Coconut Milk Ice Cream (SUPER creamy thanks to a simple trick)
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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!
I’ve been making homemade ice cream for years, and this coconut milk version is one of my absolute favorites. It’s naturally creamy, full of rich coconut flavor, and comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients. No need for heavy cream or eggs—this recipe is dairy-free, light, and still unbelievably indulgent.
The key to this recipe is one extra (simple!) step that makes all the difference: gently heating the coconut milk before chilling it. This helps dissolve any solids and ensures the mixture is completely smooth, so your ice cream turns out luxuriously creamy instead of gritty. It’s a small detail, but it’s what makes this recipe feel truly professional. Whatever you do, don’t skip this step.
Enjoy a bowl of this ice cream on its own or with vegan salted caramel brownies or a slice of vegan strawberry cream pie.
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 and you can find it at most grocery stores.
- You’ll also need pure vanilla extract and some toasted coconut ribbons (for serving, if desired).
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 use granulated coconut sugar. I’ve tried different sweeteners, and coconut sugar has just the right taste and texture. If you need, brown sugar makes a good substitute.
- 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.
Watch how to make it
Coconut Milk Ice Cream (SUPER creamy thanks to a simple trick)
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 container – a loaf pan works well. Freeze until the ice cream is firm – about 2 hours.
- Scoop the ice cream into bowls and serve with some toasted shredded coconut on top.Toasted shredded coconut
Video
Notes
- 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!
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Variations to try
Chocolate coconut milk ice cream: Add ¼ cup of cocoa powder to the blender.
Strawberry: Boil chopped strawberries for 10 minutes and then stir them into the heated coconut milk. For a shortcut, add strawberry jam!
Peanut butter: Add a dollop to the blender.
Salted Caramel: Swirl some caramel into the ice cream just as it’s finishing churning. Or you can simply spoon some on top before eating.
I have an ice cream maker but no blender can I just whisk this?
I haven’t tried whisking it to know if that would work, but you can definitely give it a go. I’ve made coconut milk ice cream in the past without a blender and, while it’s not quite a creamy, it’s still very good.
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. I’m 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!
Cream should work well. The higher the fat content the better!
Hi! This recipe sounds so delicious! I do not have an ice cream maker but do have Vitamix. 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? Please let me know. 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. So…I mixed everything last night and put it in fridge . This morning I have a hard top layer of cream, then milk, then water. What should I do to mix it all together? Thank you. 🙂
Coconut milk will do that when it’s really cold. Just let it warm a touch then whisk it back together. 🙂