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!
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!
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:
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 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...
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!
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
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (Cashew Base)
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
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
Nutrition
More vegan recipes you might enjoy...
Casey says
We made this with a 1/2 cup of maple syrup to get away from white sugar and it was very good. We’ll definitely make it again!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Yum!
Fred says
I've made this a couple of times using raw cashews. It's a bit too cashewy tasting for my liking, to the point where it quickly becomes overwhelming. Which makes me curious. How do you figure brands like So Delicious eradicate that taste from their cashew-based ice creams?
Marla O’Brien says
I LOVE this base and enjoy getting creative with different flavours. I usually use full-fat coconut milk so it’s super creamy! In my latest experiment, I made ice cream sandwiches by lining a 9”X13” pan with parchment paper and layering graham crackers on the bottom, pouring on a double batch of the ice cream base, then topping with another layer of graham crackers. Once frozen, I took them out of the pan, cut up into bars and wrapped individually. SO YUM!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
That sounds amazing!