Easy vegan vanilla ice cream that is so creamy and rich no one will believe it's vegan. The coconut cream base takes a subtle backstage to aromatic vanilla bean. Use this ice cream as a base recipe for different flavor add-ins!
I just posted two ice cream recipes back to back - with good reason. And it's not because I've got a scoop-a-night ice cream problem (which I do). It's also not an act of rebellion against that little gem salad that's going to result in 54 more desserts before you see another salad. Though in this case, I really did eat this vegan vanilla bean ice cream for dinner last night.
I had an entirely different recipe lined up for today, but instead, we're having ice cream to celebrate. I filed my dissertation this afternoon so it's dessert-ation time! Ergo: Ice cream, duh.
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream Celebration
The whole thing was much less exciting than I anticipated. There's a tradition at Cal that when you file your dissertation, they give you a See's lollipop that says PHinisheD on it. As in: printed out on an inkjet and taped across the front. It's cheesey, but it's a tradition and I want it.
So I braved the busy side of campus I've spent six years avoiding, expecting to get my lollipop. When I handed over the paperwork, the receptionist just said, "Ok, thanks. You'll get a confirmation e-mail when it's processed." Like NO BIG DEAL. This happens EVERY DAY.
Then like the saddest little kid you ever saw, I asked, "b-b-b-but what about my lollipop?" Seriously, I asked. As if I was the one person he forgot to give a lollipop to. His less-than-amused response: "Oh, you don't get that until the paperwork is approved in about 3 business days."
Which means I have to go back (you better believe I will, too)! This also means filing your dissertation is a hugely uneventful activity.
So instead I came home and ate this vegan vanilla ice cream straight out of the freezer. No shame.
What's Vegan Ice Cream Made Of?
The best way to make vegan ice cream is to use a blend of coconut cream, coconut milk, and coconut oil to balance the creaminess and fat in a vegan ice cream. Coconut cream works great because it provides enough fat to make this the smoothest and creamiest vegan ice cream recipe ever.
When you add flavors like vanilla bean to the base, the coconut easily hides into the background without overpowering the ice cream or leaving a chalky aftertaste. At the bottom I'll link all of my flavor variations!
Best Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Like the strawberry vegan chocolate chip ice cream I shared last month, this vanilla version is intensely creamy. With a deep vanilla bean aroma, this ice cream has just a hint of coconut you'd only pick out if you knew you were looking for it. I'm so addicted to this vegan coconut ice cream base that I'm keeping my ice cream maker bowl in the freezer permanently. Don't expect the ice cream recipes to stop until next winter. Sorry not sorry.
Vegan Ice Cream Recipes
All of these recipes use this vegan vanilla ice cream recipe as the base!
- Coconut Ginger Ice Cream with Plantain Chips
- Coconut Matcha Ice Cream with Black Sesame Brittle Chips
- Coconut Black Sesame Ice Cream with Strawberry Swirl
- Vegan Cardamom Ice Cream
- Vegan Blackberry Basil Ice Cream
- Vegan Strawberry Coconut Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream Float Recipes
Both of these recipes use this vegan vanilla bean ice cream to make ice cream floats - the ultimate summer treat!
Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream
Easy vegan vanilla ice cream that is so creamy and rich no one will believe it's vegan. The coconut cream base takes a subtle backstage to aromatic vanilla bean. Use this ice cream as a base recipe for different flavor add-ins!
Ingredients
- 1 (13.66 to 16 ounces) canned coconut cream (I've tested with one 14-ounce can or three 5.4 ounce cans - I use Native Forest brand available at Whole Foods, some other major groceries, or online. See note.)
- 1 (13.66-ounce) can full fat coconut milk (Thai Kitchens brand available at most major grocery stores or online)
- ¾ cup raw turbinado sugar (or cane sugar)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or light corn syrup)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon vodka, optional, but will make it creamier
- 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and scraped (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract) (I use Rodelle vanilla beans)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Warm coconut cream, coconut milk, sugar, corn syrup, coconut oil, vodka, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and salt in a medium pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the cream begins to simmer, remove the pot from heat. Cover and let the mixture steep for 20 minutes. Remove the bean pod, scraping out the insides of the pods for all that vanilla goodness. Reserve the pods to make vanilla extract.
- Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice cubes and water.
- Pour the base into a large 1-gallon Ziploc bag. Seal it and submerge the mixture in the ice bath until cold, about 30 minutes. (You can also skip this step by refrigerating until the mixture is cold, about 4 hours).
- Pour the ice cream base into the bowl of your pre-frozen ice cream maker. Follow the directions on your ice cream maker to churn the base into ice cream, until it is the consistency of soft-serve, about 15-18 minutes.
- Pack the ice cream into an air-tight storage container or a metal loaf pan, pressing a sheet of parchment paper directly against the ice cream.
- Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
Notes
I do not recommend using the coconut cream from Trader Joe's as they seem to have updated their supplier and the new consistency is a bit oily.
(Adapted from Serious Eats)
Karishma -
Oh em gee!! I sooo want to eat this ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!!! I'll use my full-time graduate student and part-time work status as an excuse. :) Congrarulations on submitting your dissertation!!
Sarah Menanix -
You totally deserve it for every meal of the day! Thank you so much Karishma!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean -
I am officially handing you 100 lollipops my dear! Congratulations to you, Sarah, for all that Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream paid off! And what better way to celebrate; more Ice Cream!!! Can you hear me screamin' for it? And cheering you on for a most accomplished feat?! I am in awe! After a Thesis in Grad School I can only imagine the agony of writing a dissertation... the process, the pulling out of one's hair, the tears, teeth gnashing.... All. That. Ice Cream. Okay - the latter is fine, but all that other stuff is behind you my dear (except you have to present and defend, right?).
Beautiful work on this Ice Cream. You know Vanilla Beans are my top food pick so I am salivating for this, Sarah! Can't wait to see what you, Alanna and Todd have coming up for us! (YaY!)
Sarah Menanix -
Yay!! Thank you so much, Traci. My new motto: more ice cream. I don't expect it to settle down any time soon;) I didn't have to defend!! For some reason, Cal doesn't require a dissertation defense, so once I submitted it, it was ALL DONE! And all ice cream all the time:)
Veronica -
Yea! Congratulations Dear Sarah! You deserve this wonderful treat! Roy and I are so proud of you! I love vanilla bean ice cream and what a pretty way to show it off then with such pretty bowls! Can not wait to see You and Lucas! Big Hug and Kiss!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much! It meant so much to me that you flew all the way out to celebrate with me! <3
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan -
Congrats on finishing, hoooray!!! I can imagine that it feels so good to have it done, so ice cream for dinner is totally acceptable. I'll be crossing my fingers for you over the next three days, you are going to get that lollipop girl!
Sarah Menanix -
Yayy! Thank you so much Abby! I finally got my lollipop and it was worth the wait!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen -
Congrats on handing in the dissertation. But I know just how you feel. I've been there myself. Certainly a bit anticlimactic. Especially if they are holding out on the lollipops for another few days. The nerve of some people! Glad you had ice cream in your freezer. I absolutely have a "scoop a night" habit and I'm totally OK with that.
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Liz! I'm so glad we got to meet IRL this weekend because now I know you can commiserate with me on this whole PhD to food blogger thing:) Now back to the freezer for more ice cream....
Julia -
CONGRATULATIONS!!! /You deserve that lollipop a million times over so I hope it tastes fan-freaking-tastic when you receive it 3 business days from now :) I'm in love with this ice cream! Definitely a beautiful bowl for celebrating all the things in life!
Sarah Menanix -
It was so worth the wait! Especially because then my mom bought me a whole box so I wouldn't have to eat my special lollipop:) Thank you so much Julia!
Jenna -
Dang, I was just at Trader Joe's to stock up on things. You should have posted this recipe 2 weeks ago when I was there. J/K. I do have their coconut oil would that work for this?
