Finding coconut products at the grocery store can be confusing. 

For starters, there’s coconut water, coconut milk, and coconut cream. And that’s not the end of the confusion. 

There are two entirely different types of coconut milk—one for drinking, the other for cooking. 

There are various types of coconut cream, too. Sweet coconut cream, like Coco López, is perfect for cocktails and some desserts, while unsweetened coconut cream is great in curries and soups. The latter is the skimmed fat from coconut milk. 

When we talk about coconut cream in this article, we’re talking about the sweetened, liquid variety, often referred to as cream of coconut. If you try to use the other coconut cream, or worse, coconut milk, your cocktail won’t come out as thick or sweet as you’d like. Conversely, if you put Coco López in curry, you’ll end up with more of a dessert than a dinner.  

If you’re ready to become a tropical cocktail buff, read on to add four cream of coconut drinks to your repertoire.

Coconut cream drinks

1. Painkiller

‍This classic tiki-style drink either gets its name because of the 2 ounces of dark rum, or it’s dreamy tropical flavor combination of coconut, orange, and pineapple. You can decide.

To make this feel-good coconut cream and rum cocktail, combine 2 ounces of dark rum, 1 ounce of fresh orange juice, three-quarter ounces of pineapple juice, three-quarter ounces of coconut cream (like Coco López), and a pinch of salt in a shaker with ice. After shaking well, pour the drink over ice cubes in a hurricane glass and sprinkle with a pinch of ground nutmeg. 

Bartender’s tip: You may be asking yourself what “tiki” cocktails are. This style of drink usually contains rum and fruity flavors that bring the beach to mind.

2. Piña colada with coconut cream

Now that you know what tiki bartending is, you’ll know that this tropical drink also falls into the category. It’s one of the most famous cocktails of its kind. A piña colada is fruity, full of rum, and synonymous with vacation. 

To prepare, combine 2 ounces of light rum, 2 ounces of fresh pineapple juice, 1 ½ ounces​ of cream of coconut, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frothy, and then strain this thick drink (just to remove the ice) into a highball glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a pineapple wedge. 

If you’re waiting for the part of this drink recipe where it turns into a frozen slushie, you won’t find it. The original version of this cocktail is shaken. However, if you’re craving the frozen version, you can make it by adding 2 ounces of light rum, 1 ounce of pineapple juice, 1 ounce ​​of cream of coconut, one-quarter ounce of freshly squeezed ​​lime juice, and 1 ½ cups of ice to a blender. Liquify and then pour into a tall, chilled cocktail glass. If you’re a pineapple fanatic, you can blend in some pineapple chunks, too. This classical cocktail is also delicious when non-alcoholic if you simply omit the rum. Top with the same garnishes recommended above.

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3. Coconut martini

Everyone loves a martini, but maybe not on the beach. Change out your tequila for vodka, and mix it with coconut cream and lime for a tropical twist on this classic cocktail. 

To make, shake up 2 ounces of vodka, one-half ounce of fresh lime juice, and 1 ounce cream of coconut, then strain into a martini glass. You can decorate the glass beforehand by drawing a line of coconut cream around the rim and dipping in toasted coconut shreds for added flair.

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4. Batida

This popular Brazilian drink isn’t made with cream of coconut, but coconut milk. Consider this your first test after learning the difference between these two ingredients. The right coconut product for this fruity cocktail isn’t thick and sweet, but liquid and creamy. Remember that this isn’t the same coconut milk you put in your coffee or cereal, but instead the kind meant for cooking. One of the other key ingredients is cachaça, which is a Brazilian distilled sugar cane spirit. 

To make, liquify 2 ounces of cachaça, 1 ounce of passion fruit syrup, one-half ounce of coconut milk, one-half ounce of lime juice, and one-half cup of crushed ice. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass and top with a dash of nutmeg. For a spot of green, garnish with a pineapple leaf.

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5. Bushwacker

This adult milkshake is the ultimate coconut cocktail with rum, coffee liqueur, chocolate, and regular dairy milk. Serve this drink in a tall ice cream dish with a straw for a fun dessert that will get you tipsy, too. 

To prepare, combine the following in a high-speed blender: 2 ounces of dark or white rum, 2 ounces of Kahlua, 2 ounces of creme de cacao, 2 ounces of cream of coconut, 2 ounces 2% milk, and 3 cups of ice. After you pour the drink into the serving glass, garnish it with a maraschino cherry, shaved chocolate, and ground nutmeg. You can even add some whipped cream for the full milkshake effect. Don’t forget the straw; it comes in handy if the drink starts to get watery and you want to mix it up again. 

Bartender’s tip: If you really dig the flavor of coconut, you can add coconut-flavored rums to your cocktails instead of traditional light or dark varieties. Not all coconut rums, (e.g. Malibu) have the high alcohol content of regular rum, so you may want to adjust proportions based on the cocktail recipe and desired strength of the drink.

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Whether you need coconut cream or coconut milk, Gopuff has your back. They can even bring some hydrating coconut water to help you fight off a hangover. Place your order in seconds right from your phone, and Gopuff will bring it to your door in minutes. Don’t worry; they know their way around a grocery store and can easily spot the difference between these coconut products.