Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream - No Churn Ice Cream Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What replaces milk in vegan 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).

Vegan Ice Cream Challenges

Because of this, ice crystals form which create a grainy or sandy mouthfeel in the finished product. Some solutions include adding proteins, food gums and other hydrocolloids to bind the water during the freezing process.

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.

Cornstarch: Often used in non-custard ice creams, cornstarch mixed with milk helps thicken the base and create a smooth mouthfeel. Gelatin: Adding a small amount of gelatin to the ice cream mixture improves texture by reducing ice crystal formation and creating a smoother consistency.

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.

What's the Secret to Vegan Ice Cream? The secret is nothing more than coconut milk. Full-fat, creamy coconut milk.

A common - and better - emulsifier for ice cream is soy lecithin, which can be derived from soybeans, sunflowers and rapeseed. Soy lecithin has a neutral taste, and also allows you to make egg-less ice cream.

Vegan ice cream recipes often rely on coconut milk, coconut oil (you can opt for refined coconut oil, which has less coconut flavor), or blended nuts to achieve a creamy texture.

Ice Cream-Making Secrets

Gelatin is a stabilizer—a substance that keeps everything well mixed and helps prevent big crystals. Evaporated milk has less water than regular milk, so using it reduces the amount of water that can crystallize.

What is the best vegan thickening agent? ›

Blends of vegetable oils (60% to 80% coconut oil or palm kernel oil with 20% to 40% of a liquid oil such as sunflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, or olive oil) are often used in vegan ice cream production to obtain the optimum amount of solid fat.

Add extra egg yolks for a richer, thicker texture.

You can use up to 8 eggs for 1 quart (688 grams) of ice cream. This may seem like a lot, but it really makes a difference. Egg yolks not only help make the ice cream thicker, but they also help reduce the amount of ice crystals that often form during freezing.

For firmer ice cream, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for 2 to 4 hours before serving. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month. If the ice cream is too firm to scoop straight from the freezer, let sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften.

As you churn ice cream, individual water molecules turn into ice-crystal seeds — which is what makes cream freeze. The higher the fat content, the more time you have to churn before these ice crystals congregate, resulting in creamier final texture.

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

Fruit Sorbet is generally vegan, but always check the ingredients. 100% fruit frozen popsicles and many other popsicles are also vegan. Ben & Jerry's and many other ice cream chains have dairy free flavors.