My
Shop Sugar-Free
Wholesome Yum
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowThis post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure)
This coconut milk ice cream recipe comes together so fast, with just 4 ingredients and no ice cream machine! Like almond milk ice cream, this recipe creates a dessert with all the creaminess of regular ice cream, but no dairy milk whatsoever. Once you learn how to make coconut ice cream, you might never go back to getting store-bought versions — it’s that easy!
Why You’ll Love This Coconut Milk Ice Cream Recipe
- Sweet taste and rich coconut flavor
- Cool, creamy texture
- Just 4 ingredients
- Minutes to prep
- No refined sugar
- No churn and no ice cream maker needed
- Naturally paleo, low carb (yes, coconut milk is keto!), and vegan ice cream
- Easy to customize with your favorite flavors!
Can Coconut Milk Be Used To Make Ice Cream?
Yes, coconut milk makes the perfect dairy-free milk for ice cream! With more fat than conventional milk, it creates creamy desserts with naturally lower calories. Plus, it has lots of tropical flavor with a silky texture.
While you can make coconut ice cream with sugar, I’m going to let you in on the best way to keep coconut ice cream soft and scoopable without any sugar: The right sweetener! Powdered Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend creates a smooth texture in this ice cream and keeps it perfectly soft (never gritty or rock hard, like some sweeteners). It’s the perfect way to keep treats sweet and sugar-free.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for ice cream with coconut milk, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Full-Fat Coconut Milk – Use cans of coconut milk, not coconut milk beverage from a carton. Avoid using canned cream of coconut (which has added sugar and a thinner texture), or canned light coconut milk (which won’t get as creamy).
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Many recipes for coconut milk ice cream use honey, maple syrup, or agave, but these do not keep the ice cream soft (or sugar free). Besti is my go-to for keeping sugar free ice creams easy to scoop!
- Vanilla Extract – You could also use coconut extract for big coconut flavor, or fresh vanilla bean. (See more flavor ideas below.)
- Sea Salt – Makes the flavors pop!
How To Make Coconut Milk Ice Cream
This section shows how to make coconut ice cream, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Mix. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the container as needed.
TIP: A blender makes smoother dairy-free ice cream.
If you stir, the liquid may freeze with lumps.
- Transfer. Pour the ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe, airtight container or loaf pan. (This recipe makes a big batch of 12 servings, so you can cut it in half and use a smaller pan if you don’t want so many.
- Freeze. Place in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours (or overnight if possible).
- Scoop. Allow coconut ice cream to soften for 5 minutes at room temperature before serving.
Flavor Variations
Basic coconut milk ice cream needs just 4 ingredients, but it’s so easy to customize it for different flavors, too:
- Dark Chocolate – Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to blender with other ingredients.
- Strawberry – Replace 1/2 cup of coconut milk with 1 cup of strawberries, or any other your berry of your choice.
- Cookie Dough – Prepare cookie dough from my almond milk ice cream recipe. Fold half the pieces into the ice cream base after blending, then transfer to the container or loaf pan and sprinkle the other half on top.
- Mint Chocolate Chip – Add 3-4 teaspoons of peppermint extract to the blender with other ingredients. After mixing, stir in 1/2 cup cacao nibs or chocolate chips.
- Banana – Add bananas to this ice cream, or try my banana ice cream instead.
More Healthy Dairy-Free Dessert Recipes
If you like dairy-free ice cream, you’ll love these milk-free treats as well!
Tools To Make Coconut Ice Cream
- Blender – The best for getting super smooth results.
- Loaf Pan – The easiest pan for storing this frozen treat!
- Ice Cream Scoop – With the best grip.
Coconut Ice Cream Recipe
Coconut Milk Ice Cream (Easy, 4 Ingredients!
This easy dairy-free coconut milk ice cream recipe uses just 4 ingredients, no refined sugar, and no ice cream maker! Try 5 sweet flavors.
Go Ad-Free
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
-
Place a freezer-friendly container or a loaf pan (I used a 9” x 5” inch) in the freezer.
-
Combine all the ingredients in a high-powered blender, until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides to ensure the mixture is very well combined.
-
Pour the coconut cream mixture into the pre-frozen container and place it in the freezer. Allow the ice cream to freeze for at least 3-4 hours (preferably overnight) before serving.
-
Let the ice cream thaw for 5 minutes on the counter before scooping it into bowls with a slightly wet ice cream scoop.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our free low carb support group, too – I’d love to see it!
Related Easy Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/2 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
Want to save this recipe?
Create a free account to save your favorite recipes!
Sign Up To Save Recipes© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
46 Comments
Mary
0Thank you for low carb, sugar free ice cream.
Kelly Jacobs
0Mine turned out nothing like yours…but, I think that my coconut milk was separated. I am going to try it again.. Any advice? I seem to have terrible luck with low carb recipes.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Kelly, It sounds like the coconut milk is the issue, I would try again with fresh coconut milk.
Rachel Cera
0Can I make this in ice cream maker?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Rachel, I have never made this recipe in an ice cream maker.
