This is a creamy coconut lime drink that is the perfect tropical mocktail, perfect for summer get togethers. Made with sweetened condensed coconut milk!
This drink is similar to Brazilian limeade, except made with condensed coconut milk and little bit of coconut extract. It's summer in a glass! It's also easy to make it with coconut water to be extra hydrating and so fun to customize.
This drink is an idea I had from a famous song, but I feel like it has Caribbean vibes and origins. I wanted to make it with coconut milk but the sweet condensed kind. This version is a little lower sugar plus is non alcoholic, making it a perfect mocktail for warm weather.
All you need is a little chips, super easy 4 ingredient guac, and this lil drink. This post covers variations, FAQ's, and tips!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Taste: Think key lime pie but with a coconut twist! Creamy, dreamy, and refreshing.
- Ease: Squeezing the limes, and mixing together the other ingredients. Super easy! This version is made very simple by using a reduced amount of sugar and sweetened condensed milk to make it creamy.
- Time: Takes about 10 minutes to put together.
🛒 Key Ingredients
- Limes - you can use key limes or regular limes, you just need to make sure you have at least 1 cup of lime juice.
- Coconut Extract - I've used both coconut extract and coconut essence, which is basically artificial flavoring. The extract is stronger and more coconut flavored, and tastes better in my opinion.
- Sugar - I typically use white sugar but coconut sugar would also work, it would just color the mixture more brown.
- Coconut Condensed Milk - the star of the show! It does better if it's not cold, you can set the can in a bowl of warm water to help the coconut fat soften up a bit.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✏️ Substitutions & Variations
- You can definitely use coconut water in this, I would substitute maybe half of the regular water.
- Coconut condensed milk should NOT be substituted with regular coconut milk, it won't taste the same at all.
- I don't drink, but imagine a coconut rum or gin would do well in this recipe. Up to you to decide how much!
- Add sparkling water and/or coconut syrup for a coconut lime cooler (agua fresca style) or a fizzy soda version. There is definitely a dirty soda trend overlap here, and I'm here for it.
🥥 Coconut milk VS coconut water VS cream of coconut VS sweetened condensed coconut milk
- Coconut water: clear, naturally sweet watery liquid from young green coconuts, tastes slightly nutty. Not generally sweetened.
- Coconut milk: blend of coconut flesh and water, comes canned for cooking or in a carton for drinking. Not generally sweetened.
- Cream of coconut: coconut milk blended with sugar and stabilizers (like Coco Lopez). Sweet, thick, rich coconut taste.
- Sweet condensed coconut milk: coconut milk simmered with sugar until thick and syrupy, the dairy free version of sweetened condensed milk. Sweeter with a caramelized coconut flavor.
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Step 1. Put the unopened can of condensed coconut milk in a bowl of hot water to liquefy any coconut fat solids and let it rest for 5 minutes. Juice the limes for one cup of lime juice.
- Step 2. Pour the lime juice into a pitcher with the sugar, and mix until dissolved.
- Step 3. Add in the coconut extract and sweet condensed coconut milk, Stir until well combined.
- Step 4. Serve over ice with lime wedges. Best served fresh so the coconut milk solids don't harden too much. Just give it a good whisking if it separates.
Serving Suggestion: We love to dip the rims of glasses in honey or agave nectar and coconut flakes to serve it, or if you happen to have some coconuts, it's fun to put it in those with little umbrellas.
📌 Troubleshooting
- If the condensed coconut milk is too chunky in the can to stir in - Put the can in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes and stir it before adding to the pitcher.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
No! It's important not to use dairy, the acid in the limes will acidulate the milk and make it curdle. Not very appetizing.
- limes provide vitamin C and antioxidants.
- coconut water, if used, is a natural electrolyte with potassium and other vitamins.
It won't have less calories, but it WILL have more electrolytes!
☀️ Refreshing Summer Recipes
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Lime in the Coconut Drink
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can (11.6 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk
- 1 cup lime juice (8-10 limes)
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon coconut extract
- 8 cups water (2 quarts) (can substitute 2 cups of coconut water in)
Instructions
- Put unopened can of 1 can (11.6 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk into a bowl of hot water. (See note #1). Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Juice the limes for 1 cup lime juice (8-10 limes) .
- Pour the lime juice into a pitcher with the ½ cup white granulated sugar, and mix until dissolved.
- Add in the 1 teaspoon coconut extract and 1 can (11.6 oz) sweetened condensed coconut milk, Stir until well combined. Add 8 cups water (2 quarts) last.
- Serve over ice with lime wedges. Best served fresh! Over time the coconut milk can harden up a little and will need stirring if separation occurs. Optional: Serve in glasses with rim dipped in honey or agave and coconut flakes or coconut sugar and mint sprigs.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sara!
Registered Nurse by day, food blogger by weekend. Perfect dip tester & snack quester. I love short walks on the beach and long naps. Sharing my love for food, one bite at a time.
Sara says
Such a fun mocktail! I love the condensed coconut milk in it. I give it a good stir before serving and it's good to go.