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    Home » Recipes » Other sweets

    July 27, 2022 43 Comments

    Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (Cashew Base)

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    Just 4 ingredients to make the BEST vegan vanilla ice cream! This homemade vegan ice cream recipe is easy to make, super rich and creamy- it's the best ice cream I've ever tasted, vegan or not!

    Just 4 ingredients to make the BEST vegan vanilla ice cream! This homemade ice cream recipe is easy to make, super rich and creamy- it's the best ice cream I've ever tasted, vegan or not! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #vegan

    A lot of homemade vegan ice cream recipes are made with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream, and while I like those, the strong coconut flavor is not always what you want in ice cream. I wanted to make a vegan vanilla ice cream that was neutral enough in flavor, all while being incredibly luscious. So this vanilla ice cream recipe is made with cashews (which make it super rich), plant-based milk of choice (I used oat milk), sugar, and vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. The texture and richness are similar to Ben & Jerry's or Häagen Dazs, but it is completely dairy free!

    Just 4 ingredients to make the BEST vegan vanilla ice cream! This homemade ice cream recipe is easy to make, super rich and creamy- it's the best ice cream I've ever tasted, vegan or not! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #vegan

    To make this homemade vegan ice cream recipe you will need an ice cream maker. I love, this one, which works so well and is easy to use! Just freeze the bowl overnight (I just store mine in the freezer at all times so it is ready to go). Then add the ice cream base, and press the button to churn. 25 minutes later you will have perfectly fluffy ice cream.

    If you do not have an ice cream machine, stay tuned, as I will be sharing my no-churn recipe next week! Let me know in the comments what other vegan ice cream recipes you want me to share next!

    How to make The Best Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream:

    Blend the cashews, plant-based milk, sugar, and vanilla.

    Softening the cashews (optional):

    Softening the cashews first helps them blend. If you have a high-powered blender you can skip this step, but if not, this step is important to get smooth and creamy ice cream. To soften the cashews add the cashews to a small pot, cover with water, and boil for about 10 minutes until the cashews are very tender. Drain and rinse cashews before using.

    To make the ice cream:

    Prepare your ice cream maker following the instructions for your machine.
    Add the cashews, plant-based milk, sugar, and vanilla to your blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape the sides if needed. Make sure that the cashews are completely blended and no bits remain.

    Pour into your ice cream maker and churn until you reach a soft serve consistency (about 25 minutes)

    Pour the ice cream mixture into your ice cream maker and churn the ice cream for about 25 minutes until it reaches a soft serve consistency. Enjoy right away...

    For a firmer ice cream, spread into a freezer-safe container and freeze for 2 hours or overnight.

    Or for firmer ice cream, spread it into a sealable container or loaf pan and freeze for 2 hours or overnight until firm. Scoop and enjoy! Store leftover dairy-free ice cream in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to two weeks. Enjoy the best vegan ice cream recipe!

    Just 4 ingredients to make the BEST vegan vanilla ice cream! This homemade ice cream recipe is easy to make, super rich and creamy- it's the best ice cream I've ever tasted, vegan or not! #itdoesnttastelikechicken #vegan

    This Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream is...

    • Easy to make with just 4 ingredients!
    • Extra rich and creamy.
    • The tastiest vanilla ice cream you'll ever try!

    More delicious vegan ice cream recipes:

    Best Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream
    The Best Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream
    How to Make Ice Cream in a Blender

    If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.

    Bon appetegan!
    Sam Turnbull

    Print Recipe
    5 from 11 votes

    Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (Cashew Base)

    Just 4 ingredients to make the BEST vegan vanilla ice cream! This homemade ice cream recipe is easy to make, super rich and creamy- it's the best ice cream I've ever tasted, vegan or not!
    Prep Time30 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : Italian
    Servings: 6 (makes about 3 cups or 1 ½ pints)
    Author: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups raw cashews (softened if needed, see step 1)
    • 1 ½ cups plant-based milk (such as oat or soy)
    • ¾ cup white sugar
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    Softening the cashews (optional):

    • Softening the cashews first helps them blend. If you have a high-powered blender you can skip this step, but if not, this step is important to get smooth and creamy ice cream. To soften the cashews add the cashews to a small pot, cover with water, and boil for about 10 minutes until the cashews are very tender. Drain and rinse cashews before using.

