15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (2024)

Cool down with these 15 healthy vegan ice cream recipes that are plant based, whole-foods focused, gluten free, delicious, and perfect for a healthier treat when you are craving something cold and sweet!

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (1)photo by Natts Eats

Droolworthy & Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

I honestly believe there can never be enough healthy vegan ice cream recipes out in the blogosphere. Never. There’s no such thing as “oversaturating” the recipe world with ice cream!

Whether it’s cold, creamy dark chocolate, tart and sweet peach, or chunky cookie-dough deliciousness, I’m down for any healthy ice cream flavour you throw my way. Also, I was pregnant at the time I wrote this recipe roundup post so…no explanation needed!

Last summer I put together a delicious homemade dairy free ice cream roundup and going with my motto that there can never be too many ice cream recipes to try, today I’m sharing 15 more healthy and totally vegan ice cream recipes!

Whether you can tolerate dairy and/or don’t follow a vegan or plant-based diet, are a strict vegan, or just like to dabble in plant-based eating, there will guaranteed be at least one healthy ice cream option in this list for you!

The Vegan Ice Cream Recipes List:

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Creamy Vegan Mint Brownie Ice Cream from Minimalist Baker

It’s such a classic combination, mint and chocolate. This delicious recipe by Minimalist Baker is a must-make with easy raw brownie bits and a simple homemade vegan mint ice cream.

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Vegan Caramel Ice Cream from Delight Fuel

This delicious and creamy cashew based vegan ice cream is swirled with a simple homemade 5-minute tahini date caramel for a mind-blowing combination.

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Healthy Cookie Dough Blizzard Recipefrom NITK

While not a traditional ice cream recipe, this blizzard is one of my favourite simple and healthy cool ice-cream treats to enjoy in the summer with a quick banana based “nice cream” and easy vegan cookie dough chunks.

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5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cup Nice Cream from Pinch Of Yum

Five ingredients, easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. There’s really no excuse not to try this delicious and simple recipe from the lovely Pinch Of Yum!

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4-Ingredient Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream from The Loopy Whisk

It doesn’t get any easier than this tasty and dreamy dark chocolate ice cream with a simple and healthy chocolate sauce for drizzling.

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Healthy Almond Pistachio Frozen Yogurtfrom NITK

This lovely green ice cream alternative, a vegan frozen yogurt, is super tasty and has a lovely flavour to it for a light and healthy cold snack or treat. While the recipe calls for honey you can swap the honey for agave or coconut nectar for a strict-vegan version.

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Homemade Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream from Natt Eats

This lovely vegan ice cream recipe is rich and creamy with a combination of fresh strawberries and coconut milk. Perfect for when strawberries are fresh, in season, and amazingly sweet…nature’s candy.

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Vegan Cookies & Cream Ice Cream from Healthy Happy Life

While this recipe isn’t the healthiest of all vegan ice creams, it is a healthier alternative to a typical store-bought dairy-filled cookies & cream ice cream ice cream you might find, and healthier alternatives are what this is all about.

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Watermelon Mint Ice Cream from Feasting On Fruit

This magical combination of mint and watermelon along with coconut cream and maple syrup is an absolute must on those scorcher days in the summertime.

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Creamy Peach & Walnut Ice Cream from The Awesome Green

While I don’t often think of combining peaches and walnuts, I’m totally intrigued by this lovely looking and sounding vegan ice cream from Ana of The Awesome Green who recommends grilling the peaches for this mouthwatering recipe.

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Vegan Mint Chip Ice Cream from The Modern Proper

Another magical mint ice cream recipe from The Modern Proper, this one combines raw cashews with coconut cream, cane sugar, and chopped dark chocolate.

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Lemon Nice Cream from Krolls Korner

Lemon isn’t a super common flavour of ice cream but should not be overlooked. Not only is it refreshing and perfectly sweet, there’s the added benefit of antioxidants and vitamin C!

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Dreamy Vegan Chocolate Almond Sundae from Dolly & Oatmeal

Dreamy is right, this recipe is as dreamy as it gets with a rich dark chocolate homemade vegan ice cream topped with fresh raspberries, almonds, and a simple homemade chocolate sauce.

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Vegan Strawberry Peach Sorbet from Peanut Butter Plus Chocolate

When you are feeling like a change from the rich chocolate and vanilla ice cream flavours, give this light and sweet peach and strawberry combo a try with a fun add-in of gluten free graham cracker bits for extra crunch

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Easy 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Pie Ice Creamfrom NITK

While you might not be thinking of pumpkin during the summer months, this simple 3-ingredient pumpkin ice cream (made with store-bought vegan vanilla ice cream) is incredibly easy and worth keeping on your must-make list for the fall!

