Coconut Chocolate Chip Vegan Ice Cream Recipe – Homemade! (2024)

FAQs

Is coconut milk or coconut cream better for ice cream? ›

Coconut cream tends to yield creamier results due to the higher fat content. We DO NOT recommend using Trader Joe's coconut milk or cream – the formulation has changed in recent years and is now more prone to separation and oiliness.

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.

Pints made with almond, soy, cashew or other nut milks tend to be lower in saturated fat and calories than those made with coconut cream or milk. While great for creating creamy frozen treats, coconut's high saturated fat count may elevate harmful LDL cholesterol levels, increasing risk for heart disease.

Air keeps ice cream soft. So the less there is, the harder your ice cream. It can also be caused by low fat or sugar content. Fat doesn't freeze.

Swap an equal amount of heavy cream for coconut cream and use it in recipes for your favorite sweets and baked goods. You can even use it to make coconut ice cream or whip it and use it as a tasty topping for desserts.

1Use the right non-dairy milk as your base

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

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.

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.

Vegan diets, which naturally rely on plant-based proteins and nutrients, have been shown to alleviate symptoms of inflammation, and can even help provide relief to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. In summary, vegan ice cream can offer a solution to those looking to make healthy changes in their diet.

Is vegan ice cream full of sugar? ›

Sugar content among vegan ice creams can vary dramatically. Some of these products are high in sugar. Others are very low in sugar, replacing this ingredient with substitutes such as erythritol. Some types of vegan ice cream contain as much as 20 or more grams of sugar per serving.

Sometimes it coalesces in the machine and feels grainy." Little blobs of un-emulsified coconut fat will only grow under agitation from an ice cream maker, and once they do, you can't get rid of them.

To make ice cream in a jar, simply add ½ cup chilled heavy cream. ¼ condensed milk tin (chilled), and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to a cold-resistant glass Mason jar. Screw the lid on tightly and shake it for 5 minutes or until the mixture doubles in size. Add mix-ins, put the lid back on, and freeze for about 3 hours.

Coconut Cream vs Coconut Milk

Compared to normal coconut milk, coconut cream has a much higher fat content, containing around 19-22% fat. Coconut cream still retains the delicious coconut flavor that coconut milk has, but is much thicker as it is essentially coconut milk with less water.

Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.

Yes, you can freeze coconut cream in the freezer for 2-3 months, which is good news for anyone who hates to throw partially-used cans of food (or milk) out! Coconut cream may lose some of its original texture after it's been frozen and thawed, but will likely retain its original flavor.

Since introducing it to their menu back in 2015, Starbucks has carried the same brand of coconut milk, which is specially crafted by Starbucks itself: Single Origin Sumatra Coconut Milk.