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I find Pesach baking a bit of a challenge, since I am not a fan of Passover margarine. At all.
Then last year, I discovered a game-changer: There are certain types of coconut oil that are kosher for Passover without a special KLP hechsher.
I emailed the OU earlier the week and got the official word on coconut oil for Pesach 2013 from the Webbe Rebbe:
The Spectrum Organic Virgin Crude (Unrefined) Coconut Oil, is kosher for Passover when bearing the plain OU symbol.
Note: This information is valid for Passover 2013 only.
As some of you may already know, you can substitute coconut oil for margarine in recipes.
It worked so well at Pesach last year that I now do it in nearly all my recipes year-round. (Although I do still love cooking with Earth Balance margarine.)
Coconut oil will turn to liquid when it’s very warm in your kitchen, but otherwise it’s a solid. It easily goes back and forth, so a bit of heat will melt it — or a few minutes in the fridge will turn it right back into a solid.
I do a 1:1 conversion in all baked goods, including Pesach brownies and matzah crack.
Now, I am not a big fan of coconut, and while baking with coconut oil does give a slightly coconut-y flavor, it’s quite mild and didn’t bother me at all. And I definitely prefer it to KLP margarine!
I bought my Spectrum Coconut Oil at Whole Foods last year, but you can also get it at Amazon right now for $12.98, shipped.
Have you baked with coconut oil?
(Beyond what I’ve shared from the OU, if you have any questions about whether coconut oil is Kosher for Passover, please talk to your local rabbi.)
Enjoy!
Wow. That is genius. Of course, I just bought Passover margarine. And can’t return it. Next year I’ll absolutely try it
Can you use it as you would butter in cookies?
I definitely do!
that’s awesome Mara! Coconut oil is great. I wanted to know about using almond flour and coconut flour. Could you email them or let me know how to contact the Webbe Rebbe?
You can reach them here, Rivka: http://oukosher.org/passover/ask-a-kosher-question/
I absolutely love coconut oil! I use it year round for baking and often for sautéing. I didn’t know abt the KLP part – thanks so much! Not making Pesach this yr but will def keep it in mind for next!
I love using coconut oil year around and this is such a great idea to use during passover as well. Now I can make curry during passover and not have it taste bad.
Thanks for this info- we use coconut oil all year round and just figured it would be olive oil only this year. Do you know anything about coconut flour and almond meal?
If you have a decent blender, you may be able to make your own coconut flour.
Yuck margarine! I never use processed frankenfoods! I was told I can use all xtra virgin coconut oils! And there is almond flour KLP and my rav said I can use coconut flour fm organic sources from Philippines…. Check out http://www.digestivewellness.com
Do you have any more info on the coconut flour for Passover thing or where your rabbi found info for it? I could sure use kfp coconut flour…
Funny, I actually called the OU today to check on this item and was so happy! It is totally a Pesach game-changer and i used it last year as well( well, i use coconut oil all year also)
You can purchase Kosher l’Pesach almond 9as well as other nuts0 flours through digestivewellness.com not sure about coconut flour, though
sorry I am having issues with my keyboard. I meant almond flour (as well as other nut flours)
How does the Amazon price compare with the Whole Foods price?
The WF container was smaller, although I can’t remember the exact size right now. I think it was $8 or $9. I’d say this is probably comparable, but I haven’t checked it in over a year. (During the year, I get EV which isn’t KLP, per the OU.)
Can’t seem to access Amazon to buy…..maybe this caused a run, I’m hoping it comes back up later today. I just don’t have time to go to a bricks and morter store.
. Thank you so much for ALL your posts, I love how you gind so many thing’s for me. Thank you so much !!
Etti – I just checked and it seems to be available still – $11.99 + $.99 shipping.
HTH!
Just want to take note that this one from Amazon is NOT VIRGIN!!! It is unrefined, but not VIRGIN be sure to find out if it matters if it is VIRGIN or not!
Per Spectrum’s website, the virgin is all non-extra virgin (meaning, it’s not labeled as virgin, but is). This is the same product I bought last year — and double checked with the OU that it was the correct one. That said, obviously please confirm all of this with your local rabbi if you have any questions or concerns. I’m just passing on information, but not paskening.
Sarena — are you sure all extra-virgin coconut oils are OK for P? I know this is true of olive oils, but it would be great if coconut is too.
I’m a little freaked out because Amazon website says unrefined coconut oil is basically for cosmetic purposes but is also food safe. Strange.
I’m not sure who told her that, Diane – but per the OU, the extra virgin is NOT KLP. It’s only the virgin/crude unrefined. I know – it seemed weird to me, too, last year – so I double checked it with them.
Mara: This is AMAZING! I had never heard about this before and I really hated buying the parve marg for Passover each year. It just seems so unhealthy, it’s always expensive, and I thought there was no other option. I just bought a jar of coconut oil and experimented with it with some banana bread (hey, it’s not Pesach yet!). Turned out WONDERFUL! I can’t even taste the coconut flavor. I’m definitely buying more jars to use during Pesach! Thank you!!!!
So glad you liked it in your banana bread — enjoy!
Coconut oil did not work for matzo crack. The sugar and oil never ,made a smooth mix, stayed separated and I mixed and mixed until the sugar got bitter. A real waste of expensive coconut oil. Drats.
Oh no
I am trying to remember how I got it to work last year – this is the problem with Pesach… if I don’t write it down, I forget from year to year.
I went to my local kosher store in Skokie, IL and asked if they had coconut oil that was K for P. The owner said no, they just had the Spectrum on the non-Passover shelves. He showed me the bottle and it was the exact one you’ve all been talking about. I told him it was fine for Passover, he called the cRc and, as I left with two bottles ($12.19 each), he was busily rearranging his shelves.
Ha! What a great story!
just made a batch of cookie dough with the coconut oil. I usually use margarine. The dough is in the fridge now and seems significantly firmer than it would be if I used marg. But I don’t think it’ll be a problem when I roll and bake the cookies.
I’ll let you know if anything wonderful comes out of it!