Can’t find vegan vanilla ice cream at your local store? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This simple recipe will bring the flavors of summer at home.
Finding store-bought vegan ice cream definitely isn’t as hard as it used to be, but making your own ice cream is incredibly easy!
Homemade ice cream has its advantages. You can control exactly what goes into your ice cream so that there are no hidden animal products, additives, or preservatives. If you have non-vegan family members who are dairy intolerant or have other allergies, you can be sure that there are no sneaky ingredients that might trigger a reaction.
Tips to make your own vegan vanilla ice cream
We’ve kept things simple with this recipe and only use three ingredients: coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. You can be creative with your toppings and use fresh berries, maple syrup, mint leaves, and vegan chocolate sauce. It also makes a great topping for Vegan Pancakes and joins in the fun at parties with Vegan Birthday Cake.
Place the bowl of the ice cream maker in the freezer the night before
If the bowl of the ice cream maker is very cold, it will speed up the ice cream-making process. You’ll end up with beautifully soft and creamy ice cream!
Keep an eye on the ice cream mixture — don’t over-churn
Times may vary depending on your machine, but it should be between 20–35 minutes. Keep mixing until the liquid ice cream mixture resembles soft ice cream, and then transfer it into your ice cream container and freeze it. It will firm up nicely in the freezer. If you churn ice cream for too long, it will develop ice crystals.
No ice cream maker? Try this instead
Put a freezer-safe bowl in the freezer the night before. Once you’ve mixed your ice cream, place it in the bowl and put it in the freezer. Once an hour, remove the ice cream from the freezer and whisk it to add air and to break down any ice crystals. Repeat this for 6–8 hours until the ice cream becomes firm. The ice cream might not be as creamy as the machine ice cream, but it will still taste good!
Feeling adventurous? Experiment with mix-ins
Once the ice cream has reached the consistency of soft serve, you can also experiment with various vegan treats. Mix in vegan chocolate chips, nuts, salted caramel, and even vegan cookie pieces to make your own layered vegan dessert.
Mix in some chocolate from the brands mentioned in Is Chocolate Vegan? Or find a few treats from our Huge List of Accidentally Vegan Foods.
Serve the ice cream as a dreamy treat on the weekend or a quick dessert for surprise guests.
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 can coconut milk
- 3 t maple syrup
- 1 t vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the ice cream maker bowl in the freezer the night before.
- Mix 1 can of coconut milk with 3 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
- Transfer to the ice cream maker and churn until the mixture resembles soft serve.
- Either transfer it into an ice cream container and freeze to harden, or serve it slightly soft with your toppings of choice!