HOMEMADE Plant-based Vanilla
Ice Cream Recipes

Boy, have I got a scoop for you guys this week! (Get it?)

We’ve already shown you how to make the epic Vegan Oreo Cheesecake, but now, I have two words for you.

Plant-based. Ice Cream. I’m so happy I might cry.

Here’s the thing, we all love vegan vanilla ice cream, but we don’t always have a ton of time to spend making it and a lot of us don’t own ice cream makers.

I get it, and I’ve got you covered.

This blog post will show you how to make plant-based vanilla ice cream whether you have an ice cream maker, no ice cream maker, a whole day to spare or just 15 minutes. 

To be honest, guys, I was a little disappointed when I was researching plant-based ice cream recipes for this blog post. 

Most of the recipes out there were either needed an ice cream maker or just took forever to make.

That’s why I’ve put together three homemade vegan vanilla ice cream recipes that are machine-less, quick and UK friendly.

Each of these recipes has no more than seven vegan vanilla ice cream ingredients, and all of the ingredients are really easy to get at your local supermarket.

You’re sure to melt in the face of these luscious plant-based vanilla ice cream recipes. 

(You should also prepare yourself for an excess of ice cream based puns, I can’t help myself)

So without further ado, here’s how to make vegan vanilla ice cream

Ice-Cream

Source: Unsplash

Plant-based Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (With An Ice Cream Maker)

  • Time: 3 ½ Hours (Including freezing and churning time)
  • Serves: 10
  • Special Equipment: Ice Cream Maker
  • Dietary: Gluten-free/halal/kosher 

Vegan vanilla ice cream recipe #1 by Anna Glover.

It’s for people who have a little bit of time on their hands and an ice cream maker. 

With vegan ice cream, you get what you put in. That’s why this three hour vegan ice cream recipe yields the tastiest results.

It takes around three and a half hours to make in total, but don’t be put off! Only about 25 minutes of this time is spent actually doing stuff. The rest of the time is freezing etc. (you don’t need to stand around for that part lol)

Vegan Ice Cream

Source: Unsplash

Here’s What You Need To Know About This Vegan Ice Cream Recipe:

  • You need to use cans of full-fat coconut milk. That’s right; the light stuff just doesn’t have enough fat to give you the texture of ice cream. Also, don’t use the kind of coconut milk that you put in your tea or coffee! Say it with me. Can is king.
  • The turmeric is for a bit of colour. It will make your ice cream a nice, natural, off-white colour (like regular vanilla ice cream). You won’t taste it, I promise.
  • You’re going to need an ice cream machine, in case it wasn’t clear from the title…

Plant-based Ice Cream Ingredients:

  • 2 x 400g cans of full-fat coconut milk
  • 175g Caster Sugar
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt Flakes
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 2 tbsp Cornflour
  • A Pinch Of Turmeric

Plant-based Ice Cream Method:

  1. Pour most of the coconut milk into a saucepan, leaving a little bit in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add the sugar, salt, turmeric and vanilla bean paste and give it a quick whisk to combine.
  3. Gently warm the mixture for ten minutes, the sugar should be melted, and the mixture should be giving off steam (but not boiling!).
  4. Whisk the cornflour into the leftover coconut milk until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into your corn flour/coconut milk mixture, while continually whisking.
  6. Add the mixture back to the saucepan and heat for ten minutes until the mixture becomes thicker.
  7. Pour the mixture through a sieve to catch any lumps.
  8. Put the strained mixture into a mixing bowl and chill for two hours.
  9. Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and allow it to churn for 20-30 minutes.
  10. Place into a resealable container and store for up to three months (but we all know it won’t last that long…)
  11. Cone-gratuations! You just made vegan vanilla ice cream!

Plant-Based Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (No Ice Cream Maker)

  • Time: 3 ½ Hours (Including freezing and churning time)
  • Serves: 10
  • Special Equipment: None!
  • Dietary: Gluten-free/halal/kosher 

Full disclosure, guys, this recipe is the same as the one above, but I’m going to show you how to do it without an ice cream machine. 

I’m going to repeat the ingredients list and adjusted method, so that you don’t need to keep scrolling up and down. That’s just too confusing.

