How to Make Vegan Ice Cream Rich and Creamy – One Green Planet

It’s summer, and nothing is more important in the summertime than delicious, rich, and creamy ice cream. Nothing. Okay, well, great ice cream is definitely in the top five important things, along with good sunscreen and staying hydrated. Everyone loves ice cream – it’s cold, creamy, refreshing, and delicious. Whether you like your ice cream in a bowl or on a cone, straight up or topped with a gazillion syrups and treats, ice cream has to be rich, creamy, and delicious.

Can you have rich and creamy ice cream without dairy? You bet! Even better, you can make your dairy-free ice cream at home. When you make it yourself, you get to choose the ingredients and the flavors. Just look at these 15 Dairy-Free Ice Creams to Enjoy This Summer and These 30 Fresh and Summery Vegan Ice Creams. Yum! So if you’ve been screaming for ice cream, here’s how to make your own rich and creamy ice cream in your kitchen – dairy-free and delicious.

1. Dairy-Free Milk

Strawberry Sorbet and Raw Banana Ice Cream/One Green Planet

There are so many types of dairy-free milk available now that one can’t help but wonder why anyone is still drinking cow’s milk. Making smooth dairy-free ice cream can be as simple as blending frozen fruit with dairy-free milk. Seriously. Try making ice cream with almond milk, soy milk, flax milk, or cashew milk. Learn more about all the different types in Which Milk for What Recipe: A Non-Dairy Milk Guide for All Your Cooking and Baking Needs.

Try using non-dairy milk to make this Low-Sugar Blackberry Ice Cream, Strawberry Sorbet, and Raw Banana Ice Cream, and this Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana Blizzard.

2. Coconut Milk

Coconut Ice Cream/One Green Planet

The most popular non-dairy milk for ice cream has to be coconut milk. When you use the coconut milk that comes in the can, the kind that turns into a rich, thick cream when it’s been chilled, you’re on your way to the richest ice cream ever. Just put the cans of coconut milk (use full-fat) in the fridge, and in a few hours, most of the milk will be solid cream. Scoop that out and reserve the water for other recipes.

With coconut milk, you can make this Coconut Ice Cream, Creamiest Chocolate Ice Cream, Rosemary Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, and Lavender Coconut Ice Cream.

3. Bananas and Other Fruit

Raw Banana Ice Cream Sundae/One Green Planet

By now, you’ve probably tried nice cream made with just bananas. Amazingly, you can blend frozen bananas and end up with a healthy, delicious treat. Bananas give the dessert a rich, thick, and creamy consistency. Of course, you can add other flavors to the banana, such as other fruits, chocolate, vanilla, or whatever you like. Besides bananas and avocado, you can make ice cream with any fruit you like. Simply freezing fruit and blending it gives you a light and healthy sweet treat. Of course, you can add other ingredients as you wish.

Try this Raw Mango Banana Soft Serve Ice Cream that has just two ingredients! Then try this Banana, PB, and Chocolate Ice Cream, Raw Banana Ice Cream Sundae, and this Watermelon Banana Ice Cream. The ice cream in this Raw Ice Cream Fruit Pizza is made with banana, strawberry, and a bit of beet powder!

4. Tofu

Blueberry Ice Cream With Tofu and Cashews/One Green Planet

We know tofu makes amazing savory dishes but did you know it can also make rich, creamy ice cream? It’s true! Adding some silken tofu to the mix can thicken the ice cream for great consistency. Try this Low-Fat Strawberry Ice Cream and this Blueberry Ice Cream With Tofu and Cashews. Learn more about all the things you can make with silken tofu in What is Silken Tofu, How is It Different and What Can You Do With It?

5. Avocado

Key Lime Pie Avocado Ice Cream/One Green Planet

You probably didn’t need another reason to love avocados, but here it is: you can use them to make creamy ice cream. That’s right – who needs dairy when you can just blend up a healthy green avocado? Check out How Avocados Can Easily Replace Dairy in All Your Favorite Creamy Dishes. Avocados add creaminess, color, and healthy fats but don’t worry, you won’t taste them, especially if you add other flavors.

Save an avocado or two from taco night to make this Avocado Basil Ice Cream, Key Lime Pie Avocado Ice Cream, Raw Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches, and this Coconut Ice Cream Cheesecake With Lime and Avocado.

6. Nuts

3-Ingredient Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream/One Green Planet

When you blend nuts, they become creamy. That’s why we use them to make dairy-free cheese, pesto, and sauces. So, it makes sense that we can also make ice cream from nuts. Just blend the nuts until smooth, and then add your other favorite flavors.

This Raw Ice Cream is made from cashews, while these Raw Ice Cream Sandwiches are made from walnuts and almonds. This Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is made from cashews, while this 3-Ingredient Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream is made from … you guessed it … hazelnuts.

7. Aquafaba

Coconut Beet Ice Cream with Orange Zest/One Green Planet

The next time you open a can of chickpeas, save that brine! That liquid we’ve been tossing down the drain for years is the magic ingredient that lets us substitute for egg whites and thickens recipes. Learn all about it in All About Aquafaba: 13 Amazing Recipes Made With Chickpea Brine. Just whip the aquafaba with a mixer until you get soft peaks, and then fold it into your recipe.

Try it for yourself with this Coconut Beet Ice Cream with Orange Zest and these Banoffee Ice Cream Bars.

If you’ve ditched dairy, there’s no reason you can’t indulge in summer’s sweetest treat. Try it out for yourself, and you’ll see that you can have delicious, rich, and creamy ice cream, no dairy required!

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