Coconut Gelato

Jul 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

A generous swirl of coconut gelato in a small glass cup with a flat gelato spade

Creamy coconut gelato made with coconut milk, vanilla bean, and a touch of heavy cream for richer texture. This gelato has a smooth, intense coconut flavor balanced by vanilla and light sweetness.

Prep 15 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 4 hr 40 min

Total 5 hr 15 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)full-fat coconut milk
½ cup (120.0 ml)whole milk
½ cup (120.0 ml)heavy cream
⅔ cup (133.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
⅛ tsp (0.7 g)fine sea salt

Make it at home

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Instructions

Combine coconut milk, whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, and the scraped seeds plus pod of the vanilla bean in a medium saucepan.
Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is hot but not boiling, about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes to extract vanilla flavor, then remove and discard the vanilla bean pod.
Chill the mixture in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or until thoroughly cold.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's instructions, about 35-40 minutes, until it reaches a soft-serve consistency.
Transfer gelato to an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours to firm up before serving.

Tips

Use full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest texture and richest coconut flavor.
Steeping the vanilla bean seeds and pod intensifies the vanilla aroma crucial for balancing the coconut.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make coconut gelato?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours 40 minutes to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store coconut gelato?

Keep gelato in an airtight container in the freezer up to 1 week. Let soften at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping.

Can I make coconut gelato ahead?

The base can be prepared and chilled 1 day in advance before churning.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Creamy coconut gelato made with coconut milk, vanilla bean, and a touch of heavy cream for richer texture. This gelato has a smooth, intense coconut flavor balanced by vanilla and light sweetness.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

216 Calories / serving

15.6g Fat

19.1g Carbs

1.8g Protein

19.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~1728 cal · 125g fat · 153g carbs · 14g protein · 154g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 216 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 41 min·2.4 mi·~4800 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 29 min·1.5 mi·~2900 steps
Moderate cycling 22 min·4.4 mi
Swimming laps 30 min
Jogging 21 min·1.8 mi·~3350 steps
Stair climbing 20 min·~1800 steps
Dancing 35 min
Bodyweight circuit training 22 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 50 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.