Coconut is one of those ingredients that I cannot get enough of! I could sit down with a bowl of toasted coconut and a spoon, I love it so much! It is perfect to top pies and cakes, cupcakes and ice cream. Pretty much any dessert!
Toasting coconut really helps to bring out the nutty flavors of the coconut in the dish you are using it in, and it is actually a really simple process! From dishes likecoconut cupcakes, coconut banana cream pie, or even this coconut banana bread, toasted coconut is always the winner winner chicken dinner!
How to Toast Coconut
You have a few options when it comes to toasting coconut all creating the delicious nutty flavor we love! You can toast coconut on the stove, in the oven or even in the microwave.
Of all 3 methods, I find the stove top works the best for an easy even toast.
How to Toast Coconut on the Stove Top: Probably the easiest and my personal favorite toasting method is the stove top. Simply place your coconut flakes in a pan and stir over medium heat until they are browned nicely. Be sure not to overcook your coconut pieces, or you’ll lose the nutty flavor you are trying to pull from them.
How to Toast Coconut in the Oven: Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Spread your coconut evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes, stirring your coconut halfway through so it cooks evenly.
How to Toast Coconut in the Microwave: In a pinch, coconut can be toasted in the microwave. Spread your coconut on a plate and microwave it in 30 second intervals until it is nicely toasted. I find this method is the most difficult to achieve an even toast on my coconut, but it works quickly if it’s the only option you have!
Note that sweetened coconut will toast faster than regular, as the sugars will caramelize while you toast the coconut! Adjust your cooking times accordingly.
Coconut cooks quickly, and is easy to overcook. Whichever method you use, make sure you keep an eye on it while it cooks!
It is definitely worth it to take the extra time to toast your coconut before adding it to your dish. It makes a huge difference in flavor!
Once cooled you can store your toasted coconut for a couple of months in an air tight container in a cool dry space.
Coconut Recipes You’ll Love
- Ultimate Coconut Cream Pie – BEST Coconut Pie Ever!
- Coconut Cupcakes
- Coconut Chews – Grandma’s Recipe!
- Coconut Pecan Pie
- Chocolate Fudge Ripple Coconut Bars – Perfect for snacking.
- Coconut Sheet Cake – Crowd favorite!
How To Toast Coconut
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut flakes
Instructions
- Preheat a saucepan over medium low heat
- Add your shredded coconut to the pan
- Stir frequently until coconut reaches your desired degree of toastiness
- Allow your coconut to cool completely before using
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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Works great. I stumbled on to a very quick and easy way to toast coconut by mistake a few months ago. I generally toast mine in the oven. Of course, half the time I would forget and it over toasts or burns and I have to start over. Well one day, I layered 1 1/2 c on my cookie sheet and put it in the oven. I went to check on it and realized I had forgotten to turn on the oven. So I simply turned it to heat to350F and left the tray of coconut in while pre-heating. The beeper for reaching temperature went off and I checked without remembering that I had just turned the oven on. The coconut was toasted to perfection. Now I always put it in a cold oven, and turn it to preheat at 350F. when it reaches 350F and the beeper goes off I know my coconut is perfectly done. I haven’t had any burned coconut since. And I don’t have to stand at the stove and stir and watch it either.
Great tip Judy! It is always a sad day when you over toast coconut! Glad you found a method that works flawlessly for you!
This is just perfect! I love using toasted coconut for decorations in cakes and desserts. It’s always delicious!
Have always been trying to figure out how to toast coconut. Thank you for posting this, now I know.
You’re welcome Ci! Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing!! I will definitely try it!!