• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Cozy Plum
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Baking Basics
    • Bars & Brownies
    • Breads & Breakfasts
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cookies
    • Donuts & Muffins
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Savory
    • Miscellaneous
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Newsletter
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    The Cozy Plum » Recipes » Miscellaneous

    Coconut Sorbet

    Published: Jul 6, 2022 · Modified: Aug 27, 2022 by Callan Wenner · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    51 shares
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe
    Scoops of coconut sorbet in a coconut shell with some bites removed.

    This creamy coconut sorbet is made from scratch and is the best frozen dessert for summer! Made with either an ice cream maker or blender, this dairy-free and vegan dessert can be served in a coconut shell for an extra festive treat!

    Scoops of coconut sorbet in a coconut shell with some bites removed.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    This recipe is SO refreshing, creamy, and the perfect treat to cool off on a hot day. To ensure the sorbet stays extra creamy, this sorbet is made with coconut water, coconut milk, and coconut cream.

    Because the coconut cream has a high-fat content, this sorbet is not super icy like some other sorbets and replicates a slightly more ice cream texture.

    Though you can eat it exactly as is, it's also great to add some toasted coconut flakes, or fresh fruits like mango, pineapple, raspberries or strawberries to the tops.

    Finally, while it is easiest to make this sorbet in an ice cream machine, there are also instructions on how to make this without it! All you need is an immersion blender or standard blender (though I find an immersion blender to be easiest).

    If you're looking for more ice cream-related items, try my Black Raspberry No-Churn Ice Cream, Blueberry Cheesecake No-Churn Ice Cream, or Berry Sangria Granita!

    And, if you're just here for the coconut, this Coconut Almond Cake is one of my absolute favorites!

    Two coconut shells in a basket filled with coconut sorbet.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • How to Make Sorbet without an Ice Cream Maker
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Crack a Coconut
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Frozen Treats
    • 📖Recipe
    • Come Bake With Us!

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for coconut sorbet.
    Coconut shell, coconut cream, sugar, coconut milk, coconut water.
    • Coconut water
    • Coconut milk
    • Coconut cream
    • Granulated sugar
    • Whole coconut. This is totally optional but is great for a cute and fun way to serve the coconut sorbet. See instructions further down in the post for instructions on how to crack open a coconut!

    See recipe card for full ingredient quantities.

    Coconut Water, Coconut Milk, Coconut Cream

    Note that there are differences between these coconut varieties and they cannot be used interchangeably. I can typically find all of these in the international section of the grocery store.

    Coconut water is the water that comes from the center of the coconut. Coconut milk is both coconut water and coconut cream (once the pulp is blended). Finally, coconut cream is strictly the thick cream (which contains the fat content), though there is also typically a small amount of coconut water, as well.

    Variations

    While there aren't many variations to this recipe, there's a few ways to switch up this recipe:

    • Texture - add ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut at the end of the mixing portion. You could also toast the coconut and add it to the tops of the sorbet, instead.
    • Rum - add one shot of rum at the end of the mixing portion to turn this into a boozy treat!
    • Fruit - top the coconut sorbet with fresh fruit like mango, pineapple, raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry for a pop of fresh flavor.

    How to Make This Recipe

    Before starting, you'll need to make the coconut simple syrup, then add that to the fridge overnight along with the coconut milk and coconut cream. It's crucial that everything is as cold as possible before beginning.

    You'll also want to be sure the bowl of your ice cream mixer can freeze for at least 12 hours, as well.

    Coconut simple syrup pouring into coconut milk.

    One: Add the cold coconut simple syrup, coconut milk and coconut cream to a large bowl.

    An immersion blender blends the coconut milks.

    Two: Blend them together with an immersion blender (or use a blender/food processor).

    Coconut mixture being poured into an ice cream machine.

    Three: Turn on the ice cream machine and pour the blended coconut mixture into the machine.

    A spatula holds up the coconut sorbet to show the texture.

    Five: Churn until soft-set where the texture has developed, but it's not getting too hard.

    Coconut sorbet churning in an ice cream machine.

    Four: Blend for 15-20 minutes. Be sure to follow your particular machine's instructions.

    Coconut sorbet being poured into a pan to freeze.

    Six: Transfer the coconut sorbet to a metal dish, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 2-3 hours before serving.

    Hot tip! Place the ice cream scoop in hot water in between scoops for clean removal.

    How to Make Sorbet without an Ice Cream Maker

    To make the coconut sorbet without an ice cream machine, follow all the blending steps, then add to a freezer-safe container and freeze for two hours.

    Every 30 minutes of that time frame, use an immersion blender to get in there and re-blend the mixture, then cover and place back in the freezer.

    After the two hours, allow the sorbet to set for one more hour in the freezer, then scoop and serve.

    Expert Tips

    • Be sure the ice cream machine bowl is completely frozen. I like to freeze mine for at least 12-16 hours prior to making.
    • All ingredients should also be incredibly cold. It's best to leave them in the fridge overnight.
    • Use a touch of coconut extract to round out the flavor, if needed. Coconut cream can sometimes taste a bit "soapy" so the coconut extract helps to offset that flavor.
    • I truly love to serve these in coconut shells and they're actually incredibly easy to open (when you buy the perforated varieties from the grocery store).
    • Add a small piece of plastic wrap to the bottom of the coconut shell if it was one of the halves that you had to tap to remove the water before opening. This prevents the sorbet from leaking out.

    How to Crack a Coconut

    First, you want to be sure you're buying a brown, hairy coconut that has a perforated area in the center belly of the coconut. This is how almost all of them come in the grocery stores and you can see a small indented line around the center of the coconut.

