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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 are churned in with toasted coconut flakes for an easy tropical 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: 420

Ingredients
  

Coconut milk
  • 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk Use chilled coconut milk for smoother custard.
Cream base
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 0.75 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1.5 cups fresh pineapple, finely diced Dice very small so pieces stay evenly distributed.
  • 0.5 tsp coconut extract
  • 0.25 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.08 tsp salt A pinch balances the sweetness.
Toasted coconut
  • 0.5 cup toasted shredded coconut Toast until lightly golden for added crunch.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 Dutch oven
  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 stand mixer

Method
 

Make the custard base
  1. In a saucepan, heat full-fat coconut milk and heavy cream over medium heat until steaming, then whisk in granulated sugar until fully dissolved. You should see no sugar grains remaining on the whisk.
  2. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, then slowly whisk the hot coconut mixture into the yolks in a thin stream to temper. Stop adding if the yolks look like they’re scrambling, then whisk slower.
  3. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook at 175F, stirring constantly, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. The custard should look glossy and leave a clear line when you swipe a finger through it.
  4. Strain the custard, then whisk in coconut extract, vanilla extract, and salt. The mixture should turn fragrant and smooth with no lumps.
Chill and churn
  1. Cool the custard completely, then refrigerate at least 4 hours until very cold. The surface should be fully chilled and the mixture will thicken slightly.
  2. Churn the chilled custard in an ice cream maker until it reaches soft-serve consistency, then add finely diced fresh pineapple and toasted shredded coconut during the last 5 minutes. You should see pineapple pieces suspended throughout as the churn finishes.
  3. Transfer to a container and freeze until scoopable, then serve. The ice cream should hold its shape and scoop cleanly.

Notes

Pro tip: to avoid scrambled yolks, temper slowly and keep stirring until the custard reaches 175F, then strain right away for a silky base. Store covered in the freezer up to 2 months; thaw in the fridge 5–10 minutes for easier scooping. For a dairy-light swap, use full-fat coconut milk plus additional coconut cream for the heavy cream, keeping the texture best when chilled thoroughly.