Replenish Your Body with These Yummy Coconut Treats

It seems as if everything has coconut in it these days, and for good reason: the tropical fruit has some serious nutritional value. Coconuts are packed with fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6. The fruit’s milk can be enjoyed by those with lactose-intolerance, as well as by vegans, which might further explain its universal appeal. Oh, and it tastes delicious, too.
So, how can you get a bit more of it into your diet? Here are four treats that incorporate some sort of coconut product — oil, milk, flour or water — into a tasty recipe.

Bake with Coconut Flour

There are seriously endless recipes that substitute coconut flour for traditional flour. The fruit’s flour is low-carb and gluten-free, making it a favorite amongst paleo bakers. You can choose just how sinful your coconut-flour confection will be, too: you might want to go all in with a coconut flour lava cake, or stick to something less indulgent, like pancakes.

You’ll probably notice that coconut-flour recipes require more eggs, and that’s because the flour doesn’t thicken and bind together quite as nicely as traditional flour. It’s also super absorbent, which means recipes require less of it than the regular kind.

Let’s check out a recipe for coconut mocha coffee cake, for good measure. It goes just as well with your morning cup of joe as it does with an after-dinner decaf. Although there are only two eggs, wet ingredients like almond milk, coffee and melted coconut oil work to combat the flour’s absorbency. Of course, you won’t care about the science when you’re biting into equal parts cake that’s sweetened by a firm topping of cinnamon, coconut flakes and chocolate chips.

Another coconut flour recipe are these easy baked chocolate donuts!

Drink Coconut Water-Based Smoothies

The power of coconut water is known amongst athletes and exercisers everywhere: it contains the same body replenishing electrolytes as sports drinks, except they’re completely naturally made. Oh, and they taste like coconut.

You can work coconut water into just about any smoothie. For example, coconut water and watermelon make a refreshing combination, whether you’re mixing them for a smoothie or for a cocktail mixer — we won’t tell anyone if you go for the latter. One recipe simply has you combining coconut water with watermelon, frozen pineapple, frozen mango and some extra nice, should your smoothie need any more chill.

Cook Just About Anything with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is an alternative to other cooking oils, such as canola oil. It’s definitely an adjustment the first time you use it, since it’s not quite the same as traditional liquid oils: coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so you’ll have to spoon it out into a pan and melt it before you use it.

Other than that, many home chefs swear by the tasty alternative to other cooking-oil options. It has a tasty flavor, too, which will only add to the recipes you make. Take, for example, homemade popcorn. You could drizzle your kernels in traditional butter or mix things up with a bit of virgin coconut oil. The sweetness lent by the latter is a tasty foil to coarse kosher salt and nuts, which makes it an irresistible combo.

You can also swap out butter for coconut oil like with these coconut oil chocolate chip cookies!

Make a Mean Curry with Coconut Milk

There’s a secret ingredient in so many curries that make them a bit sweeter and creamier, and it’s coconut milk. Coconut milk comes from coconuts left to mature a bit longer than those from which coconut water is harvested — that’s why the liquid’s thicker, creamier and fattier.

For that reason, even a splash of coconut milk into your favorite curry will have a big effect. This is great news for vegans in search of a creamy curry without dairy products. This vegan curried chickpea and vegetable stew proves that you don’t need meat to make your coconut-infused dishes hearty. Instead, the veggies in your pantry plus filling chickpeas plus a slow-cooker equal a filling, warm winter meal. A final pour of coconut milk over the whole thing makes it even better.

Find more coconut milk options with these dairy-free baking list.

Or, Just Experiment

Now you know how good coconuts are for you and how easy they are to incorporate into your everyday cooking routine. Find ways to sneak them in on your own or seek out recipes that allow you to flex your newfound fruit-based knowledge. Either way, you’ll be happy you did: we can’t reiterate enough that these good-for-you ingredients are actually really delicious. Bon appetite!

About the Author: Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for “The Drifter Collective.” Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

The Drifter Collective: An eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Follow on Twitter , Pinterest , Instagram

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