Plant-based Ice Cream

Source: Pixabay

Plant-based Ice Cream Ingredients:

  • 2 x 400g cans of full-fat coconut milk
  • 175g Caster Sugar
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt Flakes
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Bean Paste
  • 2 tbsp Cornflour
  • A pinch of turmeric

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Plant-based Ice Cream Method:

  1. Pour most of the coconut milk into a saucepan, leaving a little bit in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add the sugar, salt, turmeric and vanilla bean paste and give it a quick whisk to combine.
  3. Gently warm the mixture for 10 minutes, the sugar should be melted, and the mixture should be giving off steam (but not boiling!).
  4. Whisk the cornflour into the leftover coconut milk until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Slowly pour in the hot milk mixture while continually whisking.
  6. Add the mixture back to the saucepan and heat for ten minutes until the mixture is a thicker texture. 
  7. Pour the mixture through a sieve to catch any lumps.
  8. Put the strained mixture into a mixing bowl and chill for two hours.
  9. Pour the mixture into a wide plastic tub and place it into your freezer for 2-3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes with a fork (this is to break up any large ice crystals – no one wants crunchy ice cream!)
  10. Pat yourself on the back – you’ve just made creamless ice cream! I guess anything is popsicle…

Quick Plant-based Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe (No Machine, 15 Minutes)

  • Dietary: Gluten-free/halal/kosher 
  • Time: 15 minutes
  • Serves: 3-4 
  • Special Equipment: Food Processor or Blender

This recipe is for those who don’t have a bunch of time to spend making ice cream

It’s also great if you have a midnight craving for vegan vanilla ice cream and you just can’t wait for it.

However, remember what I said you get what you put in when it comes to vegan vanilla ice cream?

Well, this recipe inspired by Forks Over Knives is easy and quick, but it does mean that your ice cream is going to taste of vanilla and banana. 

Let me explain.

This ice cream is based on frozen bananas, so there is no way of getting around the banana taste. But, with added fresh vanilla pods, it will taste of silky fresh vanilla too!

Plant-based Vanilla Ice Cream

Source: Pixabay

Plant-based Ice Cream Ingredients:

  • 2 Large Frozen Bananas (Peeled and Sliced)
  • ½ Vanilla Pod
  • 60ml of Any Plant-Based Milk

Plant-based Ice Cream Method:

    1. In a food processor or high powered blender, add the frozen banana slices and plant-based milk.
    2. Split the vanilla pod down the middle and scrape the vanilla out with a sharp knife, add it to the food processor/blender. 
    3. Blend until smooth and eat immediately.

    Technically, you can leave this one in the freezer for up to a week and eat it whenever, but I’ve tried it myself and found that it goes really hard and it’s just not as nice. If you ask me, it’s best to eat this one right away!

Fun Dessert Ideas That Use Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

Vegan vanilla ice cream is great, but it can be – well, vanilla.

But don’t hate! Vanilla is versatile AF! Here are some great vegan dessert ideas to spice your vanilla ice cream recipes up:

  • Spice It Up (Literally) – All of these recipes will still work with a sprinkle of spice. Why not add a bit of powdered cinnamon and ginger to your recipe? (this is especially great at Christmas!). You could even add a bit of matcha powder and transform your vegan vanilla ice cream into matcha ice cream! I know it’s not a spice, but the principle is the same!
  • Build A Plant-Based Sundae Bar the only way to top vegan ice cream is with toppings! Why not get your friends and family together for a vegan ice cream sundae bar. I’m talking chocolate sauce, roasted nuts and crushed Oreos…..*drools*
  • Waffles and Pancakes the wonders of plant-based ‘butter’, ‘milk’ and ‘eggs’ has allowed the plant-based population to enjoy vegan waffles and pancakes, so why not invite vegan ice cream to the party?
  • Get Your Freak On In 2016, Freak Shakes were at the height of their popularity. I, personally, never stopped enjoying topping my vegan milkshake with an entire cake. Blending your homemade planted based ice cream into a monstrous freak shake is an excellent way to shake things up!
Vanilla Ice-Cream

Source: Unsplash

With these three plant-based vanilla ice cream recipes, you’ll never need to look for another homemade vegan ice cream recipe again.

I’ve made the last recipe so many times that I have memorised how to make it! (I’m not sure whether to be proud of this or not…)

Whether you’re equipped with an ice cream machine or not, everyone can enjoy vegan vanilla ice cream!

But, sometimes just 15 minutes is just too long to spend cooking. 

We all have days where we just want a steaming hot bowl of vegan goodness in front of us, but we don’t have the time or energy to whip up a whole meal. 

So we opt for toast. Boring.

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FAQs

Depending on the vegan vanilla ice cream recipe they tend to have fewer calories and less fat. Ice cream isn’t necessarily healthy but somewhat healthier than dairy ice cream.

There are different vegan vanilla ice cream ingredients you can have for your recipe but here are some options:

  • Raw cashew butter
  • Pure almond extract
  • Real vanilla bean

About the Author

Amy

Amy Swain is a content writer for Plant Sumo, foodie and ex-chef. If she’s not baking then she’s got a paintbrush in hand, working on her next masterpiece.

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