Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe with No Coconut! (2024)

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By Alisa Fleming on Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes, Dairy Free Desserts, Dairy-Free Recipes

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July or Canada Day! We went up to Lake Tahoe on the 3rd to see the fireworks at Kings Beach with a good friend. The 4th was actually a mellow day for us, so I decided to take advantage of the downtime and whip up a recipe that had been on my bucket list for a while, dairy-free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream without coconut! It’s adapted from the Purely Vanilla Ice Cream recipe in my flagship book, Go Dairy Free 2nd Edition.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe with No Coconut! (1)

It’s funny, but ice cream, not cheese, was my biggest fear when I went strictly dairy free. I refused to settle for sorbet, and wanted to enjoy sweet, creamy bliss just like everyone else. Over the years, some delicious dairy-free ice cream brands have emerged to keep my cravings at bay. But it wasn’t until I started making my own dairy-free ice cream that I finally found my food freedom.

Suddenly, it wasn’t about picking between the small selection of pints my local store carried, some with questionable ingredients. And “all natural” didn’t mean settling for just one type of base, with the same underlying flavor and consistency. Yeah, coconut, I’m talking about you. I love you, but vanilla coconut ice cream is never really vanilla. And although coconut cream delivers on richness, sometimes I want something a little less heavy.

At home, I can use a range of ice cream bases, and have total control over the ingredients. For this Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, I chose a simple unsweetened milk beverage and neutral-tasting oil to let the vanilla and chocolate shine. And to keep with the allergy-friendly and additive-free theme, I used Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips. They’re certified vegan, non-GMO, made in a top allergen-free facility, and contain just cane sugar, natural chocolate liquor (non-alcoholic), and cocoa butter (yes, it’s dairy free!).

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe with No Coconut! (2)

I actually use Enjoy Life chocolate almost exclusively in my baking, snacks, and treats. Although my milk allergy is no longer highly sensitive, I’ve still had symptoms from a few of the “may contain milk” chocolate brands. Rather than fret, I declare my food freedom by picking up a brand that I can trust.

And to help all of you eat freely, I’ve made this Chocolate Chip Ice Cream recipe completely vegan, coconut-free, and top 11 allergen-free. The base is even quite flexible. You can use your favorite milk beverage and choose the oil based on your flavor and nutrition choices. So grab some gluten-free cones and get scooping. It’s time to enjoy a taste of food freedom on this hot summer day.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe with No Coconut! (3)Thanks to Enjoy Life Foods for sponsoring this post, and helping so many of us enjoy our food freedom. You can #EatFreely with them on Instagram and Twitter. As always, the honest opinions, stories, photos, recipe, and product love are my own.

Special Diet Notes:Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, coconut-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and top food allergy-friendly.

5.0 from 7 reviews

Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Prep time

Total time

This cool, sweet chocolate chip ice cream has a delicious vanilla base that's like a cross between ice milk and traditional ice cream. I didn't use additives, so small ice crystals do form. But I decided to embrace it since we actually loved the refreshing creamy finish! This recipe is adapted from my flagship book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook 2nd Edition.

Author: Alisa Fleming

Serves: 1½ quarts (6 cups)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cold unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage (I used Ripple pea protein milk; see Milk Beverage Note below)
  • ¾ cup organic cane sugar (can substitute part agave nectar)
  • ½ cup rice bran oil, non-GMO canola oil, or other neutral-tasting oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or pure vanilla flavoring (can substitute vanilla extract or the seeds from 1 whole vanilla bean)
  • Pinch salt
  • ¾ cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life Chocolate)

Instructions

  1. Put the milk beverage and sugar in your blender. Blend until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute.
  2. With the motor running, very slowly drizzle in the oil. Continue to blend until creamy and emulsified, about 1 minute.
  3. Add the vanilla and salt and blend briefly to combine.
  4. Churn the mixture in your prepared ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions or use one of these methods. If churning, it will take longer than coconut-based ice cream since there is very little saturated fat in this blend. Expect at least 45 minutes.
  5. During the last few minutes of churning, add the chocolate chips. They will stir in as they churn.
  6. Pack the soft ice cream into a chilled, freezer-safe container and freeze for 4 hours for a soft-set ice cream or overnight for hard-packed ice cream.

Notes

Milk Beverage Note: I use pea protein milk beverage because it is an emulsified beverage (water, oil, protein). This means it will easily emulsify with oil added. Please note that some types/brands of milk beverage might not properly emulsify, and I haven't tested them all! Make sure you get a fully emulsified mixture before attempting to churn.

