Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe! (2024)

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the BEST vegan chocolate ice cream recipe—rich ‘n creamy, unbelievable deep chocolate flavor and made with simple, whole ingredients. Dairy-Free.

this recipe

1) What’s your favorite ice cream flavor of all-time? 2) What’s your favorite store-bought brand of vegan ice cream? 3) If you could create any homemade vegan ice cream, what flavor would it be?

If you said 1) Chocolate!! 2) Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream! 3) Homemade Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream… then I have something super special and delicious for you today:

The BEST Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe. Ever.

Like, ever ever. But why is this the best vegan chocolate ice cream recipe? Lemme list the ways…

Why is this the BEST Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe?

Yep, the BEST vegan chocolate ice cream recipe. I said it! Today we’re gonnamake the best vegan chocolate ice cream recipe ever. It’s the best for so many reasons, but lemme list just a few to whet your appetite:

Rich & Creamy

I tested and retested this vegan ice cream recipe until it was decadently rich and creamy—because if it isn’t, it’s not the best, right?

Easy to Make

Deep Chocolate Flavor

I’m a chocoholic through and through, so when I say that this vegan chocolate ice cream has deep chocolate flavor, I mean it. This vegan ice cream has just the right amount of chocolate flavor—it’s rich and deep, but still creamy and comforting—not too bitter, not too sweet.

Just the Right Amount of Sweet

Made with Simple, Whole Ingredients

Check out the ingredients list and feel friggin’ good about what you’re making for you and your loved ones. This vegan chocolate ice cream is packed with simple, whole ingredients and delightfully guilt-free.

Vegan Ice Cream Recipes We Love: Homemade Mango Ice Cream · 4 Ingredient Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream · Coconut Chocolate Chip Vegan Ice Cream

How to Make Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream

Freeze

The day before you make your vegan chocolate ice cream, make sure to place your freezer bowl into the freezer to chill.

Blend

Day of, add all chocolate vegan ice cream ingredients into a food processor. Blend all ingredients together until smooth and well mixed. Et voilà: this is your vegan ice cream mixture!

Pour

Pour the chocolate vegan ice cream mixture into the freezer bowl of your ice cream maker. Churn until the ice cream is a firm texture—and remember to follow your ice cream maker’s instructions. 😉

Enjoy

Now you can enjoy the best vegan chocolate ice cream! Or, if you like your ice cream firmer, scoop the ice cream into a freezer-friendly container and chill until firm.

Deep chocolate flavor balances out rich ‘n creamy texture with just the right amount of sweetness in the BEST vegan chocolate ice cream recipe!

Simple Ingredients & Tools for Delicious Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream

Full-Fat Coconut Milk +Coconut Cream

The cream that puts in thecream in today’s non-dairy chocolate ice cream recipe. These two ingredients add deep, rich creaminess and “milkiness” to your dairy free ice cream.

Raw Cashew Butter

The #1 most important ingredient in this recipe. Yep, more important than coconut cream! (Even though you should not skip that lol.) It’s THE best ingredient for preventing icy texture in your homemade ice cream. Better than guar gum, better than vodka. Yes, I’ve tried it all! I prefer using raw over roasted because raw has a much subtler taste. Roasted cashew butter makes itself known. Ha!

Raw Cacao Powder

A nutrient-dense alternative to the usual unsweetened cocoa powder. I keep this ingredient on hand in my vegan pantry for ev’ry-thang.

Pure Maple Syrup

Pure Vanilla Extract + Pure Almond Extract

I tried leaving the almond extract out of today’s vegan chocolate ice cream recipe, for simplicity purposes. Guess what? It wasn’t nearly as good. Not by a long shot. Just try it with and without and let me know what you think. 😉

Ice Cream Maker

This ice cream maker is the best! It’s sleek, cute and easy to use. It’s very highly rated (and not just by yours truly). Best of all? It’s affordable. Yeah! Psst: make sure to get extra freezer bowls and freeze them in advance so you can make multiple batches of vegan ice cream, one after another. 😉

The Taste & Texture

I know you can never hear enough about theactualflavor and texture of any given recipe you’re thinking about making from the Internets. So I’m gonna describe the heck out of this vegan chocolate ice cream recipe until you can basicallytaste it.

This vegan chocolate ice cream is sounbelievably rich and creamy, with an element of creaminess from one secret ingredient. Its’rich, deep chocolate flavoris balanced out by asoft creaminessandsubtle sweet flavor, withhints of vanilla and something complex you can’t quite put your finger on. Best of all, it’s smooth and velvetyand easy to make.

***

I hope you love my favorite chocolate vegan ice cream recipe! Thank you for stopping by and sharing in these kitchen adventures with me and your loved ones. ‘Til the next one…

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

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📸 Did you make this vegan chocolate ice cream recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it! 📸

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The Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe!

★★★★★5 from 10 reviews

Author: Demeter | Beaming Baker
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 16 1/3-cup servings 1x
Diet: Vegan

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Description

The BEST vegan chocolate ice cream recipe—rich ‘n creamy, unbelievable deep chocolate flavor and made with simple, whole ingredients. Deliciously decadent and guilt-free vegan chocolate ice cream. Dairy-Free.

Ingredients

Scale

1 can full-fat coconut milk (13.66 oz.)
1 can coconut cream (13.66 oz.)
¼ cup raw cashew butter
¼ cup raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon pure almond extract

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

The day before, freeze the freezer bowl according to your ice cream maker’s instructions.
Blend together all ingredients in a food processor. Scrape down the sides of the processor as needed. Blend until smooth and well mixed.
Pour mixture into an ice cream maker. Follow directions for making ice cream according to ice cream maker’s directions.
Enjoy immediately if you like super soft ice cream. If you like firmer ice cream, pour into an ice cream container and freeze for 2-4 hours, until firm.
Chocolate vegan ice cream is best the first day, but still good on later days. On Day 2 and forward, set ice cream out at room temperature to thaw for 20-90 minutes, until creamy and scoopable. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.