Back in my nutritional consulting days it was very common to hear my clients complain about how dairy products (ice cream, cheese, milk, etc.) left them feeling gross and bloated with a range of other unmentionable symptoms. I was always happy to point them in the direction of healthy dairy-free or vegan alternatives they could try instead.

If you are like one of those clients and need to pass over the ice cream often, these 15 delicious recipes are an answer to your ice cream woes! Or maybe you are just aiming to eat healthier, these recipes are the answer too! I’d love to know which one peaked your interest. Tell me about it in the comments and be sure to pin the photo below to save this roundup for later!

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15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What replaces dairy in vegan ice cream? ›

The secret is nothing more than coconut milk. Full-fat, creamy coconut milk. Other vegan milk substitutes, like almond milk or soy milk, just don't cut it when it comes to ice cream.

How healthy is vegan ice cream? ›

Vegan ice cream made from plant-based milk like almond milk or coconut milk often has fewer calories than regular ice cream made with cow's milk. However, some non-dairy frozen desserts may have similar caloric content due to added sugars or fats. It's crucial to check the labels for accurate information.

How to thicken vegan ice cream? ›

Frozen bananas will help you achieve the thick texture of ice cream in your blender. If you have an ice cream maker, you can use the freezing and churning process to create a thick vegan ice cream without the need for frozen bananas. This process often uses cashews that have been soaked overnight in water instead.

How to give vegan ice cream that creamy taste minus the milk? ›

Use higher fat content vegan milks: Oat milk, coconut milk and cream, as well as cashew milk and cream, have a higher fat content which can help create a creamier texture. Add a fat source: Adding a fat source like coconut oil or cocoa butter can also help create a creamier texture.

What is the best milk for vegan ice cream? ›

1Use the right non-dairy milk as your base

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

What is the best oil for ice cream? ›

In general, olive oil goes well on ice cream because it is a totally different kind of fat – the creamy, cold, dairy contrasting against something plant-y, green, and spicy!” Meyer notes. Check out Caffè Panna's Instagram page for daily menu drops including what scoops, pints and affogati they are offering.

What is the best emulsifier for vegan ice cream? ›

A common - and better - emulsifier for ice cream is soy lecithin, which can be derived from soybeans, sunflowers and rapeseed. Soy lecithin has a neutral taste, and also allows you to make egg-less ice cream.

What are the best stabilizers for vegan ice cream? ›

The common thickeners in non-dairy ice creams are guar gum, xanthan gum, acacia gum, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. These ingredients are added to enhance the texture of liquid to mimic the viscosity of a rich creamy ice cream. Guar, acacia, and xanthan gum can all be added to a recipe while cold.

What is a good substitute for coconut milk in ice cream? ›

Heavy cream

Heavy cream is made by scraping fat from fresh milk and is especially common in high-fat foods like creamy soups, sauces, and ice cream. It's much higher in fat than coconut milk and can replace it in equal quantities in most recipes ( 12 ).

What does evaporated milk do in ice cream? ›

Dense, Fudgy Ice Cream

On top of all that, evaporated milk also happens to be the key to our super-chewy New England–style ice cream. For that you can thank its high protein content, which delivers a superior, fresh-churned texture while simultaneously limiting iciness once the ice cream is stored.

How do you keep ice crystals out of vegan ice cream? ›

Vegan Ice Cream Challenges

Because of this, ice crystals form which create a grainy or sandy mouthfeel in the finished product. Some solutions include adding proteins, food gums and other hydrocolloids to bind the water during the freezing process.

Is Jude's ice cream vegan? ›

Our Plant Based Tasting Box is full of delicious vegan ice cream. From classic Vanilla Bean and Salted Caramel to our delectable Mint Chocolate and fruity Mango Sorbet there is a flavour for every palate.

What can I use instead of non dairy cream vegan? ›

Coconut cream is a versatile ingredient that makes an excellent vegan substitute for heavy cream. While it can be purchased pre-made, it's also simple to make at home using coconut milk. Simply chill a can of full-fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight, open it and pour the liquid contents into another container.

What are some vegan replacements for dairy products? ›

rice, oat, almond, hazelnut, coconut, quinoa and potato milks. foods that carry the "dairy-free" or "suitable for vegans" signs.

What is a dairy-free option for ice cream? ›

Dairy-free frozen desserts typically substitute regular milk with plant-based milk such as almond, soy, coconut, or cashew milk, although there are some amazing brands (*cough, cough, Eclipse*) that take it even further.

What are vegan stabilizers for ice cream? ›

The common thickeners in non-dairy ice creams are guar gum, xanthan gum, acacia gum, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. These ingredients are added to enhance the texture of liquid to mimic the viscosity of a rich creamy ice cream. Guar, acacia, and xanthan gum can all be added to a recipe while cold.

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