Coconut butter is super easy to make and only requires coconut and a food processor or high-speed blender! Naturally paleo, vegan, and gluten-free. With a video.
While I’ve got quite a few dessert recipes ready to post, I know that a lot of people aren’t super into baking just yet after the holidays. So here’s something a little different!
A few people have mentioned in my recipes with coconut butter that they didn’t know you could make your own. So here we go!
What is coconut butter?
Coconut butter is just the ground up dried meat of a coconut. It’s also known as coconut manna.
Is coconut butter the same as coconut oil? Coconut butter vs. coconut oil.
It’s very different than coconut oil, which is the oil that is pressed out of coconut meat. When you buy a jar of coconut butter, there’s usually a layer of coconut oil at the top that has separated.
You just warm it up and stir it back together. In the summer, it’s so warm in our kitchen that it’s liquid enough and can be just be stirred.
Coocnu*t butter is not interchangeable with coconut oil.
You have to use it in recipes that specifically call for coconut butter. Like these vegan coconut macaroons, which is probably my favorite cookie recipe of the last several years and my go-to cookie recipe (but I always dip them in chocolate and drizzle more on top!).
If you need some other recipe ideas, try this healthy vegan peanut butter and jelly fudge or this paleo vegan chocolate fudge!
Is there a coconut butter substitute?
Other articles about how to make coconut butter suggest using another nut / seed butter, coconut oil or regular butter but I’ve tried all of these subs in several recipes and can say that the results are never even similar.
I’ve made at least 50 attempts at converting several of my recipes to be nut-free / AIP-friendly using coconut butter and none of them worked. So I really don’t recommend it. They come out dry and crumbly.
What kind of coconut should I use?
Pretty much anything except fresh coconut. You can use shredded coconut like I did or coconut chips, flaked coconut, coconut flakes and desiccated coconut. All of that works.
Desiccated will just take a bit longer than the other kinds because it has less moisture in it. And make sure to use unsweetened and full-fat! None of that reduced-fat stuff.
The amount of coconut you use will depend on how big your food processor or high-speed blender is. A regular blender will not work! You have to use a Blendtec, Vitamix or something similar.
You need to fill the food processor at least halfway with coconut. You’ll have a hard time processing if it’s not at least halfway full.
Do you need to add some coconut oil?
I’ve been making homemade coconut butter for 8 years and have never needed to do that. If yours absolutely won’t come together after 10-15 minutes, you could add maybe a teaspoon of coconut oil at a time to see if that helps.
How do you store coconut butter? How long does it last?
Coconut butter stays good for ages at room temperature. I would say as long as your shredded coconut (or whatever coconut product you’re using) is good for. I’ve found hidden jars that were over a year old and they were perfectly fine.
So don’t worry about making too much! That’s just not possible once you try these coconut lime macaroons (which call for coconut butter) because you’ll want a constant supply. ;)
It hardens as it cools unless your kitchen is very warm. There’s unfortunately no way to prevent this.
I’d love to hear what you think of this homemade coconut butter!
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Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Ready in:
Yield: a little less than 1 cup coconut butter
Ingredients
1 pound (450 grams or almost 6 cups) or more full-fat unsweetened shredded coconut, coconut flakes or flaked coconut
Directions
If using a food processor: fill the food processor at least halfway with coconut flakes. You'll have a hard time processing if it's not at least halfway full. Process until very liquidy, almost like water. Stop every few minutes to scrape down the sides and let it cool a little if it feels too warm. Don't kill your food processor! Depending on your food processor, it could take 15-20 minutes.
If using a Blendtec, (you can also use a Vitamix), use the Twister Jar and start processing while twisting the top of the jar counterclockwise. I start off on 1 and work up to about medium power. Process until very liquidy, almost like water. It'll only take about a minute.
Place in a jar and stir every hour or so until firm and solid (this may take up to 6-8 hours depending on how warm your kitchen is. If it's very warm in your kitchen, it might not become solid. If you're in a hurry, refrigerate). Store at room temperature. To soften, place the jar in hot water or microwave (provided it's in a microwave-safe jar) at 50% power for 15 seconds at a time.
It has a low smoking point, so you shouldn't use it for frying or sautéing ingredients. It can replace butter when baking, though. This ingredient is a great substitute for any type of fat when making baked goods. It's most commonly used as a substitute for nut butter.
