cream

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup coconut cream (thinned)

    Coconut cream is the thick, fatty top layer of tinned coconut milk and brings far more body. They are close in weight (245 g vs 240 g per cup). To swap it in, thin the cream with a little water, or chill a tin of coconut milk and scoop the solid top for a richer result.

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  • Evaporated Milk

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup evaporated milk

    Evaporated milk is reduced cow's milk, richer and slightly heavier than coconut milk (265 g vs 240 g per cup) with a clean dairy taste. Swap it 1:1 for a creamy, non-coconut body in sauces and bakes when a dairy result suits the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for coconut milk?
There are 3 workable substitutes for coconut milk, depending on what you have on hand and which property of coconut milk matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup coconut milk = 1 cup milk. Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting coconut milk change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the coconut milk converter
How do I measure coconut milk accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The coconut milk converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, millilitres, fluid ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the coconut milk converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

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