This go to party food is a easy to make and a winner with the kids. I made it orange and white by request, but you can make it traditional pink and white.
The healthier, lactose free option replaces the icing sugar and condensed milk with coconut milk, vanilla essence and unrefined coconut sugar.
It is great for Christmas, Halloween, cake stalls, parties or as a tasty treat.

Coconut ice can be made any colour or traditional pink and white
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours to set
Serves: 20-24
Ingredients
For traditional coconut ice
2 cups icing sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
395g can condensed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups desiccated coconut
2-3 drops red food colouring (use pink if desired)
For healthier coconut ice
6 cups desiccated coconut
1/3 cup coconut cream
2 tsp vanilla essence
1/8 - 1/4 cup coconut sugar (to taste)
3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
Method
Grease and line a 20cm square pan with baking paper.
For traditional coconut ice
Whisk the icing sugar and cream of tartar in a large bowl.
Add condensed milk and vanilla essence and stir until well combined.
Stir in the desiccated coconut, colour and assemble the coconut ice (see below).

Traditional coconut ice base
For healthier coconut ice
Blend 41/2 cups of desiccated coconut in a food processor until smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally.
Add the coconut cream, 1/8 cup coconut sugar, vanilla essence, coconut oil and blend to combine. Taste and add more coconut sugar if desired.
Stir in the remaining coconut (do not blend), colour and assemble the coconut ice (see below).

Blending the coconut for the healthier coconut ice base
Colouring and assembling the coconut ice
Divide the mixture in half, add food colouring to one portion and use your fingers to massage through until evenly coloured.

Make the coloured layer
Press the pink mixture firmly in the base of the pan until smooth and flat.
Spread white mixture on top and press down. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Press the coloured base firmly into the pan, spread the white layer on top and place in the fridge to set
Cut into squares and serve. Refrigerate to store or freeze up to 3 months in an airtight container.
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Categories
#Coconut ice
#Coconut
#Condensed milk
#Party food
#Kids
#Healthy
#Christmas
#Halloween
#Gluten free
#Lactose free