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Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream

Pineapple coconut ice cream made with a custard base that reaches 175°F, then churned for a creamy, scoopable texture. Packed with visible pineapple chunks and toasted shredded coconut for a tropical frozen treat.
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: 410

Ingredients
  

Coconut milk base
  • 13.5 oz full-fat coconut milk Use canned for best coconut flavor.
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1.5 cups fresh pineapple Finely diced so chunks stay suspended in the churned ice cream.
  • 0.5 tsp coconut extract
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 salt A pinch tightens sweetness and boosts pineapple flavor.
  • 0.5 cup toasted shredded coconut Add during the last few minutes of churning.

Equipment

  • 1 ice cream maker
  • 1 saucepan

Method
 

Warm and thicken the custard
  1. Heat the full-fat coconut milk, heavy cream, and granulated sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, about 2–3 minutes, stirring until it looks smooth and glossy.
  2. Whisk the warm coconut mixture slowly into the egg yolks in a steady stream, so the yolks thicken without scrambling, about 1–2 minutes, with a light yellow custard beginning to form.
  3. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook while stirring constantly until it reaches 175°F, about 6–8 minutes, until the custard coats the back of a spoon and a finger trace leaves a clear line.
  4. Strain the custard into a clean container and stir in the coconut extract, vanilla extract, and salt until evenly combined, about 1 minute, with no streaks visible.
Chill, churn, and freeze
  1. Cool completely to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 4 hours until very cold, about 4–6 hours, until it’s set and spoonable like a thick cream.
  2. Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions until it thickens to soft-serve consistency, then add the finely diced fresh pineapple and toasted shredded coconut in the last 5 minutes, so pineapple chunks and coconut flakes distribute throughout.
  3. Transfer to a container and freeze until scoopable, about 2–4 hours, until the texture holds shape with minimal melting at the edges.

Notes

Pro tip: fully dissolve the sugar first, then cook only until 175°F—overheating can cause a grainy texture. Store covered in the freezer for up to 2 weeks; thaw in the fridge 10–15 minutes for easiest scooping. Freezing yes (best within 2 weeks). For a dairy-light swap, replace heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream, but the churn will be slightly softer and less rich.