Coconut Milk Ice Cream
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Coconut milk ice cream is the ultimate dairy-free ice cream, made with only three ingredients! It's rich and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness and coconut flavor. Enjoy it in a cone or scooped on top of your favorite dessert for a refreshing treat that tastes great all year round!
If you're a fan of coconut, you'll love our toasted coconut ice cream, which has chewy toasted coconut and a hint of vanilla!
This coconut milk ice cream recipe is easy, delicious, and completely dairy-free! The trick is using high-fat coconut milk to give it that rich, luscious ice cream texture. It's a versatile flavor that's mildly sweet with a hint of vanilla, and it pairs well with everything from pie to cake or sandwiched between two cookies!
Another must-try ice cream is our homemade strawberry ice cream. That one is made the traditional way with cream and eggs. If you eat those things, then you should totally try it!
Ingredients notes
You only need three simple ingredients to make this delicious homemade coconut milk ice cream:
- Coconut milk: not all coconut milks are created equal, so you'll want to read the labels. Look for cans of full-fat coconut milk that's at least 60% coconut extract, with no gums or additives.
- Coconut sugar: coconut sugar is made from the sap of coconut palm trees, and has a strong caramel taste. It's similar to brown sugar but has a lower glycemic index, which is great news for our blood sugar. You can find it here, or at most grocery stores.
- You'll also need pure vanilla extract and some toasted coconut ribbons (for serving, if desired).
How to make coconut milk ice cream
This homemade coconut milk ice cream is a delicious anytime treat, and it's so easy to make in just a few simple steps!
- Combine the three ingredients (coconut milk, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract) in a pot, and gently heat everything until the sugar dissolves.
- Give this mixture a whiz in your blender, then pop it in your fridge to cool. This will take a few hours so you can go about your day while it chills.
- When it's completely cold, process it in your ice cream maker (according to the manufacturer's instructions) or scroll down for notes on making no-churn ice cream.
- You can enjoy it right away like soft serve, or transfer the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container, and freeze until it's firm. Top with toasted coconut ribbons to serve, if desired!
How to make no-churn ice cream without an ice cream maker
No ice cream maker? No problem! Here's how to make easy no-churn vegan ice cream in just two easy steps!
- Pour the ice cream into a shallow pan and place it carefully into your freezer.
- Set a timer to check on it every 30 minutes, then scrape it with a fork to mix the ice cream. Repeat this 3-4 times until it resembles the texture of ice cream. That's it!
Tips for making the best coconut milk ice cream
This simple homemade coconut ice cream recipe is easy to make, but here are a few helpful tips that make it the best:
- Use a full-fat coconut milk that's at least 60% coconut extract, with no gums or additives. The higher it is in fat, the better the ice cream will be. Basically, avoid the light stuff!
- Don't swap the coconut sugar. We've tried different sweeteners, and coconut sugar has just the right taste and texture.
- If you enjoy a soft-serve consistency, enjoy this ice cream right out of the ice cream maker! Otherwise, freeze it for a few hours until it becomes firm enough that you can scoop it with an ice cream scoop.
Serving suggestions
Enjoy this creamy coconut milk ice cream in a bowl on its own, in a cone, or on top of your favorite treat! We love it with our dark chocolate rhubarb brownies, our healthy apple crisp, or as a base in your favorite milkshake.Ā Ice cream is always delicious on a sunny afternoon, and tastes even better when it's healthy!
Recipe FAQs
How long does it keep in the freezer?
When properly stored in an airtight container, this coconut milk ice cream will last up to a month in the freezer.
Can I use coconut cream instead of coconut milk?
Yes, you can! Coconut cream has a high fat percentage and makes great ice cream.
How do I make chocolate coconut milk ice cream?
This is really simple to do! Just add a Ā¼ cup of cocoa powder to the blender before mixing all the ingredients together for a rich, chocolatey ice cream flavor.
Is coconut milk ice cream healthy?