Coconut oil is JUST the oil that is extracted from the meat. Coconut butter is the whole meat of the coconut pureed into a creamy butter. And just a little FYI, coconut meat (by nature) is approximately 65% oil.
Creamed coconut, also known as coconut butter, is a coconut product made from the unsweetened dehydrated fresh pulp of a mature coconut, ground to a semi-solid white creamy paste. It is sold in the form of a hard white block which can be stored at room temperature.
What is the shelf life of coconut butter? Coconut butter is naturally stable and lasts for about 1 year to 15 months depending on the brand and if it contains preservatives or not. However, the consistency of coconut butter will vary according to the temperature while in storage.
Coconut butter hardens at room temperature: Unless it's summer time, then you're coconut butter will probably be ridiculously running because it'll be warmer in your house. If it's hard and you'd like to use it, you can spoon the amount you'd like to use into a microwave safe bowl and reheat for 15-30 seconds.
It is an excellent source of healthy fats, with 18g of fat in just two tablespoons. Coconut butter is also rich in minerals including potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Coconut butter comes in pre-packaged jars, or you can make it from scratch using pure coconut.
Coconut oil can replace butter in baking at a 1:1 ratio, though it may slightly change the flavor, with some types of coconut oil affecting taste more than others. Unrefined coconut oil tends to taste more like coconut than refined varieties.
That is because it is rich in good fat (polyunsaturated fat) and low in bad fat (saturated fat). Coconut oil contains 80 to 90 percent saturated fat. According to the experts, a tablespoon of coconut oil contains about six times as much saturated fat as olive oil.
Coconut butter is super high in saturated fat, whereas almond butter has a much lower saturated fat content. Almond butter also has a fair amount more protein, which makes it a great addition to your smoothie or protein shake!
Coconut butter has emollient properties. It may aid in the softening or smoothing of dry skin. Coconut butter also includes anti-inflammatory properties that help to minimize skin dryness. Eczema and other skin-dryness issues may benefit from this treatment.
Coconut butter burns easily and isn't your best bet for stovetop cooking over anything higher than very low heat for a brief time. It's perfect for making fudge and candies and may be substituted for butter or oil. It will add a strong, sweet, coconut flavor to your recipes.
They are both more neutral in flavor than say almond butter or peanut butter. But with that being said, coconut butter can also be replaced with almond butter or peanut butter in most cases.
When does coconut cream expire? When does coconut cream expire? Coconut cream typically has a best-before date printed on the packaging, which usually is about two years from the manufacturing date if unopened. Once opened, coconut cream will last around 4-7 days in the refrigerator provided it's stored correctly.
You'll sometimes find cream of coconut—including brands like Coco López and Coco Reàl—near the mixers in your grocery store, but if you don't see them, the cans can also be ordered online.
Coconut butter is surprisingly versatile and has a place, both sweet and savory, in meals and snacks throughout the day. A lot of my favorite ways to eat coconut butter coincide with breakfast: spreading it on toast, mixing it into oatmeal and smoothies. And, it's especially luxurious with pancakes and French toast.
A: Coconut oil and coconut butter hardens as the temperature drops, it will be soft and smooth when it warms up again. It does not effect the products flavor or usefulness.
Coconut butter contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are a source of healthy fats. These fats can be easily digested and converted into energy, making them an excellent choice for active dogs.
What does coconut butter taste like? Coconut butter tastes like straight coconut. It's lightly sweet and nutty, and I find it to be very pleasant! But, if you're not a coconut fan, this recipe probably isn't for you.
Keep the coconut butter stored at room temperature in the pantry. It will keep for months. It will become very hard during storage. To use again, you will need to warm it first, so that it becomes a liquid again.
Keep in mind, though, that both butter and coconut do contain saturated fat and are considered “solid” fats. For baked goods that require solid fats, either choice will work, it really just depends on the flavor you desire. Coconut oil will lend a light, slightly sweet flavor versus butter's, well…, buttery flavor!
Coconut butter is the pureed meat of a mature coconut, so it contains not just the oil, but also the fiber and other nutrients generally found in coconut meat. Coconut butter has a creamy and thick texture that is rich in coconut flavor with a hint of sweetness.
2. Coconut oil can be substituted 1:1 for other fats. When it comes to baking, coconut oil makes a wonderful substitute for butter and other oils, like olive oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil. Regardless of the type of fat used in a recipe, you can swap in an equal amount of coconut oil.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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