Foolproof Vegan Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream Recipe

By Max Falkowitz
Updated Apr. 15, 2020
vegan vanilla coconut ice cream
Photograph: Max Falkowitz

Smooth, scoopable, and fragrant vanilla ice cream, no dairy required.

Why this recipe works:

  • A mix of coconut milk and extra-rich coconut cream provide the smooth texture for a creamy vegan ice cream.
  • Corn syrup adds additional plush body to the base.
  • Simmering and puréeing the ice cream base emulsifies coconut fats that could otherwise separate and turn grainy while churning.

Notes: You can find coconut cream in Chinese and Southeast Asian groceries or online. Don't use cream of coconut or creamed coconut instead—they're different products and can't be substituted. If your diet permits white sugar refined with bone char, feel free to substitute an equal volume of it for the raw sugar in this recipe for a cleaner flavor.

Recipe Details

Foolproof Vegan Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream Recipe

Active 40 mins
Total 5 hrs
Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • One 13.5-ounce can (about 1 3/4 cups) coconut milk

  • One 14-ounce can (about 1 3/4 cups) coconut cream (see notes)

  • 1/4 cup "light" (clear) corn syrup

  • 3/4 cup raw (turbinado) sugar (see notes)

  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon Scotch, bourbon, or Irish whiskey

  • 3/4 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt, to taste

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan combine coconut milk, coconut cream, corn syrup, and sugar and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a simmer. Transfer mixture to blender, cover very tightly, and blend for 30 seconds. (Alternately use immersion blender directly in pot.) Pour into an airtight container, stir in vanilla extract and whiskey, then add salt to taste.

  2. Cover mixture and chill in refrigerator until it is very cold (at least 45°F, about 4 hours), then churn in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and chill in freezer until ice cream is firm enough to scoop, about 5 hours.

Special equipment

Blender (upright or immersion), ice cream maker

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
588 Calories
28g Fat
84g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 588
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 26g 129%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 207mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 84g 31%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 81g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 20mg 2%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 242mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)