37 Coconut Desserts You’ll Crave Long After They’re Gone
Coconut desserts come in an array of textures and flavors—and it’s all thanks to the versatility of the star ingredient. Are coconuts a fruit? A nut? A seed? Apparently, they’re all three. Coconuts are considered a drupe, a botanical classification that includes stone fruits. But few other ingredients are widely available in so many forms. The thick liquid extracted from shredded coconut pulp (that would be coconut milk) provides a creamy texture to custard pies and can even be turned into stellar vegan whipped cream; while shredded and toasted mature coconut meat becomes a crunchy, nutty topping. Flaked coconut sweetens frostings, while unsweetened coconut milk and sweetened cream of coconut enrich an ice pop. You can even turn coconut water into ice cubes to transform a simple rum cocktail. Coconuts are also fundamental to countless savory dishes from cuisines worldwide, but today we're heading straight for dessert. Here is a bounty of sweet coconut desserts that show just how versatile coconut truly is.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova1/37Coconut Cream Pie
Classics coconut desserts never go out of style—sometimes they just need a little updating. This cream pie recipe is the perfect example. Small tweaks like infusing the filling with nutty toasted coconut flakes, lightening it with whipped cream for an airy texture, and setting it with both gelatin and cornstarch for added insurance turn this timeless recipe into a modern classic.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne2/37Coconut Macaroons
This crowd-pleasing cookie recipe calls not for coconut extract, but almond extract to bolster the shredded sweet coconut. Just a splash enhances their nutty coconut flavor and helps make each bite taste more coconutty than it would without.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova3/37Lane Cake
The Lane Cake (a.k.a. prize cake) is a classic Southern dessert named after its creator, Emma Rylander Lane, who won first prize at the county fair in Columbus, Georgia, with the recipe. This cake is chock full of goodies, including golden raisins, flaked coconut, and bourbon, and it winds up with a soft, tender crumb.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova4/37Sticky Rice With Mango
This popular Thai dessert combines sticky rice, sweetened coconut milk, and ripe mangoes. If you don’t have a steamer, you can make a quick microwave version of this classic dish instead.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova5/37Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake
This reversed take on German chocolate cake is the sleek alter-ego of the ‘50s classic. Layers of rich chocolate cake sandwiching a coconut and pecan filling get coated in a smooth dark chocolate glaze to create a sophisticated dessert fit for a black-tie event. For a simpler option, check out this sheet cake version of the chocolate coconut cake.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne6/37Piña Colada
If you prefer to drink your dessert, you might be looking for the best version of this classic cocktail. Coconut, pineapple, and rum come together in the time-tested favorite that needs no introduction. For a spirit-free version, you can create a similarly complex flavor profile by adding a touch of apple cider vinegar, salt, and vanilla extract to the coconut and pineapple.
By David Loftus7/37Smoked Coconut Cake
This fragrant smoked coconut cake recipe has been handed down for at least four generations. Its intoxicating scent, a result of baking the cake directly in a smoker, is sure to continue its legacy for years to come.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks9/373-Ingredient Creamy Coconut-Lime Ice Pops
You’ll need just two pantry items (unsweetened coconut milk and sweetened cream of coconut) plus some fresh lime zest to make this refreshing frozen treat.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton10/37Khao Niao Ping Sai Kluai (Grilled Sweet Sticky Rice With Banana Filling)
These handheld packets from Thailand strike the perfect balance of textures. Chewy steamed rice is wrapped in banana leaves and then charred on the grill to yield a crispy-yet-chewy exterior that perfectly contrasts the creamy banana filling.
Photo by Joseph De Leo11/37Coconut Rice Pudding Pie
A far cry from your standard counter slice, this diner-inspired coconut pie stands out by combining rice pudding, rum whipped cream, caramel, and a sweet-and-salty crust made from sesame sticks.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton12/37Bibingkang Cassava
Grated cassava (also known as yuca) takes the place of flour in this classic Filipino cake, lending it a sweet, nutty flavor and sticky, chewy texture.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce13/37Coconut-Cardamom French Toast With Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote
This French toast recipe has a bright, fresh raspberry-rhubarb compote and rich and creamy coconut filling. It’s as if the Sunday brunch favorite just got back from vacation with a new look and zesty attitude.
Photo by Romulo Yanes14/37Fresh Coconut Layer Cake
If you are going to have a coconut cake, it might as well exude the essence of coconut in each one of its components. (The cake is, after all, a commitment to pure coconut flavor.) This recipe uses fresh coconuts, which can be a bit challenging to open but are worth the extra effort.
