I know many of you are singing the “Summer’s Over” blues as your sweet kids begin a new school year…however I am not letting summer go quite yet. Don’t get me wrong, fall is my favorite season of them all! But I am not ready to give up our daily pool adventures, fresh summer produce….or ice cream…just yet!
Maybe it’s because we homeschool our kids, which means that our “back to school” looks a little different than the norm, but I’m still majorly feeling the summer vibes! So, to celebrate the continuation of summer, I bring you Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream! It is the best (non-chocolate) ice cream I have ever had! Made with only 5 ingredients, this delicious cold treat can be enjoyed by just about everyone! It’s vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo with zero refined sugar! Plus it only takes 5 minutes of active prep! WIN!
I tried adapting my Paleo Vanilla Coffee Creamer into a recipe for ice cream…but it totally didn’t work! Something about the coconut sugar just tasted off. So, I stuck with what works (because if it ain’t broke…)! Similar to this dairy-free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream, this recipe calls for honey or maple syrup (for all my strict vegan friends out there), as the sweetener! Once I made a few adjustments, the result was some seriously delicious and healthy ice cream!I am all about ultra-creamy ice cream. The absence of dairy should never mean we have to sacrifice texture or taste! The liquid sweetener, as well as the addition of Almond Butter, makes this Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream irresistibly creamy! Of course I use my absolute favorite…Barney Butter Bare (or Smooth)! See those delicious little flecks of almond-buttery goodness?! {Sigh}
Why would a chocolate aficionado (like yours truly) need to create a vanilla ice cream recipe?! (great question)! Well I will let you in on a little secret… there are only (and I mean ONLY) two occasions that I prefer vanilla ice cream to chocolate.
- When it’s on top of warm {gooey} brownies…and
- If it’s loaded with cookie dough (pssst, keep your eyes peeled next week)!
Basically, I needed to create a healthy vanilla ice cream to eat on these paleo brownies, these black bean brownies, or these vegan peanut butter black bean brownies! Can you blame me?!
This is another recipe creation that is made in the Vitamix! I have made so many different ice cream recpies, and the dairy-free versions always turn out the best when the ingredients are blended together! Thoroughly blending the Almond Butter into the coconut milk not only ensures that the flavors are distributed evenly, but it also helps achieve maximum creaminess without the addition of eggs! Thus, creating a Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream that even my vegan friends can enjoy!
Go crazy and top your Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream with some melted almond butter or some raw cocoa nibs (or both)! Eat it straight from the container or serve it on top of warm, ooey gooey brownies.
One more quick note: Many people ask me if they can make ice cream without an ice cream maker. The answer is yes, you can churn it by hand…but I highly recommend investing in an ice cream maker if you want the creamiest, dreamiest, homemade ice cream possible. It doesn’t have to break the bank either! I bought my very first ice cream maker on clearance at Target for $7…and it served me well for many years!
Ingredients
- 1 can coconut milk (full fat) or cream
- ¼ cup honey, (maple syrup for vegan)
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a Vitamix (or other high-powered blender) in the order listed.
- Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until smooth and mixture is homogenous.
- Turn on your ice cream maker.
- Pour mixture directly from the Vitamix into the ice cream maker while it is moving.
- Let the ice cream churn for about 20-25 minutes until it becomes a firm ball or the ice cream maker stops rotating.
- Transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container and freeze for at least 1 hour, or until completely frozen.
- Makes about 1 pint of ice cream.
Notes
Many people ask me if they can make ice cream without an ice cream maker. The answer is yes, you can churn it by hand but I highly recommend investing in an ice cream maker if you want the creamiest, dreamiest, homemade ice cream possible.
So far I’ve had one of those weeks where my kids go from being the cutest little things in the history of the world, to the most disobedient children ever in 0.25 seconds flat. No matter what, I adore them and am so blessed to be their mommy. Plus…there’s literally nothing that can happen in a day that a giant scoop of ice cream on a warm fudgy brownie can’t fix! #canigetanAMEN?
