Shredded coconut is fresh dried that is shredded, or flaked. It is always used as an agent for adding texture in making pies, cakes, cookies, muffins, and other ecstatic treats.

It is added to breakfast cereals or oats to amp up some crunchiness. It is conveniently mixed into smoothies or purees to make it slightly thick and crispy. 

Some best shredded coconut substitutes are chopped macadamia nuts, grated Brazil nuts, coconut extract, fresh coconut, grated white chocolate, cooked oats, and almond flour. 

They can be replaced in the place of shredded coconut but would only go well with some recipes that demand the latter.

When you buy shredded coconut substitutes, you must be wary about the number of additives or preservatives added to the recipes. That may also affect the taste and nutritional content of the dish to a large extent. 

These substitutes may also compensate for the flavor and taste. However, you must be wary about what substitute you choose to include. 

Not all of them would be perfect. Let us jump right into the details of all the substitutes and how they contribute to be perfect replacements in the absence of shredded coconuts.

13 Best Shredded Coconut Substitutes

Below is the list of 8 shredded coconut substitutes that render themselves perfect alternatives for the latter. They will exactly fill in the place of the shredded coconuts taste-wise and texture-wise as well.

Let us also get acquainted with the ratio of their usage and what kind of recipes they would fit in.

1. Chopped Macadamia Nuts

Chopped macadamia nuts are the best ingredients used in baking cakes and pies. They are incredibly creamy with a distinct sweetness.

Moreover, the buttery crunch and the exquisite flavor fit well with baking or any other homemade recipe. When making muffins, pies, or cakes, a handful of chopped macadamia nuts will amp up the taste and texture.

In many recipes, chopped macadamia nuts can be replaced with shredded coconuts with perfect balance and flavor. However, chopped macadamia nuts are more creamy and get crushed with a smoother consistency than shredded coconuts.

They will be perfect as ingredients for thick cookies and brownies for their softer texture. They wont be suitable for making granola bars or cereal bars but can be utilized as garnishing agents in smoothies, soups, or stews.

Proportionally a cup of macadamia nuts is equivalent to a cup of shredded coconuts in quantity and quality.

2. Grated Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are a prevalent ingredient in many recipes. As we all know, they have an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. That is not the only benefit of having grated Brazil nuts. 

They offer a nutty and earthy flavor to desserts, salads, and savory dishes. The texture is so unique and crumbles well in your mouth.

They are, in fact, sweeter than shredded coconuts. So if you have to use grated Brazil nuts instead of shredded coconuts, the best way is to choose sweeter and more substantial items.

Recipes that demand a more crunchy and creamy flavor can go for grated Brazil nuts. 

As with the ratio, a tablespoon of grated Brazil nuts would be equivalent to a cup of shredded coconuts simply because of its booming sweetness. 

3. Coconut Extract

Coconut extract has a highly palatable vibrance and sweetness that may be missing in all other substitutes. This makes this a perfect ingredient for smoothies, purees, and sauces.

You increase the dish’s sweetness when you consider coconut extract a replacement for shredded coconut. This can be done when you don’t want to retain a coarse texture. 

Coconut extract is smooth and would work on all sauces or purees where you crush the ingredients to a fine paste.

When you need more flavor, coconut extract is the best ingredient to give the taste and replace the same aroma. When measuring and bringing the flavor, a small amount of coconut extract would replace a cup full of shredded coconuts. 

You should also be wary that coconut extract is more liquid and wet than shredded coconuts so it would be more apt for cooking gravies. It can also be used as a mix up agent in baking dishes like cakes or cookies.

4. Grated White Chocolate

We all know the exquisite and magical flavors of white chocolate elevates the taste of many dishes. It is mostly used in desserts and sometimes in savory dishes.

The creamy flavor is so outstanding that adding it to any dish will make the dish richer and tasty. 

It is mostly sprinkled on cakes, salads, or even in rolls or pies to amp up the taste and the look of the dish. Above that, adding the grated white chocolate to cocktails will serve the purpose as well.

However, when you replace the shredded coconuts with grated white chocolates, you will eat a sweeter dish than intended. So it will be perfect for dessert and savory dishes like flatbreads or tacos.

As far as the quantity goes, a little white chocolate would sweeten up the dish, which would be more punchy than shredded coconuts.

5. Cooked Oats

Cooked oats have a perfectly unique texture and flavor. It is flexible and quite versatile to be replaced in many recipes according to your convenience. It is cooked with water or milk to be the perfect breakfast oatmeal.

Moreover, it can be ground into flour and used as a topping in cereal bowls or yogurts. The earthiness and nuttiness come with the ingredients, which are helpful in many savory dishes.

If you want to preserve the creamy texture or the smoothness, then using cooked oats instead of shredded coconuts will serve the purpose. The texture is perfect for savory and sweet dishes like stews, salads, and gravies or stews.

6. Almond Flour

The almond flavor is one of the most regarded healthy substitutes that offer a nutty flavor. It is also a winner in the nutritional profile, with large proportions of abundant vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

When you want to make a baking product or cook a low-carb meal, then almond flour would fit in a healthier way better than shredded coconuts. The consistency is more closely related to wheat flour than shredded coconuts.

So in food products like cakes or bread, almond flour would be the better replacement in place of shredded coconuts to offer texture and structure.

