Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (2024)

This Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) is just as simple as it sounds! You only need 5 ingredients to whip up this easy vegan ice cream, plus whatever add-ins you want to mix into it.

Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (1)

While this vegan treat is tasty all by itself, I like to add a little extra something to my scoops! Some of my favorite ice cream toppings include Vegan Salted Caramel, Vegan Hot Fudge, and of course Vegan Whipped Cream!

When I discovered how to make this Heavy Whipping Cream Substitute for the best whipped cream I’ve ever had, I knew I had some magic on my hands. I had the idea to turn it into no churn ice cream and I’m so glad I did!

Dairy free ice cream recipe

I love those two magical words – no churn! To make this easy ice cream recipe, all you need to do is whip together the ingredients (the night before!) and freeze the mixture for a few hours. It’s so wonderfully simple, it just takes a little time.

Even though we’re cutting a corner by not churning this ice cream, we’re not sacrificing any of the flavor or creamy consistency that ice cream should always have. It’s a simple, smooth, and delicious ice cream recipe that you can customize in so many various ways to best satisfy your sweet tooth.

Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (2)

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

  • Soy Milk – Make sure it’s unsweetened with no additional flavors. The sweetness in this ice cream should come from the sugar, not the milk! Another kind of milk will likely work as well.
  • Coconut Oil – This is my not so secret ingredient that you need for the heavy whipping cream substitute.Use refined for NO coconut taste! There is no substitute for the coconut oil, sorry!
  • Powdered Sugar – Don’t replace this with any other type of sugar. It’s vital not only to the sweetness of the ice cream, but the consistency as well.
  • Vanilla Extract – For the best flavor, try to use pure vanilla extract, not imitation.
  • Vegan Sweetened Condensed Milk – My homemade recipe is what I prefer using (it’s actually really easy to make!), but store bought also works just fine.I often use this sweetened condensed oat milk.

Frequently asked questions

  • What mix-ins can I add? Some of my absolute favorites include Vegan Cookie Dough, Vegan Nutella, and Vegan Chocolate Ganache! You can also have fun with ingredients like chopped graham cracker pieces, mini vegan marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, leftover cake pieces, vegan brownie chunks and sprinkles.
  • Can I change the flavor of this dairy free ice cream recipe? Yes, and it’s so easy to do! For example, you can make this ice cream mint chocolate chip flavored simply by tossing in some mint extract and mini chocolate chips. You could also use caramel sauce, chopped pretzels, and vegan toffee.
  • How long will no churn dairy free ice cream stay fresh? In an airtight container in the freezer, this ice cream will stay fresh for about 3 months.
Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (3)

Want more no bake dessert recipes?

  • No Bake Mini Cheesecakes
  • Vegan Truffles
  • The Best Vegan Ice Cream – This is a churn recipe needing an ice cream maker.
  • Peanut Butter Mousse
  • Easy 5 Minute Vegan Fudge
  • Vegan No Bake Cookies

Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (4)

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Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!)

This Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) is just as simple as it sounds! You only need 5 ingredients to whip up this easy vegan ice cream, plus whatever add-ins you want to mix into it.

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened, unflavored soy milk
  • 1 cup refined coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup vegan sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup vegan cookie dough or other mix ins, see Notes

Instructions

  • The night before: Microwave the soy milk until warm, about 1 minute. Add to a blender along with the melted coconut oil and blend until emulsified on high for a minute or two. It should be creamy, white and thin. Pour into a clean bowl, cover and refrigerate overnight.

  • Whip it up: Transfer the cream to the bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment (or a large bowl using an electric mixer, this will not work by hand). Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat on high speed for 3-10 minutes, until stiff peaks form similar to heavy whipping cream. Sometimes it takes several minutes to start to thicken, but it will happen. Once it thickens, stop the mixer. It can get too thick and we don't want that.

  • Mix in the condensed milk: Gently fold in the condensed milk with a spatula, gently and slowly so it stays light. The condensed milk cannot be warm at all, so if you made your own let it cool completely before adding.

  • A mix-ins: Gently fold in any mix ins (I used vegan cookie dough pieces).

  • Freeze: Transfer to a loaf pan or other container and freeze for 4-6 hours before scooping and serving. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. You may use another non-dairy milk but soy milk does work the best.
  2. There is no substitute for the coconut oil. Use refined for no coconut taste. Unrefined will work well but the ice cream will taste like coconut.
  3. Mix in ideas: mini chocolate chips, mini vegan marshmallows, mint extract, swirl of peanut butter, nutella, cookie butter, leftover cake pieces, vegan brownie pieces, vegan cookie dough chunks or balls, salted caramel sauce, vegan caramel, chopped pretzels, sprinkles, chocolate ganache or vegan hot fudge.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 8 servings | Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 139IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Nora Taylor

Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure here.

