Did you know that for this coconut milk ice cream you just need coconut milk, coconut cream, vanilla, and sugar?
I have greatly reduced my dairy intake over the past few years and so have most of my clients. This is why I have worked on perfecting various recipes and I have finally arrived at several ones that I really like. And, now, I want to share them with you.
In this post, I give you the recipes for basic, chocolate, keto, and healthy coconut ice cream. Don't worry, I break down the ingredients and processes so that it is incredibly simple. And, you don't even need an ice cream maker to whip these up!
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If you have ever looked up any kind of ice cream recipe, you may have noticed that many of them rely on ice cream makers to make the dessert. Of course, there is a good chance that you may not have one.
Thus, it is only natural to wonder what an ice cream maker actually does and if you need one for your coconut ice cream recipes.
Well, let’s first tackle what an ice cream maker actually does. Long story short, this machine essentially mixes and freezes the ice cream at the same time. As a result, the ice cream is smoother and often creamier too.
Not to mention, the process can be sped up quite a bit as well. Concisely put, an ice cream maker helps you to make a better quality of ice cream a great deal more quickly.
So, does this mean that you have to invest in one? Well, not necessarily. It is still possible for you to make coconut ice cream without the help of a machine. It might require a few more steps and a little bit of manual labor, but it can be done.
Here are the instructions you should follow when making your treat without a machine:
Step 1: Once all the ingredients for the ice cream are combined, place them in the freezer.
Step 2: Leave the mix in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until the top layer has frozen over completely.
Step 3: Take the half-frozen mix out and whisk it until the frozen and liquid layers are mixed together.
Step 4: Place the mix back in the freezer and leave it for another 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the mix from the freezer and combine.
Step 6: Repeat the freezing and whisking until the ice cream has achieved a soft-serve texture.
Of course, the real reason you are here is for all the delicious coconut ice cream recipes. So, let’s dive in without further ado!
•1 can full-fat coconut milk
•1 can coconut cream
•¾ cup granulated sugar
•1½ tbsp. vanilla bean paste
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in the blender. Make sure that the mix achieves puree texture.
Step 2: Taste for sweetness and add sugar if needed.
Step 3: Place mix in ice cream maker. If you don’t have a machine place the mix directly in the fridge for the manual method.
Step 4: If using an ice cream maker, freeze for 4 to 6 hours.
•2 full-fat coconut milk
•¾ cup dark cocoa powder
•½ cup maple syrup
•1 tablespoon honey
•1 medium vanilla bean (seeds removed)
•1 tsp. vanilla extract
•1 pinch sea salt
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a blender until they have combined and formed a smooth mix.
Step 2: Place the mix in an ice cream maker or freeze immediately.
Step 3: Freeze the ice cream for 5 to 6 hours.
•1 can full-fat coconut milk
•3 frozen bananas
•1 pinch sea salt
•1 tbsp. vanilla extract
•⅓ cup raw cacao nibs
Step 1: Combine coconut milk, bananas, and salt in a blender until smooth.
Step 2: Add vanilla extract and then blend once more.
Step 3: Stir in cacao nibs.
Step 4: Freeze for 4 to 6 hours.
•2 cups full-fat coconut milk
•⅓ cup xylitol, erythritol, or sweetener of choice
•1/8 tsp. salt
•1½ tsp. vanilla bean paste
Step 1: Blend the ingredients together until they form a smooth mixture.
Step 2: Place the mix in an ice cream maker or freeze immediately.
Step 3: Freeze the ice cream for up to 6 hours.
Coconut ice cream can be made in different ways. Thus, sometimes it includes just coconut milk. Other times, you will find that the recipe also calls for coconut cream. So, what is coconut cream and coconut milk? And, what’s the difference between them?
Well, first things first – there are actually two types of coconut milk. The first is the boxed version that needs to be refrigerated. Then, there is the canned version. Most boxed forms of coconut milk have a higher water content while the canned versions have a higher fat content.
In ice cream recipes, it is the fat that lends to the creaminess of the end result. Thus, it is important to select the canned version. Now, let’s move onto the case of coconut milk vs. coconut cream.
Here’s the thing to understand:
Coconut cream is actually made from coconut milk. Many cooks will simply refrigerate cans of coconut milk until the creamy and liquid layer separate. In fact, this is a traditional coconut cream recipe.
The creamy layer – which contains more fat – is the coconut cream. There’s no need to go this extra mile if you can find canned coconut cream on the shelves.
Based on this information, you can conclude that recipes that contain coconut cream, as well as coconut milk, are creamier.
Related Reading
How to Make Coconut Milk: Your Guide to Tips, Recipes, and More!
This brings us to the question of why not all recipes call for coconut cream. Well, this would be because of the health issue. See, while coconut cream certainly adds a creamy factor, it is also quite high in calories and fat.
This is especially true when it is compared with coconut milk. A cup of coconut cream has a whopping 792 calories and 83.2 grams of fat!
Coconut milk, on the other hand, has a more manageable 445 calories and 48.2 grams of fat per cup.
Related Reading
Your Guide to Selecting the Best Coconut Milk
Uncovering the Best Canned Coconut Milk Brands
When you do end up whipping a batch of coconut ice cream, you can guarantee that it won’t last long. Still, you should know how long you can freeze this treat and still ensure that it is safe to eat.
Now, you should be aware that there aren’t any hard and fast rules here. On average, coconut milk can be frozen for around one month and still be used in recipes.
However, since you are introducing a variety of other ingredients into the mix and aren’t adding any preservatives, things are a little trickier.
On average, you should be able to store your coconut ice cream for around 10 days at a time and still guarantee that it is completely safe.
Now, most people are used to buying their ice cream directly from the store. So, if you are attempting this dairy free ice cream recipe, it is only natural to be nervous. Furthermore, you may find that things aren’t going according to plan. In this case, maybe this FAQ section can help you get to the root of the problem:
This is a common complaint with any kind of ice cream. Now, the sugar or honey in your recipe should help prevent this problem to a certain degree. Still, you should also try placing your ice cream in a shallow bowl and to place plastic wrap directly on top of the surface of the ice cream. If you don’t mind it, another popular tactic is to add a few tablespoons of vodka when you are mixing all the ingredients together. If you are making flavored ice cream, you can also add a flavored liqueur for added taste.
If you want coconut milk ice cream to mimic the dairy version, you are going to have to increase the level of fat in the recipe. This can be done by adding a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and blending all the ingredients together. Be warned that coconut oil does have a tendency to separate once it is cooled.
As mentioned, coconut cream is much thicker than coconut milk. Thus, you will need to add a little water or coconut milk to thin it out. Since the water content in the mix will be lower as well, you may have to watch how the mix freezes to prevent it from crystallizing.
This concludes our journey into the realm of coconut milk ice cream making. You are now informed enough to go ahead and try it out on your own. Remember, practice makes perfect so don’t worry if it isn’t perfect the first time around!
