How much desiccated coconut is in a spoon or cup?
King Arthur Baking lists 85 g for one cup of fine, unsweetened desiccated coconut. That works out to about 5 g per level tablespoon or 2 g per teaspoon. Large shreds weigh less by the cup, while a heaped spoon weighs more.
Teaspoon, tablespoon, and cup weights
King Arthur Baking’s ingredient chart gives 85 g for one cup of unsweetened desiccated coconut. A standard measuring cup contains 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons. Divide 85 g by those counts for about 5.3 g per tablespoon and 1.8 g per teaspoon, assuming the same loose fill.
| Level measure of fine, dry coconut | Estimated weight |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | about 2 g |
| 1 tablespoon | about 5 g |
| ½ measuring cup | about 43 g |
| 1 measuring cup | 85 g |
These spoon values are calculated from the cup figure, not separately weighed. The same chart lists 53 g per cup for unsweetened shredded coconut and 60 g for large flakes. Weigh a heaped spoon, tightly packed cup, or different cut when accuracy matters. Our coconut weights and measures card offers a quick reference.
Converting a pack and 100 grams
One Dr. Bakers pack contains 50 g. At 85 g per cup, that is slightly over half a measuring cup or about 9½ level tablespoons. One hundred grams would be roughly 1.2 cups or 19 tablespoons. Pack weight is exact for that product; the volume equivalents are estimates.
If a recipe asks for 30 g, weigh out 30 g when possible. Without scales, six level tablespoons of fine desiccated coconut is a working estimate. It does not transfer directly to flakes or firmly packed spoons.
Calories per spoon and per 100 grams
The Norwegian Food Composition Table gives 674 kcal per 100 g of unsweetened desiccated coconut. At the estimated 5.3 g per tablespoon, that is about 36 kcal; at 1.8 g per teaspoon, about 12 kcal.
Dr. Bakers lists 709 kcal per 100 g for its coconut and about 355 kcal for its 50 g pack. Use your own label and measured amount to log a particular product. Sweetened coconut and coconut flour have different nutrition values from unsweetened desiccated coconut.
Logging coconut in a recipe
Weigh the dry coconut before adding it to a batter or topping. Enter its grams and the kcal value from the pack, calculate the whole recipe, then divide by the finished servings. If the topping only goes on some items, allocate it to those items.
For example, 20 g of a product labelled 709 kcal per 100 g contributes about 142 kcal to the whole topping. Spread evenly over four muffins, that is about 35 kcal of coconut per muffin. This is a calculation example, not a prescribed serving. The rest of the recipe can be handled with our guide to counting homemade food.
Frequently asked questions
- How many grams of desiccated coconut are in a tablespoon?
- About 5 g of fine, unsweetened, dry coconut in a level tablespoon, calculated from 85 g per measuring cup. Large shreds and heaped spoons differ.
- How much desiccated coconut is in a teaspoon?
- About 2 g in a level teaspoon, or roughly 1.8 g when the 85 g cup measure is divided by 48 teaspoons.
- How much coconut is in a cup or packet?
- King Arthur Baking lists 85 g per cup for unsweetened desiccated coconut. A Dr. Bakers pack contains 50 g, slightly more than half that reference cup by volume.
- How many calories are in 100 g of desiccated coconut?
- The Norwegian food table gives 674 kcal per 100 g for unsweetened desiccated coconut. Dr. Bakers lists 709 kcal per 100 g for its product. Check your own packet for food logging.
Read next
- How to count calories in homemade food — Processed foods are counted by the label, and restaurant meals by a reference guide.
- How to determine portion size without a scale — Portion weight is the most inaccurate variable in any calculation, including analysis by photo.
- Raw or cooked weight: how to count grains, pasta, and meat — "100 g of buckwheat" can mean 346 kcal or 92, depending on the state of the grain.
This article is for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.
Figures from regulations, guidelines and studies are given as they stood when this article was prepared and may since have changed; check them against the primary sources. This article is not advertising, an offer, or individual advice, and neither the author nor the site owner is responsible for decisions taken on the basis of it.