Vegan Mango Coconut Milk Ice Cream: Simple Bliss
15 Aug
We made two different kinds of vegan ice cream this weekend.
I know. We might have a problem. But hear me out!
Please see the following list for really good justifications reasons:
1) When were visiting my parents for a few days this weekend, I knew I wanted to get as much use out of this limited-time nectar-of-the-gods-making appliance (–> that we don’t have) as I could while we had the chance. (We are grad students, on a grad student budget — did I mention that 8000 times already?).
2) It is like the 5th circle of Hades hot outside right now.
3) The maker was my grandma’s, and holds some special memories in it’s adorable wooden frame.
4) The last time I made ice cream was with my grandma and this maker. It was a simple coconut milk base sweetened with agave, but G-Funk couldn’t get over how awesome it was that we used no dairy or refined sugar. She was crazy about such a neat new treat, one that I could take part in no less! (She was devastated that I couldn’t eat like most people.)
5) You know what? Coconut milk ice cream tastes better to me than dairy ever did. And I do what I please.
Psst: that is indeed a Trader Joe’s can from one of my ridiculous cross-country pilgrimages.
So… I used to not like mango. Seriously. But when I was in high school, I worked at a local ice cream shop (now out of business, God rest its soul) and while I didn’t get a discount, I did get the freedom to eat as much I wanted while on the clock. Anyway, one of the unique flavors was mango, and I was so convinced it would make me gag I didn’t even try it for months. Then one day, my life changed. Enter Mango. Hence, this classy, healthy, vegan, dairy-free, super-simple-with-no-nasty-high-fructose-corn-syrup-and-who-knows-what-else-flavoring version! It’s not even sweetened with refined sugar. Whaaa?
Bam! Deliciousness.
Ingredients:
1 16 oz can coconut milk (I used TJ’s light, but ten bucks says a the full-fat stuff has better flavor)
1 fresh mango (about 1 1/2 cups cubed; you could probably sub frozen mango chunks)
1/3 C honey, agave, or equivalent other sweetener
Recipe:
1) In food processor or blender, puree mango with sweetener until as smooth as possible.
2) Add coconut milk to puree and blend.
3) Follow directions on ice cream maker, then freeze.
You could easily adjust the sweetener based on how ripe your mango is – perhaps you’ll need more, perhaps less. The joy is that you can taste your mix before dumping it into the ice cream maker.
Actually… who am I kidding? The joy is in eating this stuff!
And licking the beater…
This is my shame/surprise face as I give proof of my ghetto-fabulousness over the sink.
After being found, enjoy properly, with garnish:
I took these photos as it was raining outside my folks’ house. ‘Twas a challenge with all that cloud cover and dripping! Nevertheless, the recipe needed to be shared. Immediately. So. Yeah. Borrow an ice cream maker if you don’t have one, or check out thrift stores. We saw about 90 in the Florida Goodwill when we were down there in July!
Even my (extremely picky and super-tasting) dad enjoyed a bowl…
= Winning.
I had to laugh when I saw how many other bloggers had the same thought this week — ice cream! Must be August, eh? If you are looking for more tropical vegan ice cream ideas, check out Elana Amsterdam’s recent post on a vegan Pina Colada ice cream. It looks so refreshing! She also has a list of links for other bloggers who are sharing this same brain for cold, sweet, dairy-free yummology 
What flavor are you craving? (We have one more to share!)
Oh this looks delicious! I am a fan of plain vanilla or cookie dough!
I always feel boring that I love vanilla so much buuut… I freaking love vanilla! Glad I’m not alone
I think I saw a cookie dough coconut milk ice cream with GF dough — I was definitely intrigued. Have you tried spumoni? I could SWIM in that stuff.
This looks so delicious.. I do not have an ice cream maker though.. but I feel like I should add it to the list!
I don’t have one either! I am just really good at mooching use of one off of other people
Hehe. But if you don’t know anyone, just check at a thrift store — they are bound to have one for a few dollars! 
This ice cream is the way to my heart
I thought that was kombucha?!
That sounds so refreshing! You’re right it so is august… I enjoyed ice cream this weekend too
It sure hit the spot! So true, we have to savor these last few hot weeks and eat all the ice cream we can before fall casts all our cold cravings aside
That ice cream looks so good. I don’t have a ice cream maker but none the less I’ll just look at it. Hubby had blood test Cholesterol is above 200 again. He has been eating pastry again. Is this ice low in cholesterol?
Hi Maryann! I think there’s debate in the medical world about coconut milk and cholesterol. It’s my understanding that coconut is rich in healthy cholesterol, rather than those detrimental to the heart, but I suggest doing some research or asking your doc before serving it to your hubs!
Thanks for the comment <3
Yum! I love ice cream!
My teacher in 4th grade used to bring her ice cream maker and make us her version at the end of the school year! For my birthday, I made a homemade coconut version for the first time! So good and definitely a good excuse to use my parent’s appliance as well. lol. Chocolate chunk has always been one of my favorite flavors so that’s what I’m craving!
I love that your teacher made ice cream with your class — so neat! Haha, yes, it really helps to have parents with an ice cream maker, right?!
I LOVE mangoes and rarely eat them…so sad. I’m with you coconut milk makes the best ice cream EVER! This looks perfect!
I wanted to cry it was so good. I’m drooling as I think about it…!
HAHAHA! That pic of you licking it looks JUST like me every time I use my ice cream maker. LOL! Love it, Katie!
Waste not!
Part of me really wants an ice cream maker, part of me is scared all I will do is ice cream all day. Love love ice cream!
Hahaha — the *real* reason I haven’t purchased an ice cream maker…
I’m with you, sister.