Coconut Milk Ice Cream (easy recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

Can I use coconut milk instead of heavy cream in ice cream? ›

Shake up coconut milk cans, then open and pour into large bowl. Whisk in vanilla and sugar. Whisk until smooth and then pour into ice cream maker for 20-25 minutes. If you don't have an ice cream maker, pour into a freezer safe tupperware.

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.

Yes, you can freeze coconut cream in the freezer for 2-3 months, which is good news for anyone who hates to throw partially-used cans of food (or milk) out! Coconut cream may lose some of its original texture after it's been frozen and thawed, but will likely retain its original flavor.

Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.

Homemade ice cream usually contains much less air than the stuff you buy in the store. Air keeps ice cream soft. So the less there is, the harder your ice cream. It can also be caused by low fat or sugar content.

Sometimes it coalesces in the machine and feels grainy." Little blobs of un-emulsified coconut fat will only grow under agitation from an ice cream maker, and once they do, you can't get rid of them.

Using regular sugar, honey, maple syrup, or any other sweetener doesn't work well for whipped coconut milk. It is too thin and loose. You need to use some icing sugar (powdered sugar) to get that little bit of thickening. Anything else will make it collapse, be grainy, or again be soupy.

Once defrosted, both brands of coconut milk broke (the milk proteins and fat separated from the liquid), much like what happens when you freeze buttermilk.

Coconut cream tends to yield creamier results due to the higher fat content. We DO NOT recommend using Trader Joe's coconut milk or cream – the formulation has changed in recent years and is now more prone to separation and oiliness.

Can dogs have coconut milk? ›

Pet owners can safely incorporate small amounts of organic, unsweetened coconut milk into a dog's diet. However, coconut products containing additives like sugar, preservatives, and additional fats—whether coconut milk, coconut oil, or coconut water—are not safe for dogs to consume.

What is condensed coconut milk? This product is thick and sweet, it's made from coconut milk, water, sugar and usually a thickener. Best for using in drinks such as pina coladas or as a dairy-free substitute for condensed milk. It's not suitable as a substitute for coconut milk or cream.

When a can of coconut milk is labeled as "evaporated," it means that a portion of the water content has been removed through a process of evaporation. This results in a thicker and more concentrated coconut milk compared to regular coconut milk.

Coconut Cream vs Coconut Milk

Compared to normal coconut milk, coconut cream has a much higher fat content, containing around 19-22% fat. Coconut cream still retains the delicious coconut flavor that coconut milk has, but is much thicker as it is essentially coconut milk with less water.

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

Coconut cream tends to yield creamier results due to the higher fat content. We DO NOT recommend using Trader Joe's coconut milk or cream – the formulation has changed in recent years and is now more prone to separation and oiliness.

It's true that coconut contains a healthier type of saturated fat, but it's still not doing you any major health favors. Both frozen yogurt and coconut milk ice cream are packed with added sugar, so portion control is key when you feel like treating yourself.