Here you will find all the best vegan ice cream recipes, vegan sorbets, popsicles, smoothie bowls, and other frozen treats from Veggie Fun Kitchen. These recipes have been tried and tested with my family and are all winners!
Eating ice cream involves a new mindset when we are vegan. Even though many commercial brands are making improvements all the time, it’s just not the same… The flavor and texture are often just…wrong! Too chalky, icy, coconutty, or hard. Fine, we think, it’s just going to be easier if we try making ice cream at home!
Well, making vegan ice cream at home can be challenging! There are certain non-vegan ingredients such as dairy cream and eggs that are guaranteed to make dairy ice cream smooth, rich, and creamy and we just don’t use these ingredients. For reasons. Good reasons!
Vegan ice cream tends to freeze up hard with ice crystals and can be a disappointment. Finding the right ingredients to substitute and the best methods for making homemade vegan ice cream is the key to success!
Table of contents
- Some common vegan ingredient substitutions
- The best homemade vegan ice cream, sorbets, and other frozen treats from Veggie Fun Kitchen
- Delicious vegan recipes using the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
- Vegan Ice Cream Using a Different Method other than the Ninja Creami
- Vegan Sorbet Recipes
- Popsicles and Ice Cream Bars
- Smoothies, Bowls, Milkshakes, and other Vegan Frozen Treats
- Ice Cream Toppings
- Please check back for more!
- Pin now to save for later:
Some common vegan ingredient substitutions
To make vegan ice cream smooth and creamy, we sometimes need to get creative with ingredient substitutions.
Dairy substitutes for dairy-free ice cream
For dairy-free ice cream, it’s easy enough to substitute plant milk such as oat milk, almond milk, or cashew milk. Coconut cream, lite, or full-fat creamy coconut milk substitutes for heavy cream. It is not a direct substitute however and will freeze harder and more icy than dairy cream does.
Does coconut cream leave a coconut flavor or aftertaste?
I have heard this from some people but I have not found the coconut flavor to be offensive. Perhaps it is like cilantro and some people just have an aversion to it. For many recipes I only add the thick cream I skim from the top of the can though, and not the runny coconut water. Perhaps that is why the taste doesn’t bother me?
Egg substitutes
Eggs are used for texture and richness of flavor in some ice cream recipes. There is just not a great substitute for eggs. Cornstarch, mashed potatoes, or oatmeal might be used. Another substitution some people have used is aquafaba ( the liquid from a can of beans). You cook and reduce it and/whip it up depending on the recipe. One thing I’ve yet to experiment with is soaked and blended chia seeds – but it’s on my list.
Other special ingredients for vegan ice cream to consider
Finally, some recipes use refined coconut oil, a little alcohol – either clear vodka a flavored liquor that goes well with the recipe, pudding mix, or agar-agar.
Frozen bananas are a reliable ingredient that almost guarantee creamy vegan ice cream. Not everyone likes the banana taste though. The same goes for nut butters such as cashew butter, almond butter. or coconut butter. Make sure the flavors will go well with the entire recipe and not clash with the other flavors.
The best homemade vegan ice cream, sorbets, and other frozen treats from Veggie Fun Kitchen
As you can see, there are lots of options to try if you’d like to start experimenting. OR, you can try some of my recipes. I’ve already done the experimenting for you!
Read on to find my favorite ice cream recipes that we, as a family, have enjoyed over and over. And do pin the post and check back often as I will be adding more to the list as I develop more delicious vegan ice cream recipes!
Delicious vegan recipes using the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
I wanted to start with recipes developed especially for the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker. Because OH MY! I have been blown away by the quality of vegan ice cream I can make using the Nina Creami! There is absolutely nothing like the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker to blend up rich and creamy vegan ice cream recipes. I definitely will be adding to the list of Ninja recipes often! It is perfect for smooth and creamy homemade ice cream.
Copy Cat Haagen Daz Coffee Ice Cream
Rich and creamy with a smooth coffee flavor. Add in chocolate sprinkles and top with chocolate sauce for an added layer of flavor.
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
As Sweet and tangy as it is vibrant. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream comes with a secret ingredient: a little vegan mayo – and no, it’s not weird.
Frozen Yogurt with Bananas
Use your favorite vegan yogurt, along with bananas, vanilla extract, and maple syrup for a healthy delicious frozen treat.
Banana Pudding Ice Cream
Frozen banana pudding? You bet! This creamy vegan ice cream tastes just like banana pudding and is made with instant banana pudding mix, bananas (of course), and Golden Vanilla Oreos.
Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream
Remember orange creamsicles? That lovely combination of orange and vanilla on a stick? This vegan ice cream is everything that an orange creamsicle is. Except it’s in a bowl. And it’s vegan! Made with French vanilla pudding mix, orange juice, and coconut cream. You’ll love the smooth creamy texture and delicious orange-vanilla flavor.
Pina Colada Ice Cream
Yep, tastes like a pina cola – only it’s not! No alcohol involved…unless you wanted some. There is an option to add rum and make a frozen pina colada drink if that’s the way you rock it!
Watermelon Ice Cream with a Hint of Lime
Made with fresh watermelon, agave nectar, and a squeeze of lime. No dairy and no dairy substitutes and it is still creamy and smooth!
Apple Pie Ice Cream
You won’t believe the main ingredient used in this creamy apple spiced frozen concoction. Apple pie filling! Appropriate right? Add in a little apple pie spice for extra flavor and a few Ritz crackers for the taste and texture of pie crust.
Disney Dole Whip
This is the real deal! Did you know that no actual pineapples are used in the making of Disney Dole Whip? That’s right, they use a pineapple-flavored powdered mix – and I’ve found it for you! Tastes just like Disney Dole Whip – because it is!
Vegan Ice Cream Using a Different Method other than the Ninja Creami
Though I am 100% sold on the Ninja Creami, I realize that not everybody in the world has one…yet. These recipes are made using any other ice cream maker. Unlike the Ninja where you prepare, freeze and THEN process the ice cream, with most other ice cream machines, you prepare your ice cream mixture and then freeze it in the machine you are using.
I use the Cuisinart Compressor Ice Cream Machine and do recommend it. Whichever ice cream maker you use, make sure to read, understand and follow the manufacturer’s directions.
Peaches and Cream Ice Cream
Smooth and rich with the luscious flavor of peaches. Made with fresh peaches, coconut milk, and a splash of Ameretto for flavor and texture. You will make this ice cream on the stove top, cool down, and then continue in the ice cream maker.
Lemon Coconut Ice Cream
Lemony, sweet/tart, creamy, and a little coconutty. This lemon ice cream is made easy with lemonade concentrate and coconut milk.
Strawberry Banana Ice Cream
Creamy and smooth and made with fresh strawberries and bananas. Add some sweetener, coconut milk, and vanilla extract and you’ve got delicious vegan ice cream! So easy to make!
Chocolate Almond Ice Cream with Rich Mocha Flavor
Rich and chocolatey, this smooth mocha-flavored chocolate vegan ice cream is made with cocoa powder, coffee, and coconut milk – along with some unexpected ingredients like oats, almond butter, and Medjool dates. I really like the coffee flavor so I add in a little coffee-flavored extract as well.
Creamy Sweet Cream Ice Cream with Banana and Coconut Milk
Start by making a thick and creamy custard-like base by cooking coconut milk, cornstarch, and sugar. Then blend with a banana and a few other ingredients, and process in your ice cream maker. Not exactly “nice cream” because of the other ingredients, but the banana definitely enhances the creamy texture and sweet flavor.
Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
Does pumpkin spice ever really go out of season? You will find arguments on either side. This incredibly smooth and sweet pumpkin ice cream is spiced just right. It is made with canned coconut milk and pumpkin puree. Cook it first, then cool and freeze. Delightful any time of year!
Vegan Sorbet Recipes
Technically a sorbet is made without dairy and eggs – so it should be vegan. The only exception would be if honey was used as an ingredient. I would just experiment by substituting in agave nectar, maple syrup, date syrup, or Medjool dates, – or a combination of these.
Some of the following recipes use the no-churn method, and others use make use of an ice cream machine. Any ice cream maker will always produce a creamier and less icy sorbet than using the no-churn method and will always be my first choice for a freezing method. You can certainly make any of these recipes using any method.
Basil Infused Strawberry Sorbet
This is a no-churn recipe – though you could make it in an ice cream machine. You first make a basil-infused simple syrup, blend it with strawberries and freeze it in a pan. When You are doing the no-churn method, you will need to occasionally stir things around while it is freezing. It will never be as smooth as an ice cream maker would do it. But not everybody has an ice cream machine:)
Fresh Orange Sorbet
This is another no-churn recipe made with three simple ingredients: Freshly squeezed orange juice, sugar, and water. It’s nice and fresh and orangy tasting!
Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet
Made with fresh strawberries and lemonade concentrate. It’s already sweetened because of the lemonade and so that’s all you need! Blend it up and freeze it in your ice cream maker.
Fresh Peach Sorbet
This is a great way to use your fresh peaches this summer. Blend up fresh peaches with a simple syrup you make and a little lemon juice to keep it sweet/tart and you’ve got a tasty frozen summer treat!
Watermelon Sorbet
This is one of my most popular recipes! Make a simple syrup and blend together with fresh watermelon. Add a little lemon for depth of flavor, and freeze in your ice cream machine.
Pineapple Sorbet in the Yonannas Machine
This recipe is actually made for the Yonannas frozen dessert maker. Yonannas became popular in the early 2000s. You just push frozen fruit through the top and get a creamy frozen dessert. You might have one in the back of your cupboard you can dig out! This pineapple sorbet is topped with a lime mint balsamic reduction that is yummy.
Popsicles and Ice Cream Bars
Most popsicles you make at home are naturally vegan. Some recipes might add dairy or honey. Those are usually easy enough to substitute. Non-dairy milk will freeze harder and more icy than dairy full-fat milk or cream though which is definitely something to keep in mind.
Creamy Healthy Coffee Popsicles
These creamy whole food plant-based coffee popsicles are made with cashews, Medjool dates, and of course, coffee! They are a nice icy treat with a pick-me-up you can enjoy in the afternoon or really, any time of day.
Three Ingredient Lemony Peach Popsicles
Made with three basic ingredients: Frozen peaches, lemon juice, and agave nectar. Oh, and water. Does that count as an ingredient? Easy to make and delicious to eat!
Watermelon, Kiwi, and Coconut Popsicles
Made with fresh watermelon, kiwis, and coconut milk, these watermelon popsicles are sweetened with monk fruit for a lower-sugar frozen treat. Layer the fresh fruit puree and coconut milk in popsicle molds for a fresh fruit popsicle that is as lovely to look at as it is tasty to eat.
Frozen Java Pops
Need a little icy jolt of energy in the middle of the day? These java pops are perfect for you then. Made with non-dairy sweetened creamer, strongly brewed coffee, and agave nectar, they are easy to make with the left-over coffee in the morning if you’ve made a little bit too much.
Smoothies, Bowls, Milkshakes, and other Vegan Frozen Treats
Banana Berry Smoothie Bowl
This healthy banana Berry smoothie bowl is made with frozen bananas and strawberries. Top with flaked coconut and fresh berries for a tasty frozen healthy treat.
Black Forrest Cake Smoothie
Delicious with all the flavors of a black forest cake but with healthy ingredients like chia seeds, cherries, cocoa powder, banana, and baby spinach. You won’t taste the spinach though! I promise you, you will only be tasting cherry chocolate goodness!
Berry Pink Dragon Fruit Smoothie
Orange Pineapple Smoothie
Ice Cream Toppings
Caramel Syrup
This made-from-scratch caramel syrup is not the easiest recipe to make but it is so worth it! Made with vegan butter and coconut milk instead of dairy heavy cream, it is rich, delicious, and perfect on ice cream flavors like my Sweet Cream, Chocolate Almond Mocha, Banana Pudding, and Pumpkin Spice.
Fudgy Chocolate Sauce
Rich, decadent, and chocolatey, this vegan fudgy chocolate sauce goes well with ice cream recipes like my Haagen Daz Coffee Ice Cream, Sweet Cream Vanilla, Frozen Yogurt, or Chocolate Mocha.
Strawberry Pineapple Topping
Made with Fresh Strawberries, crushed canned pineapple, sugar, and a little hint of orange.
Peach Butter with Pineapple and Amaretto
You’ve heard of apple butter and pumpkin butter, right? They aren’t really butter but intensely flavored thickened jam. This recipe is for peach butter, intensely flavored with fresh peaches, pineapple, and a hint of amaretto. Cooked down to a thick peachy sauce that would go great on top of almost any fruit sorbet.
Please check back for more!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through some of the fabulous recipes for vegan ice cream and other frozen treats found on Veggie Fun Kitchen. Do check back. I’ll be adding more as I develop and post them… Because I just can’t get enough delicious vegan ice cream!
Pin now to save for later:
If you haven’t saved this post for vegan ice cream recipes yet, give it a pin so that you can refer back to it whenever you are getting that vegan homemade ice cream feeling!