We can't exactly call it āhealthy' since there's a good amount of coconut sugar in it, but it's definitely healthier than regular ice cream from the grocery store. Both the coconut sugar and the coconut milk add nutrition.
Can I use other types of non-dairy milk?
No, other non-dairy milk, like almond milk or soy milk, doesn't contain enough fat to make ice cream.
Do I really have to heat the coconut milk and sugar?
Yes, it is an important step. Heating the coconut milk does two things: it helps to dissolve the sugar and it prevents the milk from becoming gritty once frozen.
Watch how to make it
More coconut milk ice cream recipes
Coconut Milk Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 15-ounce cans of additive-free coconut milk (see notes)
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- Toasted shredded coconut (to serve)
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, coconut sugar, and vanilla in a medium-sized pot and heat over medium-low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved and the coconut milk is steaming. (Do not bring it to a boil.)3 15-ounce cans of additive-free coconut milk, 1 cup coconut sugar, 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- Carefully pour the warm cream into your blender. Start your blender on low speed then slowly increase the speed to high. Hold your hand over the lid to make sure that the steam from the cream doesn't pop the lid off. Blend on high for one minute and then refrigerate until it's completely cold, at least 4 hours.
- Once it is completely cold, process it according to your ice cream maker's directions. (See the blog post for making this without an ice cream maker.)
- Either serve immediately as soft serve ice cream or scoop the ice cream into a freezer-proof containerĀ ā a loaf pan works well. Freeze until the ice cream is firm ā about 2 hours.
- Scoop the ice cream into bowls and serve with some toasted shredded coconut on top.Toasted shredded coconut
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
If you love coconut, check out all of our coconut recipes!
Hey , if I am using the no churn method do I freeze it 4 hours and start stirring it after that or start stirring 30 minutes after I put it in the freezer
Hi! When making no churn ice cream you want to start stirring it after 30 minutes and then continue to stir it every 30 minutes until it’s frozen.
Thanks for the recipe.
Would it be possible to use agave syrup instead of the coconut sugar?
Thanks.
Hi! While syrup will sweeten the ice cream well, it will create an icier texture.
YUM! We just got the kitchen aid ice cream maker and have been trying lots of recipes. Iām keen on the dairy free ones for my tummy, and I love coconut so this was a win for me! I had some toasted coconut and pineapple on hand to throw in and it was incredible. Super easy. Thank you!
Could I use 3 cans of coconut CREAM? Or will it solidify too much while chilling in the fridge?
Thanks!Ā
Cream should work well. The higher the fat content the better!
Hi! Ā This recipe sounds so delicious! Ā I do not have an ice cream maker but do have Vitamix. Ā Can I make this by freezing the mixture of all the ingredients and mixing the frozen mixture with Vitamix instead of no-churn method with fork? Ā Please let me know. Ā Thank you!
That would probably work. I’d recommend whisking or blending it halfway through freezing and then again afterward otherwise you’re going to end up with a solid block of cream that will be hard even on your Vitamix.
It looks yummy. Ā So…I mixed everything last night and put it in fridge . Ā This morning I have a hard top layer of cream, then milk, then water. Ā What should I do to mix it all together? Ā Thank you. š Ā Ā Ā
Coconut milk will do that when it’s really cold. Just let it warm a touch then whisk it back together. š
what are the directions with no icecream making machine?
TO MAKE NO-CHURN COCONUT MILK ICE CREAM:
Pour the ice cream into a shallow pan and put it into your freezer.
Every half an hour take the pan out of the freezer and use a fork to scrape and mix the ice cream. Do this at least 3-4 times.
That’s it!
I’m curious-i’ve got vacum packs of frozen white peaches. how do I incorporate that into my ice cream?
Fresh (or frozen) fruit will often make ice cream icy. For really creamy ice cream, I recommend roasting the peaches to remove some of their moisture then blending them into the coconut milk. It will be delicious!