Vegan ice cream has come a long way from being a niche option to a delicious treat enjoyed by many. Whether you’re cutting down on dairy or just curious about plant-based sweets, you’ll find plenty of tasty choices. You can pick up great store-bought versions made with nuts, coconut, or oat milk, or try making your own at home with simple ingredients.
This post will give you clear tips on how to spot good vegan ice cream and easy ideas to make it yourself. With a bit of guidance, you’ll have no trouble finding or creating creamy, flavourful vegan ice cream that hits the spot every time.
Avoid caffeine (chocolate, coffee ice-creams) for pregnancy/nursing. Keep ice-cream away from pets (due to cocoa, nuts, salt, dried fruits). Read more on food safety for people and pets.
Why Choose Vegan Ice Cream?
If you enjoy ice cream but want to make choices that feel better for you and the world, vegan ice cream is a smart pick. It’s not just about avoiding dairy; there are several clear benefits worth knowing. Switching to vegan ice cream means you get to enjoy a creamy treat while supporting animal welfare, your health, and the planet.
Better for Animals
Choosing vegan ice cream means you’re skipping the dairy farms where animals often face tough conditions. Cows on dairy farms spend much of their lives in confined spaces and are separated from their calves early on.
By picking vegan options, you support products that don’t rely on animal exploitation or cruelty. It’s a way to enjoy dessert without adding to the demand that fuels those industries.
Health Advantages
Vegan ice cream is free from lactose, so it’s easier to digest if you’re lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy. Many people find traditional ice cream can cause bloating or stomach discomfort, but plant-based options usually don’t.
Plus, vegan ice cream tends to have less saturated fat, especially if it’s made from nuts or oats rather than coconut. That means you’re cutting down on the fats that can raise cholesterol, while still treating yourself to something creamy and rich.
A Smaller Environmental Footprint
Making vegan ice cream typically uses fewer resources like water and land compared to dairy farming. The carbon emissions tied to producing plant-based ingredients are usually lower too.
Every scoop of vegan ice cream can help reduce your environmental impact by cutting back on dairy production, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases and land degradation. It’s an easy way to enjoy ice cream that’s a little kinder to the planet.
Flavour Variety and Creativity
Vegan Mint Choc Chip Ice Cream (Rainbow Nourishments)
Vegan ice cream opens up new flavour possibilities. Made from almonds, cashews, coconut, oats, or even peas, these options bring unique tastes and textures. You might find a favourite in a rich cashew base or a tropical coconut swirl. Without relying on the classic dairy template, vegan ice cream explores fresh ideas that surprise and delight your taste buds.
In short, vegan ice cream stands out for good reasons. It gives you a cruelty-free, often healthier choice that helps the planet while serving up plenty of delicious flavour.
For instance, cookbook author Jae Steele offers flavours like blueberry and lavender homemade ice-cream. How more interesting is that, over vanilla, strawberry or chocolate?
Buying Good Vegan Ice Cream
Finding good vegan ice cream in stores or from local vendors can be a bit of a treasure hunt if you don’t know what to look for. There are plenty of options out there, but not all of them are equally tasty or healthy.
Knowing which brands to trust and what ingredients to seek can make a big difference when you’re shopping. You’ll want a product that’s creamy, flavourful, and made with natural ingredients rather than fillers or unnecessary additives.
What to Look for on Labels
When shopping for vegan ice cream, the ingredient list says a lot about quality. Look for short, simple ingredients that you can recognize. Natural bases like coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, or cashew cream often deliver the best texture and flavour. Avoid products with long lists of artificial ingredients, stabilizers, or excessive thickeners.
Keep an eye out for:
- Real fruit, nuts, or cocoa instead of artificial flavours
- Minimal amounts of added sugars
- No hydrogenated oils or artificial colours
- Natural sweeteners like maple syrup, agave, or coconut sugar
A clean ingredient list usually means the ice cream will taste fresher and feel more satisfying. The right fat source, like coconut or nuts, helps with creaminess and richness without the dairy.
Not every day has time for stirring and freezing. That’s where brands like Cecily’s Vegan Ice Cream shine. Their coconut-based scoops come from a spirit of kindness and community.
Booja Booja, another gem, uses simple ingredients, skipping shortcuts for deeper flavour. Both offer a range that surprises and delights, including chocolate, honeycomb, and blackcurrant.
Making Your Own Vegan Ice Cream
Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream (Rainbow Nourishments)
Making vegan ice cream at home is easier than you might think. It gives you full control over the ingredients, so you can avoid added preservatives and get exactly the flavours you want. Plus, it’s fun to experiment with different bases, sweeteners, and mix-ins.
