Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream
Posted May 28, 2018, Updated Sep 29, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The creamiest homemade dairy-free vanilla ice cream ever! Made with only 5 ingredients and is vegan, paleo, gluten-free & refined sugar free!
Vanilla ice cream transcends the seasons. Of course it’s refreshing when enjoyed on a hot summer day or over a fruity summer dessert, but it also takes fall and winter desserts to the next level.
I created this paleo vanilla ice cream because I wanted to make a healthier, dairy-free vanilla ice cream for my family to enjoy.
Made with only 5 ingredients, this recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo with no refined sugar!And it only takes 5 minutes to prepare.
I am all about ultra-creamy dairy-free ice cream. The absence of dairy doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice texture or taste! Using a liquid sweetener and adding almond butter, makes this paleo vanilla ice cream irresistibly creamy.
Serve it on top of these fudgy paleo brownies (or these flourless brownies) or these paleo chocolate chip cookies for a delicious dessert.
Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream: Substitutions/Ingredients
Here are a few possible substitutions for this recipe!
- Coconut milk: Full-fat coconut cream or coconut milk can be used in this recipe with great results! Using light coconut milk will cause it to be less creamy.
- Almond butter: Any nut or seed butter can be used in this recipe. Besides almond butter I recommend cashew butter.
- Honey. This dairy-free vanilla ice cream recipe calls for honey or maple syrup as the sweetener! Both of these sweeteners yield a delicious and creamy ice cream, but the maple syrup will impart a slight maple flavor.
How to make Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream
Let’s discuss how to make this dairy-free vanilla ice cream, and as always don’t forget to watch the video.
Blend! Use a Vitamix or regular blender and blend the ingredients together until smooth.
Thoroughly blending the Almond Butter into the coconut milk not only ensures that the flavors are distributed evenly, but it also helps create a creamy texture.
Next, churn the ice cream in an ice cream maker. Make sure to turn the machine on and pour the vanilla mixture into the machine as it is turning.
This will prevent the ice cream from getting frozen to the sides immediately, which prevents the machine from turning.
Non-ice cream maker instructions:
If you don’t have an ice cream maker. Simply pour the ice cream mixture from the Vitamix into a freezer-friendly container. Put it in the freezer and stir by hand every 15 minutes until it’s frozen. It won’t be as creamy but it will still taste delicious!
Freeze
I recommend letting this dairy-free vanilla ice cream freeze for at least 3 hours before serving. It will get very hard when it’s completely frozen. So you will need to let it sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before scooping.
Serve
There are so many uses for this paleo vanilla ice cream. Here are some of our favorites:
- Serve it on top of brownies: like the best fudgy paleo brownies, flourless brownies, or black bean brownies.
- Serve it on top of these paleo chocolate chip cookies – or use the cookies to make paleo cookie ice cream sandwiches!
- Use it to make paleo cookie dough ice cream.
- It’s also delicious on this healthy berry crisp!
Recipe FAQs
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 coconut milk ice cream recipe possible.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the ice cream mixture from the Vitamix into a freezer-friendly container. Put it in the freezer and stir by hand every 15 minutes until it’s frozen. It won’t be as creamy but it will still taste delicious!
It stays fresh for up to 2 months in the freezer.
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream (Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 14 oz full-fat coconut milk (or coconut cream)
- ¼ cup honey (maple syrup for vegan)
- ¼ cup creamy almond butter (or cashew buter)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 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.
Video
Notes
To make without an ice cream maker:
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the ice cream mixture from the blender into a freezer-friendly container. Put it in the freezer and stir by hand every 15 minutes until it’s frozen. It won’t be as creamy but it will still taste delicious!Ingredient Substitutions
- Coconut milk: Full-fat coconut cream or coconut milk can be used in this recipe with great results! Using light coconut milk will cause it to be less creamy.
- Almond butter: Any nut or seed butter can be used in this recipe. Besides almond butter I recommend cashew butter.
- Honey. This dairy-free vanilla ice cream recipe calls for honey or maple syrup as the sweetener! Both of these sweeteners yield a delicious and creamy ice cream, but the maple syrup will impart a slight maple flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Dairy-Free Ice Cream Recipes!
- Paleo Sea Salt Chocolate Ice Cream
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Paleo Cookie Dough Ice Cream
The links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine.
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! 🙂
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 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
This is literally perfection!! Looks amazing as always! Pinned this beauty!
Thank you Rachel! 🙂
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 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.
YUM! I love me some ice cream and I love that this doesn’t include bananas. This lady over here can’t eat bananas 🙁
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! 🙂
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!
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!
Thank you Ellie! I have never even heard of aquafaba….off to google it!!! 🙂
Awesome recipe! I’m a chocolate head so I added 1/4 cup of Dutch processed cocoa powder and 2 oz of bittersweet chocolate stracciatella style. It was good! I might try 1/3 cup of cocoa powder next time for more chocolate flavor. And I guess this makes it not paleo (?) but I wasn’t concerned about that.
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! 🙂