If you’re not a big fan of Non-Dairy, Vegan or Raw ice cream, it’s probably just because you haven’t found the type that works for you yet. That’s the great thing about non-dairy ice cream: there are so many different options and a million different ways of making it. And each approach results in a slightly different taste, or sometimes a very different one.
We’re going to take a look at some of the most popular non-dairy, vegan or raw ice cream options out there today. These are ice creams that you can buy from various brands or you can make them yourself if you want to. And they’re all perfectly suitable for anyone wanting to avoid dairy for whatever reason. So read on and find out all about them.
Coconut Milk
One of the most commonly used ingredients in dairy-free ice cream is coconut milk. It has the kind of creamy texture that most people are looking for when they want to make ice cream that tastes authentic. It combines very well with other ingredients, which means making a variety of flavors with coconut milk is no problem at all.
Pros and Cons
As we’ve mentioned, coconut milk is quite adaptable and it won’t clash with any of the flavors and toppings that you might want to add to your ice cream, which is definitely a bonus. Coconut milk is not the healthiest ingredient, even if it is free from dairy, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Coconut Milk
There are lots of shops, brands and restaurants that now use coconut milk to make vegan and non-dairy ice cream, so you won’t have any trouble finding it. Among the smaller brands using coconut milk to make ice cream today, one worth trying out is Daily Harvest, which has a wide range of great flavors and products. Luna and Larry’s Coconut Bliss is another great option, as is NadaMoo!
Avocado Ice Cream
This might sound like a strange one, but avocados actually have all the products that you’re looking for when it comes to finding a dairy replacement for ice cream. They’re full of fat, and when you mash them up and blend them, you end up with a very creamy concoction.
Pros and Cons
As difficult as it might be to get your head around, the texture that’s created when you use avocados as the base ingredient for ice cream is actually amazing. It’s quite similar to regular dairy ice cream but has a unique identity of its own. In terms of downsides, there’s no escaping the fact that your ice cream is going to turn out green.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Avocados
Avocados are yet to achieve mainstream adoption when it comes to creating non-dairy ice cream, but there are some companies out there pushing the boundaries. The one to try out is Cado, which is a vegan and non-dairy ice cream brand that solely uses avocado as its base ingredient. You should definitely give them a try. FoMu goes a step further by using the avocado as a flavoring ingredient and using coconut milk alongside it. It’s another product that’s worth a try.
Cashews Ice Cream
If you want to use cashews as the base ingredient for your ice cream, you first need to let them soak overnight before blending them the following morning. This might not sound like the ideal way of creating an ice cream base, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried. It works a lot better than you might expect.
Pros and Cons
There are particular flavors that combine really well with a cashew ice cream base. In particular, you’ll find that vanilla and cacao based recipes work really well. Of course, that means there are also flavors that don’t work quite as well when you use cashews; fruit flavors for example can be hit and miss.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Cashews
There are some brands and restaurants out there that are experimenting with cashew based ice creams. Booja-Booja is one such example. They make vegan ice creams and chocolates, and all of their ice cream products, containing a variety of different flavors, make use of cashew nuts as the base ingredient. Beau’s and Forager Project also make cashew-based ice cream.
Hazelnut Milk Ice Cream
Hazelnut milk based ice cream tastes great, and if you like hazelnuts and the flavor of hazelnut milk, it’s not going to offer too many surprises. If you’re not a fan of those things, you’re probably not going to be a fan of the ice cream it creates however. That distinctive flavor comes through.
Pros and Cons
As we’ve discussed, it all comes down to whether or not you’re a fan of hazelnuts. If you like hazelnut milk, you can combine this ice cream with coffee, chocolate and other nuts, and it’ll taste great. But it’s another example of a base that doesn’t always work quite as well with fruits.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Hazelnut Milk
There currently aren’t a lot of options when it comes to ice cream brands that make their ice cream using hazelnut milk. But there are plenty of recipes to try if you want to make your own. This recipe from Catillon Kitchen is one that you’ll definitely want to give a try.
Almond Milk Ice Cream
Almond milk is much the same as other nut-based milks when it comes to using it to make non-dairy ice cream. You can buy almond milk and use it to make the ice cream, or you can go to the lengths of making the milk from the raw nuts and then making the ice cream from there. It’s up to you. The outcomes will be similarly delicious though.
Pros and Cons
There’s a lot to like about using almond milk to make ice cream. It offers the flavor that you’re probably looking for. And it goes well with a wide variety of options, making it more versatile than some of the options we’ve discussed above. However, it is also less creamy than some of the other nut milks.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Almond Milk
More and more brands are starting to use almond milk as the base layer for their non-dairy ice creams. So Delicious is one example of this; their cookie’s n cream gluten free ice cream uses almond milk, as do plenty of their other options. Almond Dream is another brand that uses almond milk, and Ben & Jerry’s P.B. & Cookies does too
Banana Puree Ice Cream
Banana puree is another non-dairy ice cream base layer ingredient that most people have never tried before. But maybe you should change that. It offers the kind of texture and creaminess that you’re looking for, while retaining that fruitiness that works really well with lots of flavors.
Pros and Cons
We’ve already discussed many options that don’t work so well with fruit flavors, but this one certainly does. So if you’re looking to make an ice cream with a fruity burst, this is definitely a base layer to try. It might not work quite so well with other flavors though, so if you want to make a coffee or chocolate based ice cream, you might want to opt for a different base ingredient.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Banana Puree
Right now, there aren’t too many brands that are using banana puree as the base layer for their ice cream, but there are a couple. Banana Scoops Raspberry Nice Cream uses banana puree, as the name might suggest. And the Snow Monkey ice cream brand also uses it.
Oats
The great thing about oats and oat milk is the versatility they can offer. There aren’t many non-dairy replacements that can be used in such a variety of products as oats are. And you won’t be surprised to discover they work perfectly well as part of a non-dairy ice cream recipe too. You won’t even really taste the oats once the other flavors are added into the mix.
Pros and Cons
As we’ve mentioned, oats are incredibly versatile, meaning you’ll be able to create just about any flavour of ice cream you want out of oats. It’s entirely up to you which route you decide to take. You’re unlikely to be disappointed because oats make the perfect neutral base layer on which to put a range of other flavors and toppings as you desire.
Ice Cream Brands That Use Oats
Right now, lots of brands are starting to use oats and oat milks to make their ice cream products. One of the best known and most popular is Oatley. Of course, they’re known for their oat milk but they’re not branching out into non-dairy ice cream too. Whipped – Urban Dessert Lab is another popular option right now, as is Perry’s Ice Cream.
As you can see, there are lots of options to consider if you’re looking to find fantastic non-dairy ice cream options or even make your own. Be sure to give the options above a try and see which one satisfies your taste buds best.