Sarah Menanix -
Oh my gosh - I'm so sorry for the SUPER LONG delayed response. Their coconut oil will work for the tablespoon of coconut oil, but you'll also need to get some coconut cream when you go back! :) If it's too far though, you can always get coconut milk and just use the cream off the top (but then I'd use the cream off 2 cans of coconut milk in place of the coconut cream...in addition to the coconut milk called for in the recipe:)
suki -
we have an ice cream maker, but we haven't used it to successfully make ice cream. this sounds amazing ~ i want to try it at home, but i'm skurred.
i have a box of those lollipops on my desk, but they don't have the sticker/label, or i'd offer you one. i know, i know. NOT THE SAME. congrats on finishing/handing in your dissertation!
Sarah Menanix -
Don't be skurred! as long as your ice cream bowl is totally frozen it'll come together so smooth and deliciously.
Hehe - thanks for thinking of me with your lollipops! I finally did get mine and it was well worth the wait! Thanks for the celebrations!
Becky Winkler (A Calculated Whisk) -
Congratulations!!! I can't believe they make you wait for the lollipop--lame. This ice cream is probably way more delicious, though!
Sarah Menanix -
Right? Totally lame. The ice cream won HANDS DOWN though! Thanks Becky:)
Annie @Maebells -
How exciting!! I feel like they should have trumpets blaring them you leave, right?! Total triumph! :) This ice cream does look like a lovely alternative though!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Annie - I'll take ice cream over lollipops any day anyhow!
ellie | fit for the soul -
Very very good decision in adding coconut cream to this stuff. I'm stunned by how beautifully creamy it looks since that's not common for vegan ice cream, no offense to vegan ice cream. And I teehee'd at the PHinisheD part, so cute and I'm a sucker for puns :DDD !
Sarah Menanix -
Bahah you're a "sucker for puns" I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE! Thank you so much Ellie! This is my favorite vanilla ice cream ever!
Lisa / Good on Paper -
Congrats Sarah!! That's awesome and what a relief. Minus the part about the lollipop. Ha! you'll get yours soon enough. Better yet, you should make your own lollipops!
This looks amazing and is it the corn syrup that makes it so creamy? My homemade ice cream is delicious but usually on the icier side which everyone else but me happens to love more. Oh, and I love that coconut cream at TJ's. I use it for this chocolate cake with coconut cream recipe. Yum!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Lisa! Yup - it's the tiny bit of corn syrup that makes it soft and pliable. (Can you make me that chocolate cake with coconut cream please? :)
Jess @ Sweetest Menu -
Wow this ice cream looks incredible! So creamy. Congrats too - no better time to celebrate! And I can't think of anything better than a big bowl of ice cream!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Jess! Ice cream is my favorite way to celebrate anything. You got a promotion? Ice cream. It's monday? Ice cream.
cynthia -
YAY!!! CONGRATS, Sarah!! What a huge accomplishment -- I second Traci, that deserves a million lollipops. I hope you've got some solid R&R ahead of you as a reward -- and a ton more of this ice cream because it looks absolutely amazing!!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Cynthia!! I ended up getting super sick right after graduation so I got in some forced R&R hehe. Sometimes you have to get a cold in the summertime to remember to slow down, right? I've been eating a scoop of ice cream every night before bed because I'm still celebrating! Speaking off....off to the freezer.
Sheri -
Can't wait to try this one! I'm loving those cute little blue bowls too!!
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life -
CONGRATULATIONS SARAH! I think you deserve a lollipop fore very single word of your dissertation, or maybe a scoop of ice cream for every word instead :)
I am loving all the ice cream recipes lately, even though we are settling in for winter it is never, ever, too cold for ice cream.
I love that this is vegan too it's always nice to have something to share with my dairy free friends :) if there's any left after my spoon has finished its work.....
Congratulations, and I hope you get some time to relax now that you are finished!
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! Thanks Amy! Woah - I like your commitment to celebrations. Challenge accepted.
