Can I substitute coconut milk with evaporated milk?

Evaporated milk will not work. You want the flavor of coconut in your recipe and the less coconut you have the less it will taste like it. Coconut is already a pretty mild flavor. That is probably why the recipe calls for 24 oz. I would just try another store. I’m also not sure what the evaporated milk will do to the consistancy but evaporated milk has a more sour taste.

do you have a specs in your town? strangely enough they have coconut milk. You might need to go to your closest Asian super market, or another grocery that has a large foreign food aisle.

For me cookery is all about experimentation – adding ingredients that you like together to turn them into something worthwhile to eat. So I would say use what you have available now – you can always try the recipe again later using all coconut milk. You will then be able to compare the taste of the two different recipes.

I’ve made a lot of Coconut cream pies and my recipe doesn’t call for coconut milk. I would use the evaporated milk along with the coconut milk that you have. It might not turn out exactly the same as it would have with all coconut milk, but shouldn’t be too far off. You will also be adding coconut, won’t you?

In looking at your recipe, the coconut milk is the only coconut in the pie, and you’re also adding a cup of heavy cream. I would have to say no, you need the coconut milk. You could substitue the evaporated milk for the cream, but not for the coconut milk.

Essentially, you are making pudding with the coconut milk. Perhaps you could subsitute coconut cream from the bar mixes section, and use 6 oz that cut with 6 oz. of milk. It would give you a stronger, sweeter coconut taste. That would work in a dessert.

If there is no other coconut in the pie, then I would agree with @BarnacleBill .

In cooking, I love to improvise. In baking, however, it is not usually a great idea. I would try to find the coconut milk. If there is a Thai food store in your area, you might find it there. Otherwise, you may well find it in a lliquor store as it is a component of pina coladas.

I was thinking of looking for coconut extract to add a little flavor, but janbb’s answer was excellent. I’d try the liquor store as well.

Thanks for the GREAT advice, guys!

I ended up looking around at another store and found just what I needed.