If I could use one season to describe myself, summer would definitely be it. It’s my favorite time of year – between spending time in nature, getting out in the sun, drinking summer mocktails, and eating a ton of delicious foods like this easy no-mix coconut ice cream, summer is just so sweetly wonderful. I also appreciate how many of us are taking time this season to get away from it all – we could all use a little more slowness in life, even if it just means taking a few minutes to rest and enjoy some delicious homemade dairy-free ice cream.
Coconut milk is one of my favorite ingredients. I always have it in my pantry and it’s especially great in dairy-free and vegan ice cream recipes. It is extremely thick and creamy, but it also offers us many health benefits. I cover coconut milk in more detail in 12 Delicious Ways to Use Coconut Milk, but here’s a quick recap.
Health benefits of coconut milk
- It’s a source of beneficial fats, which help reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, keep our skin glowing and our hair and nails healthy, nourish the brain and nervous system, and even help with weight loss
- Contains lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties
- It is easy to absorb and use, which makes it ideal for digestion, energy and weight loss
- High magnesium content for muscle relaxation
- Source of potassium for fluid balance and heart health
- Contains small amounts of antioxidants
Easy Coconut Ice Cream (No Stir!)
What I love most about this no-mix coconut ice cream is that you don’t need an ice cream maker. All you need are ice packs and either a blender or food processor. A high speed blender will yield a very smooth ice cream, but depending on the power of the motor in your food processor, you can get it to soft serve there as well.
Options to enhance your ice cream:
- Use homemade coconut kefir instead of coconut milk for the extra probiotic benefits.
- Play around with adding extra flavors like raw cacao, maca or loukuma.
- Replace the banana with any summer fruit of your choice.
You can also reserve some of the cubes to add to your summer smoothies or mocktails.
For the ice cream:
- 1 big banana
- 1/4 fl honey
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 can whole organic coconut milk
- 3 tbsp desiccated coconut
- 1–2 Organic Vodka Soup, optional (will lower freezing point and make ice cream smoother)
For the rattle:
- 1/2 fl raw cacao
- 1/4 fl coconut oil
- 1/4 fl cocoa butter
- 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
For the ice cream:
- Place the banana, lemon juice and honey in a blender and process until well pureed.
- Add coconut milk, desiccated coconut and optional vodka and stir.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the ice cream mixture in the refrigerator.
- Freeze the rest in freezers for 3 or more hours, until frozen.
- Place the cubes in the blender or food processor, add the reserved unfrozen mixture and process until smooth.
For the rattle:
- Fill a pot with 2 inches of water and place a stainless steel bowl on top to make a double boiler.
- On medium heat, add all the ingredients to the bowl.
- Stir constantly until the ingredients melt together.
- Drizzle over your favorite ice cream or dip the fruit in it and wrap the fruit in parchment paper then refrigerate.
- The best way to store extra sauce is in freezers. Once solidified, remove the cubes and store in an airtight container in the freezer. Re-melt into liquid as needed. Makes 1 fl.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 5 minutes
- Category: Dessert
11 Great Gluten- and Dairy-Free Ice Cream Toppings
Of course, this recipe is totally delicious on its own, but you can also take it to the next level with some delicious toppings.
Dairy-free coconut whipped cream
Why not top your coconut ice cream with more coconut goodness?
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Easy raspberry jam
Spoon sweet jams over your ice cream. This recipe goes well with most seasonal fruit (don’t use melons!).
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Cashew Cookies and Cream Frosting
Add a little more liquid to this cashew ice cream recipe to make it more drizzle. A tablespoon or two should do.
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Almond honey Fragile
This brittle is so delicious it might not go in your ice cream! Set some aside to take your ice cream to the next level.
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Chocolate Chia Pudding
Add extra protein, gut-healing fat and fiber to your ice cream treats by spooning some of this chocolate pudding on top.
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Hemp chocolate spread
Melt this for the most delicious and healthy chocolate spread ever.
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Rhubarb Butter + Strawberry Rhubarb Butter
One of my favorite ways to make the most of seasonal fruit!
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Frosting with dairy-free lemon cream
This is incredibly drizzled and bright and fresh for summer ice cream.
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Dark Chocolate Butter Cups
Chop them up and sprinkle them over your ice cream!
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Gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
Grate one of these for an extra treat – my crunchy ginger cookies work well for this too.
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More Top Picks!
If you want to keep things simple, try one of these top ideas for your dairy-free ice cream:
- A handful of fresh seasonal fruit (berries are always a good choice)
- A drizzle of maple syrup or honey
- A handful of chopped nuts or seeds
- Cocoa nibs
- Goji berries, dates or dried cranberries
- Go a little outside the box with a drizzle of fruity olive oil or a drizzle of balsamic if you’ve used berries
And don’t forget to eat your ice cream with an attitude of gratitude and celebration. Negative emotions associated with food are very strong. When we experience anything delicious – something to be tasted, nourished, savored, shared and celebrated – we need to give ourselves the sweet luxury of resting and digesting it all.
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