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Home » Recipes » 5-Ingredient Coconut Milk Ice Cream

5-Ingredient Coconut Milk Ice Cream

by Sarah McMinn / Posted: June 18, 2018 / Updated: July 19, 2020 / Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Total Time: 15 mins

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A rich and creamy coconut milk ice cream made with just 5 ingredients for an easy and delicious homemade vegan and gluten-free ice cream treat. 
A rich and creamy coconut milk ice cream made with just 5 ingredients for an easy and delicious homemade vegan and gluten-free ice cream treat. 

A rich and creamy coconut milk ice cream made with just 5 ingredients for an easy and delicious homemade vegan and gluten-free ice cream treat.

Finished ice cream in a white bowl with coconut

Hey friends!

I have returned home from my travels! After two back-to-back trips, first to New York City and second to England, I have to say it is good to be home! Dare I say, there are few better feelings IN THE WORLD than that feeling of falling asleep in your own bed after several adventurous weeks of travel?

As I settle back into my Portland home, I eagerly look forward to summer. This past weekend the kids and I started creating our annual summer bucket list. These bucket lists always look pretty same from year to year: beach trips, camping trips, berry picking, bike riding.

This year, I've added a few new ones to my list. Most notably, or perhaps I should say relevant, making homemade ice cream together. And we're going to start with this creamy coconut milk ice cream.

Coconut Milk Ice Cream with toasted coconut
Table of Contents show
How to Make Coconut Ice Cream [Video]
Recommended Ingredients & Equipment
How to Make Coconut Ice Cream
Serving and Storing
Frequently Asked Questions
More Vegan Ice Cream Recipes
Coconut Milk Ice Cream

How to Make Coconut Ice Cream [Video]

Recommended Ingredients & Equipment

This recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients! Better yet, they are ingredients you likely have on hand.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Coconut Milk - I have experimented with a lot of different bases for vegan ice cream. When coconut enhances the flavor of the ice cream it is my one of my favorite option for a vegan ice cream base. Full fat coconut milk is rich, thick, and similar in consistency to the heavy creamer. Therefore, it has the most similar texture to that of cow milk ice cream. This recipe calls for full-fat canned coconut milk. Do not mistake this with coconut milk that comes in a carton.
  • Granulated Sugar - Check out my guide to vegan sugars and alternative sugar replacements. For a healthier sugar alternative, I recommend coconut sugar.
  • Cornstarch
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Salt

Recommended Equipment

Most importantly, you will need an ice cream maker. I love my ice cream maker. It is compact and makes the perfect creamy ice cream every time! You should also have a 9x5 loaf pan, ice cream scoop, and a set of reusable pint-sized ice cream freezer containers. (<<affiliate links)

Check out the full list of my recommended kitchen tools and gadgets.


How to Make Coconut Ice Cream

Step One - Make the Base

Set aside ½ cup of coconut milk. Heat the remaining coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a small saucepan, whisking until sugar has dissolved.

In a separate bowl, make a slurry with the cornstarch and the reserved coconut milk. Add it to the saucepan and cook, stirring frequently, until the ice cream base begins to thicken, fully coating the back of a wooden spoon.

Step Two - Chill the Custard

Transfer the custard to a shallow container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until the custard is chilled all the way through.

Homemade ice cream in an ice cream maker

Step Three - Churn the Ice Cream

Add the chilled ice cream base to the frozen ice cream bowl and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. Church until it becomes thick and resembles soft serve. You can serve now or transfer it to loaf pan and store in the freezer until ready to serve. Allow 5-10 minutes to thaw when removing from the freezer.

Coconut ice cream in a loaf pan

Serving and Storing

Store the ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. I store my ice cream in pint-sized ice cream tubs to keep them fresh and avoid freezer burn.

Serve your ice cream slightly thawed. Allow the ice cream to thaw 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve it in a bowl, in cones, or as part of an ice cream sundae.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an ice cream maker?

While I totally recommend getting an ice cream maker ASAP, you can make a creamy custard without the machine.

To do this, make your ice cream base as outlined above. Once it’s ready, transfer it to a baking sheet and place in the freezer. When the ice cream is frozen, break it into chunks and blend it in a food processor until it becomes smooth and creamy. This may take up to 10 minutes. Transfer to a loaf pan refreeze.

