Not long ago, I was gifted with a package of vanilla pods. Up until that point, I had never used them, but I had seen them used many times on cooking shows and in recipe books. According to those shows and books, vanilla beans are bursting with vanilla flavour. Lucky for me, I had to make some coconut whip to use as a topping for some recipes I was working, so it was the perfect opportunity to use my first vanilla pod. Hello, vanilla bean coconut whipped cream!
That part about vanilla beans bursting with flavour? It’s true, whatever you add the seeds to will have a fresher and more “lively” vanilla flavour. Vanilla pods, you have a new fan!
If you’ve never made coconut whipped cream before, it’s a great alternative for those who don’t/can’t eat dairy. When made right, it’s just as creamy, fluffy, and decadent as dairy-based whipped cream. Just with a coconutty twist! One important thing to note is that you do have to like coconut since it is the dominant flavour.
Vanilla bean coconut whipped cream can be used any place dairy whipped cream would be used, see below for a few ideas on how you can use it.
After whipping, use right away or keep in an airtight container the fridge for a few days.
And a bonus to using a vanilla pod over extract? Look at all those little vanilla seeds in the coconut whip!
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- If you’ve never used vanilla pods before, read this article for a step-by-step walk through on how to get the seeds out, it’s very easy!
- If you don’t have a vanilla pod, it’s OK, you can still make this recipe! Just replace it with 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract.
- This recipe will only work with full fat canned coconut milk (it will not work with light canned coconut milk or coconut milk drinks in tetra packs).
- Buy the purest coconut milk brand you can find. There shouldn’t be any additives and/or preservatives in the ingredients list (things like sugar, carageenan, sulfites etc). When there are extra ingredients, the separation between the water and cream may not happen and the taste may not be great. (I always use Native Forest Unsweetened Classic Organic brand)
- Keeping the coconut cream cold is important to it whipping up nicely. You’ll need to move quickly after taking it out of the can and putting it into the mixing bowl. I usually chill the mixing bowl for about a half hour before whipping, which helps a lot.
- If your coconut whip is still on the runny side after whipping it up (this happens sometimes, especially if some of the coconut water from the can mixed in with the cream) add tapioca flour (a teaspoon at a time) to thicken it up. I was given this tip when I posted about my runny coconut whip on Instagram. A few commenters came to my rescue. And it worked!
How to Make Vanilla Bean Coconut Whipped Cream
- 1 x 398 ml (13.5 oz) can of full fat coconut milk (see note below)
- 1 vanilla bean pod
- Sweetener of choice, to taste (pure maple syrup or powdered sugar work well)
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Place the can of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 48 hours. Once the can has been chilled long enough, remove it from the fridge and turn upside down. (the cream rises to the top of the can)
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Open the can and drain out all of the water (save the water for smoothies or other recipes).
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Scoop out all the coconut cream from the bottom of the can into a mixing bowl.
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Scrape out all of the vanilla beans from the pod and add to the bowl.
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Whip using a hand mixer or the wire whisk attachment from your stand mixer until light and fluffy.
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Starting with 1 tsp, gradually add your sweetener of choice. Whip and taste after each addition until it is as sweet as you want it to be.
- Canned light coconut milk will not work with this recipe, only canned full fat coconut milk will work (I like and always use Native Forest Unsweetened Classic Organic brand).
Now that you have your vanilla bean coconut whipped cream, you can enjoy it on so many desserts and drinks:
Like on pie! (my Quick and Easy Vegan Pumpkin Pie is pictured below)
…to top hot drinks like lattes, hot chocolate, or peppermint hot chocolate:
…or on waffles! (my gingerbread waffles are picture below)
Enjoy!
Nicole MacPherson says
I love coconut whipped cream, as you know, but I’ve never tried vanilla bean. I see them in Costco but have never bought them – maybe I should splurge!
Gwen says
I think it’s worth the splurge! I can’t wait to try using them in other recipes to see how it affects them. I can’t believe I waited this long to try them!
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
Oh man I JUST bought vanilla beans on amazon the other day. Can’t wait to try this! I’ll probably put it in my coffee š
Gwen says
It’s so good with vanilla beans! Adding it to coffee would be great š
Eric says
I did not get the separation of coconut cream from the liquid like your pictures show, even after three days of refrigeration. And I used the exact same coconut milk brand, label, etc. So I started with a thinner cream. Still turned out tasty but a tenuous structure. We’re not vegan so I’m wondering if I could stiffen it up with some egg whites.
Gwen says
Hi Eric, I get a dud can every now and then as well, I think this may be the case. Another brand you can try if you are nervous about trying again with this brand is Thai Kitchen, the regular type, not the lite. I’m not sure if thickening with egg whites will work to get it to the consistency you need it to be, I’ve never worked with egg whites in that way before. Sorry, not the answer you were looking for š I think it’s worth a shot if the consistency is really too runny to be used as a whipped cream replacement. Good luck!
Eric says
I bought a case, so I’ll be sticking with this brand for a while! If we experiment w any egg whites, I’ll let you know how that turns out. Regardless, this is a very useful recipe for us. We wil, be trying this on our gingerbread waffles tomorrow.
Gwen says
Hopefully the next can will separate properly. I hope you enjoy it with the gingerbread waffles!