7. Coconut Milk

It is similar to coconut extract and creamier if possible. It is a canned product that you buy in shops and store it for days together.

Coconut milk can also be homemade, but you have to make sure that it is not very diluted. A watery coconut milk will not be a right replacement for shredded coconuts.

Coconut milk is creamy and sweet, which makes it perfect for dishes like gravies and stews. It would be an ideal substitute for curries that use shredded coconuts. However, shredded coconuts have a nutty flavor that is absent in coconut milk.

There is also a crunchiness in shredded coconut, which is missing in coconut milk. So coconut milk cannot be used as topping agents or in granola bars or snack items.

It would not give the texture that shredded coconut offers. However, the flavor will be compensated with success.

As with ratio, a cup of shredded coconut could easily measure up to a glass of thick coconut milk in all possible recipes.

8. Powdered Milk

Powdered milk will be the most closely related alternative for shredded coconut. There is a nutty flavor and a subtle sweetness which both ingredients share equally.

Powdered milk is a suitable replacement if you use shredded coconut as a decorative agent. 

However, it will taste more like milk, so if you prefer to make a dish that requires a dominant coconut flavor, then powdered milk will not be the right choice. 

Powdered milk is suitable as a sprinkling agent or a topping agent. It has the same white color with the correct sweetness and a chewy texture which is very similar.

A tablespoon of powdered milk can be substituted for a tablespoon of shredded coconut, and it will show little difference except for the absence of the dominant coconut flavor.

9. Cashew Paste

Cashew paste is another suitable substitute for shredded coconut and is highly exclusive in many dishes. It gives a creamy flavor, making the dish richer than if it had used shredded coconuts.

Cashews are very buttery in texture; they melt in your mouth. So they can only be a partially-fledged substitute for shredded coconuts. They can be used as a mix-up ingredient in cakes, pies, sauces, or dessert items. 

The sweetness and the nutty flavor will be duly included, but the texture will differ significantly. So the cashew paste cannot be used as decoratives or topping agents like shredded coconuts. They will only work if you plan to make breakfast bars or course cookies. 

Cashew paste can be used in moderation as it will be sweeter than shredded coconuts. One tablespoon of cashew paste would be equivalent to a cup of shredded coconuts in all recipes that work well with the former.

10. Dried-Fruits Powder

This is another suitable non-coconut substitute that works like shredded coconuts. Dried grapes, apricots, and nuts like walnuts or raisins can be powdered and used instead of shredded coconuts.

They may not give a coconut flavor, but they will add texture and reciprocate a similar taste. It can be used as a mixing ingredient instead of shredded coconuts in curries, stews, cakes, and pies.

They may need to work better in coconut-flavored recipes as the flavor won’t support them. 

11. Desiccated Coconut

Desiccated coconut is another coconut-based substitute that works well with all recipes. The flavor will be the same, but the texture will differ. 

This will be perfect if you want to use it in gravies or add it to the flour. If you use it as a sprinkling or a garnishing agent, some other substitutes would be more suitable.

Desiccated coconut has a smoother texture and won’t give the desired crunch that comes with shredded coconut flake. It also has some residual liquid which will add moisture to the dish.

One cup of shredded coconut will equal ½ cup of desiccated coconut in all recipes.

12. Coconut Milk Powder 

This is a very close substitute that will also give the chewy texture. The powdery texture would work well as a decorative agent that can be dusted off on the surface of cakes, smoothing bowls, and desserts.

However, the powder cannot be added to a liquid item like smoothies or purees since it will become thick and absorb all the liquid. 

One cup of shredded coconut will measure up to 2 cups of powdered coconut milk. 

13. Fresh Coconut Meat

Fresh coconut meat is exclusively replaceable in place of shredded coconuts. You can use the meat directly from the coconut and freeze it for recipes.

The flavor profile would be similar to shredded coconuts, but it will have some extra juiciness and a slimy texture to offer to the recipes.

If you want to remove the moisture content in coconut meat, you can allow it to dry up and then use it in the recipes. 

One cup of fleshed coconut equals ⅔ cup of shredded coconut and is eligible for all recipes.

Short Recap Of Shredded Coconut Substitutes

After going through the list of shredded coconut substitutes, you would know exactly which substitute would be perfect and what would be right for the recipe you want to try. let us just break down the substitutes and classify them as 2 parts for your clarity.

Coconut-Based Substitutes:

1. Coconut Extract
2. Coconut Milk
3. Desiccated Coconut
4. Coconut Milk Powder
5. Fresh Coconut Meat

Non-Coconut Based Substitutes:

1. Chopped Macadamia Nuts
2. Grated Brazil Nuts
3. Grated White Chocolate
4. Cooked Oats
5. Almond Flour
6. Powdered Milk
7. Cashew Paste
8. Dried-Fruits Powder

How To Use Shredded Coconut Substitutes In A Recipe?

Conclusion

Shredded coconut is an essential and flexible ingredient that works magically in all recipes. Luckily, many substitutes will replace shredded coconuts flavor-wise and texture-wise as well.

You have to choose the appropriate ones that will go with the recipe and will reciprocate the flavor close enough. Some substitutes may need to be more fitting for a few recipes that demand the exact coconut flavor. 

However, the texture and creaminess can always be compensated for with the help of substitutes; many healthy alternatives benefit your health in many ways. 

This article elaborates on all the possible substitutes and how effectively you can use them. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)