Chill the cans: Refrigerate the coconut milk overnight or at least 6 hours.
This helps the cream thicken and separate.
Prepare the base: Open the cans and scoop the thick coconut cream into a blender. Add 2–4 tablespoons of the remaining coconut water as needed to blend smoothly.
Add flavor and sweetness: Blend in the maple syrup, vanilla, sea salt, and melted coconut oil until silky and fully combined.
Adjust: Taste and adjust sweetness or salt. If using cocoa, espresso, or fruit puree, blend it in now until smooth.
Chill the mixture: Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes.
A colder base freezes more evenly.
Freeze without an ice cream maker: Transfer to a shallow, freezer-safe dish. Freeze for 2–3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to break up ice crystals. If adding chocolate chunks, fold them in during the last stir.
Serve: When it reaches a soft-serve texture, scoop and enjoy.
For a firmer set, freeze 1–2 hours more, then let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before scooping.