This pina colada ice cream takes your favorite summer cocktail and turns it into an amazing ice cream. With the flavors you love of pineapple and coconut and just enough rum to give it an authentic pina colada taste and keep it scoopable straight from the freezer.
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Who doesn't love a refreshing and creamy pina colada cocktail on a hot summer's day? It is such a perfect combination of pineapple and coconut and just sings of sunshine and summer days. Whenever I have some leftover pineapple juice after cooking with pineapple I always whip myself up a pina colada to have with dinner. And I always have the pina colada song going through my head! So it just made sense to turn this tasty drink into a delicious homemade ice cream.
And there are really a not lot of extra ingredients needed to go from cocktail to ice cream. Some extra sugar for sweetness, a little tapioca starch to help keep everything where it should be and some toasted coconut on top for texture. The run already helps keep this ice cream scoopable straight from the freezer but you can make it virgin pina colada style instead without the alcohol if you prefer.
Looking for more juicy pineapple desserts? Why not try making my pineapple ice cream, pineapple cherry popsicles or boozy pina colada popsicles. Delicious!
Or if you're in the mood for more delectable ice cream check out my full collection of Cuisinart ice cream maker recipes (that work well in other brands ice cream makers too!).
Ingredients
Crushed pineapple: this recipe uses a tin of crushed pineapple. This helps add texture and flavor to the ice cream. You could use the same amount of tinned pineapple pieces or slices if you can't get crushed pineapple. At a pinch you could try using the same amount of pineapple juice. I don't recommend using fresh pineapple as it will be a lot more fibrous and the pineapple would have to be very ripe. If you try it out let me know!
Coconut milk: full-fat coconut milk helps give that characteristic coconut taste to this ice cream. I don't recommend using low-fat coconut milk, it will make your ice cream icier.
Coconut rum: gives flavor to this ice cream and helps keep it scoopable straight from the freezer. Whatever brand of coconut rum you use needs to have an alcohol volume of about 21%. Don't add more than about three tablespoons (45mls) or your ice cream may not freeze at all. You could also use a stronger 40% alcohol and reduce the volume to two tablespoons (30mls) but this will reduce the flavor of the alcohol in the ice cream.
You can also leave out the alcohol altogether if you prefer but your ice cream may freeze rather firm unless you replace it with a little glucose syrup (about 1 teaspoon (7.5gms).
Cream: this recipe uses thickened cream. You could also use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream. Whatever you use needs to have a fat contact of about 35%. For a vegan option you could try replacing the cream with coconut cream, however your ice cream is likely to be icier with less body due to the lower solids and fat content.
White sugar: this recipe uses white sugar which keeps the flavors nice and clean and allows the pineapple and coconut to shine.
Tapioca starch: is a natural and accessible way of both thickening and stabilizing the ice cream. If you can't get tapioca starch you can use arrowroot powder or corn flour in the same volume.
Shredded coconut (optional): some toasted shredded coconut sprinkled over the top really adds to the flavor of this ice cream but you can leave it off if you prefer.
How to make pina colada ice cream
Open the tin of crushed pineapple and empty it into a deep bowl or jug you can use a stick/immersion blender in. Blend well until the pineapple is smooth. Put the blended pineapple into a small pot on the stove. Simmer on low heat, stirring often until the pineapple has reduced to about one cup (250ml). Remove from heat and allow to cool, then transfer to a heatproof jug or container that will hold about four cups (1 liter) of liquid.
Add the tapioca starch to a small bowl. Measure out your coconut milk and add about two tablespoons of the coconut milk to the tapioca starch. Mix well to form a slurry.
Put the white sugar and coconut milk in a small pot on the stove (this is separate from the pot with the pineapple in it reducing). Put on medium heat until it just starts to bubble, stirring well to dissolve all the sugar. Reduce the heat to low and add the tapioca starch slurry. Mix well and continue to cook for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add to the jug with the cooled, reduced pineapple.
