Dairy-Free Delights: Keto Ice Cream Explained

Dairy-free ice cream is a delicious treat for those who are lactose intolerant, vegan, or on a keto diet. The base of this ice cream is usually full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk, but some recipes also include almond butter, cashew butter, or almond milk. To make it keto-friendly, a sugar alternative such as erythritol, xylitol, or stevia is used. Some recipes also include a small amount of alcohol, such as vodka, to prevent the ice cream from freezing too hard.

Dairy-free ice cream can be made with coconut milk

Ingredients:

• 13.5 oz canned coconut milk, chilled
• 3/4 cup cashew butter or almond butter
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions:

• Place a freezer-friendly container or loaf pan in the freezer.
• In a food processor or high-speed blender, add the coconut milk, cashew butter, and maple syrup, and blend well until thick and creamy.
• Pour the ice cream mixture into the pre-frozen container and place it in the freezer.
• For the first hour, stir the ice cream mixture every 15 minutes, and then allow it to freeze completely for at least 3 hours.
• Let the ice cream thaw for about 15 minutes before scooping and serving.

It can be made in an ice cream maker

Yes, it can be made in an ice cream maker! Here are the steps:

Using an ice cream maker:

• Prepare the ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some models need to be frozen ahead of time.
• Stir together the milk, sweetener of choice, salt, and pure vanilla extract. If making chocolate ice cream, stir in the cocoa powder too.
• Churn the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions. This should take around 10-15 minutes.
• Transfer the ice cream to a loaf pan or shallow dish and freeze for about an hour.
• Let the ice cream thaw for 5-10 minutes before serving.

No ice cream maker?

You can also make this ice cream without an ice cream maker. Here's how:

• Freeze the mixture in ice cube trays.
• Then, blend the frozen ice cubes in a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix. Alternatively, you can use a food processor or a regular blender.
• Eat as-is, or freeze for an hour or so for a firmer texture.

It can be made without an ice cream maker

Dairy-free keto ice cream can be made without an ice cream maker. Here are some tips and tricks to achieve a creamy texture:

Method 1: Blender

• Place the ice cream mixture in ice cube trays and freeze until solid.
• Once frozen, blend the cubes in a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix. Alternatively, use a food processor or regular blender, but allow the cubes to thaw slightly before blending.
• Enjoy the ice cream as-is, or freeze for an hour for a firmer texture.

Method 2: Manual Churning

• Transfer the ice cream mixture to a freezer-safe container and freeze for about 4-6 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes during the first 2 hours and then every 60-90 minutes for the remaining time. This breaks up ice crystals and prevents the ice cream from becoming too hard.
• Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving to allow it to soften and become more scoopable.

It can be made with an egg-free base

Dairy-free ice cream can be made with an egg-free base. This is great for those who are allergic to eggs or are vegan.

Ingredients:

• Full-fat coconut milk
• Natural, creamy almond butter
• Pure maple syrup or a keto-friendly sweetener
• Vanilla or almond extract

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into a freezer-friendly container.
• Freeze the mixture until it is firm.
• Allow the ice cream to thaw until it is scoopable, then serve.

You can also make a 3-ingredient coconut ice cream that is dairy-free, vegan, and keto. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Canned coconut milk
• Cashew or almond butter
• Maple syrup

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
• Transfer the mixture to a loaf tin or freezer-friendly container and place it in the freezer.
• For the first hour, stir the ice cream mixture every 15 minutes, and then let it freeze for at least 3 hours.
• Let the ice cream thaw for 15 minutes before serving.

It can be made with an alcohol base

Dairy-free ice cream can be made with an alcohol base. Alcohol does not freeze, so adding it to the ice cream mixture will keep the ice cream soft and creamy. You can use vanilla extract, or combine rum or vodka with vanilla extract. If you don't want to use alcohol, you can use a sugar-free syrup, such as allulose syrup, instead.

Frequently asked questions