    You'll see three dark spots or indents in one side of the coconut. Find a spot that seems the softest, the use the screw of a wine opener to turn it the whole way into the coconut center, then pull it out. Pour and shake out the coconut water and reserve for the recipe or drink it!

    Then, line the perforated line in the center of the coconut up with the edge of a stair, counter, curb, etc., and hit it along the edge, rotating it after each bash. Continue until the coconut opens.

    I then like to rinse out the center of the coconut and snip off any hairs that are coming over the edges.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do you make sorbet creamier?

    Sorbet is not meant to be super creamy. This is because it is made of fruit and simple syrup and does not contain excess fat like in ice cream. If sorbet is made correctly, it should not be overly icy in taste or texture. This has to do with the amount of simple syrup used.

    However, this specific coconut sorbet recipe remains incredibly creamy due to the fat from the coconut cream.

    How do you make easy homemade sorbet?

    Sorbet is incredibly easy to make. It can either be made with blended fruit or just fruit juice, and it has simple syrup (water and sugar) added. It then gets blended in an ice cream machine until smooth, then frozen completely.

    This can be made with pretty much any fruit!

    Storage

    Store the coconut sorbet tightly covered in the freezer for up to one month. I like to store my in reusable ice cream containers, but you can store it any airtight, freezer-safe container.

    Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the sorbet each time. This protects the sorbet and limits the amount of freezer burn and ice crystallization.

    Scoops of coconut sorbet in a coconut shell.

    More Frozen Treats

    • Homemade Blackberry Ice Cream with Chocolate Chips (no-churn)
    • Blueberry Cheesecake No-Churn Ice Cream
    • Berry Sangria Granita

    Did you make this recipe? Share it with us! Tag @thecozyplum on Instagram & Facebook and leave a star rating ⭐️ below!

    📖Recipe

    Scoops of coconut sorbet in a coconut shell.

    Coconut Sorbet

    Callan Wenner
    This coconut sorbet is made from scratch and is the best frozen dessert for summer! Made with either an ice cream maker or a blender, this dairy-free and vegan dessert can be served in a coconut shell for an extra festive treat!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Freeze time 3 hrs
    Total Time 3 hrs 20 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 277 kcal

    Equipment

    • Immersion blender
    • Ice cream maker or immersion blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup coconut water 8oz
    • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
    • 1 can coconut milk 13.5 fl oz
    • 1 can coconut cream 13.5 fl oz
    • 1 teaspoon coconut extract optional
    • ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut optional

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the coconut water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then transfer the simple syrup to a jar and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Also refrigerate the coconut milk and cream, as freeze the ice cream bowl until solid.
    • Combine the coconut water, coconut milk and coconut cream and blend until smooth.
    • Add the mixture to an ice cream machine and churn for 15-20 minutes until it begins to ice but is still very soft. Add in the coconut extract during the last minute, if using.
    • Remove the insert and scrape off any sorbet, then fold in the shredded coconut, if using.
    • Transfer the sorbet to a freezer safe container and seal. Freeze for at least 3 hours.
    • Allow the sorbet to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, then scoop and serve.

    Notes

    Note that the coconut water (that has been made into a simple syrup), coconut milk, and coconut cream should be refrigerated for at least 8 hours prior to making the sorbet.
    Don't forget also to freeze the ice cream bowl as well - I like to freeze mine for 24 hours prior to making any ice cream or sorbet.
    Place the ice cream scoop in hot water in between scoops for clean removal.
    I like to serve this recipe in coconut shells. See the post-write-up for instructions on how to crack a coconut! It's super easy.
    Instructions without an Ice Cream Maker:
    • Blend all ingredients with an immersion blender, then add to a freezer-safe vessel and freeze for two hours (covered with plastic wrap).
    • Every 30 minutes of the two hours, use an immersion blender to blend the mixture, stopping once it becomes too difficult to blend. 
    • Freeze for one more hour, then scoop and serve.
    *note that the sorbet churned in the machine produced better results overall, but this still works fine. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 277mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Come Bake With Us!

    Recieve updates on new recipes, tips and tricks used in the TCP Kitchen, seasonal suggestions, and recipe sneak peeks!

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Built with ConvertKit
      « Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies (Thumbprints)
      Strawberry Banana Cake »
      51 shares
      • Facebook
      • Yummly

      Reader Interactions

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Holding a coffee cup at a table.

      About Callan

      I'm Callan, and welcome to The Cozy Plum! A photographer and recipe developer of all things sweet, savory, and delicious, I help cooks and bakers of any level gain the confidence to create restaurant-quality recipes in their own kitchen!

      About Callan →

      Easter Desserts

      • Chocolate Covered Coconut Cream Eggs
      • Carrot Snack Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
      • Peanut Butter Marshmallow Fluff Fudge (Fluffernutter Fudge)
      • Honey Chess Pie

      More Easter Desserts →

      Easter Brunch

      • Strawberry Stuffed French Toast
      • Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
      • Strawberry Almond Bostock Pastry with Croissant
      • Smoked Salmon and Spinach Quiche

      More Brunch Recipes →

      The Cozy Plum Favorites

      • Coconut Almond Loaf Cake
      • Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
      • Pimento Cheese Filled Pretzels
      • Fluffernutter Cookies

      Share your bakes with me!

      Did you try one of my recipes? I can't wait to see it!
      Tag @TheCozyPlum and #TheCozyPlum on Instagram!


      web stories

      Let's Connect!

      • Email
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • TikTok
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About Me
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Accessibility Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign up for emails and updates

      Contact

      • Contact Page

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 The Cozy Plum, LLC