I agree - never too cold for ice cream - bring it on!!
Alison @Food by Mars -
That does it. I need an ice cream maker... you're making me drool! THIS LOOKS INCREDIBLE. <333
Sarah Menanix -
I agree -you definitely do. So you can make ice cream and mail it to me:) Thanks Alison!!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health -
Aw, they make you wait 3 days for your lollipop?! Not cool. But at least you had this unbelievably beautiful ice cream to celebrate with! It looks so creamy and perfect. I have an ice cream maker I have yet to bust open but you can bet I'll be referencing this recipe when I finally do.
Oh yeah, CONGRATS!! :)
Sarah Menanix -
Seriously - but at least the second time I went back, my mom got to join me so it felt much more exciting. You should definitely bust out that ice cream maker - can't wait to see what flavors you invent!
Amy | Club Narwhal -
First of all, infinite high fives for filing your dissertation--you are total rock star! And I'm SO glad you are going back for your well deserved See's lolli :) This ice cream looks amazing (and there's no such thing as too many ice cream posts in a row)!
Sarah Menanix -
High five to you too, Amy!! Thanks lady!!
betty | le jus d'orange -
WOW Sarah! Amazing!! That's such a big step - you deserve all the ice cream and lollipops you can get your hands on! Or... make? This coconut-based vanilla bean ice cream looks perfect. Just perfect. You've done it now - when I visit, you're going to HAVE to bring some ice cream along. None of that store-bought nonsense. You have to make me some :).
(I"m kidding... but not.....)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Betty! <3 Maybe when you visit....we can make ice cream together... :) I have ALL THE GOOD IDEAS!
Sarah Menanix -
That doesn't read right on paper. Haha. What I meant was "making ice cream TOGETHER is the best idea ever."
Amanda Paa -
lollipop, lollipop! so proud of you girl, and i too would have been disappointed to not clutch that sweet treat in my hand after turning in the dissertation. you are so intelligent, so many bright things ahead for you.
and as far as this ice cream, i am so glad you shared the recipe because it was honestly one of the best things i've ever tasted. you nailed it. i can already imagine all the different variations you are going to create! xo
Sarah Menanix -
Yay!! Thank you so much Amanda! I couldn't have done it without you spending a bit of time in the sun while I finished up the last little bits! Oh my gosh, it means so much to me that you loved this ice cream! <3
Paige -
Hello! Instead of an ice bath would it work to just refrigerate the mixture overnight?
Sarah Menanix -
Absolutely!
Carla (@charliesue) -
Congratulations! May your See's pop be here before you know it! I'll bring a NON PHinisheD pop over and we'll dip them in this ice cream, k? #GoodIdea
Sarah Menanix -
#brilliantidea.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely -
You turned in your dissertation! Hurray! Hurray! Standing ovation! I bet you are sleeping good tonight with that all done. And you must go back for that lollipop. That tradition is too cute. At least you had this amazing vegan vanilla bean ice cream waiting for you. It looks delicious!
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! Thank you so much Natalie! Yipee! I definitely went back for that lollipop:)
Jennifer -
Congrats on finishing!! I can't believe they didn't give you a lollipop. I think I would have gone to the nearest store and bought a few bags of lollipops as consolation.
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Jennifer! (I totally did that after I picked up my lollipop:)
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl -
Wow! Congratulations!! SO happy for you...and this ice cream? It has me drooling on my keyboard. Love that it's made with coconut milk.
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Marissa - for the sweet recipe words AND the celebrations!
Aysegul -
Congratulations!! Sounds like a HUGE accomplishment. I hope you'll get your lollipop sooner. In the mean time, this gorgeous ice cream sounds (and looks) like a great alternative.
PS: I LOVE LOVE LOVE those bowls.
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much!! I wish I could take credit for those bowls, but they belong to Alanna. Aren't they the prettiest??
todd wagner -
Well, well, well ... we have a Doctor on our hands!
Congrats, Sarah!! If your dissertation was as beautifully churned as this ice cream, it's gonna be one delicious (and creamy) read.
