If you can’t or don’t eat dairy, that shouldn’t mean you have to miss out on ice cream! We’ve gathered our top tips for making vegan ice cream plus our favorite recipes to beat the heat!
How to Make Vegan Ice Cream
Using an ice cream maker is the best way to achieve creamy, perfectly chilled ice cream. But for those not ready to invest in an ice cream maker, banana “nice cream” and our no-churn methods are also options!
The other key to creamy vegan ice cream is to use rich dairy-free alternatives such as coconut and/or cashew milk. Our favorite is a combination of the two!
10-ingredient MEGA creamy vegan ice cream loaded with peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough! So creamy and decadent you’d never believe it was dairy- and egg-free.
Amazing Raspberry Ripple Coconut Ice Cream that’s creamy, sweet, tart, and SO delicious! Just 8 ingredients and minimal effort to create this summery, swoon-worthy treat!
Seriously decadent Vegan Cherry Pie Ice Cream made with just 10 ingredients using simple methods! Real pieces of cherry pie filling and crust swirled throughout.
Banana “nice cream” is a fun twist on ice cream, made with a base of (you guessed it) frozen ripe bananas!
It can be made without an ice cream maker or any added sugar. It’s also super quick and requires just a high-speed blender or food processor to prepare!
It does melt more quickly than traditional ice cream and each flavor will have a slight banana taste. So if you aren’t a banana fan, we’d suggest sticking to one of our more traditional vegan ice cream flavors.
The flavors of coffee and chocolate blend together in this bowl of creamy banana ice cream. Decaf options included + tips for getting perfectly scoopable banana ice cream. Just 3 ingredients and simple methods required!
Super creamy and naturally sweetened banana soft serve infused with tahini paste and raw cacao powder! A healthier and delicious way to indulge in a plant-based dessert or snack.
5-ingredient no-churn vegan chocolate ice cream that has all the creaminess, flavor, and richness of the real thing! Naturally sweetened, vegan, and gluten-free.
Creamy mint chocolate chip ice cream made without an ice cream maker! A delicious, dairy-free dessert with fresh mint, peppermint extract, and matcha. Just 8 ingredients required!
6-ingredient Mango Sorbet with creamy coconut milk and a handful of fresh raspberries. Creamy, tropical (like guava!), perfectly sweet, and delicious for summertime.
5-minute watermelon sorbet made in a blender with nothing but ripe summer fruit and a splash of almond milk. This unbelievably refreshing sorbet tastes like cotton candy.
The ULTIMATE vegan strawberry milkshake — creamy perfection without the dairy! Naturally sweetened, BIG strawberry flavor, and just 4 ingredients required!
By the spoonful is of course an amazing way to enjoy ice cream. But if you’re looking for something extra special, try it in an ice cream cake, ice cream sandwich, or on desserts such as crisps, cobblers, and brownies!
The best vegan apple crisp, naturally sweetened and made in 1 bowl! Tender, caramelized apples under a crispy pecan-oat topping. Fall dessert perfection.
Perfect vegan fruit cobbler packed with ripe, juicy summer fruit and topped with flaky gluten-free biscuits. Baked to bubbly golden perfection! Just 10 simple ingredients required.
Incredibly fudgy sweet potato brownies with cacao, almond butter, and oats. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and topped with pecans and chocolate chips for the ultimate healthier treat!
Any airtight container should work, we usually use large, wide storage containers for the easiest scooping (~8x5x3″), either plastic or glass. Hope this helps!
Frozen bananas do make a gray vegan gf “ice cream” without the high fat and sugar, but it’s not quite the same… Have you experimented with Aquafaba as a base instead of coconut and/or nut milk? I just recently started eating vegan ice creams—all the commercial brands made from nut or coconut milk are either Too loaded with fat and sugar (no thanks) or whipped full of air (Taste great, but not so satisfying)— except a brand using Aquafaba. Tastes like the best gelato—-dense, rich, creamy. It does freeze up really hard, but texture returns with 5 minutes softening on the counter. Would love any suggestions
Wow!! Thats all I can say! I having been making life changes for the last 3+ years. Lost over 50 pounds. Always learning and researching, trying to eat healthy without wanting to shoot myself.(lol) Your website is a corner turner for me! I have recently cut out the last of me vices… meat, eggs, dairy. Bummed about it. But thanks to you I can still have butter, cream cheese, cream cheese frosting. I think you are amazing. Please receive my E-hug and thank you!!
Susan
vanessa says
What containers do you recommend for storing the ice cream?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Any airtight container should work, we usually use large, wide storage containers for the easiest scooping (~8x5x3″), either plastic or glass. Hope this helps!
Stefanie says
Love the collection! I just made the vanilla basic one and move to the ‘Guava’ one tomorrow :D
So excited.
Have you ever experimented with a frozen yoghurt or oat milk version instead of a coconut base? If yes, I would love to hear your verdict :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! =)
We haven’t experimented with those, but think oat milk would turn out more icy. Let us know if you try it!
Nechama says
Yeah! Maple Walnut Ice Cream (no churn please)!
OR
Jamoka Almond Fudge! Yeah!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Added to our list!
Michele says
Frozen bananas do make a gray vegan gf “ice cream” without the high fat and sugar, but it’s not quite the same… Have you experimented with Aquafaba as a base instead of coconut and/or nut milk? I just recently started eating vegan ice creams—all the commercial brands made from nut or coconut milk are either Too loaded with fat and sugar (no thanks) or whipped full of air (Taste great, but not so satisfying)— except a brand using Aquafaba. Tastes like the best gelato—-dense, rich, creamy. It does freeze up really hard, but texture returns with 5 minutes softening on the counter. Would love any suggestions
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
Susan says
Wow!! Thats all I can say! I having been making life changes for the last 3+ years. Lost over 50 pounds. Always learning and researching, trying to eat healthy without wanting to shoot myself.(lol) Your website is a corner turner for me! I have recently cut out the last of me vices… meat, eggs, dairy. Bummed about it. But thanks to you I can still have butter, cream cheese, cream cheese frosting. I think you are amazing. Please receive my E-hug and thank you!!
Susan
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
So great! Thanks, Susan!
Lily meadows says
Why can’t you make maple walnut ice cream ???? Dairy free of course!!!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
That sounds amazing!