Tropical and refreshing, coconut popsicles (Filipino ice buko) are a fantastic way to stay cool on a sizzling summer day.
(A fan of coconut and tropical flavors? Try this no-bake pineapple coconut cream pie. Coconut + pineapples = the best summer dessert ever. Or if you’re looking for something different, try this blackberry lavender ice cream. So good!)
The Philippines is a land of coconut trees.
My grandparents owned a bit of land filled with coconut trees and I have fond memories of drinking fresh juice straight out of the coconut that was just cut from the tree.
Then proceeding to scoop out the soft, delicious coconut meat and eating that, all while sitting in the middle of a coconut wonderland where carabaos roam lazily and birds sing cheerfully. Ah, island life.
I grew up in Manila however; and although you can easily buy fresh coconuts there, the drinking and the eating part is not so dreamy.
And in Toronto where I now live, it’s gotten even worse because the only coconut I can buy is either frozen, canned or dried.
Coconuts are awesome though. So on this second week of our No-Bake August (last week we made homemade ice cream without an ice cream machine!), we’re not letting the unavailability of fresh coconut stop us from taking this ice buko recipe for a spin.
Let’s go nuts for coconuts (sorry, can’t help myself lol).
What is Filipino ice buko?
Filipino ice buko is really nothing more than coconut juice and shredded young coconut meat sweetened and frozen.
You will find them in most sari-sari stores (it’s kind of like a bodega that you can find in almost every street in the Philippines) and kids all over the neighbourhood go gaga over them.
If you grew up in the Philippines, chances are ice buko is one of your childhood favourites.
How to make
The best ones are of course those made at home. Where you can constantly check the freezer to see if they’re ready yet. And constantly get in trouble because you opening the freezer door makes it longer for them to set lol.
Good news is, it’s really easy to make at home.
Out of all the recipe testing I’ve done, this ice buko recipe hits the spot.
I used coconut water (instead of fresh juice), condensed milk to sweeten, heavy cream, and toasted shredded coconut (instead of fresh coconut meat).
It’s really good (we had taste testers at home last week and they agree too!) and tastes just like the ones from back home.
All about popsicle molds
I bought this popsicle mold from Amazon and let me tell you, making popsicles is one of the funnest things I’ve done this summer (try these rainbow popsicles!).
You essentially just stir or blend your mixture, put them in the molds, freeze and enjoy.
If you don’t have a popsicle mold, you can still make popsicles at home. Here’s a brilliant hack I found.
The best homemade ice buko
Back to these coconut popsicles. They’re so delicious and refreshing, they’re the tropics in popsicle form.
So the unavailability of fresh coconuts notwithstanding, these coconut popsicles are an awesome summer treat. Try them!
Other refreshing summer treats
Looking for other ways to stay cool this summer? This fresh mango mousse has only 2 ingredients, is a breeze to make and is perfect on a sunny day.
If you’re craving for cake but don’t want to turn the oven on, this strawberry refrigerator cake (or strawberry icebox cake made Filipino-style) is just the cake for you.
In the mood for ice cream? Grab some fresh peaches, a splash of bourbon (yeah!) and make a batch of fresh peach ice cream. And no, you don’t need an ice cream machine (you’re welcome).
Coconut Popsicles (Filipino Ice Buko)
Ingredients
- 2 cups coconut water
- ⅓ cup condensed milk adjust according to taste
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 5 tsp sweetened shredded coconut toasted
Instructions
- Stir 2 cups coconut water, ⅓ cup condensed milk and ¾ cup heavy cream in a medium-sized bowl until well combined. Divide and transfer evenly into your popsicle molds.
- Put ½ teaspoon shredded coconut into each mold and freeze overnight or until frozen solid.
Video
Notes
- If you’re using a popsicle mold, you can put the popsicle sticks into the holder right after you snap the lid on and freeze them together with the popsicles.
- If you’re using paper cups or something else, you’ll need to wait until the popsicles are half-frozen before inserting the sticks, then put the pops back into the freezer to set completely.