Tiffany
0When I made this in my blender, it was good and creamy after about 20-30 seconds… I let it go for a few minues as it had been suggested and the liquid completely separated from the fat!! I had to dump out the liquid and was left with all of the fat…. Why did it separate like that??
I feel like i have this problem every time I try to make this with the full fat coconut milk 🙁
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tiffany, I suggest placing the mixture right into the freeze so there is no time for the fat to separate.
Robin Tolbert
0Hello, just wondering what your second sweetener would be? Every time I use bestie powdered with allulose my stomach has issues. I use monk fruit drops for everything else I sweeten. Would that be okay?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Robin, Liquid sweetener will not work in this recipe. You can use my Keto Sweetener Guide to find the right sweetener for you.
Marjé
0Really great recipe. Thank you. And the Besti is extremely, good tasting. I’ve tried different sugar alternatives over the years, but this is by far the best. Mine turned out icy, but it’s my fault. I accidentally used a mixer rather than a blender. Next time I hope to get it right. But I must say, it is really simple and wonderful tasting. Thank you again.
Terri
0Hi Lori, When adding 1/2 cup fruit is the fruit frozen or fresh?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Terri, I would add it fresh.
Lori
0How long should you blend? Mine came out icy, not creamy. Also, do you need more sweetener with adding cocoa powder? I love that it is a simple recipe for dairy free keto ice cream
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lori, You should blend until creamy. Did you use Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend?
Lori
0Yes, I have granulated and powdered in grinder
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lori, I can’t day for sure what went wrong, but it might have been the cocoa powder.
Lori
0I like the simple recipe. It can be hard to find dairy free, sugar free ice cream. I had 2 problems. I made 1/2 the recipe and froze in 2 portions in ziplock bags. The first I froze for 45 minutes and used an ice cream maker and it turned out good. The second froze and was not a good texture, icy, when I took it out. If I want to use 1 can of coconut milk, how can I store to keep creamy? Also, I added cocoa powder and it was not very sweet How much sweetener do I need?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lori, Did you use Besti Monkfruit Allulose Blend?
Lydia
0Hi! I tried to blend the coconut milk. It takes half an hour but still runny , and get hot the coconut milk is like cooking! And how long it will take to be smooth? Thanks
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lydia, You should only be blending for a few minutes. The mixture will be runny and then become thick after freezing.
Christiana
0Hi! This looks perfect to make for my visiting family. I’ve not tried Besti yet and wanted to order it. Should I be using the powdered? Or granulated? Thanks, in advance!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Christina, In this recipe, you would want to use powdered Besti.
Kimberlee Sears
0Can you also use powdered Swerve? Or is there a difference between that and Besti ?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Kimberlee, Besti monk fruit sweetener with allulose works beautifully anywhere you need a super smooth texture. Besti is a natural powdered sugar replacement that tastes like real powdered sugar. If you choose not to use Besti you may need to adjust the amount of sweetener needed in the recipe. Check out this Keto Sweetener Guide to help you determine how much you will need. Note that your results may be different than mine.
Jacki
0Does it matter if it’s a metal loaf pan vs. a glass loaf ?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Jacki, I suggest a metal loaf pan.
cathy
0I loved how this turned out, so creamy and smooth and overall perfect!!
Kara
0I love coconut, so I topped mine with toasted coconut. Delish!
Kristyn
0I LOVE this recipe!! My family loves making homemade ice cream & this did not disappoint! Easy, creamy, & so refreshing! Excited to try it with other add ins!
Bonnie Hamblin
0This may be a stupid question- when you refrigerate the can of coconut milk, do you use just the creamy part, or do you use the thin milk in the can also?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Bonnie, You would want to use both parts in the can.
Renée
0I didn’t see it mention you refrigerate the cans (beforehand, I presume). Is that what’s suggested?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Renee, No, there is no need to refrigerate the cans of coconut milk.
Glenda
0Delicious! Coconut milk ice cream has saved dessert for family gatherings. We have lots of family that eats dairy free and this delicious ice cream was a hit!
Shelby
0I love how CREAMY this comes out and that it can be whipped up in minutes. Literally perfect for summer days!
Emely
0Do you think that a high powered blender would make this recipe more creamy than an ice cream maker? Your opinion as per your experience. Thank you
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Emely, This recipe does not require an ice cream maker.
Marie Fincher
0Can this same recipe be used in an ice Cream maker?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Marie, I have not tried this recipe in an ice cream maker.
Stephanie
0WOW- this is an amazing treat. Turned out so much better than expected!
Katie
0I love the fresh coconut flavor that the coconut milk brings. So refreshing!
Kristen
0I am a vegan so this ice cream is perfect for me to make at home myself, it was so good.
Toni
0Everyone at my house really loved how creamy this is!! Will definitely make it again!
Sally
0Can 1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 other non-dairy milk be used? I understand it wouldn’t be as smooth and creamy, but I’m going for less fat and calories.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sally, I have never tried that in this recipe, but if you try, please let me know the results.
Addison
0This recipe was delicious. We loved it.