Last week when I posted my easy, make-ahead breakfast idea, I was bemoaning the fact that my kids were going to be back to school in a week. Well, the day is here and with it comes mixed emotions. The boys are excited to see their friends and dive back into the routine of school. I am admittedly looking forward to a few more hours each day to dedicate to my to-do list. But that gift of solitude comes with a price. The house grows decidedly quiet as the fall approaches, the sun rising later and setting earlier. No squeals of pleasure as the cold water of the sprinkler hits a bathing-suit clad kid. No dull thud of the soccer ball being kicked into the make-shift goal in the middle of the morning. No happy chatter as the boys clamber in for lunch, followed by oohs and aahs as the ice cream and cones are pulled out for a post-meal treat. No early afternoon snuggles. It’s up to us to make time for the hugs and silliness as we juggle the autumn demands of homework and after school activities. Summer is drawing to a close and we are holding on to each precious moment and stowing them away in our memories.
Last year I made a special treat – Nutella Sugar Sandwich Cookies – and set it in front of the boys when they came home from their first day of school, full of stories and excitement. This year, after a full summer of swimming, traveling, playing sports and riding bikes, I thought it fitting to celebrate the last day of summer holidays with every kid’s favorite…an ice cream cone. This ice cream was laced with the chocolate bar my kids wrestle over at Halloween, Almond Joy. Packed with coconut and chocolate, we licked away the final hours of the holiday, ice cream running down our hands.
In the spirit of enjoying the last moments of summer vacation outside rather than over the stove, I took the cheater’s way out with this recipe. Rather than making my own vanilla ice cream, I relied on a tub of a high-quality brand from the store. Not only did it take less time to pull this recipe together, but my boys were anxious to help with stirring in the pieces of chocolate bars and coconut flakes. It’s was a concession I was more than happy to make.
The recipe:
Heat cream in a small saucepan set over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat when hot, but not boiling.
Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and whisk until a smooth chocolate sauce forms. Set aside to cool.
In a medium frying pan set over medium heat, toast coconut until light golden brown, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Place softened ice cream in a large bowl. Stir in coconut flakes and Almond Joy pieces.
Drizzle in 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce and stir in slightly. Do not stir in all the way or it will turn the ice cream brown.
Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container. Cover and place in freezer until ice cream re-freezes, at least 4 hours. Serve.
Other ice cream recipe sure to be hits with the kids:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Dulce de Leche & Chocolate Waffle Cone Ice Cream
Brown Eyed Baker’s Tin Roof Ice Cream
My Baking Addiction’s Rolo Ice Cream
A Farmgirl’s Dabbles’ Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream with Graham Sprinkles
Almond Joy Chocolate & Coconut Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chopped
- 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 1 quart high-quality vanilla ice cream softened
- 4.8 ounces Almond Joy bars 8 mini bars, chopped
Instructions
- Heat cream in a small saucepan set over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat when hot, but not boiling.
- Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour hot cream over chocolate and whisk until a smooth chocolate sauce forms. Set aside to cool.
- In a medium frying pan set over medium heat, toast coconut until light golden brown, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Place softened ice cream in a large bowl. Stir in coconut flakes and Almond Joy pieces.
- Drizzle in 2 tablespoons chocolate sauce and stir in slightly. Do not stir in all the way or it will turn the ice cream brown.
- Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container. Cover and place in freezer until ice cream re-freezes, at least 4 hours. Serve.
Belinda @zomppa
Can’t believe summer is already almost over! This ice cream sure brings the joy.
Jessica @ How Sweet
It can’t be good that I am absolutely CRAVING this right now!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum
Seriously, what an adorable picture of your boys side by side with their ice cream. 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Lindsay. They were completely focused on licking that ice cream before it melted all over their hands.
Maris (In Good Taste)
My dad would love this! The boys are so precious! Sounds like they had a fabulous summer.
[email protected]
Yes, yes, yes. I so desperately want this right now! And just look at your cute little guys enjoying it. They know a good thing when they taste it!
Laurie @SimplyScratch
Almond Joy is my most favorite candy bar!! Genius!
Heather at Heathers Dish
All I want in life is this exact ice cream!!!
CouponClippingCook
Great idea. So simple but so delicious. Love it! Your boys are so cute enjoying it too.
Barbara | Creative Culinary
Well, worries about bathing suit season are at an end thank goodness…this is downright decadent. My favorite candy bar wrapped up in ice cream. Daring Dara!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank goodness, indeed! I’m ready for jeans and long-sleeved shirts.
Katrina
Mmm the melting ice cream is mouth watering!
Bev Weidner
Yes. Please. In my face. Now.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
Dara this looks amazing! I love Almond Joy’s and I love the melty photos…just perfect!
Roxana GreenGirl
almond joy is my favorite chocolate candy!!! and this ice-cream, and cones … I’m craving one right now!!!
carolinaheartstrings
What a nice post. I love the recipe and we will be trying this out at our labor day celebration! Delicious.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hope you enjoy it!
Linda
What sweet summer memories! I’m so loving this recipe as I don’t have to use an ice cream maker!! It’s a perfect treat for your boys!
