In the last few years alone, vegan ice cream has come a long way. You can now shop or find vegan ice cream recipes for almost every flavor imaginable, from chocolate and vanilla to cookie dough and salted caramel!
Whether you’re on a dairy-free, plant-based diet or not, here are 25 of the best vegan ice cream recipes everyone can enjoy.
Vegan Ice Cream Recipes
almond milk ice cream
With five recipes for different ice cream flavors, this almond milk ice cream can be dairy-free, corn syrup-free, banana-free, sugar-free, and nut-free (no cashews). It contains no preservatives or xanthan gum, no coconut milk, and no ice maker is required.
Dole Whip Recipe – Just like the famous Disney version
The Original Pineapple Dole Whip is a pineapple soft serve ice cream dessert that tastes like a cross between pineapple frozen yogurt and creamy vanilla ice cream. Prepare this homemade copycat recipe in your own kitchen.
Vegan pistachio ice cream, from the hello breakfast cookbook
This frozen vegan treat is packed with delicious pistachio flavor. In fact, it’s my favorite recipe in the entire book, even though it doesn’t contain chocolate.
Hope you will love it as much as I do!
Dairy free coconut ice cream
Many store-bought vegan ice cream brands are coconut based, and with good reason. Coconut milk and coconut cream result in a thick and smooth texture that mimics cream or whole milk.
Avocado Ice Cream
With dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo options, this chocolate or vanilla avocado ice cream is sure to impress. While it might be an unusual idea for US consumers, it’s been a classic flavor around the world for years.
keto ice cream
For those on a low-carb or sugar-free diet, this keto frozen dessert offers the same luxurious creaminess as regular ice cream, only without the sugar.
oat milk ice cream
If you’re looking for an option that’s not only coconut milk free, but also nut, soy, and egg free, be sure to try this oat milk ice cream.
Watch the video on how to make vegan ice cream above
Vegan Banana Ice Cream Recipes
Banana Ice Cream – 10 new recipes
Also known as Nice Cream, banana ice cream is a hugely popular healthy alternative to regular ice cream that is high in calories and saturated fat. All you need to make the frozen dessert are ripe frozen bananas and a blender or food processor.
protein ice cream
If you’ve ever gone straight to the freezer at the end of a workout for a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, this healthy ice cream recipe packed with vitamins, fiber and nutrients is for you.
Vegan Peanut Butter Ice Cream
At only 150 calories per serving, this homemade peanut butter dessert takes basic pantry ingredients and is an all-time fan favorite.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Nice Cream
This Peanut Butter Nice Cream is extra smooth and chocolatey and tastes like a Reese’s Frozen Peanut Butter Cup. The healthy ice cream dessert provides you with protein, vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats.
Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
Before I went vegan, Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Ice Cream was my absolute favorite. This naturally sweetened and healthy vegan option is perfect for mint lovers.
Vegan Frozen Yogurt Recipes
Homemade Frozen Yogurt
How to make homemade frozen yogurt with just two ingredients. You can adapt the basic recipe for as many vegan frozen yogurt flavors as your heart desires.
Chocolate Frozen Yoghurt
This high-protein and healthy chocolate ice cream alternative is a fantastic low-calorie dessert for a hot summer day. Unlike many other chocolate froyo recipes, this one doesn’t require heavy cream or condensed milk.
Cherry Frozen Yogurt
Sweet cherry frozen yogurt is mixed with rich dark chocolate in this easy recipe for homemade Cherry Garcia Frozen Yogurt that tastes just like Ben & Jerry’s.
Vegan frozen desserts
chocolate sorbet
Make this rich chocolate sorbet a naturally plant-based treat with no eggs or dairy. This vegan dessert is for real chocolate lovers. I serve it with coconut whipped cream and fresh raspberries on top.
Lemon sorbet
Light and refreshing, this easy lemon sorbet recipe strikes the perfect balance of tart and sweet. You can prepare the recipe with just three ingredients.
Frappuccino recipe
Bring Starbucks into your kitchen with a single serving of frosted, vegan coffee frappuccino beverage that you can make from start to finish in under five minutes.
Chocolate Brownie Batter Blizzard
Dairy Queen goes vegan! If you grew up on the popular DQ Blizzards, try this thick homemade vegan blizzard. Just like the fast-food variety, it stays in the serving cup if you hold it upside down.
Healthy Chocolate Fudgesicles
These family-friendly chocolate popsicles will take you right back to childhood. If you don’t have popsicle molds, use paper cups instead and insert a spoon or wooden popsicle when the fudge pop is half frozen.
How to make the best vegan ice cream
Most vegan ice cream recipes require one of three methods.
The first method is to use an ice cream maker. You simply whisk all the ingredients together and then stir them according to your machine’s manufacturer’s instructions.
Note that most ice machines require the base reservoir to be frozen for up to 48 hours before churning.
A second option is to freeze the liquid ingredients in ice cube trays. Once the ice cubes are frozen, blend them in a high-speed blender, such as a Vitamix or Blendtec, until smooth.
Another way to make ice cream without an ice cream maker is to whisk the ingredients together, pour the mixture into a long, shallow container, and pop it in the freezer.
Stir the contents with a fork every half hour to break up the ice crystals. This third method is the least creamy but still produces a delicious ice cream milk or granita texture.
Dairy Free Ice Cream Brands
Walk into almost any regular grocery store, Whole Foods, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, or Target’s freezer and you’ll find several plant-based ice cream flavors there.
This includes fully vegan ice cream brands like So Delicious, Oatly and Nada Moo, as well as offerings from larger traditional brands like Breyer’s, Halo Top and Haagen Dazs.
They even sell vegan magnum bars and dairy-free ice cream sandwiches.
A growing number of stores across the country, Canada and worldwide are offering vegan products for those who don’t eat dairy.
You can find vegan balls in different flavors at chains like Jeni’s and Van Leeuwen’s, as well as in smaller ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato shops.
Most of these options are based on coconut milk, oat milk, or cashews.
More dairy-free ice cream
Vegan coffee ice cream
Nutella frozen yogurt
Vegan Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Frozen yogurt with peanut butter
Vegan Oreo Ice Cream
Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Pudding Pops
Below is a wonderful basic vegan coconut ice cream recipe that will save you money by skipping the store-bought ice cream.
Eat in a bowl or bag, or use as a topping for vegan cheesecake or vegan brownies.
This homemade version can be turned into unlimited flavors like cookies and cream, vegan pecan butter or white chocolate, birthday cake batter, Rocky Road, French vanilla, maple walnut, peach vanilla bean, or strawberry.
- 2 cups coconut milk (for coconut-free try the almond milk ice cream above)
- 1/3 Cup sweetener of your choice
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional 1/4 cup cocoa powder for chocolate ice cream
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Use canned full-fat coconut milk, not lite or coconut milk from a carton. To prepare vegan ice cream: Whisk together all ingredients. If you have an ice cream maker, simply stir according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Without an ice cream maker: Freeze the mass in ice cube trays. Blend the frozen cubes in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, or allow to thaw sufficiently to blend in a food processor or regular blender. Enjoy immediately or freeze for about an hour to get a firmer consistency. Homemade vegan ice cream is at its best and creamiest the day it’s made. You can freeze leftovers for up to a month. Thaw before serving.