Creamy Vegan Ice Cream Recipes: Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts Guide

Vegan ice cream has improved dramatically in recent years. Today you can find or make dairy-free versions of nearly every flavor, from chocolate and vanilla to cookie dough and salted caramel.

Whether you follow a plant-based diet or simply enjoy lighter frozen treats, here are 25 of the best vegan ice cream recipes for everyone to try.

Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

Almond Milk Ice Cream

This almond milk base includes five variations so you can make dairy-free, corn syrup–free, banana-free, sugar-free, or nut-free (no cashews) options. It uses no preservatives or gums, requires no ice cream maker, and produces clean, creamy results.

Dole Whip Recipe – a copycat of the famous Disney soft serve

The classic pineapple Dole Whip is a light, swirled soft serve that blends the tang of pineapple with a creamy texture. This homemade version recreates that bright, icy treat in your own kitchen.

Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream (from the Hello Breakfast cookbook)

This frozen pistachio ice cream delivers a rich, nutty flavor and silky texture. It’s a standout even without chocolate and is a must-try for pistachio lovers.

Dairy Free Coconut Ice Cream

Coconut milk and cream are common bases for vegan ice cream because they create a thick, smooth mouthfeel close to heavy cream. This recipe highlights that natural creaminess for luscious scoops.

Avocado Ice Cream

Avocado makes a creamy, naturally green base for chocolate or vanilla vegan ice cream. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and can be adapted for paleo diets, delivering a rich, smooth texture.

Keto Ice Cream

This low-carb, sugar-free frozen dessert offers the same indulgent creaminess as traditional ice cream while fitting a ketogenic or reduced-sugar lifestyle.

Cashew Ice Cream

Homemade cashew ice cream often surprises skeptics with its richness and ultra-creamy texture. If you miss the mouthfeel of dairy, cashews are an excellent substitute.

Watch the video above to learn how to make vegan ice cream

Vegan Banana Ice Cream Recipes

Banana Ice Cream – 10 New Recipes

Banana ice cream, or “nice cream,” is a popular healthy alternative. All you need are ripe frozen bananas and a blender or food processor to create creamy, naturally sweet frozen treats with minimal ingredients.

Protein Ice Cream

This version adds protein, fiber, and nutrients, making it a satisfying post-workout treat that still feels indulgent but offers greater nutritional value than typical pints of ice cream.

Vegan Peanut Butter Ice Cream

At about 150 calories per serving, this peanut butter ice cream uses common pantry ingredients to produce a creamy, crowd-pleasing flavor.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Nice Cream

Extra smooth and deeply chocolatey, this peanut butter nice cream tastes like a frozen Reese’s cup and provides healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream

This naturally sweetened, healthy vegan take on mint chocolate chip captures the refreshing mint and chocolate crunch of the classic scoop.

Vegan Frozen Yogurt Recipes

Homemade Frozen Yogurt

Make frozen yogurt with just two ingredients as a base, then customize it to create many vegan froyo flavors using plant-based yogurts and mix-ins.

Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

A high-protein, low-calorie chocolate froyo that doesn’t rely on heavy cream or condensed milk—refreshing on a hot day and satisfying for chocolate cravings.

Cherry Frozen Yogurt

This cherry froyo is swirled with dark chocolate for a homemade Cherry Garcia experience that echoes the popular commercial flavor.

Vegan Frozen Desserts

Chocolate Sorbet

This intensely chocolatey sorbet is naturally dairy-free with no eggs and offers a deeply satisfying, icy chocolate finish. Serve with coconut whipped cream and fresh raspberries for contrast.

Lemon Sorbet

Bright, tart, and refreshing, this lemon sorbet uses just a few ingredients to achieve a perfect balance of sweet and sour.

Frappuccino Recipe

Recreate a Starbucks-style vegan Frappuccino at home in under five minutes: a single-serving, frosty coffee drink made with plant-based milk and flavorings.

Oat Milk Ice Cream

If you need a coconut-free, nut-free, soy-free, and egg-free option, oat milk provides a neutral, creamy base ideal for many vegan flavors.

Chocolate Brownie Batter Blizzard

This thick, homemade vegan blizzard mimics the DQ favorite and holds its shape in the cup. It’s loaded with mix-ins for a decadent, scoopable treat.

Healthy Chocolate Fudgsicles

These nostalgic chocolate popsicles are family-friendly and simple to make. If you lack popsicle molds, use paper cups and insert sticks halfway through freezing.

How to make the best vegan ice cream

Most vegan ice cream recipes follow one of three methods.

Method 1: Use an ice cream maker. Whisk the ingredients together, then churn according to the machine’s instructions. Note that many machines require freezing a container for up to 48 hours before churning.

Method 2: Freeze the liquid mixture in ice cube trays, then blend the frozen cubes in a high-speed blender (e.g., Vitamix or Blendtec) until smooth.

Method 3: Pour the mixture into a shallow container and freeze. Stir vigorously every 30 minutes with a fork to break up ice crystals until the texture becomes scoopable. This method produces a slightly icier texture but still yields a delicious frozen dessert.

Dairy-free ice cream brands

Most grocery stores now carry multiple plant-based ice cream brands. You’ll find options from dedicated vegan companies as well as nondairy lines from well-known brands.

Common bases include coconut milk, oat milk, and cashew milk. You can even find vegan bars and sandwiches, and many scoop shops offer nondairy flavors alongside their traditional offerings.

More non-dairy ice creams

Vegan Coffee Ice Cream

Nutella Frozen Yogurt

Vegan Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt

Vegan Oreo Ice Cream

Healthy Chocolate Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Pudding Pops

Below is a simple, versatile vegan coconut ice cream you can make at home to save money and customize into endless flavors like cookies and cream, butter pecan, birthday cake, rocky road, French vanilla, maple walnut, or fruit-infused varieties.