Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe! (2024)

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

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 ❤️

☀ Click below to Pin ☀

📸 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! 📸

More Delicious Vegan Ice Cream Recipes

Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Almond Butter Paleo Ice Cream
Keto Coconut Ice Cream
Almond Joy Vegan Paleo Ice Cream
Strawberry Vegan Ice Cream (Dairy-Free)
Dark Chocolate Nice Cream Recipe

The Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe!

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 10 reviews

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

© beamingbaker.com. All content and images are protected by copyright. Please do not use my images or recipe without my permission. Please do not republish this recipe, instead, include a link to this post for the recipe.

This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to make a small commission for my referral, at no additional cost to you.

Facebook☀︎Pinterest☀︎Twitter ☀︎Instagram

Best Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Which vegan milk is best for making 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.

Find Out More ›

How to give vegan ice cream that creamy taste minus the milk? ›

Coconut Milk or Coconut Cream

The reason so many vegan ice cream recipes turn to coconut milk is that the high-fat content replicates the creaminess and mouth feel of ice cream better than any other option. If the goal is to faithfully replicate a dairy ice cream with vegan ingredients, coconut milk is hard to beat.

See Details ›

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.

Find Out More ›

How do you keep ice crystals out of vegan ice cream? ›

Adding alcohol (ethanol) will reduce the formation of ice crystals, and make the ice cream feel smoother and creamier. As a bonus, there are a lot of flavors out there.

See Details ›

What are the best stabilizers for vegan ice cream? ›

The common thickeners in non-dairy ice creams are guar gum, xanthan gum, acacia gum, carrageenan, and locust bean gum. These ingredients are added to enhance the texture of liquid to mimic the viscosity of a rich creamy ice cream. Guar, acacia, and xanthan gum can all be added to a recipe while cold.

What is the closest vegan milk to real milk? ›

Soy milk is most comparable to cow's milk from a protein standpoint.

Find Out More ›

What is the secret to making ice cream very creamy? ›

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.

What milk makes the creamiest ice cream? ›

Whole milk – I don't recommend replacing it with reduced fat or skim. Whole milk's higher fat content ensures that the homemade ice cream comes out creamy, not icy. Cane sugar – For sweetness.

Know More ›

What does evaporated milk do in ice cream? ›

Dense, Fudgy Ice Cream

On top of all that, evaporated milk also happens to be the key to our super-chewy New England–style ice cream. For that you can thank its high protein content, which delivers a superior, fresh-churned texture while simultaneously limiting iciness once the ice cream is stored.

See Details ›

What is the best emulsifier for vegan ice cream? ›

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.

Explore More ›

How do you increase creaminess in ice cream? ›

So you can up the fat in your ice cream by substituting cream for milk or half-and-half in recipes. Even more effective, is that you can also add more egg yolks if making a custard-based ice cream, which will increase the creaminess due to their emulsifying properties.

Discover More ›

Why does vegan ice cream not melt? ›

Instead, many plant-based ice creams opt to use coconut oil, or coconut butter instead! This helps add some fats to the ice cream and helps slow down the melting process – meaning your plant-based ice cream stays nice and firm for a good amount of time.

Discover More Details ›

Does xanthan gum keep ice cream soft? ›

Xanthan gum is just one of one the gums used in ice cream making. Pastry chefs and food industries around the world use a combination of gums to stabilise the ice cream mixture and create the creaminess and mouthfeel they want.

Keep Reading ›

What is the best thickener for ice cream? ›

Adding thickening agents, such as egg yolks, cornstarch, gelatin, tapioca starch, or even Junket tablets, enhances the texture and elevates the overall ice cream experience. Remember, making homemade ice cream is as much an art as it is a science.

See Details ›

Why is my homemade ice cream icy and not creamy? ›

If there isn't enough sugar or fat, or one of the ingredients overpowers the other, the ice cream may end up coagulating or separating as it freezes. This will give ice crystals plenty of space to form on your ice cream.

Keep Reading ›

What milk is best for homemade ice cream? ›

Whole milk – I don't recommend replacing it with reduced fat or skim. Whole milk's higher fat content ensures that the homemade ice cream comes out creamy, not icy.

What class of milk is used to make ice cream? ›

Class II refers to milk going into 'soft' manufactured products such as sour cream, cottage cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.

What is the most creamy vegan milk? ›

Oat milk is perhaps the creamiest of all the plant milks. Its thick creamy texture means it's one of the closest plant-based milks to resemble dairy milk. Oat milk is quickly becoming a favorite non-dairy alternative to milk with popular brands like Oatly disrupting the traditional milk industry.

Read The Full Story ›

What is a dairy-free substitute for ice cream? ›

Other suitable choices include oat- and rice-based ice creams. Oatly is slowly rolling out a line of oat-milk-based frozen desserts, with classic flavors like strawberry and chocolate in the works. Other options with wide appeal include So Delicious' Oatmilk ice cream line or Rice Dream's Cocoa Marble Fudge.

Learn More Now ›