Seriously, this ice cream is perfection - one of those recipes everyone should have at the ready. You know, in case you need to make a float or something..
Sarah Menanix -
Or three floats.....you know....
(Thanks, Todd!!)
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking -
Ummmm yeah, I'd be the saddest person in the world if I didn't get that lollipop when I filed either! But I'm SO glad you did get it, even if it took a few days!! Although given the choice between a scoop of homemade ice cream every night and a lollipop... I kind of know which one I'd choose. Especially if it was made by you. ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Yeah - I'm totally with you. I'm all about the scoop a night;)
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Um, I would totally eat this delicious looking ice cream for dinner too! At least you eventually did get that sweet lollipop - so so so proud of you, lady! Hope your party this weekend was a blast :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Tina! I wish you could have been here to celebrate (and to help me eat all the ice cream - I made 4 batches for the party...)
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen -
Love, love, love ice cream Sarah! And plain Vanilla Bean is absolutely perfect in my book! IMO, it's one of the greatest flavors!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you Kristi! While I do love lots of crazy flavors - there's something so satisfying about a simple vanilla bean ice cream!
Lynn | The Road to Honey -
Today is the 19th. . .well past the 3 business days. So, did you get the lollipop? I have been waiting in suspense. Congratulations for making it to this extremely important milestone.
Btw, I think lollipop sprinkles are in order for this indulgent ice cream. :-)
Sarah Menanix -
Lollipop sprinkles!??! Can you send me some of those? :)
Thank you so much! I DID get my lollipop! I was too sentimental to eat it so my mom took me to See's to get a whole box of lollipops so I could save this one:)
erin {yummy supper} -
Sarah, I hope you now have that lollipop in hand:) Congrats on making it through - such a huge accomplishment, Dr. Sarah.
I'm finally starting to come up for air. Let's have tea next month!
xoxo
E
Sarah Menanix -
I do - I do! Thank you so much Erin! I hope you're finally coming up for air soon. We should grab coffee/tea soon! I'll send you an e-mail:)
xo!
Nancy -
LOL I can't believe the bucko didn't give you the lollipop and said "come back for it with the paper work in 3 days" hilarious.
By the way, huge congrats! Saw your pics on FB!! :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Nancy!! I almost threw down when he wouldn't give it to me haha.
Christine // my natural kitchen -
Sarah it is MAJORLY awesome that you finished your PhD and I would be just as disappointed as you with the lack of celebratory lollipop (I hope you went back to get it and that they put a little more effort into the occasion when you did!) annnnd can you ever really post too many ice cream recipes?! I don't think so - this looks luscious and amazing! xo
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Christine! You better believe I went back. There was a line of folks ready for their lollipops the second time around. I agree - must make more ice cream asap;)
Harriet Emily -
Wow!!!! This ice cream looks incredible! I looove vanilla ice cream, and this sounds so delicious with the coconut milk. I will definitely have to try making this :) thank you so much for sharing!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you Harriet! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
For vegan ice cream this still looks SO creamy, sweet and delicious. I can never turn down a good scoop of vanilla bean ice cream - so this recipe is perfect for me to try!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Thalia! It's the most perfect vanilla ice cream - vegan or no - in my book!
sophie -
Wow! You must feel FANtastic being done with that.
Congratulations :)
What does the corn syrup do?
I don't have any. Could I use honey?
Sarah Menanix -
The corn syrup makes it just ever so slightly softer/creamier. If you don't have any corn syrup, you can sub in honey or else just replace the corn syrup with more sugar! When you take it out of the freezer, you'll just want to let it sit for about 3-4 minutes before scooping to let it soften up!
Evi @ greenevi -
Oh my goodness, here is everything perfection: your pictures, your bowls, the recipe and that it's all vegan! Coconut and vanilla are an absolutely winner combo ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Aww - thank you so much Evi! I wish I could take credit for these perfect bowls, but they belong to my dear friend Alanna!
