One of my favourite ways to use this is to make it into coconut whipped cream. You can then use this as a dairy-free ‘frosting’/cream for cakes – like this Raspberry & Coconut Cake recipe.

Begin by extracting the coconut water from the coconuts. You can do this by using a screwdriver, nail or similarly sharp tool and create holes in the coconut eyes, to drain the water (which you can drink straight or add to smoothies).Note: depending on how many coconuts you are blending, you might have to do this multiple times. Not all the coconut flesh will fit in the blender if you’re making a massive batch. Also, it will be harder for the machine to blend very big amounts at once. You can keep the remaining shredded coconut and dry it either in low temperature in the oven or out in sunny well-aired corner/window sill. Plus, coconut milk is usually made using less coconut, combined with water. The cream, however, uses more coconut and requires the mix to separate (as you’ll see in the DIY below).

This deliciously rich hand cream will leave your hands soft, supple, and smelling heavenly. Inspired by the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, where fragrant cacao pods grow amongst vibrant coconut palms, it will lift your senses and transport you to a land of sun and sea. Now in a larger bottle, this Cacao and Coconut Hand Cream is the perfect sink companion for our Cacao and Aloe Vera Hand Wash. Soothe, heal, and regenerate your hands after washing, with replenishing natural ingredients. Bathroom guests are sure to be impressed by the extra touch of luxury. However, you may be tempted to keep it a sumptuous secret just for yourself.

When making coconut cream, it’s worth noting that it has a short shelf life (just a few days) so is worth making in smaller batches. It’s hard to give you an exact amount of cream you’ll get out of each coconut, as this really depends on the size of the fruit and amount of meat inside. This recipe is gluten-free and great for those who are lactose intolerant or dairy-free as it can be used as a dairy replacement in so many recipes. Making it homemade also tastes so much better than canned (if I do say so myself) versions from grocery stores.

Next, add the coconut flesh to a high-speed blender/food processor and blitz to shred it. Add 4 cups of water and blend again to obtain coconut milk. Plus, regardless of which method you decide to use – when making this cream, you’ll get the delicious by-product of desiccated coconut that you can then dry out and use for a variety of recipes. Next, break the coconut shells and extract the coconut flesh. You can do this with a hammer, by banging it against a sharp/hard edge, with a small hand saw or any other favourite method of yours. The delectable cacao bean is at the centre of all we do. It’s the tropical thread that runs through our collection, from confectionery and drinks to beauty and gifts. Dry, sensitive hands will love the creamy texture of cacao butter. With its high antioxidant levels, this botanical hero helps repair and protect the skin from premature ageing.The same can be said for soups. For example, adding some into this Coconut Curry Pumpkin Soup, Creamy Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup or Thai Inspired Vegan Green Pea Soup Coconut cream is such a simple coconut DIY that I’ve even included two methods. The first is more of a traditional method and is already super simple. However, the second method is even simpler – so simple in fact I’d call it a coconut cream ‘cheat’ (and all you need is a juicer). This isn’t something I’ve tried yet – but coconut cream would be an amazing part of a dairy-free ice-cream recipe. Likewise, it’s great to serve in place of dairy cream when served alongside pie or tart (like this Vegan Chocolate Cherry Tart), warm puddings and more. So once you have your fresh coconut cream, it’s time to use it – of course. So, here are a few options for you:

A whole variety of desserts could benefit from this dairy-free cream from mousses to pies, to tarts – like this Vegan Earl Grey Blueberry Tart or this Vegan Pumpkin Pie Recipe.I suppose the first question to answer would be, what exactly is coconut cream? I know there can be a lot of confusion surrounding this and what supermarkets label products. Particularly with confusion between coconut milk and coconut cream (and sometimes even cream of coconut).