- For the toasted coconut, I found that when you put them into the mold first, they tend to stick to the bottom of the popsicle. If you put them in last and stir a little, most would tend to stick to the top but you’d get bits of coconut all around the pop. Experiment and see what you like.
- The recipe yield depends on what popsicle mold you use.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy popsicle making!
Did you make this ice buko recipe? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Lizelle Cruz
Omygod I really love anything buko!! Buko pie, buko popsicles, buko ice candy. Buko shake is my fave!!
Jolina
LOL me too! I miss buko pie from Los Banos 🙂 I hope to recreate that one day (I don’t know how though, without fresh buko haha). Ahhhh yes, buko shake yummmmmm.
Nicia
I love ANYTHING coconut so these sound amazing. Perfect for a Calif summer. Love this post
Jolina
Me too! 🙂 Thanks Nicia, hope you get the chance to make these crazy delicious pops!
Milton
be it summer or not, this is absolutely a great treat.. my little brothers will surely enjoy this!
thanks a lot for this yummy recipe.. we will try this real soon! Can we also add red beans here much like those drumstick we used to buy when we were kids?
Jolina
Absolutely! I didn’t include them here because I personally didn’t like them (haha) and didn’t know where to buy them here. But you can absolutely include them – put some at the bottom before you pour the mixture in and you’ll have a treat straight out of childhood 🙂
Lauren
Oh my…I need these! I love all things coconut!
Jolina
Me too! 🙂 Hope you get the chance to make them. They’re a great weekend activity. Thanks Lauren!
Danielle
Those popsicles looks so good and would perfect on a summer day. To be honest, I really love popsicles and ice cream in the winter the most and these would be so nice with a movie while under the blankets. Well, not totally under the blankets but you know what I mean =]
Jolina
Yes! Popsicles and ice cream all year round 🙂 Thanks Danielle!
Krystal
These look SO yummy!!! I’m excited to try them! My husband is a huge coconut fan, and I recently became one! I will be sharing this for sure!!
Jolina
Hi Krystal! Awesome! You guys can have a hoot making them 🙂 Hope you and your husband like them!
Amy Scott
I can almost taste these while reading the ingredients! I love coconut desserts, you can include it in almost anything!
Jolina
That’s so true! Coconut cakes, pies, puddings, even drinks. You gotta love coconut 🙂 Thanks Amy!
Happy
I had the best coconut popsicles in Samara, Costa Rica…and now I can make them anywhere I am because these look similar, thanks!
Jolina
Happy to hear that! Hope they taste as delicious as the ones you had 🙂
Bree
YUMMM! These look so delicious, and so refreshing on a hot summer day!
Jolina
They certainly are 🙂 Thanks Bree! Hope you get the chance to make them!
Cynthia
Wow – Island life sounds gorgeous. I adore coconut – especially coconut and coffee ice cream. Will save this one for Summer. Beautiful recipe.x
Jolina
Absolutely. Warm, lazy days 🙂 Coconut and coffee ice cream sounds wonderful! I’ve never had it before. Yum! Thanks Cynthia!
Maggie Unzueta
I finally bought some popsicle molds the other day. Can’t wait to try them out. Pinning!
Jolina
Ooooh you’re in for a fabulous time Maggie! Making popsicles is so much fun 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Nicole
This is really my favorite! Especially in our weather in PH!
Jolina
Mine too 🙂 I miss fresh buko, haven’t had one in years! I’m visiting later this year though, I will go on a buko rampage lol! Thanks Nicole!
Crystal
Those sound like vacation in a pop. Coconut always makes me feel like I should be somewhere tropical, reading a good book.
Jolina
That’s a fantastic way to describe them! And yeah, coconuts have that effect don’t they? 🙂 Thanks Crystal!
Rose
Ooh those look so delicious! I LOVE anything coconut and they would be so refreshing!
Elizabeth O.
That looks so good! It’s perfect for the summer and I like that you used coconut water to make these. It’s easy and refreshing, what more can you ask for in a dessert!
Jolina
Thanks Elizabeth! It’s really easy and quite refreshing and so remind me of the tropics. Hope you can try some!