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Do you prefer vanilla or chocolate?!
If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine I would love to see your creations! #joyfoodsunshine
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Ahhhh, I am DROOLING!!! This looks sooooo tasty! I have seriously been craving ice cream for weeks now, so I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! I’m already so excited because you recommended the Barney almond butter-isn’t it legit the best thing ever?! Thanks so much for sharing this awesome recipe <3
Barney Butter is my absolute favorite almond butter out there! SO good! 🙂
This looks AMAZING Laura! the vegan version I made last week used aquafaba (which is crazy btw!) but I think I need to switch up the recipe a bit and I am loving this!
Ellie | Hungry by Nature recently posted…Greek Salad with Spiralized Cucumber
Thank you Ellie! I have never even heard of aquafaba….off to google it!!! 🙂
YES please!! Ice cream make out of coconut milk is the best. thing. ever.
I agree! I usually prefer coconut cream but coconut milk worked beautifully in this recipe!
YUM! I love me some ice cream and I love that this doesn’t include bananas. This lady over here can’t eat bananas 🙁
Jenn – a traveling Wife recently posted…What I Eat In A Day [While Living In A Hotel]
I cannot get behind the whole “nice cream” thing! I mean, I’ve made it for my kids with spinach (topped with some sprinkles, ice cream for lunch = total mom points) but it does not satisfy my ice cream cravings at ALL! This, however, totally DOES! 🙂
This looks sooooo good!! Definitely making a big batch of this.
It is SUPER delish! If you make it pretty please report back and let me know what you think!
Quick question what if I don’t have an ice cream maker or vitmamix ? I just have a small food proccser and nutribullet ! How would I do that to get that thick concistency
And what’s a better substitute for syrups ?
Leave them out. Use coconut cream instead of coconut milk. Maybe add some cinnamon. You really don’t need the syrups.
YES, I want to eat all of this! I especially love that you included almond butter. YUM.
Thank you Courtney! The almond butter definitely enhances the creaminess of this ice cream!!!
This is the most perfect looking vanilla ice cream!!
It’s pretty delicious…says someone who usually scoffs at the idea of eating anything that isn’t chocolate! 😉 <3
Praying for grace to get through the week Laura! <3 I know that God's grace is sufficient for you friend. <3
This ice cream looks dreamy. I think coconut milk might almost make a better ice cream than regular cream. 🙂
Even the hardest moments with my kids are full of joy! I love those little munchkins and am so blessed to get to stay home and not miss a second of their sweet little lives! 🙂 <3 Thankfully my husband has Fridays off (Pastor's life)! So today is going to be a great day! 🙂
This just looks so creamy and decadent! I also love that it contains almond butter!! So delish!
Thank you Jamie! Added protein and creaminess! win win! 🙂
This has me wishing I owned an ice cream maker! Vanilla is always my favorite go-to for ice cream; so fresh and creamy. If I ever invest in an ice cream maker, this will be my first recipe to taste test!
I bought my first ice cream maker on clearance at Target for $7! I found my awesome one at a yard sale for $20 (with an extra freezer container too)! Keep your eyes peeled and an ice cream maker doesn’t have to break the bank!
This is literally perfection!! Looks amazing as always! Pinned this beauty!
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Single-Serving Paleo Tropical Breakfast Pizza {Vegan option}
Thank you Rachel! 🙂
Yum! My favourite ice cream flavour is hokey pokey (a New Zealand thing.)
But if it is between vanilla and chocolate, I’m vanilla for sure.
OoOOOo what is Hokey Pokey?!
HELLLLLOOOOOOOOO heaven! I totally need this in my life.
My favourite ice cream is anything with chocolate. Chocolate icecream, chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, chocolate swirls – you name it 😛
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recent Things: The Birthday Edition
Chocolate is my FAVE too! 🙂
I can’t believe this ice cream is paleo Laura! It looks so delicious!
Thank you Ashlyn! It is super delicious AND healthy!
