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Last year I set out on a mission to perfect dairy-free ice cream, and I quickly fell in love with this Salty Honey Coconut Milk Ice Cream. I’m not vegan, nor intolerant to dairy (I’ve healed from the issues I had last year), I just really love the taste and the ease of making coconut milk ice cream – no eggs to worry about curdling! The base recipe I created has a few secrets to make it creamy and rich, unlike many icy store-bought vegan pints. You’ll see those in the how-to VIDEO above, but basically it comes down to three things:
With a really good bar of dark chocolate hand, I decided to go the way of Vegan Chocolate Chip Coconut Milk Ice Cream this time. But it’s actually chocolate shards that I finely chopped, similar to stracciatella (italian for “rags or shards”), because chunky chocolate chips freeze hard as a rock in ice cream. No bueno.
Instead, the delicate flakes fuse with the ice cream and literally melt in your mouth.
So velvety and lush, holding a richness I can only compare to custard. And it scoops like a dream, not one bit icy even after being re-froze several times while taking photos.
Whether you’re an omnivore, vegan, or different every day , I hope your summer sees a cone stacked high with this chocolate chip delight.
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Gina
April 25, 2020
Hi! I love citrus-flavored ice cream. If I added extra liquid, say 1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice, should I adjust the amount of tapioca starch?
Amanda Paa
April 26, 2020
Hi Gina!
I’m not sure how this would turn out with lemon juice. I’ve never tested it that way. Sorry!
Danilo Massarone
July 6, 2019
My daughter is vegan, but not the extreme however, we try to keep it extreme every time we cook or her. So I found this recipe. Well, she loved it of course, BUT now, even our non-vegan friends are requesting it. Personally, as a non-vegan, I was TOTALLY IMPRESSED with the texture and flavor. This recipe is a keeper and thank you for sharing this wonderful treat!
Danny
amandapaa
July 6, 2019
Yay, I love hearing that! One of my favorite ice cream recipes, and so easy to make. Glad your family and friends are enjoying!
pamela thoring
July 1, 2019
Made this for my hubby’s birthday–turned out amazing!! I have tried other recipes for coconut based df ice cream recipes but this one worked flawlessly. I added mint essential oil and made a “magic shell” sauce to go over it and it was perfect. Thank you for the great recipe.
amandapaa
July 1, 2019
Oh wow, I can imagine that the magic shell was amazing with this dairy-free ice cream!
So glad you liked the recipe, and your hubby too!
bella
June 15, 2018
the texture of this vegan ice cream looks really dreamy! I will have to try vodka next time I make ice cream!
Connie
May 8, 2017
I made this tonight a day my husband couldn’t stop eating it…..and neither could I..is it still healthy if you eat the whole thing in one sitting?
amandapaa
May 9, 2017
so glad you and your husband liked the recipe Connie!
Marie
August 15, 2016
Love the video & as a novice I want to try but I do not own an ice cream machine. Could I just freeze it in a loaf pan???
amandapaa
August 15, 2016
Hi Marie!
Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend making it without an ice cream. It needs the air whipped into it in order to stay soft and scoopable. But if you do try it, let me know.
Niyati
July 28, 2019
Can we beat it with an egg beater till nice and fluffy and then store it to freeze? I also donot own a ice cream churner. Would this method work?
amandapaa
July 29, 2019
Yes, it will work! Will probably just freeze a bit harder because it won’t get as much air incorporated into the batter as you would with an ice cream maker.
Michelle
July 23, 2016
I used your previous recipe for the salty honey ice cream and your base recipe is the best. I’d like to use your base to make a mint choc chip ice cream using avocado. I’m wondering if I should eliminate the coconut cream since avocado has fat and also wondering at what point I should add the avocado. Not sure what it would do if I put it in the pan to boil. Thoughts?
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
July 22, 2016
Delicious recipe, Amanda! And Yaaaas! to adding invert sugar (maple syrup is favored) and alcohol – just a bit will do! Both work magic on reducing those pesky ice crystals. Your video is just fantastic, captured beautifully!
Emily
July 18, 2016
Oh I love this! You are too much fun in that video! I love coconut milk ice cream too and find adding that extra cream totally worth it. And I didn’t even know that coconut milk without the gums existed… such a great tip. Thanks :)
amandapaa
July 20, 2016
Hi Emily! Ugh, yes, I get so frustrated trying to find things that seem to be real, but then have unnecessary added ingredients – like coconut milk. I can find the one I listed at Whole Foods now, which is awesome!
Cassie
July 18, 2016
The ice cream looks just like what would come straight out of an Italian gelato creamery! I can’t believe it’s vegan too! Coconut lends the best texture, doesn’t it? I just want to dig in!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
July 15, 2016
Congrats on the video, gf!!!! I really want to try this out. Your method for the dairy free ice cream sounds totally legit.
amandapaa
July 16, 2016
do it! and then sandwich it between some of your rockin’ chocolate chip cookies. :)
rebecca | DisplacedHousewife
July 14, 2016
This sounds positively divine Amanda!! I love how you outline why certain ingredients are included and what they do — it’s the food nerd in me…love it!! xo
amandapaa
July 15, 2016
i’m an ice cream lover through and through – all year round! but especially summer. :) and yes, a few explanations into the why is always so interesting to me too!
Tessa | Salted Plains
July 14, 2016
This sounds divine and I am loving these tips! The coconut cream + milk make so much sense. Love this video too! So well done, my friend! xoxo
Alison @ Food by Mars
July 14, 2016
YES! This looks perfect. I had to take a little break from ice cream experiments… as my jeans stopped fitting :x LOL
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet
July 14, 2016
You are SO good!!! I am loving those dark chocolate shards in that coconut base. Brilliant!
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
July 14, 2016
I’m not 1000% in love with my method for ice cream, so I’m TOTALLY trying this ASAP. That chocolate and a little bit of booze is really calling my name :)