There’s something about the creamy and indulgent taste of ice cream that just hits the spot. Whether blended into a shake or creamy smoothie, paired with espresso for an affogato, or simply scooped into a bowl, there are endless ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. And while summer trips to the ice cream parlor and late-night ice cream runs remain some of life’s simplest pleasures, traditional ice cream is often full of processed sugar, dairy, and calorie-laden add-ins (like cookie dough, chocolate syrup, and even candy bars). However, if you’re looking to enjoy this summertime dessert in a more mindful way, you should know that it’s entirely possible to enjoy ice cream without compromising on your health and fitness goals. The trick? Making your own healthy ice cream at home!
Enter: your guide to healthy homemade ice cream. Equipped with easy-prep homemade recipes (including numerous dairy-free choices), endless flavor options, and even the best dairy-free store-bought ice cream picks, there will be no missing out on the sweet taste of summer! Grab your spoon and get ready to dig in!
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Healthy Ice Cream Tips
Ingredients Matter
If you follow any advice when choosing a healthy ice cream blend, let it be this — always read the ingredient label! Opt for ice cream blends made with whole foods in their least processed state. If they’re sweetened, ideally, it’s with natural sweeteners like honey, dates, or maple syrup. If they’re ultra-thick and creamy, look for full-fat coconut milk, avocado, or cashews as opposed to processed thickeners. If they’re chocolate or mint-flavored, don’t settle for artificial flavorings — look for the real deal! And if you’re making your own, even better! You’re in charge of the ingredients.
RELATED: The 9 Healthiest Sweeteners That Are Better Than Refined Sugar
Less is More
Speaking of ingredients, less is more when it comes to what’s in your ice cream! If you’re looking at a never-ending list of foods, there’s a good chance it’s filled with artificial ingredients, fillers, and processed foods. Generally speaking, fewer ingredients is best — it will likely be more nutritious and easier to digest!
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Portion Your Plate
Even when made with good-for-you ingredients, remember: ice cream is still a treat! Pace yourself and be mindful of portion sizes. While healthy ice cream options are typically made with fewer calories and less sugar, indulging too much or too frequently can affect your health and fitness goals. Moderation is key!
Homemade Healthy Ice Cream Equipment and Tools
Ready to make your own healthy ice cream? To get started, you’ll just need a few simple tools!
Ice cream maker: Though not necessary, these convenient machines make for an easy-prep, no-fuss blend. Creamy and decadent every time!
High-speed blender or food processor: No ice cream maker? No problem! Whip up your homemade blend using a blender or food processor.
Ice cream container: The storage process is just as important as the preparation! Proper storage prevents ice crystals from forming (which can ruin the texture and taste).
Ice cream scoop: Enough said.
How to Make Healthy Ice Cream: 2 Easy-Prep Methods
With An Ice Cream Maker
In a high-speed blender, blend all the ingredients together. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the ice cream machine instructions. Once churned, enjoy immediately or add the mixture to an ice cream storage container and freeze.
Without An Ice Cream Maker
Method #1: In a high-speed blender, blend all the ingredients together, then pour into ice cube trays, and freeze. Once frozen, allow the ice cubes to thaw slightly before adding to the blender or food processor, this will allow the machine to blend without overheating. Next, blend until smooth. Once a creamy ice cream-like texture is formed, add the mixture to an ice cream container and freeze for 45-60 minutes until firm enough to scoop.
Method #2: In a high-speed blender, blend all the ingredients together. Then, pour into a large ice cream or shallow container and freeze. To prevent ice crystals, stir the mixture every 45-60 minutes and re-freeze. Repeat every 30-45 minutes for about 2-3 hours. P.S. This step is crucial! Though a little tedious, it prevents an icy texture.
Healthy Homemade Dairy-Free Ice Cream Recipes
These tasty and decadent dairy-free ice cream recipes come together in minutes! Low in sugar, full of healthy fats, and made with just a few simple whole food ingredients, enjoy them guilt-free.
Homemade Cashew Milk Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cashew milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
- ½ cup cashew butter (or nut or seed butter of choice)
- ⅓ cup raw honey or maple syrup
- ½ tbsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt, to taste
Homemade Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 1 (13-14 oz) can of full-fat coconut milk
- 1 ripe medium avocado, peeled and pitted
- ⅓ – ½ cup cocoa or cacao powder, unsweetened
- ½ cup raw honey
- 1 ½ tbsp vanilla extract
Homemade Almond Milk Ice Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 cups almond milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
- ½ cup almond butter (or nut or seed butter of choice)
- ⅓ cup raw honey or maple syrup
- ½ tbsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt, to taste
13 Homemade Ice Cream Flavor Variations
For any of the below ice cream flavors, follow one of the above ice cream recipes and modify with these tasty all-natural flavor boosts!