Delicious Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Coconut Milk Ice Cream – Keto Coconut Ice Cream
4 Ingredient Almond Butter Paleo Ice Cream (Keto, Vegan)
Best Strawberry Vegan Ice Cream! (Dairy-Free)

Equipment

Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe! (6)

Full Fat Coconut Milk – 365

Buy Now →

Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe! (9)

Pure Almond Extract

Buy Now →

Notes

Where to Buy Ingredients: Full-fat Coconut Milk & Coconut Cream | Raw Cashew Butter | Raw Cacao Powder | Pure Almond Extract

Storing Instructions: Store in an airtight, freezer-friendly ice cream container, such as this one. If serving after completely frozen, allow about 20-90 minutes to thaw—until creamy and scoopable.

For Quick Thaw: heat in the microwave in 10-second increments until the edges are a bit melty and ice cream is easy to scoop.

Recommended Tools: Ice Cream Maker | Extra Freezer Bowls | My Favorite Food Processor | Freezer Door Ice Cream Container | Mini Ice Cream Containers (super cute)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Category: Dessert
Method: Chill
Cuisine: American

Keywords: vegan chocolate ice cream

FAQs

What vegan milk makes the best ice cream? ›

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

What is vegan chocolate ice cream made of? ›

The base is comprised of water, cocoa powder, rich coconut cream, and organic cane sugar, which is whisked together. Then comes the deep chocolate flavor: from plenty of vegan dark chocolate.

Know More ›

How do you thicken vegan ice cream? ›

Plant-based fats are the best way to thicken vegan ice cream. Coconut cream, full-fat coconut milk and coconut oil will give the creamiest and thickest results. Cornstarch and tapioca starch can also be used to thicken but the end result will be a little more icy and a little less creamy.

Learn More ›

What replaces dairy in vegan ice cream? ›

The secret is nothing more than coconut milk. Full-fat, creamy coconut milk. Other vegan milk substitutes, like almond milk or soy milk, just don't cut it when it comes to ice cream.

Read On ›

Is oat milk or almond milk better for ice cream? ›

Among plant-based milk options, oat milk is among the creamiest. This makes it a great choice for adding to coffee and, in our case, making ice cream.

Learn More ›

Which vegan milk tastes closest to real milk? ›

Out of the listed options, the So Delicious Dairy Free Wondermilk tops as the best brand that closely resembles actual milk in terms of consistency, creaminess and slightly sweet mild flavor. It contains coconut and oat milk, with hints of oat taste and full texture.

Discover More ›

What is Ben and Jerry's vegan ice cream made of? ›

Our Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk, 100% certified vegan, and boldly loaded with chunks and swirls. You'll get Ben & Jerry's euphoria in every bite. These flavors deliver everything… but the cow.

What can I use instead of heavy cream for ice cream vegan? ›

Coconut cream is a versatile ingredient that makes an excellent vegan substitute for heavy cream. While it can be purchased pre-made, it's also simple to make at home using coconut milk. Simply chill a can of full-fat coconut milk in the fridge overnight, open it and pour the liquid contents into another container.

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What is the best stabilizer for ice cream? ›

Locust bean gum (E410)

LBG is a very popular stabilizer in ice cream. It's one of the best gums at reducing ice crystal size. And it produces, a smooth texture, a creamy mouth-feel, and a silky finish. It also works well with other gums, especially Guar and Carrageenan.

What is the best oil for ice cream? ›

The classic pairing for olive oil on ice cream is an Extra Virgin Olive Oil, vanilla ice cream, and a topping of flaky sea salt. But that doesn't mean you're limited to that pairing (although store-bought vanilla ice cream truly goes with any high-quality olive oil).

Get More Info ›

What is ice cream without dairy called? ›

Updated: Jun 13, 2021. You might be surprised to learn that sorbet, Italian ice, sherbet, dairy-free ice cream and vegan ice cream are all different kinds of delectable, frozen treats.

Discover More ›

What replaces milk in vegan chocolate? ›

To transform it into vegan chocolate, confectioners replace dairy milk with plant-based alternatives. The alternatives used vary from brand to brand and may include almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and more. At Cocoa Libre, we have our unique spin on this – we use rice milk.

Learn More ›

What is the best non-dairy milk to make ice cream? ›

Cashew milk, like coconut, is a good base because of its higher fat content. But almond milk is still the No. 1 vegan milk choice among consumers, which makes it a popular choice for frozen desserts as well.

Keep Reading ›

Which non-dairy milk freezes best? ›

Soy milk and oat milk, for example, freeze almost the same as cow's milk does. Both of these types of milk separate out after they thaw, but if you shake or blend them, you can get them back to normal. On the other hand, almond milk and coconut milk tend to change their texture once you freeze them.

What is the tastiest vegan milk? ›

Check out our list of the 5 Best Vegan Milks in Europe, Middle East & Africa in 2021.

#1 Soya Plain Milk. Alpro.
#2 Barista Soya Milk. Alpro.
#3 Oat Drink Barista Edition. Oatly.
#4 Bevanda al Cocco Original. Alpro.
#5 Almond Milk. Alpro.

What milk does Ben and Jerry's non-dairy use? ›

You dared us to go dairyless—and we did! Our Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk, 100% certified vegan, and boldly loaded with chunks and swirls. You'll get Ben & Jerry's euphoria in every bite. These flavors deliver everything… but the cow.

View Details ›