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Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream

Pineapple coconut ice cream made with a custard base for a creamy, scoopable texture and visible pineapple chunks. Sweet-tart fresh pineapple and rich coconut meet toasted shredded coconut for a tropical frozen dessert.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling + freezing 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430

Ingredients
  

Coconut-cream base
  • 13.5 oz full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 0.5 tsp coconut extract
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.0625 tsp salt pinch
Pineapple and toasted coconut
  • 1.5 cup fresh pineapple, finely diced
  • 0.5 cup toasted shredded coconut

Equipment

  • 1 ice cream maker
  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Make the custard base
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the full-fat coconut milk, heavy cream, and granulated sugar, whisking just until the sugar dissolves. Keep it steaming but not boiling (about 5 minutes), and use a visual cue of smooth liquid with no visible sugar grains.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then slowly whisk the hot coconut mixture into the yolks to temper them. Pour in a thin stream while whisking continuously so the yolks stay glossy and don’t scramble (about 1 to 2 minutes).
  3. Return everything to the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 175F. Keep the temperature steady (about 6 to 8 minutes) and stop when it coats the back of a spoon and looks slightly thickened.
  4. Strain the custard into a clean bowl, then whisk in the coconut extract, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until fully combined (about 1 minute), with a uniform creamy texture.
  5. Cool the custard completely at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Chill until very cold (no warmth when you touch the container) before churning.
Churn and freeze
  1. Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency. Add the finely diced fresh pineapple and toasted shredded coconut during the last 5 minutes so they are evenly distributed.
  2. Transfer the ice cream to a container and freeze until scoopable. Freeze until firm but workable (at least 2 to 4 hours), using a visual cue of a scoop that holds shape.

Notes

Pro tip: Strain the custard for an extra-smooth result, especially if any yolk bits form during cooking. Refrigerate any leftover ice cream in a covered container for up to 1 week; freeze for longer (up to 2 months) for best texture. No custard swap is used here, but for a dairy-light option you could substitute part-skim dairy with coconut-based alternatives—texture may be softer.