Double Chocolate
Follow one of the above recipes for avocado or nut butter-based ice cream. For a lighter cacao flavor, add ¼ cup of unsweetened cacao or cocoa. For a deeper chocolate flavor, use up to ½ cup. Add dairy-free chocolate chips for a double chocolate twist!
Mint Chip
Follow one of the above base recipes, adding ⅛ teaspoon pure peppermint extract. Mix in dairy-free chocolate chips for a mint chocolate chip ice cream flavor.
Very Vanilla
Follow one of the above recipes for avocado or nut butter-based ice cream. For the avocado ice cream, leave out the cacao powder and replace with ⅓ cup nut butter of choice. Increase the vanilla extract by ½ tbsp. For the nut butter-based recipe, increase the vanilla extract by one additional tbsp.
Strawberry
For a chocolate + berry blend, use the avocado ice cream recipe. Add ½ – 1 cup of fresh strawberries. For a pure strawberry flavor, follow the nut butter-based recipe. Reduce the liquid by ½ cup and add ½ – 1 cup of sliced or mashed fresh or frozen strawberries.
Brownie Batter
Use either base recipe and stir in chunks of your favorite homemade or store-bought brownie. For a cookie dough flavor, add chunks of your favorite chocolate chip cookie to the nut butter-based recipe!
Coconut
Follow one of the above base recipes, and add in 1 tbsp of unsweetened shredded coconut to the base. For an extra coconut kick, garnish with a sprinkle of toasted coconut to serve!
PB&J
Use the cashew milk base recipe and stir in ½ – 1 cup of fresh strawberries or raspberries and 1 tbsp chunky peanut or almond butter to the base. If you prefer chunky toppings, make the cashew milk ice cream recipe as instructed above, then stir in your fixing after!
Pistachio
Follow either base recipe and stir in ⅓ cup of roughly chopped pistachios to the base. For a chunkier texture, stir in the pistachios to the base once the ice cream has set!
Cereal Milk
Embrace your inner child with this healthier nostalgic indulgence. Using the cashew milk base recipe, add 1 cup of your favorite healthy cereal to the base, such as Magic Spoon or Three Wishes Cinnamon cereal!
Moose Tracks
Follow one of the above base recipes. Once the ice cream base has set, stir in ½ cup of loosely chopped healthy peanut butter or nut butter cups of choice, such as Eating Evolved, Justin’s, or Lily’s Chocolate.
Cookie Dough
With so many better-for-you cookie dough alternatives on the market (such as Capello’s vegan chocolate chip cookie dough), making healthy cookie dough ice cream at home is easy. Simply choose your favorite dairy-free base (we recommend cashew or almond milk) and follow the instructions. Once the ice cream has set, chop your store-bought cookie dough of choice into small squares and stir into the base.
Coffee
Follow the cashew milk base recipe, adding 2 shots of brewed espresso. Alternatively, you can replace ½ cup of cashew milk with chilled coffee. Option to stir in chocolate chips to the base once set!
Chocolate Chip
A classic flavor that pairs well with anything! Choose your favorite base, then blend and freeze according to the directions. Once frozen, stir chocolate chips of choice into the base until evenly distributed.
The 10 Healthiest Store-Bought Dairy-Free Ice Cream Brands
#1 Pressed Juicery
This dairy-free ice cream is in a league of its own when it comes to taste and nutrition!
Made with homemade almond milk and sweetened with Medjool dates or maple syrup, it’s the ultimate guilt-free treat that is decadent and delicious. While you can visit any Pressed Juicery location for a soft-serve freeze (walk, don’t run!), you can find their store-bought frozen dessert in a variety of locations. Choose between flavors like matcha, chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla coconut. 100% plant-based, made with real whole-food ingredients, and sweetened all naturally! What’s not to love?
We tried the matcha flavor and… yum. If you’re a matcha and ice cream lover, grab your spoon! Made with less than 10 ingredients like coconut milk, almond milk, matcha, and maple syrup. Enjoy it with a sprinkle of coconut flakes or dairy-free chocolate chips!
#2 Van Leeuwen
Real ingredients, delicious flavors, and options for everyone. Choose between dairy-free oat cashew and coconut-based blends, or enjoy dairy-filled flavors if that’s your thing! As one of the creamiest options out there, you’d never guess it was plant-based! Peanut butter brownie, cookie crumble strawberry jam, chocolate fudge brownie, chocolate oat milk cookie dough crunch, vegan strawberry shortcake… our mouth is watering at the thought!
With limited-edition flavors on rotation, check the menu (often) to make sure you get a scoop of the good stuff! Be on the lookout for summer flavors like Banan Cream Pie Ice Cream, Key Lime Pie, Tiramisu, and Summer Peach Crisp. And if you’re more of an ice cream sandwich guy or gal, they’ve got you covered there, too!