Mmm love the honey and almond butter combo <3 delicious!!
Thank you Rebecca! It makes this ice cream irresistibly creamy! 🙂
Your Vanillla Ice Cream looks amazing, a special treat for a hot August day. Hope you are having a fantastic day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
Thank you so much! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I love paleo ice cream. I cant wait to try your recipe!
Thank you Gabrielle! Ice cream is the best…especially when it’s healthy! 🙂
If you freeze it overnight, will it harden into a solid brick?
Will it still be scoopable???!!
If I don’t own an ice cream maker will it work to pour it into a container and then the freezer?
Hey Liz! you can make this without an ice cream maker, but I highly suggest buying one! Your ice cream will be more dense and less creamy without churning. You can churn it by hand (stir in the freezer every 15 minutes until it hardens) There’s truly nothing like homemade ice cream! And it doesn’t have to break the bank! I bought my first one on clearance at Target for $7!!!
Can I make this ice cream without the almond butter? If not (for creaminess sake), will the flavor of the ice cream be like almond butter (which I don’t like) or will it be unnoticeable? Thank you for a reply. I can’t wait to try this!
Hey Cathy! I think the almond butter gives it a great creaminess. You could sub peanut butter (not paleo), cashew butter, or sunflower butter if you don’t like almond butter! I haven’t tried making it without some kind of added fat/creamy ingredient, but if you do report back and let me know how it goes!
wondering if coconut butter could be used successfully instead of almond butter?
Hey Cheryl! I haven’t tried that variety but that sounds seriously delicious! If you give it a whirl pretty please report back and let me know how it goes! It would provide fat and creaminess…so I’m guessing it would be great!
this looks fantastic! Is the topping just warmed up almond butter?
Hello Dusty! Yep! I just warmed up some Barney Almond Butter and went to down on the drizzle! 😉
Hi, any chance you have the nutrition facts from this amazing recipe?? Thanks in advance. 🙂
Loved this recipe but do you have a fat/carb/protein info for us obsessive about our numbers?
Thanks!
Hey Gena! I don’t post calorie information…however you can easily plug the ingredients into a website like this and find out! 🙂
you can read the nutrition facts on the products that you included in the recipe and get all that info.
Hi,
Oh this looks sooooo yummy ! Is it possible to make this Keto Friendly?
Pia
Hello Pia! I am not familiar with the Keto diet! I’m sorry!
How long can you keep this once made??
You can keep in in the freezer for up to 3 months !
Hi Laura. I’m allergic to coconut and dairy, so I was wondering if I could use cashew milk?
OMG, I made this yesterday in my Cuisinart ice cream maker and it was perfection!!! It is so good and will be my go to treat from now on! Thank you so much!!
YAY Karen!! I am so glad you liked this ice cream! 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know!
Morning.
Can I use macadamia butter in stead of almond butter?
Thanks
Hello Yvonne! I have not tried that substitution so I can’t say for certain…but I have a feeling that would be DIVINE!!!
Thank you. I’ll give it a go!!
Almond butter very expensive.
I understand that! Have you tried making your own? If you can find almonds on sale it’s very economical!!
Hi Laura,
Do you think that this would work with raw honey?
Absolutely I do! I use raw honey most of the time!
Would this recipe work with Almond milk?
Hey Giselle! I would be hesitant to use almond milk because it would take away from the ultra creaminess that the coconut cream gives. If you don’t like coconut, you could try using an almond milk creamer or something like that. But almond milk in itself (unless it’s homemade) would probably make for a more icy less creamy treat!
I totally agree with you about the purposes of vanilla ice cream! This one definitely looks worth trying though, and it adds to my list of reasons to buy an ice cream maker 🙂
Hi Laura, did you use the whole can of coconut milk or just the cream off the top part? Thanks!
The whole can!
I am on a candida diet…I can use either stevia and/or xylitol for sweetener. What amount would you recommend if using xylitol? I can’t have honey or maple syrup in stage one of the ACD. Thanks!