We’ve already covered coffee ice cream, pistachio ice cream, mint chocolate chip, and even avocado ice cream, so now it’s time for a strawberry version! I imagine you could use any other fruit you love, too, such as mango, peaches, or raspberries.
Why You’ll Love It
It’s vegan & Paleo friendly. Because this ice cream is made without milk or white sugar, it’s perfect for those following a special diet. No tree nuts required. The creaminess here comes from coconut milk, which is technically a drupe. I don’t think the coconut flavor is significant here, either. (My kids didn’t notice!) It’s naturally sweetened. Maple syrup is the perfect sweetener here, without adding a noticeable maple flavor. All you will taste is classic strawberry ice cream. It’s easy. Just blend 4 ingredients together, and run it through your ice cream maker. It will be ready to eat in less than 1 hour. It tastes like the real thing. Seriously! Coconut milk based ice cream usually turns out a little more “icy” in texture than one that is made with heavy cream, but flavor-wise this ice cream is perfect.
Want to make ice cream without an ice cream maker? Check out my instant Peach Ice Cream, which uses a food processor instead. You can swap the peaches for frozen strawberries, to make an instant strawberry version.
How to Make It
Plan ahead. If your ice cream maker requires that you start with a frozen bowl, be sure to place it in the freezer at least 24 hours in advance. My ice cream bowl stays permanently stored in our freezer during the summer months! Blend. Add the strawberries, coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla to a blender, and blend until smooth. Process. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker, and process until thick and creamy, about 30 to 35 minutes. Enjoy! Serve this ice cream right away for the creamiest texture, or transfer to an airtight container and store it in the freezer for a more firm ice cream.
Note: This vegan ice cream is the most “scoop-able” within 2 to 4 hours of freezing. After that, it will develop a harder, icier texture. It’s still delicious, just a little more crumbly to scoop. Let it thaw on your counter for 10 to 15 minutes if you freeze it overnight, to help it soften up a bit.
No Ice Cream Maker? You can also simply pour this mixture into an airtight container and freeze until firm, stirring about every hour or so, to help incorporate air, the way an ice cream maker does. The resulting ice cream is usually slightly icier, but totally delicious.
Tips for Making the Best Vegan Ice Cream
Make “less-icy” ice cream. Chill the cans of coconut milk in the fridge, and use only the solid cream from the can of coconut milk. You can reserve the liquid to use in a smoothie recipe later. I rarely have the patience to plan ahead for this step, so I just use the whole can and I still think it turns out great! In this case, your blended mixture will be thicker. Use fresh or frozen fruit. Frozen berries tend to be more affordable and are already prepared for you– no slicing required! I use frozen strawberries here, but you can use fresh if you have them on hand. It may take slightly longer to process the ice cream in that case. Don’t use “lite” coconut milk. The fat from the coconut milk is what provides the creaminess here, so using lower-fat coconut milk will result in a more-icy texture. Make it even creamier. You can add raw cashews to this recipe to make it even creamier. I’d start with just a 1/2 cup, but you can add a full cup for even creamier results.
I hope you’ll love this vegan strawberry ice cream as much as we do! For an extra-decadent treat, try topping it with Peanut Butter Magic Shell, for an ice sundae that tastes like a PB&J.
If you try this Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. – Reader Feedback: Which ice cream flavor would you like to see next?
