Say hello to the BEST vegan ice cream recipe! Made with just 3 ingredients, it's super creamy, smooth, rich, delicious, and easy to make.
Meet the BEST vegan ice cream. Ever.
Yep, I said it. Over the years, I’ve tried all sorts of vegan ice cream recipes, ones with bases ranging from frozen bananas to cashew milk to almond milk. For me, there’s no contest. As far as dairy-free ice cream goes, coconut ice cream is by far the best. Full-fat coconut milk adds enough richness to create a texture that is super creamy, smooth, and not at all icy. It’s rich, decadent, and every bit as good as the real thing.
Best Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Ingredients
Lately, this vegan ice cream recipe has become my new favorite. To make it, you’ll need three simple ingredients:
1. Coconut milk – My go-to base for dairy-free ice cream.
2. Maple syrup – It gives this recipe a deep, complex sweetness. I love the maple flavor here!
3. And…tahini! The creamy star ingredient in this recipe.
I know, I know. If you walk into any American ice cream shop, tahini probably wouldn’t be among the ice cream flavors there. However, sesame ice cream is popular in Japan. During our trip to Tokyo last spring, I had the most incredible sesame ice cream, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Luckily for me, this homemade version is just as good as the delicious ice cream I had on our trip. The toasty, nutty flavor of the tahini pairs wonderfully with the maple syrup and coconut milk, and though the tahini flavor is present here, it’s not overpowering. It mostly lends an extra-creamy texture to the coconut milk base, which makes this vegan ice cream really exceptional.
How to Make Non-Dairy Ice Cream
The night before you plan to make your dairy-free ice cream, freeze the base of your ice cream maker. I love my KitchenAid® Ice Cream Maker Attachment  because it saves space and it does a great job with homemade ice cream. It should be in the freezer for at least 12 hours before you proceed with the recipe!
The next day, whisk together the coconut milk, tahini, and maple syrup to create the ice cream base. If your coconut milk is chunky, use a food processor or blender to whir the ingredients into a smooth puree.
Then, pour the mixture into the base of your ice cream maker and churn until thick! Mine takes about 20 minutes, but the timing will depend on your machine. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions for timing guidelines.
When the ice cream is thick, scoop and enjoy, or freeze it for 1-2 hours for an even thicker texture.
Vegan Ice Cream Recipe Tips
- Spice it up! Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom or a drop of vanilla to the coconut milk base for an extra layer of flavor.
- Don’t forget the toppings. I love this dairy-free ice cream on its own, but it’s delicious with toppings as well. I served mine with tart cherries, melted dark chocolate, vegan chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
- Eat it right away, or freeze it for up to a week. This vegan ice cream has the perfect creamy, smooth texture right after it comes out of the ice cream maker. Enjoy it as soon as it’s done, or store it in airtight containers in the freezer for up to a week. It hardens while it’s in the freezer, so if you’re planning to serve it 24 hours or more after you make it, let it soften at room temperature for 20 minutes before scooping it into bowls.
If you love this dairy-free ice cream recipe…
Try one of these plant-based treats next:
- Vegan Chocolate Cake
- No-Bake Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Vegan Sugar Cookies
- Coconut Macaroons
Best Vegan Ice Cream
- 1 (14-ounce) can full fat coconut milk
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup tahini
- (optional) toppings: sesame seeds, tart cherries, chocolate
- Freeze the base of your KitchenAid® Ice Cream Attachment for at least 12 hours, preferably overnight.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, tahini, and maple syrup. (If your coconut milk is chunky, you may want to combine the ingredients in a blender).
- Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker and churn until thick, about 20 minutes. Scoop out and enjoy! If you would like thicker ice cream, freeze for 1-2 hours before serving.
Pictured in this post: KitchenAid® Ice Cream Maker Attachment
I’ve just made it and it’s amazing! Already seeing it as our new entry at this summer gatherings among friends and family. Well.. at least how much will be possible due to pandemia.
But for sure in our household we’ll enjoy this amazing taste of tahini! Thank you very much for the recipe!
Hi Andrea, I’m so glad you all loved it!
I actually bought the Vitamix attachment because I saw this recipe and wow–let’s just say my summer is made. It’s rich, creamy, delicious and so simple.. I would love to see a recipe with almond milk and maybe experiment with some fun creative flavors like ginger, matcha, green tea or even lavender and honey. Or do you have any resources you could recommend for more vegan ice cream recipes? Thank you!
Hi Ali, I’m so glad you loved it!
