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:

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (2)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (3)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (4)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (5)

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!

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (6)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (7)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (9)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (10)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (13)

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!

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (14)

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.

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (15)

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

15 Healthy Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ideas (16)

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 milk in vegan ice cream? ›

As far as dairy-free ice cream goes, coconut ice cream is by far the best. Full-fat coconut milk adds enough richness to create a texture that is super creamy, smooth, and not at all icy. It's rich, decadent, and every bit as good as the real thing.

Are vegan ice creams healthy? ›

Choosing non-dairy ice cream can offer some health benefits that include saving you calories, sugar, and saturated fat, which can contribute to high cholesterol.

What do vegans eat instead of ice cream? ›

  • Option #1 Avocado Ice Cream.
  • Option #2 Coconut Ice Cream.
  • Option #3 Cashew Ice Cream.
  • Option #4 Soy Ice Cream.
  • Option #5 Almond Ice Cream with Ben & Jerry's.
  • Option #6 A Hybrid-Coconut and Cashew Ice Cream.
  • The Bright Future of the Non-Dairy Ice Cream Market.
Sep 30, 2017

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

To prevent ice crystals from forming, press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface. 2. Let it thaw slightly before serving. Homemade ice creams lack the stabilizers that manufacturers add to store-bought ice creams, so they are much firmer straight out of the freezer.

How to thicken vegan ice cream? ›

Plant-based fats are the best way to thicken vegan ice cream. Coconut cream, full-fat coconut milk and coconut oil will give the creamiest and thickest results. Cornstarch and tapioca starch can also be used to thicken but the end result will be a little more icy and a little less creamy.

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

You can use non-dairy almond milk, coconut milk, or rice milk to create a creamy, smooth ice cream base that's similar to what you're used to buying from the store, but better. The next step is mixing in any of your favorite ice cream buddies, like swirls of peanut butter, crushed cookies, or chopped chocolate bars.

What is the healthiest non-dairy frozen dessert? ›

Here's how five popular vegan ice cream brands rank (from least to most healthy), according to nutritionists and health experts.
  • 01 of 05. Ben & Jerry's Non-Dairy Ice Cream. ...
  • 02 of 05. Oatly Vegan Ice Cream. ...
  • 03 of 05. Halo Top Dairy-Free Ice Cream. ...
  • 04 of 05. Coconut Bliss Vegan Ice Cream. ...
  • 05 of 05. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.
May 7, 2021

Is vegan ice cream junk food? ›

33–37: Vegan Foods You May Want to Limit

Vegan junk food: Vegan ice cream, candy, cookies, chips and sauces generally contain just as much added sugar and fat as their non-vegan counterparts. Plus, they contain almost no vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds.

What are 3 vegan non animal dairy alternatives? ›

PLANT-BASED MILK

The most popular plant-based milks you're likely to see on the grocery shelves are coconut, almond, soy, rice, hemp, flax and oat. Homemade milk substitutes generally won't have added thickeners, emulsifiers or added vitamins that might affect your recipe, particularly in baked goods.

Can gelato be vegan? ›

Some gelato may also contain egg yolks. As such, most gelato is vegetarian-friendly, unless you exclude dairy, eggs, or both from your diet. Still, gelato would generally not fit into a vegan diet. However, some gelato brands make vegan versions.

What is the difference between plant-based and vegan? ›

Both meal plans have made headlines for their health benefits in recent years, and while they are similar, there are some key differences: Vegan diets eliminate all animal products, while plant-based diets do not necessarily eliminate animal products but focus on eating mostly plants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, ...

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 is the healthiest thickener for ice cream? ›

Egg Yolks: The most traditional thickening agent, egg yolks contain natural proteins and fats that contribute to a rich and luxurious texture in custard-based ice creams.

What are the best stabilizers for vegan ice cream? ›

Kappa carageenan forms a firm brittle gel and iota forms a soft creamy gel. Each of these can work in non-dairy ice cream or they can be combined to melt the two textures to perfect them for your recipe. Locust bean gum will gel if it is added to a recipe that contains guar gum and then is heated.

What can vegans use instead of milk? ›

Vegan milks are made from a wide assortment of beans, nuts, seeds, and grains. The most popular varieties are soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk. Other popular brands are made from coconuts, peas, cashews, hazelnuts, or rice.

Is vegan ice cream without milk? ›

It's not made with low-fat or skim milk, or anything like that. 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 is a dairy free option for ice cream? ›

Other suitable choices include oat- and rice-based ice creams. Oatly is slowly rolling out a line of oat-milk-based frozen desserts, with classic flavors like strawberry and chocolate in the works. Other options with wide appeal include So Delicious' Oatmilk ice cream line or Rice Dream's Cocoa Marble Fudge.

What are non dairy alternatives to milk? ›

Plant-Based Milk Alternatives
  • Grains such as oat, quinoa and rice.
  • Legumes such as pea and soy.
  • Nuts such as almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, macadamia, peanut, pistachio and walnut.
  • Seeds such as flax, hemp and sesame.
Feb 22, 2023

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