You won’t get quite the same creaminess, but it works in a pinch!

Why won't my ice cream thicken?

Every once and awhile I have a reader who cannot get their ice cream to thicken. There are a few reasons your ice cream never gets thick and creamy. Make sure to:

  • Boil your coconut ice cream base for at least 2 minutes. The custard should become thick, fully coating the back of a wooden spoon.
  • Freeze your ice cream maker base for at least 8 hours before using it. This is to freeze the center of the base which is essential in getting thick vegan ice cream.
  • Chill the ice cream base for at least 4 hours before churning. If the ice cream base is too warm, it will melt the center of the ice cream maker and never harden.
Finished ice cream in a white bowl with coconut

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.


More Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

  • Cookie Dough Ice Cream
  • Raw Chunky Monkey Ice Cream
  • Vegan Snickerdoodle Ice Cream
  • Turkish Coffee Ice Cream
  • Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Finished ice cream in a white bowl with coconut

Coconut Milk Ice Cream

A rich and creamy Coconut Milk Ice Cream made with just 5 ingredients for an easy homemade vegan and gluten-free ice cream treat. 
4.95 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Freeze Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 326kcal
Author: Sarah McMinn

Ingredients

  • 2 (15oz) cans full-fat coconut milk, divided
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • The night before place the bowl of your ice cream maker in the freezer to freeze all the way through. 
  • Measure out ½ cup of coconut milk and set aside. 
  • Add remaining coconut milk, sugar, and salt to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and whisk until sugar is dissolved. Add the vanilla extract. 
  • Stir in the cornstarch to the reserved ½ cup coconut milk until well combined.
  • Add cornstarch/coconut milk mixture to the saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. 
  • Boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cornstarch is completely cooked and ice cream base has thickened. Transfer to a shallow container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 
  • Add chilled ice cream base to frozen ice cream bowl and churn according to manufacturer's instructions. Churn until it becomes thick and resembles soft serve. 
  • You can serve now or transfer to a pint-size container and store in the freezer until ready to serve. Allow 5-10 minutes to thaw when removing from the freezer. 
  • Serve with toasted coconut, optional

Video

Notes

Serving and Storing -  Store the ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month. I store my ice cream in these pint-sized ice cream tubs to keep them fresh and avoid freezer burn. Serve your ice cream slightly thawed. Allow the ice cream to thaw 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve it in a bowl, in cones, or as part of an ice cream sundae.
Variations - If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still make delicious ice cream at home. To do this, make your ice cream base as outlined above. Once it’s ready, transfer it to a baking sheet and place in the freezer. When the ice cream is frozen, break it into chunks and blend it in a food processor until it becomes smooth and creamy. This may take up to 10 minutes. Transfer to a loaf pan refreeze.

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 280mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 4.2mg
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Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the 4-Week Vegan Meal Plan.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest and read more about me here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christie says

    June 10, 2021 at 2:47 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is perfect! Everyone in my family loved it--even the omnivores. It turned out so smooth and creamy and is perfect by itself or over vegan blackberry cobbler, which is how we used most of it. Even the leftover ice cream that we froze still tasted great and didn't lose too much of its creaminess. Thanks for such a great recipe!

    Reply
  2. faye says

    June 07, 2021 at 8:01 am

    this looks really good, and easy! i try to stay away from granulated white sugar when I can. have you tried any other options, like maple syrup? thanks!!

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      June 14, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Take a look at this guide to vegan sugar for some more ideas.

      Reply
  3. Tbass says

    February 23, 2021 at 9:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is an excellent recipe. I made it verbatim but substituted equal parts simple syrup for sugar to avoid heating the mixture. The texture was delightful and the recipe was easy. I added chocolate chips, banana chunks, and chopped walnuts. This will be my go-to ice cream recipe henceforth!

    Reply
  4. Jenn Cooley says

    December 15, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect ratio, not too sweet. We serve it in little espresso cups to make it last ?

    Reply
  5. Peggy says

    September 24, 2020 at 3:27 pm

    I want to try this recipe but have a quick question. I have an ice cream machine that has a compressor in it. Do I still have to freeze the bowl prior to making this ice cream? The brand is a Wynter ice cream maker. It churns and freezes.