Lilyth -
Nice receipt, thanks for sharing. May I know if I can't find coconut cream in my country, is there any substitution I can use? (Still have to be vegan)
Sarah Menanix -
If you have trouble finding coconut cream, you can use the cream off the top of a can of full fat coconut milk. If you do that, I’d use the cream off 2 cans of coconut milk in place of the coconut cream…in addition to the coconut milk called for in the recipe:) Hope this helps!
Mary -
Is there a substitution foe corn syrup? Thank you! :)
Sarah Menanix -
The tiny bit of corn syrup that makes it soft and pliable, but you can substitute it for just a bit more sugar, or, if you can find it, tapioca syrup. Just a warning though that if you're just using sugar, it might not be as easy to scoop!
dawn -
can i use regular sugar for this?
Sarah Menanix -
Absolutely! I used turbinado sugar so that the ice cream would be truly vegan, but it will work just as well with granulated sugar.
dawn -
wow! you're fast! thanks!!! i'm new to ice cream and a bit clueless. one more question: is brown sugar preferable to white?
Sarah Menanix -
I think I'd use granulated white sugar over brown sugar because I'm not sure what the molasses would do to the flavor of the ice cream! I've made it with white cane sugar and it turns out just as delicious!
dawn -
thanks sarah ~ you're awesome!
Diana -
Are 2 vanilla beans, the two that hang from the connected hook or two entire containers (the bean I got had one connected thing - not sure if this is two beans or one). Tasted delish! I added more extract because I wasn't sure.
Sarah Menanix -
Sorry for the delay! Usually a container of vanilla beans has two beans in it - each bean is just one single bean (so if they were connected, then you have two beans:).
GABRIELA -
THANKS FOR SHARING, very helpful as I AM ALLERGIC MILK
kristine -
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I made it for our Thanksgiving dinner (in Canada) and even my *very* skeptical might-as-well-be-father-in-law liked it! It's more of a coconut flavour than vanilla, but it still is very good. Thanks again, and congratulations on finishing your degree last year - I'm late to the party.
Sarah Menanix -
I'm so glad you liked this ice cream! It's my go-to ice cream that I make to pair with all pies and cakes! And thank you! Sure feels good to be done:) xo!
Amanda -
Can I turn this wonderful ice cream into lemon ice cream? I'm making a gf coconut cake to go with it.
Sarah Menanix -
Though I've never tried it, I think you could by adding 1/2 cup of lemon juice and about a tablespoon of lemon zest! I'm not sure if you'd need to reduce any of the other ingredients though - my gut says you wouldn't change anything because you'll still need the same about of sugar to balance the tartness from the lemon juice. If you try it, let me know!
Lnz -
I have never used coconut cream before. Do you use the liquid from the can too or just the stuff that is on the top?
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen -
For this recipe, as long as you purchased “coconut cream” you’ll use everything in the can - same for the coconut milk in the recipe!
When making whipped coconut cream, for example, you’ll just want to use the firm part of the can and not the liquid so it’ll whip up thick.
Leslie Mitchell -
Peace and blessings, Sarah! Congratulations on your hard work! I can't wait to try this recipe, but will the ice cream still turn out right without the vodka? I don't do alcohol.
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen -
Yes - absolutely. The vodka just helps it be a little smoother for scooping but I’ve also made it several times without the vodka and it turns out great!
Mary Gwen -
I was wondering where you got those bowls?
Sarah Menanix -
I actually borrowed them from a friend, but we got them together several years ago at the Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley...unfortunately I know they don't have them anymore because I've gone back looking for them!
Alex -
Do you need vodka because of I'm a kid and soo... yeah. Thanks!
Nicolle Silano -
Hi, I'm planning on trying out the recipe and would like to know if I may substitute to vodka with cognac our brandy, would it also make it creamier? Thanks :)
Sarah Menanix -
I would imagine it would work because really it's just the alcohol that doesn't freeze at the normal temperature of your freezer, so any alcohol with a freezing point below 0 would work.