Coconut for Pina Colada Ice Cream

Asked by Elizabeth 123. Answered on 7th July 2015

Full question

Hello, I have tried everywhere, and online to find the long thread sweetened coconut as used in Nigella's Pina Colada ice-cream recipe. The Bakers brand flakes are very small and not as seen in the recipe photo. I know that this product can be bought in bulk and is used to top cheesecakes I have seen in London cafes. Does anyone know where I could buy, say 500g of the product? I would not mind using a US supplier who would ship to the UK. Very many thanks, Elizabeth.

Our answer

The sweetened shredded coconut most easily available is Baker's Angel Flake but as the photograph of the No-Churn Pina Colada Ice Cream (from Kitchen and on the Nigella website) was taken some time ago it is possible that the dimensions of the shredded coconut may have changed over the years. If you look on-line then there are a couple of other US brands of shredded coconut available via Amazon and there is a brand called Yankee Traders that describes its product as "fancy long shredded coconut". However as it is shipped from the US it is quite expensive.

In the UK flaked coconut has become much more readily available in supermarkets and you may want to consider using this as an alternative. It is not sweetened but also it is not dry and powdery like desiccated coconut. You can toast the flakes for a few minutes in a hot, dry frying pan or in an oven preheated to 150c/300F for 5-10 minutes. With both methods watch the coconut carefully as it can turn from golden brown to burned very quickly.