Here are some of my other favorites (all vegan). I haven’t had great success with almond milk because it’s not as thick and rich as coconut milk:
https://www.loveandlemons.com/matcha-green-tea-ice-cream-coconut/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/pistachio-ice-cream/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/sweet-harvest-pumpkin-ice-cream/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/coconut-mint-ice-cream/
https://www.loveandlemons.com/vegan-meyer-lemon-ice-cream/
Clear instruction with beautiful pictures.. I made it and it taste so good, much better than the store bought. I put dates syrup instead of maple- works well. Thank you for the recipe. I’m a fan now.
I’m so glad you loved it as much as we did!
Too easy and delicious not to make over and over! Can’t wait to share this with friends and family. Awesome dairy-free ice cream option- thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad you loved this ice cream as much as we do 🙂
I bookmarked this recipe a while ago – mainly because I am obsessed with anything and everything tahini – but forgot it until I rediscovered it today. I made it for dessert tonight, adding a date caramel swirl, and it was amazing! The texture is so beautifully creamy; if you let it soften for a few minutes out of the freezer it’s more of a semifreddo than a hard ice cream.
Hi Erin! I’m so glad you loved it!
this sounds so good! i’m loving tahini lately, especially the salty/sweet combo with the maple syrup! seems like it’d be extra delish with a little sea salt on top (and maybe some vegan dark chocolate! 😉 )
I was so excited to see an ice cream with ingredients that were already in my pantry. This does not disappoint and will be in regular rotation. Thank you so much for posting – it is a wonderfully simple recipe, that although is perfect on it’s own, has a lot of potential as a base for adding in other flavors.
I’m so glad you love it as much as we do! 🙂
This looks great and I always have tahini on hand. But I’m allergic to coconut. Do you think I could do this with almond milk?
Hi Julia, I haven’t had ice cream success with almond milk. It’s just not as fatty as coconut milk so the ice cream turns out to have more of an icy consistency. Awhile back, I tried adding almond butter to my almond milk base to make it thicker, but I can’t remember the ratios that I used and I’m not sure if that would go well with the tahini :). (so sorry I can’t be more helpful!)
Hi Jeanine,
I never commented a post before, but I’m checking your blog very often and I find a lot of inspiration in your recipes! Thank you for sharing these amazing ideas!!!
I was wondering, do you think it is possible to make this ice cream without an ice cream maker? Can I just use a blender and put the ice cream it the freezer?
Thank you,
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, thanks for commenting! I’m so glad you’ve been inspired by the recipes 🙂
I’m not sure the ice cream would be an ice cream texture if it’s not churned in an ice cream maker. I think it would just become hard frozen tahini-infused coconut milk. It’s possible that a few frozen bananas (“nice cream” style) might help create a soft blended texture – maybe I’ll give it a try 🙂
Hi,
We also don’t have an I’ve cream maker. But we had great success by first blending the ingredients and then porting pouring the mixture into an ice cube trays for a few hours and then blended then in our Vitamix. So delicious and creamy!
Woww can’t wait to enjoy the great flavor of tahini ice cream. I need to buy the ingredients right away. My children will love this icecream much. Have a happy day, friend.
I made this today, and it was so delicious — and easy! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Wow, this looks so delicious and very easy to make. Perfect for a hot summer day. Thanks!
Oh, my…these pictures are speaking to my sweet tooth!
What kind of ice cream maker are you showing in your photo?
It’s the Kitchen Aid ice cream maker attachment – I love it because the base fits right on the mixer and I don’t have to store a separate appliance.
That is so cool! Thank you for your response!
so creamy! i love this post and i loved hearing a bit about your trip!! when you figure out the veggie curry please invite us over! heehee 😉
Ha ha, that curry was SO good, thanks for the recs 🙂
I love tahini! This ice cream looks so delicious and perfect for the summer!
Such a fun and interesting idea to add tahini to ice cream! 🙂
So good and so simple, definitely will try this! I also don’t have an ice cream maker (yet), but I’ll eat it as a smoothie, don’t care 😀 thanks for sharing, love your recipes so much! <3
ha ha, thank you! I’m glad you’re loving the recipes!
This looks absolutely amazing. I am wondering, do you have a post about your trip to Japan? I’ve always wanted to go, but I am vegan and assumed it would be next to impossible for me to find enough to eat. Maybe I am wrong though?
Hi Sarah, I don’t have a post about the trip, maybe one day! I ate mostly vegetarian/pescatarian in Japan – I don’t think it’s impossible to eat vegan there you’d just have to do some research ahead of time.
Can this be done without an ice cream maker? I’ve got a Vitamix….
It thickened and churned really nicely in the ice cream maker. I haven’t made ice cream in a Vitamix – do you start with the ingredients partially frozen?