Soy Ice Cream: A Keto Conundrum?

Soy ice cream is a great option for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. However, it is not necessarily keto-friendly. Soy ice cream is typically made with soy milk, which has a higher carb count than other keto-friendly milk alternatives like coconut milk or almond milk.

A 1/2 cup serving of soy milk contains 4 grams of carbs, while the same serving of coconut milk or almond milk contains only 1 gram. This means that soy milk-based ice cream will have a higher carb count and may not be suitable for a keto diet.

There are many keto-friendly ice cream options available in stores and online, or you can make your own at home using keto-friendly ingredients.

Keto ice cream ingredients

The ingredients for keto ice cream are usually heavy cream, a sweetener, and xanthan gum. Some recipes also include butter, vanilla extract, and almond milk.

Ingredients

• 2 cups canned coconut milk
• 1/3 cup erythritol, xylitol, or sweetener of choice
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• Optional ingredients for desired flavor

Instructions

• Be sure to use full-fat canned coconut milk, not lite or coconutmilk beverage. If desired, you can use the seeds from a vanilla bean instead of the extract.
• To make the keto ice cream: Stir together the milk, sweetener, salt, and vanilla extract. If you have an ice cream machine, simply churn according to manufacturer’s directions. Or to make it without an ice cream machine, freeze the mixture in ice cube trays, then blend the frozen cubes in a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix OR thaw them enough to then blend in a food processor or regular blender. Eat as-is, or freeze an hour or so for a firmer texture. Due to not having any preservatives or stabilizers, the keto ice cream is best the day it’s made, but you can technically freeze leftovers up to a month and thaw before serving.

Keto ice cream brands

There are several keto-friendly ice cream brands available in the market. Here are some of the best options:

• Halo Top's Keto Series offers a range of flavours with low net carbs, including Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake, Mint Chocolate Cookie, and Banana Cream Pie.
• Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added offers fan-favourite flavours like Fudge Tracks, Vanilla Bean, Triple Chocolate, and Neapolitan, with 14 grams of net carbs per serving.
• Enlightened has a wide range of keto options with 2-3 grams of net carbs per serving and low-calorie options with 7-12 grams of net carbs. They use allulose, a sugar substitute, along with sugar alcohol and monk fruit extract.
• So Delicious No Sugar Added is a dairy-free option made with full-fat coconut milk. It is sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract, with 9-10 grams of net carbs per serving.
• Rebel is designed specifically for the keto diet, with cream as the main ingredient. It has 4-8 grams of net carbs per pint and less than 3 grams of net carbs per serving.

Keto ice cream recipes

No Churn Keto Ice Cream

This recipe is for those who don't have an ice cream maker. It's a simple method for making homemade keto ice cream without a machine. The recipe includes ten delicious variations, including keto coffee ice cream, keto blueberry pie ice cream, and keto cannoli ice cream.

Keto Ice Cream

This recipe uses just four ingredients: coconut milk, sweetener of choice (such as xylitol or erythritol), pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. It can be made with or without an ice cream maker.

Keto Ice Cream (Best Low Carb Ice Cream)

This recipe uses five ingredients: unsalted butter, heavy cream, powdered monk fruit allulose blend, vanilla extract, and unsweetened almond milk. It can be made with or without an ice cream maker.

Keto Ice Cream Recipe {3 Ingredients}!

This recipe uses three ingredients: heavy cream, sugar-free powdered sweetener, and xanthan gum. It can be made with or without an ice cream maker.

Keto ice cream tips

Ingredients

• Sweeteners: Sugar substitutes are key to keeping the ice cream keto-friendly. However, some sugar substitutes have a higher freezing point than sugar, resulting in rock-hard ice cream. The best options are monk fruit, erythritol, allulose, or a blend of these. Avoid using erythritol or monk fruit sweetener on their own, as they can crystallize.
• Dairy: Heavy cream is the most popular choice for keto ice cream, but full-fat coconut cream or coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free alternative. Some recipes also include butter as a base for keto condensed milk.
• Stabilizers: Adding a stabilizer like xanthan gum will help prevent the ice cream from becoming icy or crystallizing.
• Flavors: Vanilla extract is a popular base flavor, but you can experiment with other extracts such as peppermint, almond, or butter extract. For chocolate ice cream, simply add cocoa powder. You can also add crushed cookies, nuts, or fresh or dried fruit.

Preparation

• Ice cream maker: Using an ice cream maker will give you the best texture. Simply churn the mixture according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• No-churn method: If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still make keto ice cream! Transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe container and freeze, stirring frequently to break up ice crystals.
• Chilling: It's important to chill the ice cream mixture before churning or freezing. This step helps improve the texture.
• Serving: For the best scoopable consistency, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. You can also add a tablespoon of vodka to the mixture to make it easier to scoop.
• Storage: Keto ice cream tends to get icier when refrozen, so it's best to enjoy it fresh. However, if you have leftovers, place them in a new container and store them in the freezer for up to a month.

Keto ice cream flavors

Chocolate

To make keto-friendly chocolate ice cream, simply stir in one-fourth cup of regular unsweetened cocoa powder along with the other ingredients. That’s it!

Strawberry

Stir in diced strawberries to make strawberry ice cream.

Butter Pecan

Stir in pecans and butter extract for butter pecan ice cream.

Mint Chocolate Chip

Stir in a handful of shredded coconut, or pure peppermint extract and chopped dark chocolate to get mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Coffee

Stir in half a teaspoon of instant coffee.

Peanut Butter Chocolate

Try the Peanut Butter Chocolate flavor from Halo Top's Keto Series.

Macadamia Nut Cookie

Try Halo Top's Macadamia Nut Cookie flavor, which is higher in protein than most other keto-friendly ice creams.

Caramel Butter Pecan

Try Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added Butter Pecan flavor.

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Try Arctic Zero's Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor, which is dairy-free and made with a combination of plant fibers and faba bean protein.

Chocolate Glazed Donut

Try Enlightened's Chocolate Glazed Donut flavor, which is also available in a variety pack.

Vanilla Bean

Try So Delicious' No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean flavor, which is dairy-free and made from full-fat coconut milk.

Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl

Try KETO Foods' Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl flavor, which is also available in Triple Chocolate Brownie.

Frequently asked questions