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Hi Dara. I’m new to your blog, am also in Canada (Vancouver) and just had to say how much I love your site – your photos are fantastic! Thanks for all the recipes, ideas and inspiration! I’ll be back regularly.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Roz. I really appreciate that!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
you cant get much better than this. Omg !
Maria
That is my kind of ice cream!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
Have I ever mentioned that Almond Joy is my favorite candy bar? My most favorite in the whole wide world? That’s probably why I nearly lost my breath when I saw the title of this recipe! Wooohooo….I can’t wait to get some of this in a bowl with a spoon.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I feel the same way about Almond Joys. You just can’t go wrong with coconut and chocolate.
Katrina
Love Almond Joy. I can’t stop making and eating ice cream!
Aggie
I love your post! It is so bittersweet! I do love the fall routine though, my kids are still young so homework has not hit us hard. I hope it stays that way (fingers crossed!) for a long time! 🙂
Almond Joy is one of my favorite candy bars! This ice cream looks fantastic!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
THanks, Aggie. Fall is one of my favorite times, too. But, darn it, I am still missing those munchkins.
Drick
yum, this is the most fulfilling and satisfying post I have read in a long time… I mean, really, what is there to life better than sharing an ice cream cone and bonding memories with your children, and not just any cone mind you, one of the best… Dara, it touches me to see this passion with your children, my mom did for us and we have never taking for granted those memories she left… taking a shortcut in order to spend more quality time, we all know the answer if that was ever posed a question during her time… love the recipe and loving you more with each read…
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you so much, Drick. Your comment touched me to the core. I appreciate you so much!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
I just love the shots of the ice cream melting down the cone! What better way to capture summer?!
Liz
This looks crazy delicious!!! What a winner!!!
Liz
Oh, this could be my new favorite ice cream…look at all the drippy goodness!
marla
Dara, what a sweet treat for your darling sons. Looks like the ultimate ice cream cone, especially half melted!
Kris @Krazy_Kris
Oh my…. I can only dream of being able to make something this delicious! **wistful gaze…** so beautiful!
[email protected]
wow, that looks so delicious… I love almond joys!!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
I am not too happy that the kids are going back to school either. Yes it is much quieter and I am likely more productive, but I really miss them!
Kathryn
This ice cream looks amazing!
Pretend Chef
This ice cream sounds so delicious. My guy took us to Cold Stone Creamery last night and I wish I would have had this post as my inspiration. Almond Joys at Halloween make me giddy. I think I am anxious for the day my son starts school. I know the house just won’t be the same without him present for those couple hours a day. This would be a great treat to make the days better.
brandi
oh my goodness – this would be my perfect ice cream. it looks beautiful!
Dana
I recently saw little Almond Joy candy pieces, and have been craving the almond/coconut/chocolate combo ever since. I bet this delicious looking ice cream would do the trick!
Becky at VintageMixer
Loved the write up about how emotional the first day of school can be. I can only imagine the mixture of emotions. I’m sure the ice cream made all things a little sweeter!
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Oh this ice cream sounds like the perfect back to school treat! De-lish!
Hester aka The Chef Doc
What a treat! And it must have been fun to have the boys helping you. I hope they had a great first day of school! (Almond Joys and Mounds are my favorites!)
Victoria
This flavor combination sounds amazing! I love coconut and chocolate, perfect pair 🙂
Carolyn
Nothing to say but…PASS ME THE SPOON!!!
Joy
Hmmmm Almond joy. This is a great recipe.
Carly
Just stumbled across your blog and am so glad I did! This looks unbelievable! Will be making this soon:)
blackbookkitchendiaries
i love easy and yummy this is:) it’s my kinda recipe!! thank you for sharing this!
Monet
My dad’s favorite candy is almond joy. Now I’m thinking about him and craving ice cream! Thank you so much for sharing yourself with me tonight. I’m about to go to sleep and I consider it a pleasure to end my “internet day” with a visit to your site. Much love from Austin!
The Chocolate Priestess
Could you make it with coconut milk and have extra coconut?
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I had considered doing that, but was looking to take the easy, quick route. I’m sure the flavor would be wonderful! One of my favorites, Blueberry Coconut Ice Cream, is made with coconut milk.
Feast on the Cheap
Oh my goodness…I can’t wait to make this since I still haven’t invested in an ice cream maker
Kita
Oh! What an awesome back to school treat! Im long out of school, but I can pretend for a bit if it gets me a scoop of this awesome sounding ice cream. 😀
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
OMG!! This has been bookmarked! I jus had coconut ice cream for the first time last week and fell in love! I was saying how much I would love to try an almond joy ice cream… and here it is!
[email protected]
Oh my, this looks insanely delicious! Your kids are adorable! Nothing wrong with a shortcut…especially when you’re saving time to make memories 🙂
Donna
When I was a teenager, I worked at Baskin Robbins and Coconut Almond Fudge iced cream was and still is my very favorite ice cream of all time. This looks like a perfect reproduction and I can’t wait to try it!
Darla | Bakingdom
Looks so delicious, and I love the idea a cheating a tad and using some good store bought ice cream as a base.
Your kids are adorable!!
Mari @ Mari's Cakes
Dara, what a great recipe! I am sure I’m going to here “you are the best mom” when I do this. I know my girls and me will love it. Thanks.