My kids have been begging for ice cream lately. Since many of our family’s summer activities involve getting outside in the heat and humidity, I decided a strawberry ice cream break was in order. This real food ice cream skips the red food coloring version from the grocery store. All you taste are the fresh berries and creamy texture.
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe Ingredients
This coconut milk ice cream is similar to my original butter pecan ice cream (a family favorite). However, this homemade strawberry ice cream makes use of the gorgeous seasonal strawberries we have. Strawberries are naturally high in vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber. Plus the recipe is dairy free.
If your family eats dairy, you could substitute raw, whole milk, and heavy cream or whipping cream for the coconut milk. Try 2 cups cream and 1 and 1/3 cups whole milk instead of the coconut milk. To keep the milk raw you could skip the cooking part. Be sure to use pasture-raised eggs from a healthy source you trust though if you don’t want to cook the milk. The local farmer’s market is one potential good option.
Some people prefer an eggless version, but the eggs really add to the creaminess since we’re creating a custard base.
Ice Cream Creations
You could really make this with any berry or fruit you like. Peach ice cream, mango, or raspberry are just a few ice cream flavor options. The strawberry flavor is my personal favorite.
Since this recipe uses fresh strawberries (and not artificial dyes), it won’t be bright pink. And if all you have are frozen strawberries, then you can thaw, drain, and use those if desired.
Try adding some diced chunks of strawberries to your ice cream machine near the end of the churn time.
Choose Your Method
There are several different ways to make this ice cream. It’s essential to mix it in some way or you’ll end up with ice crystal chunks.
- If you have an ice cream maker, chill the mixture and pour it into your ice cream bowl. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on your machine. We have this Cuisinart ice cream maker.
- If you don’t have an ice cream maker (or even if you do), try this simple tin can method for making ice cream by hand. Just don’t use their recipe 😉
- For a no-churn option, you can also try a food processor. Once you’ve made the custard base (eggs, coconut milk, salt, and sweetener), freeze the mixture in a reusable silicone bag. Be sure to remove all of the air and freeze completely. Next, break the custard mixture into pieces and add to your food processor bowl along with the strawberry puree and vanilla. Blend until smooth and store in a freezer-safe container.

Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe With Coconut Milk
Servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cans coconut milk
- ½ cup raw honey (or coconut sugar)
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 cups fresh strawberries (tops removed)
- 1 TBSP vanilla extract (or make your own)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the coconut milk and honey or coconut sugar over medium heat until the mixture is hot and the sugar has dissolved. Do not let this boil!
- Remove the pan from heat and temper in the egg yolks to make the custard base. To do this, beat the egg yolks in a medium bowl with a whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add 1 cup of the hot coconut milk mixture a little bit at a time until completely incorporated and smooth.
- Return the sweetened milk and egg mixture to the pan and gently heat over low heat until slightly thickened, stirring fequently. Again, do not let this boil. You'll scramble the eggs!
- Meanwhile, puree the fresh strawberries in the blender until smooth.
- Remove the coconut milk mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
- Add the mixture to the blender with the strawberry puree. Blend just until mixed and completely smooth.
- Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or until completely chilled.
- Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn ice cream according to the manufacturer’s instructions. When you’re done it should be the consistency of soft serve.
- Freeze for 1 hour before serving to firm up. You can also use a food processor or the tin can method (see notes).
Nutrition
Notes
- Tin Can Method
- Food Processor Method: Once you’ve made the custard base (eggs, coconut milk, salt, and sweetener), freeze the mixture in a reusable silicone bag. Be sure to remove all of the air and freeze completely. Next, break the custard mixture into pieces and add to your food processor bowl along with the strawberry puree and vanilla. Blend until smooth and store in a freezer-safe container.
Want More Ice Cream?
- Homemade Mint Chocolate Ice Cream – This ice cream gets its green color (and healthy fats) naturally from avocado.
- Easy Homemade Strawberry Gelato – Just like the gelato I had in Italy!
- Butter Pecan Ice Cream – Easy and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Chocolate Chip Coffee Popsicles – My personal favorite. Sometimes I share…
Ever made your own homemade ice cream? What’s your favorite flavor? Share below!
Could this be made with Coconut Cream instead of Coconut Milk?
This was delicious! Thanks so much for the recipe. I stirred in some chopped strawberries after it came out of the ice cream maker.
Can you make this with your homemade coconut milk recipe?
Why does this recipe come up when I search for VEGAN ice cream recipes? It has egg yolks in it….definitely not vegan!
What is the substitute for eggs?
Hi Wellness Momma,
I love this recipe!
I was just wondering if I could use stevia instead of honey or coconut sugar.
Thanks again!
You could.
would this work with coconut cream? or should it be just coconut milk used?
After cooking, can I just throw it in the Vita Mix? Do I add ice?
Can I add whole eggs instead of just the yolks when using the blended method?
I made the coconut chocolate for Christmas . because I make peanut butter balls for family they all count on them my 1 year old granddaughter and 7 year old grandson loves doing the dipping part,they aren’t the prettiest looking ones but love helping.So I made the coconut for me tastes just like an almond joy, have made them 3 times since,my hubby had tried to surprise me and make them but put everything in blender including the chocolate,they taste better and we then tried to use half of coconut oil and added almond butter in not as oily, love them.thank you so much as I need chocolate and sugar when I wake up these hit the spot and lots better for me to eat.
waw i like the coconut ice cream thank you .
My dad’s favorite ice-cream was peppermint, (bright pink with bits of peppermint candies in it), which was fitting because his birthday was in Dec (the only time of year peppermint ice-cream is available). I always enjoyed it, too. The first thing I thought after reading Katie’s recipe is that it’d be really easy to adapt this to peppermint. I’ll just leave out the strawberries and vanilla, add peppermint extract and some chopped up really good quality dark chocolate. It could be better than the originals, and definitely healthier. When I try it, I’ll post the results.
One thing I noticed is that Katie instructions say to add the vanilla extract, then simmer again. I’d like to suggest waiting to add the vanilla until everything is done being heated or the flavor will evaporate along with the alcohol. I made that mistake recently.