Nutrition Information

Serving size:½ cup Calories:228.5 Fat:15.5g Saturated fat:3.8g Carbohydrates:21.5g Sugar:19.5g Sodium:65.8mg Fiber:1.0g Protein:3.0g Cholesterol:0mg

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Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Recipe with No Coconut! (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of coconut milk in ice cream? ›

Heavy cream

Heavy cream is made by scraping fat from fresh milk and is especially common in high-fat foods like creamy soups, sauces, and ice cream. It's much higher in fat than coconut milk and can replace it in equal quantities in most recipes ( 12 ).

What is a good non-dairy substitute for ice cream? ›

  • Option #1 Avocado Ice Cream.
  • Option #2 Coconut Ice Cream.
  • Option #3 Cashew Ice Cream.
  • Option #4 Soy Ice Cream.
  • Option #5 Almond Ice Cream with Ben & Jerry's.
  • Option #6 A Hybrid-Coconut and Cashew Ice Cream.
  • The Bright Future of the Non-Dairy Ice Cream Market.
Sep 30, 2017

What are the ingredients in so delicious non-dairy ice cream? ›

Organic Coconutmilk (Filtered Water, Organic Coconut), Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Pea Protein, Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Vanilla Bean Specks.

Why is coconut milk used in ice cream? ›

Improving Texture and Creaminess

Coconut milk powder is a fantastic solution for achieving a creamy texture in your ice cream without adding excessive fat. This is great news for health-conscious consumers.

What is a dairy free substitute for coconut cream? ›

Soy Milk

Soy milk is stable at high temperatures which makes it a great choice for savory dishes like curries, soups and sauces. Thanks to soy milk's high protein content, it is a great coconut cream alternative for baking recipes. It is also low in sugar and high in fiber.

What is a substitute for coconut? ›

Shredded coconut can mostly be replaced with coarsely ground or chopped nuts, and desiccated coconut with ground nuts. Both coconut and nuts have a decent amount of natural oil in them, so can mostly be substituted for each other.

What is ice cream without dairy called? ›

Sorbets. Sorbets are naturally lactose-free because they do not contain dairy. They're typically made from water and fruit juice or purée. Sherbets, on the other hand, will contain dairy in the form of dairy milk or cream, so be sure to inspect the label.

Is Cool Whip dairy free? ›

It was originally marketed as being "non-dairy" despite containing the milk protein casein; it now also includes skimmed milk.

How to thicken vegan ice cream? ›

Frozen bananas will help you achieve the thick texture of ice cream in your blender. If you have an ice cream maker, you can use the freezing and churning process to create a thick vegan ice cream without the need for frozen bananas. This process often uses cashews that have been soaked overnight in water instead.

What is the best dairy to make ice cream? ›

This is usually due to either not freezing fast enough, or too much water forming large ice crystals. When making ice cream, you want to use whole milk and cream, rather than 2% or skim milk, because it has more fat contributing to smaller ice crystals and a better/creamier texture.

Is McDonald's ice cream non dairy? ›

It does contain dairy, but they can't legally call it ice cream. (Or at least they can't call their shakes "milkshakes": https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/faq/desserts-and-shakes.h... ) Q: Why don't you call your 'shakes,' 'milkshakes'?

Is lactose-free the same as dairy free? ›

Lactose-free is not the same as dairy-free. The main difference between the two is that lactose-free products can be made from real dairy milk while dairy-free products are made from plant sources such as nuts and grains. While all dairy-free products are lactose-free, not all lactose-free products are dairy-free.

Is coconut milk just watered down coconut cream? ›

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.

Is non dairy coconut ice cream healthy? ›

It's true that coconut contains a healthier type of saturated fat, but it's still not doing you any major health favors. Both frozen yogurt and coconut milk ice cream are packed with added sugar, so portion control is key when you feel like treating yourself.

Why is non dairy ice cream better? ›

Choosing non-dairy ice cream can offer some health benefits that include saving you calories, sugar, and saturated fat, which can contribute to high cholesterol. In other cases, though, the plant-based versions have more of the above.

What to use if you don't have coconut milk? ›

8 best substitutes for coconut milk
  • Shredded coconut (and a blender)
  • Coconut cream.
  • Plant-based milk and coconut oil.
  • Coconut water and plant-based milk.
  • Coconut cream.
  • Milk or plant-based milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Heavy cream or half-and-half.
Dec 30, 2022

Can you substitute coconut cream with milk? ›

You can use coconut cream in place of milk if you dilute it with additional water. Different coconut cream brands vary on fat content. Depending on how thick your coconut cream is, continue to add water and blend until you get the thin & milky consistency of coconut milk.

How do I substitute coconut milk for heavy cream? ›

The fat content of coconut milk should be roughly that of a dairy-based heavy cream. So, when a recipe calls for heavy cream, you just make a one-to-one substitution with coconut milk – so long as the fat content matches up. In our table above, we have coconut milk listed as sweet rather than sweet/savory.

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

Coconut cream tends to yield creamier results due to the higher fat content.

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