About Nora

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Posted In: Dessert, Gluten Free, Holiday, Special Dietary Needs, Summer

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Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe (No Churn!) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best non dairy milk for homemade ice cream? ›

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

What is the science behind no-churn ice cream? ›

No-churn works because of science

The increasing volume and lightness are the result of air being incorporated into the ice cream mixture during the churning. A key ingredient of no-churn ice cream is whipped cream. As the cream is whipped, its volume increases with the incorporation of air and it becomes lighter.

How do you thicken non dairy ice cream? ›

Plant-based fats are the best way to thicken vegan ice cream. Coconut cream, full-fat coconut milk and coconut oil will give the creamiest and thickest results. Cornstarch and tapioca starch can also be used to thicken but the end result will be a little more icy and a little less creamy.

How to make ice cream with only milk? ›

Combine milk, sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Stir till sugar is dissolved. If using Ice Cream Machine: Add milk mixture to an ice cream machine and process 20 minutes or until mixture thickens. Pour into tupperware and freeze 8 hours or overnight.

How do you keep dairy-free ice cream soft? ›

I love this ice cream made with agave, especially since the syrupy nature of agave helps prevent ice crystals from forming, keeping the ice cream very smooth. If you're ok with honey in your diet, you can also use that. Alternatively, you can use maple syrup or a granulated sugar like cane sugar or turbinado.

What can I use instead of milk for ice cream? ›

Coconut milk, almond milk, and cashew milk all make delicious ice cream. Many supermarkets carry coconut or almond milk ice cream now. I've seen it at Kroger/Ralph's and Trader Joe's. Coconut flavored coconut milk ice cream is my favorite by far, followed by strawberry, mango and green tea flavors.

Why is my no churn ice cream not freezing? ›

The first thing to look at is the recipe. Have you added too much sugar, salt or alcohol? They will lower the freezing point of the mixture. And too much of any of these ingredients could stop the ice cream freezing altogether.

How do you keep ice crystals out of no churn ice cream? ›

"Make sure the storage container is fully chilled before you put the ice cream inside of it," chef Fany Gerson of ice cream shop ​​La Newyorkina told Food & Wine. "The coldness of the container will help prevent ice crystals from forming on the ice cream itself." So keep your ice cream chilled — but your fudge hot.

What is the difference between ice cream maker and no churn ice cream? ›

Besides not needing an ice cream machine to make this, there are other differences between no-churn ice cream and ice cream made in a machine. One difference is that no-churn ice creams are made without eggs. Another difference is the use of sweetened condensed milk in place of granulated sugar.

What makes dairy-free ice cream creamy? ›

The creamy texture of coconut milk lends itself well to mimicking the rich, luscious feel of traditional ice cream.

Is guar gum better than xanthan gum for ice cream? ›

In the kitchen, there are also important differences in using xanthan gum and guar gum. In general, guar gum is good for cold foods such as ice cream or pastry fillings, while xanthan gum is better for baked goods.

What is the secret to making ice cream very creamy? ›

When it comes to great ice cream, cold temperatures and speed are your friends: the faster you bring your base from liquid to solid, the creamier it'll be. In a 2-quart unit, a typical batch of ice cream will take between 18 and 25 minutes to churn.

How is dairy free ice cream made? ›

Dairy-free frozen desserts typically substitute regular milk with plant-based milk such as almond, soy, coconut, or cashew milk, although there are some amazing brands (*cough, cough, Eclipse*) that take it even further.

Can you substitute almond milk for whole milk when making ice cream? ›

You can make creamy ice cream without dairy. All you need is almond milk and eggs to create a delicious custard-like ice cream that is so creamy and rich no one will believe it's really dairy free.

Can you use lactose free milk when making ice cream? ›

This simple Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is made lactose free by using lactose free whole milk instead of regular whole milk or cream. It is made with a custard base, which uses egg yolk to thicken and to give it a richer taste and also cornstarch to enhance its creaminess.

What is the best milk for homemade ice cream? ›

This is usually due to either not freezing fast enough, or too much water forming large ice crystals. When making ice cream, you want to use whole milk and cream, rather than 2% or skim milk, because it has more fat contributing to smaller ice crystals and a better/creamier texture.

Which milk is best for making ice cream? ›

Serve and enjoy your delicious homemade vanilla bean ice cream! You can certainly experiment with different types of milk, such as heavy cream, half-and-half, or a combination of milk and cream, but in my experience, whole milk produces the best results.

Does the type of milk matter when making ice cream? ›

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

What is the best non-dairy milk for batter? ›

The Best Non-Dairy Milk for Baking: Soy Milk

Soy milk has the most protein of all the alternate milks, so for baking projects that need a lot of structure (think cakes and breads), this is the best dairy-free option.

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