This homemade vegan chocolate ice cream recipe is ultra creamy, dairy free, and so easy to make!
5 ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream
Even non vegans accustomed to Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen Dazs routinely ask for seconds of this dreamy frozen chocolate dessert.
With a smooth texture and rich chocolate flavor, it really is that good.
Plus, the recipe is ridiculously quick and simple to prepare. Since it requires no eggs, you get to skip the heating step found in many other classic ice cream recipes.
If you’ve been disappointed by store bought vegan ice cream in the past, give this dark chocolatey homemade version a try.
It will not let you down!
Also try this Vegan Chocolate Cake
Why you’ll love the recipe
Simple ingredients. Unlike store bought brands, this one includes no guar gum, stabilizers, added oil, or artificial colors.
No eggs or heavy cream. The nondairy ice cream is entirely plant based and can also be gluten free, soy free, banana free, and sugar free.
Tastes like store bought. People are always blown away by just how much it tastes like a pint of premium chocolate ice cream.
So many flavor possibilities. Enjoy your vegan chocolate ice cream plain, or stir in different add-ins and toppings to create unlimited new custom flavors.
You can even make homemade chocolate ice cream sandwiches by pressing a scoop of chocolate ice cream between two Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Step by step video
Dairy free chocolate ice cream ingredients
Cocoa powder – For the richest chocolate finish, choose a high quality unsweetened cocoa powder.
Coconut milk – At least one and a half cups of the milk must be full fat, canned coconut milk. You may substitute almond, soy, or oat milk for up to half a cup. However, any more than half a cup and your ice cream will turn into ice milk.
Sweetener – I like pure maple syrup. White or brown sugar, coconut sugar, or agave work too. If you want a keto option, go with xylitol or granulated erythritol.
Salt – A pinch of salt is important for achieving the correct depth of flavor. If you are accustomed to low sodium desserts, you can try it without, but I recommend including the salt for best results.
Vanilla (optional) – A small splash of pure vanilla extract is a great addition to chocolate desserts, since the two flavors balance each other so well.
How to make the best vegan chocolate ice cream
Shake the canned coconut milk vigorously before opening. Then combine the coconut milk, cocoa powder, nondairy milk, salt, and optional vanilla extract in a large measuring cup.
Whisk everything together to dissolve all of the cocoa powder into the liquid. This step may take up to two minutes.
Ice Cream Maker Method: If you own an ice cream machine, prepare it ahead of time according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model. Many machines, including the Cuisinart one I use, require freezing the base ahead of time.
Pour your whisked chocolate mixture into the ice cream maker and churn until thick and frosty. Eat as soft serve, or freeze for about fifteen minutes to get a firmer ice cream texture.
Expert Tip: If some of your ice cream is frozen to the base after churning, simply refrigerate for a few minutes, then use a spoon to scoop it off the sides.
Blender Method: For an easy no churn ice cream, pour the whisked mixture into ice cube trays. Freeze overnight or days in advance, then thaw just enough for a food processor or blender to handle the chocolate ice cubes. If you have a high speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec, there is no need to thaw. Process until thick and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
Ninja Creami Method: Pour to the max level of your Creami pint, cover, and freeze 24 hours. Remove the lid and place the pint in the outer bowl. Add the creamerizer paddle and lock the bowl in place according to manufacturer’s directions. Process on the “ice cream” setting, add a little more milk and process again. Serve immediately.
Katie’s favorite variations and topping ideas
Go with traditional garnishes like sprinkles, OREOs, or hot fudge sauce.
Or add a swirl of peanut butter or Homemade Nutella.
Try shredded coconut and pecan nuts for German chocolate ice cream, vegan mini marshmallows for s’mores or rocky road, or Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip for a chocolate cookie dough flavor.
If you’re trying to be healthy, top your vegan chocolate ice cream with fresh strawberries, raspberries, or sliced bananas.
Bake a batch of Sweet Potato Brownies or Vegan Brownies and create your own egg free, vegan dark chocolate brownie sundae.
Before churning, stir in a teaspoon of instant coffee for mocha ice cream or pure peppermint extract and chips for mint chocolate chip.
Feeling fancy? Sprinkle on a flourish of flaky sea salt and plant based caramel sauce or chocolate syrup and Coconut Whipped Cream.
When it comes to ice cream toppings, there really are no rules.
Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
Instructions
- To make vegan chocolate ice cream, first shake the can of coconut milk well. Whisk all ingredients for about a minute, until the cocoa powder dissolves. If you have an ice cream maker, simply pour the mixture into your chilled machine and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Enjoy as soft serve, or freeze the container about fifteen minutes for a firmer ice cream texture.If you do not own an ice cream machine, pour the chocolate mixture into ice cube trays. Freeze, then thaw just enough for a food processor or blender to handle the chocolate ice cubes. Blend until thick and creamy. View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
More Vegan Ice Cream Flavors
Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream – From the Hello Breakfast Cookbook
Or this banana free Nice Cream
Hi Katie! I just made this for the first time this afternoon, using 1 cup cow’s milk, 1 cup coconut cream, and 1/3 cup Natvia (a 0-calorie natural sweetener that looked pretty ok when I went grocery shopping this morning ;)). Myself and my parents all give it a mighty thumbs up! We particularly enjoyed the chocolate/coconut flavour, and will henceforth be calling this ‘Lamington Ice Cream’.
Best vegan ice cream I’ve ever eaten. This was super simple, even without an ice cream maker, and tasted exactly like chocolate soft serve. I’m on a special diet, due to illness, and have had a hard time getting in enough calories. I typically feel pretty fatigued, but after a bowl of this I actually feel great! Thank you so much for this fantastic recipe.
What do you mean by “uncut” stevia?
I have the pure stevia powder.
The first two ingredients are the same…. i”m so confused.
The first ingredient can be ANY milk, while the second can only be a full-fat milk for best taste. So while it can be just one ingredient, if you choose something like almond milk for the first ingredient then it’s two different ingredients.
This was so yummy. I only used coconut milk. I had monk fruit so that was my sweetener. I added Lily’s dark chocolate keto chips and it was perfection. Thank you!
Trying this with homemade cashew milk and cream with the linked peanut butter brownies recipe broken up inside!!!! Yummy.. Used only maple syrup and maple butter, which is a wonderful concentrated product. This was an easy recipe to follow with knowing you want 1c mylk and 1c cream.
That sounds so good!!
Hey Katie! When you say 1 cup of canned coconut milk – do you mean the cream that forms on the top of the can, or the whole can with the water part included? And if we don’t have another plant based milk, you’re saying to do 2 cups of canned coconut milk? Thanks for any clarification
Yes doing all canned coconut milk works! And as long as you use the full fat canned coconut milk, not low fat, you can just use the whole can 🙂
Jason
When you say ‘coconut milk’, it is the one used to make Thai curry dishes? Or, are you referring to ‘coconut cream’?
Either works here! Just be sure not to use “lite” or the kind that comes in the carton from companies like Silk or Almond Breeze.
Jason
Other recipes I’ve seen has you cook the mixture first. If I use normal white sugar, does the sugar dissolve in the mixture well without cooking it then?
How long do I have to let it freeze before I eat it? I’m extremely impatient. Lol.