This coconut date ice cream only uses two ingredients – coconut and dates. It’s paleo and vegan friendly, and really easy to make. This was the first time making ice cream in an ice cream maker. (Instead of a Vitamix) I recently got one by Cusinart on sale a few days before Christmas. Luckily it’s warm in LA right now, and will only get warmer, so I decided I couldn’t wait any longer to test out my new gadget. It worked like a charm. Although I suggest freezing the ice cream after you make it. It comes out of the ice cream maker like soft serve, but I prefer mine colder and more solid, so I get pretty scoops and it doesn’t melt as easily.
Coconut Date Ice Cream
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: Lauren Bolanos
Serves: 1 quart
Ingredients
- 3 cups of coconut milk (full fat)
- 18 medjool dates (12oz)
- (optional) chopped pecans for topping
Instructions
- Blend coconut milk and dates in Vitamix.
- Chill mixture in fridge for at least two hours.
- Take out frozen freezer bowl. This should be stored in your freezer.
- Assemble ice cream maker according to directions and pour in coconut and date mix.
- Turn on for 20 minutes for soft serve.
- (optional) Transfer from freezer bowl to another freezer friendly ice cream container. Let ice cream further harden.
- (optional) Top ice cream with chopped pecans
Oh this ice cream looks so delicious!
Thank you! It was 🙂
Is this something I can make without the ice cream maker? I don’t own one but this sounds amazing! What exactly does putting it in the ice cream maker do?
Love your page! 🙂
-Sam
Thank you Sam! The ice cream maker helps freeze and churn the ice cream. You can try freezing the ingredients and blending them in a high speed blender, such as the Vitamix. I’ve done this with frozen fruit sorbets, or try making it into a popsicles. You can also add gelatin and make it into a mousse or panna cotta.
I have date syrup , how much would i use if I used it instead of the whole dates??
Unfortunately, I’ve never attempted that substitution. Let me know how it turns out. Keep in mind that the fiber in whole dates, will effect the texture of the ice cream. However, a traditional sorbet texture is made with four cups fruit purée to one cup sugar/syrup syrup. The more sweetener the creamier the sorbet. So err on the side of more date syrup.
Had a sweet tooth and decided to try this recipe out with the hubby. It was big hit! We added a little vanilla and it was SO delicious! Thanks for the recipe, will be using this one frequently. I love the simplicity of it!
I’m so glad you liked it. This recipe is one of favorites! 🙂
Add a pinch of salt to the mix before you put it in the ice cream maker and it will firm up more. When I forget to do this, it melts quickly. Also make sure it is churned enough. I dip a metal spoon in a few times and when the ice cream sticks to it instead of sliding off, it’s done!
Don’t have a Vitamix. Do you think a regular blender would work, or would the dates prove too much for the machine and not break down enough to make a smooth ice cream?
I’m never tried it with a regular blender, let me know if it works out.
I tried in my Ninja blender and there are lots of little date pieces. Do you think I should strain them out before putting in the ice cream maker or does yours have this date texture as well?
I didn’t have this issue with the Vitamix. You might want to try soaking the dates first, and see if that helps, or use a date syrup.
I loved the date texture.. adds to your ice cream
Hey guys.. amazing recipe.. I am from India and I could not find medjool dates.. so I replaced it with seedless Arabic dates. Didnt have the ice cream maker so used popsicle mounds..
the ice cream turned out amazing..
I want to try it with almond milk instead of coconut milk.. as I am not much of a coconut fan.. will it turn out to be equally delicious?
Took it down to 8 dates because I don’t like things too sweets may even use less next time. It’s in the fridge chillin’ now so we’ll see! I also added walnuts to the mixture and no alcohol vanilla (1 teaspoon) planning to pop in some cocoa nibs at the end 🙂 this is a great base, thinking strawberry next time..
I have a frozen yogurt machine, do you think I could use it instead of the ice cream maker?
I’ve never tried it with a frozen yogurt machine, but I’d love to hear how it turned out.
Do you use the coconut milk that comes in a can?
Yes, I prefer the brand Native Forest, but any kind will work.