    To make the ice cream:

    • Prepare your ice cream maker following the manufacturer's instructions. I have this Cuisinart ice cream maker which I love. (See notes if you do not have an ice cream machine).
    • Add the cashews, plant-based milk, sugar, and vanilla to your blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape the sides if needed. Make sure that the cashews are completely blended and no bits remain. Pour the ice cream mixture into your ice cream maker and churn the ice cream for about 25 minutes until it reaches a soft serve consistency. Enjoy immediately, or for firmer ice cream, spread into a sealable container and freeze for 2 hours or overnight until firm. Scoop and enjoy! Store leftover dairy-free ice cream in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to two weeks.

    Notes

    Add-ins: if you want to incorporate any add-ins such as broken up cookies, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or frozen berries, pour them into the ice cream maker in the last 5 minutes of churning.
    No ice cream maker technique: if you do not have an ice cream machine, make the ice cream base as directed and then follow the directions in How to Make Ice Cream in a Blender. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving (recipe makes 6 servings) | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 299mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 232IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and Hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken

    More vegan recipes you might enjoy...

     

    « Watermelon Tuna!
    How to Make Ice Cream in a Blender! »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bianca says

      March 23, 2023 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is perfect! An amazing base for other flavours too.
      I've added peanut butter and ganache drizzles throughout mine and it turned out INCREDIBLE.
      For reference: I added 100g of peanut butter (melted on the microwave), and 100g of warm ganache (made with 2 parts chocolate, 1 part milk).

      Reply
    2. Patricia G says

      March 01, 2023 at 3:06 am

      5 stars
      This ice cream is amazing! Made it in our Dash ice cream maker, and yes, it was very soft, but put the rest in the freezer and it harden up beautifully. Only made the vanilla so far, plan to try other flavors, this is my best, vegan recipe ever! Thank you so very much. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

        March 06, 2023 at 1:07 pm

        That's great! Can't wait to hear about the other flavors you try!

        Reply
    3. Dena says

      January 28, 2023 at 11:48 am

      I can't eat/use nuts... would pumpkin seeds or is there another seed that would work??
      If so, what seed?? Amount to use in replacing cashews??
      Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Jess @ IDTLC Support says

        January 31, 2023 at 2:08 pm

        Cashews are popular because they have the most neutral taste. Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds could perhaps give you the same results, but the flavor will be stronger.

        Reply
    4. Iris says

      October 03, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      Can I use my vanilla almond milk

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        October 06, 2022 at 12:24 pm

        Instead of soy or oat? Yes absolutely 🙂

        Reply
    5. Brenda says

      September 13, 2022 at 4:22 pm

      I thought that might be the case! Well, I can vouch for the fact that it's pretty good regardless, but I'll definitely get the right stuff next time!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 15, 2022 at 9:15 am

        Wonderful 🙂

        Reply
    6. Amber says

      September 04, 2022 at 3:15 pm

      Hey Sam! I love all of your recipes! I do have a quick question. We are a nut free home (allergies) and cannot use cashews or coconut. Do you have any tips for making a creamy ice cream without nuts? Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 13, 2022 at 3:06 pm

        I have lots of banana-based ice cream recipes in my second cookbook Fast Easy Cheap Vegan. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    7. Selina says

      September 02, 2022 at 3:03 pm

      The batter itself is good but for some reason it didnt reach ice cream consistency at all. It was like yogurt. I tried this recipe twice to no avail. I have the cuisinart ice cream maker (the exact same model as Sam) and I also made sure to put the second batch of batter in the fridge so it gets cold. I also made sure that the cuisinart ice cream bowl was frozen for a whole day. I have no clue why it didnt emulsify. Maybe you're supposed to double the recipe? Anyway, I tried this twice was really bummed that it didnt work.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 02, 2022 at 4:03 pm

        Hi Selina, I do not double the recipe when making it. It comes out perfectly every time for me. I freeze the ice cream bowl in the back of the freezer at least overnight, but usually for 2 days or longer. Then I run the machine for 25 - 30 minutes until it is a soft serve texture. Then I scoop it into a container to firm up in the freezer. If the plant-based milk you are using is very thin, that could perhaps be a reason. Try selecting a creamier plant-based milk. Hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Selina says

          September 03, 2022 at 8:42 pm

          5 stars
          Hey I tried again and this time it worked. I changed my rating. I Hope the new rating shows up

        • Sam Turnbull says

          September 13, 2022 at 3:03 pm

          Thank you so much Selina!

    8. Lea says

      August 20, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      Very good....even though I have an ice cream maker, I didn't want to bother with it. I decided to put the mixture in popsicle molds.....And it worked out great! Vanilla fudgsicles!!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        September 02, 2022 at 3:31 pm

        So happy you enjoyed it!!