You don’t need fancy tools to start, just some basic ingredients and a little patience. Whether you have an ice cream machine or just a freezer, homemade vegan ice cream can be creamy, refreshing, and satisfying without much hassle.
Basic Ingredients for Vegan Ice Cream
The foundation of any vegan ice cream is a plant-based milk or cream. Popular choices include:
- Coconut milk or cream: Thick and rich, it creates a smooth, creamy texture with a slight coconut flavor.
- Cashew cream: Made by soaking and blending cashews with water, it’s naturally creamy and has a mild, nutty taste.
- Almond milk: Lighter than coconut or cashew, it works well if you want a less rich ice cream.
- Oat milk: Smooth and mild, suitable for more neutral-flavoured ice creams.
For sweetness, you can use natural options like:
- Maple syrup
- Agave nectar
- Coconut sugar
- Date syrup
Avoid refined sugars if you want a cleaner, healthier dessert.
Flavours come from vanilla extract, cocoa powder, fruit purees, or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also add in chopped nuts, vegan chocolate chips, or fresh fruits to create texture and fun surprises in every scoop.
Using an Ice Cream Machine
An ice cream machine makes the process quicker and helps create a soft, creamy texture by churning the mixture as it freezes. If you have one, here’s a simple approach:
- Blend the base ingredients (milk, sweetener, flavourings) until smooth.
- Chill the mixture in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Pour it into the ice cream machine and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, usually about 20-30 minutes.
- Once churned, transfer to a container and freeze for a couple of hours to firm up.
This method reduces ice crystals and gives you a scoopable, creamy treat right from home.
No Ice Cream Machine? No Problem.
This 2-ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream (Rainbow Nourishments) just needs a hand or stand-mixer.
If you don’t have an ice cream machine, you can still make tasty vegan ice cream using a simple freeze-and-stir method:
- Mix your base ingredients thoroughly and pour into a shallow, freezer-safe container.
- Freeze for about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Take it out and give it a good stir or whisk to break up any forming ice crystals.
- Repeat stirring every 30 minutes for 2-3 hours until the ice cream is firm and creamy.
It takes a bit longer, but this method works well for beginners and keeps things straightforward.
Simple Homemade Vegan Ice Cream Recipe
Here’s a basic coconut-vanilla recipe to get you started. It’s quick, simple, and delicious.
Ingredients:
- 2 cans full-fat coconut milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
- Chill the coconut milk cans overnight for best results.
- Scoop the thick cream from the cans into a blender, leaving the watery part behind.
- Add maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into your ice cream machine and churn for about 25 minutes, or pour into a container and use the freeze-and-stir method.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours to firm up if needed before serving.
Feel free to mix in chopped nuts, vegan chocolate chips, or fresh berries before the final freeze for extra texture.
Tips for Perfect Vegan Ice Cream at Home
- Use full-fat plant milks or cream for better texture. Low-fat options often freeze harder and less creamy.
- Chill your base mixture before freezing or churning; it helps reduce ice crystals.
- Don’t skip the stirring step if you’re using the freeze-only method—it makes a big difference.
- Experiment with flavours, but keep the base simple at first to understand how each ingredient affects texture.
- Add small amounts of alcohol (like a splash of rum or vodka) to the mix to keep the ice cream softer if you want a scoopable texture straight from the freezer. Obviously for adults only!
Homemade vegan ice cream is a chance to treat yourself and explore flavours without limits. Whether simple or fancy, you’ll enjoy the process—and the creamy results.
A Book of Vegan Ice Cream Recipes
The Vegan Ice Cream Bible offers recipes by a woman who uses fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients, to sell in her own vegan ice-cream parlour!
Matching base recipes with ideal flavour pairings, the recipes are divided by season, to make the most of natural affordable ingredients. Recipes include:
- White Coffee, Earl Grey & Orange
- Coconut & Lime
- Salted Pretzel & Caramel
- Turmeric Latte
- Walnut & Maple Syrup
- Plus sorbet recipes
Vegan Mr Whippy Ice Cream Vans!
Mr Whippy is an institution in England, the sound of the ice-cream van that drives the streets in summer. Swish Vegan Soft Serve sells wholesale to ice cream vans.
And Temptation Soft Serve Mix works with soft-serve machines and ice-cream vans (choose from vanilla or chocolate).
Conclusion
Choosing or making vegan ice cream is a simple way to enjoy a creamy, satisfying treat while staying true to your values. It supports animal welfare, offers health benefits, and reduces environmental harm—all without sacrificing flavour.
Trying quality store-bought brands or making your own lets you control ingredients and experiment with tastes you love. Give vegan ice cream a try soon, and enjoy dessert that feels good in every scoop.
