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!
113.66-ounce can full fat coconut milk, (Thai Kitchens brand available at most major grocery stores or online)
¾cupraw turbinado sugar, or cane sugar
2tablespoonspure maple syrup, or light corn syrup
1tablespooncoconut oil
1tablespoonvodka, optional, but will make it creamier
2whole vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped (or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract) (I use Rodelle vanilla beans)
¼teaspoonkosher 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)
This nutritional information has been automatically calculated, and as such, may be incomplete or inaccurate. Please reference the specific ingredients you use for the most accurate nutritional information.