Make Ahead

Toasted Coconut Gelato

by:
August 23, 2009
5
1 Ratings
Toasted Coconut Gelato
  • Serves 4 to 6
Author Notes

When I was young I loved the texture of the coconut chocolates sold at the Fannie Mae kiosks in the local mall. The coconut was very finely cut and all throughout the chocolate. The texture was sublime. I wanted to recreate that sensation in an ice cream that was as rich as I remembered that confection to be. If you don't have a vanilla bean use extract. In order for it to be the right texture though, you have to have (unsweetened) desiccated coconut. Leaving the untoasted coconut in the base overnight really intensifies the coconut flavor. - NicoleCLang —.

Test Kitchen Notes

Coconut ice creams are often too rich and too sweet -- not this one! NicoleCLang's toasted coconut gelato hits all the right notes: with layers of fresh and toasted coconut, the freckling of vanilla bean and a milk custard that keeps it all nimble. - A&M —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 cups desiccated coconut (1 cup toasted)
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean
Directions
  1. Toast one cup of the coconut in an oven at 350 until golden, stirring 2 or 3 times to get it evenly browned. In a bowl combine sugar and eggs, stir until incorporated.
  2. Heat milk and vanilla bean over med heat, add sugar/egg mixture, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup of the (non toasted) coconut. When mixture is thick and glossy and coats the back of a spoon, remove from heat and cool. Keep in fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight if you can.
  3. When you are ready to freeze the mixture, strain out the vanilla bean and coconut. Discard. Pour into ice cream maker and follow the instructions for the model, When it reaches the consistency of soft serve add the toasted coconut. Put into a container and freeze until ready to eat.
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10 Reviews

Steve W.
Steve W. February 5, 2020
After reading the other reviews, I must be the only moron that screwed this one up. It never said NOT to let the milk come to a boil and what happened was exactly what I thought would happen, the egg yokes cooked. Medium heat is medium heat. Very poor directions for someone who has never made gelato.
 
suziqcu
suziqcu July 1, 2018
Still wondering how it tastes, or freezes using coconut milk instead of dairy. Anyone tried?
 
Melanie
Melanie July 2, 2014
Should I use sweetened or unsweetened coconut?
 
Maria C.
Maria C. April 3, 2013
This looks delicious, I think I may get on a roll
 
DMACK
DMACK July 14, 2011
Anyone out there tried making this with SOdelicious vanilla flav. Coconut Milk?
 
DMACK
DMACK July 14, 2011
anyone tried making this recipe w/ SO Delicious Vanilla flav. Coconut Milk???
 
Aebell99
Aebell99 June 21, 2011
Really easy to make and very tasty. Maybe a little sweet, but I wasn't sure whether reducing the amount of sugar would make the gelato too hard when it froze. Will experiment with it.
 
dfwfoodie
dfwfoodie July 17, 2010
WOW ! Made this last night. Not only is it EASY it is delish ! Not too sweet with the pure delight of coconut in every bite ! yummers ! will be making this one again!
 
nannydeb
nannydeb December 2, 2009
I made this for myself for my birthday and it was delish! Of course, everyone else (even those who said that they didn't like coconut) gobbled it up. I'll make this one again!
 
likestocooklovestoeat
likestocooklovestoeat October 22, 2009
Holy cow, was this good - rich, coconutty deliciousness!