Easy Dairy-Free Ice Cream Recipe + 11 Awesome Topping Ideas

If I could use a season to describe myself, summer would definitely be the one. It’s my favourite time of year – between spending time in nature, hanging out in the sunshine, sipping summer mocktails, and eating a ton of delicious foods like this no-churn easy coconut ice cream, summer is so sweetly awesome. I also appreciate how many of us take time this season to get away from it all – we could all use a little more slowness in life, even if this just means taking a few minutes to rest and enjoy some delicious homemade dairy-free ice cream. Coconut milk is one of my favourite ingredients. I always have it in my pantry and it’s especially wonderful in dairy-free and vegan ice cream recipes. It’s super thick and creamy, but also offers us a load of health benefits. I delve into coconut milk in more detail in 12 Delicious Ways to Use Coconut Milk, but here’s a quick recap.

Easy Coconut Ice Cream (No Churning Involved!)

What I love most about this no-churn coconut ice cream is that you don’t need an ice cream maker. All you need are ice cube trays, and either a blender or a food processor. A high-speed blender will yield a very smooth ice cream, but depending on the strength of the motor in your food processor you can get this to soft-serve consistency in there too. Options to amp up your ice cream:

• Use homemade coconut kefir instead of coconut milk for the extra probiotic benefits.
• Play around by adding extra flavours like raw cacao, maca or lucuma.
• Replace the banana with any summer fruit of your choice.

You can also reserve some of the cubes to add to your summer smoothies or mocktails. Print

11 Awesome Dairy- and Gluten-free Ice Cream Toppings

Of course, this recipe is completely delicious on its own, but you can also take it to the next level with some delicious toppings.

Dairy-Free Coconut Whipped Cream

Why not top your coconut ice cream with more coconut goodness? GET THE RECIPE

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Easy Raspberry Jam

Dollop spoonfuls of sweet jams on top of your ice cream. This recipe works well with most seasonal fruits (don’t use melons!). GET THE RECIPE

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Cookies and Cream Cashew Frosting

Add a bit more liquid to this cashew frosting recipe to make it more drizzle-able. A tablespoon or two should do. GET THE RECIPE

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Almond Honey Brittle

This brittle is so delicious it might not make it into your ice cream! Set some aside to take your ice cream to the next level. GET THE RECIPE

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Chocolate Chia Pudding

Add extra protein, gut-healing fats and fibre to your ice cream treats by spooning some of this chocolate pudding on top. GET THE RECIPE

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Hemp Chocolate Spread

Melt this one down for the gooey-ist and healthiest chocolate spread ever. GET THE RECIPE

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Rhubarb Butter + Strawberry Rhubarb Butter

One of my favourite ways to make the most of seasonal fruit! GET THE RECIPE

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Dairy-Free Lemon Cream Frosting

This one is incredibly drizzle-able and bright and fresh for summer ice cream eating. GET THE RECIPE

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Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups

Chop them up and sprinkle over your ice cream! GET THE RECIPE

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Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crumble up one of these for an extra treat – my crispy ginger cookies work well for this too. GET THE RECIPE

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More Topping Options!

If you want to keep things simpler, try one of these topping ideas:

• A handful of fresh, seasonal fruit (berries are always a good choice)
• A drizzle of maple syrup or honey
• A handful of chopped nuts or seeds
• Cacao nibs
• Goji berries, dates or dried cranberries
• Go a little outside the box with a drizzle of fruity olive oil or a splash of balsamic if you’ve used berries

And don’t forget to eat your ice cream with an attitude of gratitude and celebration. Negative emotions associated with food are very powerful. When we are experiencing anything delicious – something that should be savoured, nourished, indulged in, shared, and celebrated – we must grant ourselves the sweet luxury to rest and digest it all, too. SaveSave