Has lactose intolerance crushed your ice cream dreams?
No worries! We got you covered with our favorite vegan ice cream alternatives on the blog today.
As more and more people adopt plant-based diets the options for dairy-free alternatives are becoming endless and just as delicious. It has become just as easy to find vegan ice cream in any store nowadays as dairy ice creams.
But have you tried making your own?
Homemade ice creams are a great way to boost nutrient status whilst avoiding any fillers, processed sugars, and additives that can promote inflammation in the body.
Now you may be thinking this is going to be a lot of work but trust us on this, once you get started you will never believe just how easy it is, and today we are here to prove it to you!
It's time to throw guilt out the window and savor the end of the summer with these delicious and nutritious vegan ice cream bowls!
Banana ice cream
One of the simplest ways to make ice cream at home! Just chop up bananas and store in the freezer for at least an hour. When ready, blend up the banana pieces in a high-speed blender with your favorite dairy-free milk and voila!
If you are feeling adventurous, try adding different flavors like chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, or other fruits like berries!
Some other ways to get creative is to add superfoods like spirulina, cacao nibs, goji berries, cinnamon, hemp hearts, or maca.
Coconut ice cream
Coconut provides a rich creamy source of good fats. Rich in medium-chain fatty acids which are used quickly by the body for energy, they also help support the gut microbiome and promote brain function.
Ingredients
1 can coconut cream (chilled for at least 2 hours in the fridge)
1-2 tsps raw cacao
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp cacao nibs
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Add all ingredients, except the cacao nibs, to a bowl and whisk well together. Store the mixture in the freezer in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 hours. Once frozen remove the ice cream and blend well in a high-speed blender. Add toppings such as cacao nibs to your heart's content.
Almond ice cream
Almonds are a great source of calcium but also supply other important nutrients like fiber, magnesium, vitamin E, and manganese. Rich in antioxidants, they help lower inflammation and oxidative damage made by free radicals.
Ingredients
1.5 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 tbsps raw almond butter
1/2 cup dates
Pinch of sea salt
1 tsp pure almond extract
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Pour into a freezer-safe container and freeze for 1-2 hours. When ready let thaw for a few minutes before serving.
Cashew Coffee ice cream
Cashews provide important vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin E, folic acid, and vitamin B6. These nuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats shown to protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Ingredients
1 cup cashews (soaked overnight)
1/2 cup brewed ice coffee
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
Drain the soaked cashews and place into a high-speed blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth. Transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze until ready to serve. Let thaw for a few minutes before consuming.
High protein chai ice cream
Ingredients
1 scoop vegan chai protein powder
1 cup full fat coconut milk (chilled for at least 2 hours in the fridge)
1 tbsp hemp hearts
1 tbsp raw honey
Instructions
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Pour mixture in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 1-2 hours. Remove from freezer when ready to eat and let thaw for a few minutes before consuming.