    Reply
    • Melissa S Schemenauer says

      July 10, 2021 at 6:44 pm

      You do not have to freeze the bowl on your Wynter. I have one as well. All you have to do is turn it on and, as it sits in Standby Mode, it gets ready for you. I've been playing around with running it in Cool Mode (the one with the snowflake) for about 10-15 mins before adding my mix to see if that helps freeze things faster. All in all, 30 mins for homemade ice cream is pretty awesome!

      Reply
  6. Donnelle says

    September 23, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    Could you use coconut cream Instead of coconut milk or is that not a good choice? I accidentally purchased a case of canned coconut cream and didn’t realize there was a difference. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      September 24, 2020 at 8:09 am

      I think it would work! It should make your ice cream creamier like gelato.

      Reply
    • Mary says

      March 18, 2021 at 10:47 am

      Coconut cream and fresh fruit (strawberries, mango, & banana) make excellent soft serve in food processor.

      Reply
  7. Paula Hall says

    August 08, 2020 at 1:24 am

    5 stars
    Delicious and very easy! Thank you so much

    Reply
  8. Cheryl Eastburn says

    July 25, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    5 stars
    I made this and it came out so creamy and wonderful! I want to try the mint chocolate chip, but I do not have mint extract. I do have fresh mint, so I was curious on how much fresh mint would you use? Or do I have to find some extract?

    Reply
  9. Vicki says

    July 11, 2020 at 4:01 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy to make! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  10. Nan says

    July 02, 2020 at 4:40 pm

    I used your recipe and we have run into an issue that the edges freeze and the machine stops turning. Edges are frozen but the middle is still liquid. I have searched for a resolution and found no answers. I am reaching out if you could help us?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      July 05, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      Sounds like it might be an issue with the machine. It's also possible you filled the machine too full.

      Reply
    • Shenali says

      July 16, 2020 at 10:43 pm

      Can i use coconut cream instead of coconut milk?

      Reply
      • Sarah McMinn says

        July 17, 2020 at 7:22 am

        You could do half coconut cream/half milk but I imagine 100% coconut cream would be too thick and rich.

        Reply
    • Melissa S Schemenauer says

      July 10, 2021 at 6:47 pm

      I've found that adding 2 tsp of vodka helps keep it from freezing up like that.

      Reply
  11. Marnie says

    June 27, 2020 at 3:21 pm

    I have 2 cans of coconut milk, 1 is unsweetened and 1 is sweetened. If I use these, what amount of sugar should I adjust to?
    Thank you, Marnie

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      June 29, 2020 at 7:59 am

      I'm not sure how much sugar is in sweetened coconut milk- I've never heard of it. I would just start with half the sugar. You can taste and adjust before adding the cornstarch.

      Reply
  12. Ronda says

    June 23, 2020 at 7:11 am

    5 stars
    My son had food allergies. And he really misses his ice cream! I've made this several times and he loves it!! I substitute 1 can of coconut milk for coconut cream.

    Reply
  13. Brad Ehlers says

    June 07, 2020 at 6:41 am

    Can we double the recipe? I have a 2 qt maker. Any alterations?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      June 07, 2020 at 10:51 am

      Sure you can double. No alterations needed.

      Reply
  14. Laura says

    May 03, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    I would like to try this but am wondering if you think a liquid sweetener such as honey or agave would work in place of the sugar? Thank you so much, looks delicious!

    Reply
  15. Cynthia L says

    May 02, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Thank you for the recipe ! ? I’ve cooked the base and will cool it next. If I want to add flavorings, or chocolate chips, would I add them when I churn it ?
    Thanks again !

    Reply
  16. K says

    April 24, 2020 at 11:37 am

    Custard never thickened after 25 mins and the addition of Another slurry with arrowroot Powder.

    Reply
  17. SG says

    April 21, 2020 at 5:13 am

    Can you specify how big the "two cans" of coconut milk are?
    I've got a 3-quart can of coconut milk, and I'm pretty sure this isn't what you had in mind!

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      April 23, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      14oz cans. I've clarified in the recipe now.

      Reply
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Hi! I’m Sarah McMinn, author and recipe developer here at My Darling Vegan. I am a classically trained chef and professional photographer. With 14 years of vegan experience, my goal is to make vegan eating easy, fun, and accessible for all.

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