Add the cream to the ice cream mix. Cut the lime in half and juice. Measure the lime juice and add it to the jug with ice cream mix. Measure and add the coconut rum to the mix. Stir well and put in the fridge for about four hours or until well chilled.
Put your storage container in the freezer to chill. If using a self-refrigerating ice cream machine turn it on about ten minutes before churning, otherwise take your bowl out of the freezer just before churning.
Churn the ice cream. It will be the consistency of soft serve when done. Working quickly transfer the churned ice cream to a chilled container. Cover and return to freezer for about four hours or until firm.
How to serve the ice cream
To sever the ice cream remove from the freezer, scoop and enjoy. Fabulous on its own, with some toasted shredded coconut sprinkled on top, or over some of my grilled pineapple. Delicious!
How to store the ice cream
This ice cream will store well in and an air-tight container in the freezer for up to two weeks. After this the ice cream may start to become a little icy, but will still taste delicious.
Have you made this recipe? Tell me how it went in the comments below and tag me on instagram so I can see your delicious creations! @keep_calm_and_eat_icecream
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📋 Recipe
Pina colada ice cream
Equipment
- ice cream maker
- immersion/stick blender or food processor
Ingredients
Pina colada ice cream
- 1 tin (15oz/ 432gms) crushed pineapple in juice
- 1 cup (250mls) full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup (250mls) thickened cream *or heavey cream or heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup (120gms) white sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30mls) freshly squeeze lime juice
- 3 tablespoons (45mls) coconut rum such as Malibu (21%)
- 2 teaspoons (5gms) tapioca starch
Optional coconut topping
- ½ cup shredded coconut
Instructions
- Open the tin of crushed pineapple and put into a jug or deep bowl you can use an immersion/stick blender into and blitz crushed pineapple until smooth. Alternatively you can blend the pineapple in a food processor.
- Put the blended pineapple into a small pot on the stove. Simmer on a low heat, stirring often until the pineapple has reduced to about one cup (250ml). Remove from heat and allow to cool, then transfer to a heatproof jug or container that will hold about four cups (1 ltr) of liquid.
- Put the tapioca starch into a small bowl. Measure out the coconut milk and add about two tablespoons to the tapioca starch. Mix well to form a slurry.
- Add the sugar and coconut milk to another small pot. Stir well and heat until mix just starts to bubble.
- Reduce heat to low, add tapioca starch slurry and stir well. Continue to cook for another minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Cut and juice the limes and measure out the lime juice
- Add the cooled coconut milk mix to blitzed pineapple. Add cream, lime juice and coconut rum. Mix well and chill in fridge for four hours or until well chilled.
- Put your ice cream storage container into the freezer to chill.
- If using a self refrigerating ice cream machine, turn it on for about ten minutes to chill be churning your ice cream.
- Remove ice cream from fridge and give it a stir.
- Churn your ice cream. It will be the consistency of soft serve when done.
- Transfer to churned ice cream to chilled storage container. Cover and freeze for about four hours or until firm.
- To make the coconut topping head a frying pan on medium heat. Dry cook the coconut until golden brown and toasted, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
- To serve remove from the freezer, scoop and enjoy. Fabulous on its own or with some toasted shredded coconut sprinkled over the top. Delicious!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate based on an online database. The nutritional content of ingredients may vary by brand. If you require accurate nutritional information, you should calculate this based on the specific brands and products you are using.
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Sylvie says
Such a fun and delicious recipe, and love how it is presented over a slice of pineapple or inside a coconut. It would make a terrific dessert for a summer party!
Sarah Brooks says
Thanks Sylvie, its certainly got those wonderful tropical vibes 🙂
Robyn says
This looks soo good and such a refreshing ice cream flavour!
Sarah Brooks says
Thanks Robyn, its the perfect flavor for a summers day 🙂
Kylie says
I love pina coladas, but not getting caught in the rain! This Ice cream is so delicious!
Sarah Brooks says
Thanks Kylie! It was so so so good. Hubby doesn't like coconut so I had to eat the whole tub, gee dam 😀