Paleo Vanilla Ice Cream
Posted May 28, 2018, Updated Sep 29, 2021
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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.
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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
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Hi…Can I use a regular blender. AND I have coconut butter will that work
Hey Tiffany! Yes a regular blender should suffice for this recipe! And what are you wanting to use coconut butter in place of? It is not a substitute for coconut cream or coconut milk!
Hi Laura,
I am looking to make a pumpkin spice paleo ice cream. Would this work as the base? Would I still use almond butter and add in 1/4 of pumpkin puree or would I substitute the almond butter for the pumpkin puree? What does the almond butter do for this recipe?
Thanks!
Hey Jenny! I would recommend adding 1/4 cup pumpkin instead of omitting the almond butter because it adds so much creaminess! Let me know how it turns out if you give it a whirl!
This DF ice-cream looks INCREDIBLE!!
Do you have a preferred brand of coconut milk or coconut cream?
Also, isn’t there some refined sugar in the almond butter?
Hey Vicky! I’m not picky when it comes to brands…I usually buy the Sprouts brand or Thai Kitchen… whichever is on sale! There are almond butters with one ingredient…almonds! Barney butter and crazy Richards are two of my faves!
How does one churn the ice cream mix without a ice cream
Machine?
Hi there!! I’m wondering if I double the recipe if the consistency is the same??
Hey Kisha! I find that my ice cream maker can only handle one batch of this recipe at a time! If you double it and have two bowls for your ice cream maker then you can churn half at a time, one batch right after another! If you have a larger than standard ice cream maker it could handle two batches!
What size of can milk or cream do you use and can you use something else to substitute for the almond butter?
Thanks so much!!!
Can wait to make
Hey Karwn! I use a 14 oz can of coconut cream or milk!
I assume the almond butter helps give it a creamy texture,but Is the almond butter present tastewise? Is it overpowering or mild?I would really like to make,so I was just wondering beforehand.
I personally do not think the almond butter is at all overpowering! I think it simply makes the ice cream ultra creamy! You could try substituting a milder nut butter like cashew butter if you’re concerned!
Have you ever doubled this recipe? Does it still work in the ice cream maker?
Hey Stacey! If you double this recipe make sure you have two ice cream bowl attachments frozen and ready to go for your maker. You will have to churn it in two separate batches because one recipe completely fills the bowl to capacity!
Laura, I don’t have almond butter, will almonds work? Or should I make it without or wait until I can get almond butter? Thank you
Hey Diane! If you have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix or a food processor you can use it to make your own creamy almond butter to use in this recipe! (here’s a great “how-to”)! Using whole almonds will not work because you need the creamy consistency of the almond butter! You could sub any other nut or seed butter as long as it complies with your dietary needs!
Thank you SO much, Laura. That’s doable. I’ll use the second recipe and make tomorrow. National Ice Cream Day after all,
You’ll have to let me know how you like it Diane! 🙂