        Reply
    9. Mate Mate SG says

      August 02, 2022 at 8:12 am

      Vegan ice cream is a nice creation. I think my children will love it.

      Reply
    10. Mate Mate SG says

      August 02, 2022 at 8:12 am

      My kids love ice cream and make it so many times for them. I think vegan ice cream will be healthy for them too

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        August 03, 2022 at 10:04 am

        Fantastic! Enjoy!!

        Reply
    11. Karen says

      July 29, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      Hi Sam, this looks so yummy! I agree that it's nice to see a vegan ice cream recipe without coconut milk/cream or bananas (both of which are delicious in their own ways). I have a friend who's following a Keto diet (no judgement), so I bought some stevia drops to make a dessert for her. I just use regular organic sugar for myself, but I wondered if you or any other readers have tried using liquid stevia in a recipe like this, and if it would alter the texture.
      I may just try it both ways and report back to you! LOL 🙂

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 30, 2022 at 1:16 pm

        Hi Karen! I've never cooked with sugar alternatives so I'm afraid I can't be much help. Let us know how it turns out 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen says

          August 03, 2022 at 12:57 pm

          Hi Sam! I ended up making something else. So, now I get to make your recipe as written, yay! And I'm so glad you posted a version w/o an ice cream maker. Yum!

        • Sam Turnbull says

          August 03, 2022 at 2:24 pm

          Awesome! I hope you love it 🙂

    12. Jeannie says

      July 28, 2022 at 7:42 am

      I'm researching ice cream makers. Which brand do you recommend?

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 28, 2022 at 9:36 am

        I have this Cuisinart one which I love!! It's so easy to use 🙂

        Reply
        • Jeannie says

          July 28, 2022 at 10:27 am

          Thank you so much!

    13. Cory says

      July 27, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      I LOVE me some homemade ice cream and can't wait to try this. I definitely would recommend adding a tablespoon of vodka to the recipe so it doesn't turn rock hard in the freezer.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 6:01 pm

        This recipe doesn't get rock hard, it's the same consistency as Haagen Daz or Ben and Jerry's. But that's a great tip!

        Reply
    14. Jamila S Hassan says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:29 am

      I do not have an ice cream maker what can I do please?? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm

        I will be posting another technique next week for people who do not have an ice cream maker! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Deb Z says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:16 am

      THANK YOU Sam for NOT using coconut milk/cream. That stuff is so high in saturated fat, it will kill all of my vegan friends. Cannot wait to make this. Can you give us different flavors using this as a base? Choc., coffee, chocolate hazelnut....etc.?

      Reply
      • Jen says

        July 27, 2022 at 12:44 pm

        5 stars
        I agree. So many recipes use coconut milk or cream, which is SO bad for your arteries!

        Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm

        So happy you like the recipe! Yes! I will be posting more flavors soon 🙂

        Reply
    16. Melissa says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:13 am

      Do you think you could use maple syrup or honey instead of sugar?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 27, 2022 at 12:39 pm

        I was going to ask the same question as I don’t use white sugar.

        Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 5:59 pm

        Yes, maple syrup should work well (honey is not vegan). It will of course have a maple taste 🙂

        Reply
    17. Karen says

      July 27, 2022 at 10:48 am

      Can I make it in my vita mix? I don’t have an ice cream maker.

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 5:59 pm

        I will be posting another technique next week for people who do not have an ice cream maker! 🙂

        Reply
    18. Brenda says

      July 27, 2022 at 8:00 am

      I'm always excited to see a creamy treat *not* made with bananas, which I absolutely cannot abide. Definitely going to have to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Sam Turnbull says

        July 27, 2022 at 5:58 pm

        Yay! I hope you love it Brenda!

        Reply
        • Brenda says

          September 07, 2022 at 9:22 pm

          I made some with chocolate, and it's delicious (I'm eating it right now!), but... the nutty cashew flavour does come through pretty strongly. I'm thinking it could be because I used roasted cashews (I found them in Bulk Barn before I found the raw ones, and I'd already filled my container, so I just went with it). Does using raw cashews make it taste less nutty? If so, I'll know for next time; otherwise, I might just make it with peanut butter and have chocolate-peanut butter ice cream, which will never make me sad!

        • Sam Turnbull says

          September 13, 2022 at 3:16 pm

          Yes, raw cashews are a must. Not only are they more neutral in flavor, but they blend really smoothly too. Enjoy!

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