Homemade coconut ice cream recipe – learn to make the creamiest dairy free coconut ice cream at home using an ice cream maker.
I am officially on cloud 9 with my latest recipe and once you get the chance to make this ice cream I promise you will be buzzing just like me.
Perhaps I’m the saddest person you know or maybe I’m such a foodie geek that it’s the little things that make a difference to my culinary life – I don’t know but whatever it is it keeps me content. Anyway so let me share the details on my homemade coconut ice cream recipe which came about by sheer accident.
I had no intentions of making ice cream, you see I have a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker 
that’s been gathering dust for the longest time, it only makes a rare appearance between the months of May to August – although I am trying to use it throughout the calendar year.
How the recipe came about
While I was doing some cleaning in the kitchen and rearranging the cupboards I decided to put my ice cream maker’s freezer bowl in the freezer on a whim. In a sense I did want to make something but wasn’t sure if it would turn out as expected hence the reason why I placed the bowl in the freezer and hoped for the best.
While the water inside the ice cream maker bowl was slowly setting I took out two cans of full fat coconut milk from the pantry and thought now would be a good time to explore coconut ice cream.
I absolutely love coconut ice cream with a capital L – I live for this stuff, no kidding. Unfortunately my favourite brand of coconut ice cream didn’t like my gut so in true lactose intolerant style my body would regret it.
For so many years I spend dodging lactose because my stomach simply cannot digest the sugar from the milk. I can consume milk but only in moderation not large quantities of it which is why my website tailors towards being gluten and dairy free.
I could factor in lactose free goods but much prefer plant based milk. Now let me give you the low down on this homemade coconut ice cream recipe, first of all I would summarise it as being foolproof ice cream without the dairy – your carnivore friends wouldn’t know the difference, I dare you to give them a sample but don’t tell them it’s vegan (shhh…our secret!).
I found that in order to yield the creamiest texture, it’s best to serve it right after churning in the ice cream maker. I tested this particular ice cream using two methods, so in other words I was your personal guinea pig “(nothing new there, ha!).
Churned vs non churned coconut ice cream
The first method was churning the ice cream and serving it immediately which resulted in super creamy albeit soft ice cream and the second method was churning then transferring the ice cream into an airtight container to freeze for several hours.
The latter resulted in a less creamy texture and quite firm that need defrosting to regain texture.
Don’t get me wrong both methods result in nice ice cream, however I want to be transparent with my readers and let them know freezing the batch of ice cream will loose its creamiest.
On another note, adding some real coconut pieces to the ice cream make things up a notch. I added shredded coconut to the milk prior to churning which tasted amazing.
You don’t have to do this yourself, but I like it, really enhances the flavour. I added a small teaspoon of tapioca to ensure the milk would thicken to the best of its ability.
More ice cream recipes to try
Fresh blueberry ice cream
Homemade coconut ice cream recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans of full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup of coconut sugar
- 1 cup of shredded coconut save half for the topping
- 1 tbsp of tapioca starch
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven on gas mark 4/177C
- Place half the cup of shredded coconut on a tray lined with parchment paper and toast for 8-10 minutes (should be golden brown)
- Put the freezer bowl in the freezer and freeze for several hours before use
- Add the coconut milk, coconut sugar, vanilla and tapioca flour in the blender and blitz into a smooth consistency.
- Pour the contents into a bowl and stir in the shredded coconut.
- Set up the ice cream maker according the manufacturers instructions - including adding the freezer bowl and churn accordingly.
- Serve immediately and top with toasted coconut or alternatively pour the ice cream into an air tight container (lined with parchment paper).
Hi Charla,
I’ve tried this recipe before with great results, but today when I tried to blend everything together the fat in the coconut milk separated out and settled at the top of the mixture.
There was no way to blend it in so I went ahead and poured it in the ice cream maker.
Now I have a slushy mix filled with frozen lumps of fat. Is there anyway I can salvage this? I thought I might bring it to room temp and skim off the fat, then freeze again.Thanks.Susan (Edmonton Canada)
Hi Susan. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you make any changes to the recipe like use coconut milk that isn’t 100% full fat (free from fillers) or use a different brand? If so, that might be the culprit. I can’t say I’ve experienced this myself so I’m having to guess that bringing it back to room temperate and skimming off the fat and freeze it down might smooth things out. Fingers crossed!!
This ice cream looks so creamy and smooth! I LOVE LOVE coconut and am pinning to make ASAP!!!
Aww I hope you enjoy it Laurel
This looks and sounds incredible. I love coconut! This sounds absolutely brimming with that sweet-nutty flavor.
Thank you. I hope you give it a try 😉