Keto-Friendly Ice Creams And Yogurts: What's The Scoop?

The ketogenic diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. Ice cream is usually not keto-friendly, but there are some keto-friendly ice cream brands, such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. These brands use sugar substitutes such as sugar alcohols, stevia, and monk fruit.

It is also possible to make keto-friendly ice cream at home. Some recipes use coconut milk, a sweetener, and vanilla extract. Other recipes use Greek yogurt, frozen blackberries, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.

Keto ice cream brands

There are many keto ice cream brands available in the market. Here is a list of some of the best keto ice cream brands:

• Rebel is an ice cream brand designed for people on the keto diet. Their ice cream is made with cream, other high-fat ingredients, erythritol, and monk fruit. Rebel has a higher fat content and is also available in different flavours.
• Halo Top offers a full keto line of ice cream with interesting flavours like Jelly Donut and White Chocolate Macadamia. They also have basic flavours like vanilla bean.
• Enlightened offers keto ice cream options as well as low-calorie, non-keto options. They use allulose, along with sugar alcohol and monk fruit extract, to replace sugar.
• Keto Foods has a line of products including ice cream pints, ice cream bars, and chocolate, all made with the keto diet in mind. They use erythritol, monk fruit, stevia, and allulose as sweeteners.
• So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream from full-fat coconut milk. The No Sugar Added varieties have negligible amounts of sugar. These keto ice cream options are sweetened with a combination of the sugar alcohol erythritol and monk fruit extract.
• Arctic Zero is a keto-friendly, dairy-free ice cream made with a combination of plant fibers and faba bean protein. It is also lower in calories than other keto-friendly ice creams but is fat-free.
• Breyer's Carb Smart is a budget-friendly, low-fat, and low-carb ice cream option.

There are also many recipes available online to make your own keto ice cream at home.

Making keto ice cream at home

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of canned full-fat coconut milk
• 1/3 cup of erythritol, xylitol, or sweetener of choice
• 1 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• A pinch of salt

Instructions:

• Stir together the milk, sweetener of choice, salt, and pure vanilla extract. If making chocolate ice cream, stir in the cocoa powder too.
• If you have an ice cream maker, prepare the machine according to the manual specific to your brand and model. (Some models need to be frozen ahead of time.)
• Churn according to the manufacturer's instructions. This should take around 15 minutes.
• For a no-churn version without an ice cream maker, freeze the mixture in ice cube trays, which can be purchased for a low cost at most grocery stores or home stores.
• Then, blend the frozen ice cubes in a high-speed blender, or thaw them enough to blend in a food processor or regular blender.
• Eat as-is, or freeze for an hour or so for a firmer texture. Due to the lack of preservatives or stabilizers, the keto ice cream is best the day it's made, but you can technically freeze leftovers for up to a month and thaw before serving.

You can also experiment with different extracts and add-ins to create your own unique flavors. For example, stir in diced strawberries to make strawberry ice cream, pecans and butter extract for butter pecan, or pure peppermint extract and chopped dark chocolate to make mint chocolate chip.

Keto-friendly ice cream ingredients

While ice cream is traditionally high in sugar and carbs, there are plenty of keto-friendly ice cream options available in the market. You can also make your own keto-friendly ice cream at home with just a few basic ingredients. Here are some keto-friendly ice cream ingredients that you can use:

Heavy Cream

Also known as double or thickened cream, heavy cream is a key ingredient in making keto-friendly ice cream. It provides the necessary fat content and contributes to the rich, creamy texture. However, it's important to avoid using reduced-fat or light versions of cream, as they can affect the desired consistency of the ice cream.

Sweeteners

When making keto-friendly ice cream, it's essential to use sweeteners that are low in carbs and suitable for a keto diet. Some recommended options include erythritol, xylitol, stevia, monk fruit, and allulose. These sweeteners can provide the desired sweetness without adding significant carbs or spiking blood sugar levels.

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum is a useful ingredient to add thickness and prevent crystallization in keto-friendly ice cream. It helps improve the texture and mouthfeel of the ice cream. However, a little goes a long way, so be cautious about the amount you add.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is optional but adds a delightful vanilla flavor to the ice cream. If you prefer other flavors, you can replace it with other flavor extracts, such as peppermint, almond, or lemon extract.

Cocoa Powder

For chocolate lovers, adding unsweetened cocoa powder is a great way to create a chocolate keto-friendly ice cream. Simply stir in the desired amount of cocoa powder along with the other ingredients to achieve your desired chocolatey treat.

Other Add-Ins

Feel free to experiment with various add-ins to create different flavors. You can try diced strawberries, pecans, butter extract, shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips, sugar-free caramel syrup, or even keto-friendly cookies or brownies crumbled into the mix. Get creative and customize your ice cream to your taste preferences!

Sugar substitutes

Natural sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit are also used. Monk fruit comes from a small round fruit native to China, while stevia is made from plant leaves.

Where to buy keto ice cream

The ketogenic (keto) diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. While ice cream is not usually a food that fits into the keto diet, there are some keto-friendly ice cream brands, such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. These brands use sugar substitutes and have about 4-10 grams of net carbs per pint, so you can still enjoy ice cream and stay in ketosis.

Online

You can buy keto ice cream from the company's website or from online retailers. For example:

• Rebel Creamery: You can order Rebel ice cream from their website or use their store locator to find a retailer near you.
• Enlightened: Enlightened offers free shipping on orders over $75 and provides a $2 discount on any Enlightened product purchased in stores.
• Halo Top: Halo Top ice cream can be purchased online or found in most major grocery stores.
• KETO Foods: You can order KETO Pints from their website or use their store locator to find a retailer near you.
• Breyer's Carb Smart: You can order Breyer's Carb Smart ice cream from their website or use their store locator to find a retailer near you.

In-Store

Keto ice cream can also be found in many major grocery stores and retailers. Here are some options:

• Rebel Creamery: Available at several major grocery stores.
• Enlightened: Available at several grocery stores.
• Halo Top: Available at most major grocery stores.
• So Delicious: Available at several major grocery stores.
• KETO Foods: Available at some retailers; use their store locator to find a store near you.
• Breyer's Carb Smart: Available at several major grocery stores; use their store locator to find a store near you.

Frequently asked questions