Paletas de coco the lovely, tropical coconut popsicles we love so much are a very refreshing dessert that requires no cooking and one that even your children can prepare. Bring the quintessential flavors of our tropical paradise to your table and enjoy the best summer treat.
Why we ❤️ it
This is not rocket science; paletas are very easy to make. You can even make them weeks ahead and keep them in the freezer for a nice gluten-free, no-cooking, no-blender treat in a pinch.
These creamy coconut popsicles are a childhood classic, and they can be bought from local ice cream chains, colmados, or mom 'n pop corner stores. It's the perfect refreshing treat in our scorching summers.
What is a paleta?
Paleta is the Spanish word for an ice pop, or a popsicle. In some countries, they can be found by the name polo.
And here, just like anywhere, paletas are one of children's favorite treats. Perhaps more so here because it's a great way to cool down during our very warm summers.
Coconut popsicles.
Serving suggestions
We get requests all the time for easy recipes that students can prepare and bring to the classroom for various assignments (why didn't we have this when I was a kid?). This is one my top suggestions, as long as you have an ice box to bring them to school. We typically eat these as a treat or snack.
You can see my favorite popsicle recipes, including paleta de batata, boozy coconut lime popsicles, yogurt and strawberries popsicles, and the creamiest chocolate popsicles.
Top tips
- Other sweeteners: Depending on your preference, you can sweeten these with honey, or maple syrup. Be mindful that this will affect the flavor.
- Vegan coconut popsicle recipe: Vegans and lactose intolerants can use soy or almond milk instead of milk.
- Low-carb / keto coconut popsicle recipe: Diabetics and those on a low-carb diet can make a sugar-free version by using sweetener (like agave) instead of sugar, and use whipping cream instead of evaporated milk, all of which I have tried with success.
- I use full-fat coconut milk, but you can find reduced-fat if available to you. This will also affect the consistency and flavor.
- Make a dairy-free version by using just coconut milk. This will not taste exactly like the traditional ones.
- You can coat these paletas with unsweetened shredded coconut, though this is not traditionally done in the DR.
- It's great if you have popsicle molds, but your kitchen is full of stuff you can use to make paletas: small cups, glasses, jars, paper cups, etc.
About our recipe
It's always summer in the Dominican Republic: Time for some refreshing paletas de coco (coconut popsicles).
I know it's not really summer year-round, and that -- much as we'd like to pretend they don't -- the laws of nature do apply to our two-thirds of an island. But for all practical purposes, it's always summer in the DR.
For those who spent their childhood in the Dominican Republic, this evokes memories of summer fun, simple pleasures, and carefree childhood. Didn't we all buy coconut ice pops in baby food jars from neighborhood ladies for a few cheles, or walk to our neighborhood heladería or colmado to buy paletas de coco (or helado de coco)?
Video
Recipe
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Paletas de Coco [Recipe + Video] Coconut Popsicles
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cup evaporated milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, (optional)
- 2 cup coconut milk
- ¾ cup sugar (white, granulated), (or to taste)
Instructions
Combine
Mix milk, vanilla and coconut milk. Add sugar to taste.
Freeze
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, insert the popsicle sticks then freeze.When frozen hard (minimum 6 hours or overnight), remove from the molds and enjoy instant summer!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
More coconut recipes
Coconut is one of my top favorite Dominican ingredients, and I have joked – to paraphrase George Constanza – that I would put coconut in every food if it were socially acceptable. There are many coconut recipes in our blog for you to enjoy, from savory to sweet.
Start with our favorite coconut desserts: dulce de coco, coconut jalao balls, and the sublime coco horneado. If savory is what you look for, pescado con coco is an amazing fish in coconut sauce, and from the same area of the country, guandules con coco combine our favorite peas with coconut, or enjoy moro de guandules con coco, one of my favorite rice dishes.
FAQs
These coconut popsicles have 317 calories per serving of one popsicle.