#3 GoodPop
The dessert possibilities are endless with this healthy ice cream brand! From oat milk ice cream sandwiches, to dairy-free fudgesicles and ice cream bars, to no-added sugar fruit pops and new Neapolitan dessert bars, there’s no wrong choice. At about 100 calories per serving, it’s a guilt-free and indulgent treat.
#4 Cosmic Bliss
With dozens of flavor options and the purest ingredients, Cosmic Bliss is undoubtedly one of our top healthy ice cream picks. Whether you’re dairy-free or a dairy-lover — there’s something for everyone. Have your pick at 11 Plant-based flavors — like sweet cherry amaretto, sea salt caramel, and chocolate PB. Or, if you’re tolerant of dairy, enjoy 7 sustainably sourced grass-fed varieties (think: cookie dough, PB, and hazelnut fudge).
While it’s hard to pick favorites, Chocolate Walnut Brownie is a top contender! Like all of their flavors, this decadent flavor is sweetened all naturally, with ingredients like maple and superfoods like lucuma.
Proving dessert can, in fact, be healthy, grab a pint and dig in!
#5 Dream Pops
While not an ice cream per se, these ice cream bites deserve an honorable mention! In addition to their ever-popular functional frozen dessert bars (think: chocolate lion’s mane, vanilla matcha, and coconut latte), Dream Pops is here to satisfy your sweet tooth with their bite-sized vegan chocolate-coated frozen desserts. 100% plant-based and made with simple and all-natural ingredients like coconut cream, coconut sugar, and natural dark chocolate. 100 calories or less per serving, and available in a variety of flavors including Peanut Butter, Mint, Birthday Cake, Cookie Dough, and Banana Cream. The ultimate healthy (yet totally satisfying) treat!
#6 Fronen
Dairy-free, made with all-natural ingredients, and lightly sweetened with honey and coconut sugar. Trust us — this is one of the healthiest ice cream brands out there — take a look at the ingredient label and see for yourself! Fronen frozen desserts are made with 7 ingredients or less — and you can actually recognize and pronounce them. Choose from five different flavors, such as strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, mint chip, and salted caramel. Made with a coconut cream base and flavored with pure flavor extracts like mint or vanilla bean for a yummy treat that can be enjoyed by all. Gluten and soy-free, paleo-friendly, and a summer must-have.
#7 NadaMoo!
Cookies and creme, pistachio nut, chocolate peanut butter, caramel cold brew & cookies… need we say more? This dairy-free, coconut-based healthy ice cream brand has been sweetening your freezer since 2005 as one of the first healthy dairy-free ice cream brands on the market. And, with so many delicious flavors that are made with good-for-you ingredients, NadaMoo is here to stay! From seasonal holiday flavors like peppermint bark and pumpkin to new and noteworthy flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough, there are endless reasons to scoop this brand into your bowl. And if you’re looking for a sweet snacking option, try their dairy-free coconut milk frozen bites!
#8 Bekon
This lactose-free brand is delicious, creamy, and made with ingredients you can actually recognize and pronounce. While not dairy-free, Bekon is made with real cream. With flavors like Sea Salt Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Brownie, and Peanut Butter cup, there’s something for everyone.
#9 Alec’s Organics
Free from hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup, and other sneaky additives, this organic pasture-raised ice cream brand is doing it right. Made with less sugar and gut-friendly regenerative A2 dairy. Choose from flavors like Matcha Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb, Honey Blueberry Lavender, and Salted Caramel Latte.
#10 Goodness Dairy
Banana walnut, wild blueberry, rich maple, creamy vanilla, and even lemon sherbet are a few of the reasons we love Goodness Dairy! This whole-foods-based frozen dessert is made with 100% grass-fed A2 dairy and sweetened naturally with ingredients like honey and fresh fruit. Their ingredient list is minimal, and flavor options are endless! While primarily located in stores surrounding New York, you can shop online and fill your freezer with these tasty and nutritious blends!
Plus, Honorable Mentions That Will Melt In Your Mouth
While not the traditional scoop-and-serve ice cream, these store-bought ice cream variations deserve a shoutout!
- CoolHaus dairy-free ice cream cookie sandwiches
- CoolHaus dairy and dairy-free ice cream cones
- Coconut Girl Paleo Cookie Sandwich
- Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt bars
- Good Pop frozen dairy-free oat milk squares
- Diana’s frozen chocolate banana bites
The Scoop On All Things Healthy Ice Cream
Whether you’re dairy-free or simply looking for a healthy yet decadent dessert, these creamy and delicious plant-based options will satisfy your sweet tooth. For an effortless option, grab a store-bought treat. With oat milk-based pints, banana nice cream, and bite-sized frozen bites, there are so many tasty options to choose from. Want to enjoy a homemade blend full of nutrient-dense ingredients + a little extra TLC? Try one of our easily-customizable DIY recipes. Made from all-natural ingredients and free from sneaky ingredients, fillers, and additives, dig in guilt-free!
