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Coconut milk vs almond milk: is one better? When to use each? Here’s what to know about these non-dairy milks.
Coconut milk vs almond milk: which is better? When should you use one or the other? Both of these non-dairy milks are great options: it just depends on what you’re looking for!
As a cookbook author and professional recipe developer, I’ve been using these two ingredients in my recipes for years: especially because I specialize in vegetarian and vegan recipes! Here’s what to know about when to use them and their nutritional profiles.
Coconut Milk Vs Almond Milk: Overview
What are the differences between these two products? Here’s the general breakdown:
- What is coconut milk? Coconut milk is a milk extracted from the pulp of coconuts. It is rich and creamy, and has a high fat content. Canned coconut milk is a traditional ingredient used in Southeast Asian and East African cuisine, as well as Latin American and Caribbean foods. You can also buy coconut milk as a non-dairy beverage in a refrigerated carton: this is essentially coconut milk with added water.
- What is almond milk? Almond milk is a plant milk made of ground almonds and water. It’s low in fat and has a very thin texture.
Which One Is Healthier?
Is there a better choice between coconut milk and almond milk? Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Both of these dairy-free milks can be part of a healthy diet. Here’s a breakdown of the nutrition info per 1 cup serving:
| Ingredient | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
| Canned coconut milk | 552 | 5 grams | 13 grams | 57 grams |
| Carton coconut milk | 45 | 0 grams | 1 grams | 4.5 grams |
| Almond milk | 40 | 1 gram | 3.5 grams | 3 grams |
Conclusion: You can see from the table above that canned coconut milk is very high in calories and fat, so a little goes a long way. Carton coconut milk (found in the refrigerated section) and almond milk are lower in calories and fat, with fewer carbs and less protein than canned coconut milk.
How To Use Each In Cooking
With all of that in mind, here are some of the best ways to use these products!
- Canned coconut milk: It’s high in fat and calories, so it’s best used in smaller quantities. The benefit is that it is very, very creamy. It’s great for adding a creamy richness to sauces like in a curry or soup, or blending into smoothies.
- Almond milk and carton coconut milk have a thinner texture since they have less fat. They work in baking and also as a milk substitute like with granola or muesli.
Which Non-Dairy Milk To Use in Coffee and Baking
Here’s what I typically do:
- In coffee: Carton coconut milk tastes a little richer than almond milk, which is more neutral. Both aren’t ideal for lattes, so if you love a latte, look for “barista” versions made for steaming. (Here’s my almond milk latte recipe.)
- In baking: I typically like to use unsweetened almond milk in baking. Its flavor is mild and it swaps 1:1 for dairy milk in pancakes, muffins, and quick breads.
- In curries and soups: Always canned coconut milk! Nothing else gives that creamy body.
- With cereal, granola, or oatmeal: Either carton milk is great here.
Related Recipes
Coconut Milk Recipes
- Curries like Vegan Curry, Coconut Cauliflower Curry, or Coconut Lentil Curry
- Soups like Curry Butternut Squash Soup or Curry Lentil Soup
- Coconut Whipped Cream
- Coconut Milk Smoothie
- Frozen Piña Coladas
- Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream
Thanks for the helpful information! :) I wanted to know if I could swap coconut milk in for almond milk in this recipe…https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/glazed-blueberry-scones/ – I think I’ll try it.
Should work.
In my life, I have used both almond and coconut milk, which I usually ordered from this website https://www.mrlemonade.co.uk/collections/plant-based-milk. Over time, I completely switched to coconut milk.