Who can resist a creamy ice cream creation? Probably no one, because the cold delicacy simply tastes delicious and refreshing! If you are a big ice cream fan and are interested in plant-based ice cream recipes, you will find lots of tips and information here on how to make vegan ice cream.
Many preparations work without an ice cream maker ; the freezer compartment in the refrigerator is sufficient. However, if you have an ice cream maker, we also have interesting recipes that are guaranteed to be successful .
What makes vegan ice cream special?
The difference to conventional ice cream is that there are no animal ingredients. While the so-called “ normal ” ice cream requires milk, cream and often eggs as ingredients, you use suitable substitute products for the plant-based versions .
Things are a little different with fruit ice cream, because pure fruit ice cream varieties do not contain any animal products . Such ice cream inventions are inherently vegan if you make them yourself. In the ice cream parlor, milk, cream or egg whites may be added to create a creamy consistency. Therefore : To be on the safe side, ask!
Other preparations that are technically referred to as " semi-frozen " include sorbets and parfaits. Semi-frozen foods work well with vegan ingredients . You don't need an ice cream machine for this, because the ice crystals that form when freezing are a typical component.
You can serve a sorbet in a glass or use an ice cream ball cutter to form balls and serve in ice cream cones. A parfait is a firm, frozen mass that is cut into slices .
The classic ice cream recipe and the alternative ingredients
Using vanilla ice cream as an example, it is easy to explain which conventional ingredients are replaced by vegan alternatives . The classic vanilla ice cream contains egg yolk, milk and cream. There is also sugar and, for flavor, the pulp of vanilla beans or vanilla syrup.
No question : neither eggs nor cow's milk or cream are desirable for plant-based ice cream production . When making this ice cream (and many other types of ice cream), creaminess is an essential criterion. That's why you need milk or cream alternatives; the egg yolks also need to be replaced for a good consistency .
There are different attitudes when it comes to sugar : household sugar - used in excess - is not healthy. When it comes to veganism, there is nothing wrong with using normal sugar. However, there are good alternative sweeteners, such as agave syrup, maple syrup, dates or birch sugar.
You can also avoid sugar or other sweeteners altogether when making ice cream . This has a positive side effect if you want to lose weight vegan and are looking for ice cream recipes with fewer calories.
Natural vanilla brings a lot of flavor, so even unsweetened ice cream is a real treat . In addition, many variations are possible with other ingredients. The basic recipe can be cleverly supplemented with chocolate or fruit.
The ice cream recipe
For an ice cream creation that you can modify as you wish, you need the basic ingredients for four portions :
- 200 grams of cashew nuts
- 400 milliliters of plant milk
- 3 to four tablespoons of agave syrup
- 1 tablespoon coconut milk
- 2 vanilla beans
- 1 teaspoon starch flour
- 1 pinch of salt
For this recipe and also for other ice cream recipes that you make yourself, a good, powerful mixer is important. Soak the cashew nuts in hot water beforehand - at least an hour. The cashew nuts are then strained overnight .
Cut the vanilla pods open on the side and scrape out the pulp. Then all the ingredients go into the blender. Now puree everything and choose the highest level. Put the creamy mixture in the ice cream maker and let it freeze for 60 minutes.
Without an ice cream maker, the mixture comes into a flat shape. Stir the ice cream mixture again and again while it is freezing. Before serving, let the frozen mixture thaw slightly and stir vigorously again. A fork is very suitable for this.
Freezing for longer periods doesn't make sense; you should always make the ice cream as fresh as possible . Stirring also prevents annoying ice crystals from forming.
If you halve the vanilla and add cocoa or chocolate, you will have a delicious chocolate ice cream . The recipe is also suitable for other varieties, for example strawberry ice cream .
You can also add chocolate chips before pouring into the ice cream maker, then you get stracciatella ice cream. Very finely ground pistachios or matcha powder are also ingredients for interesting and tasty creations .
Cashew nuts provide vegetable protein and are relatively high in calories. However, it is precisely the nut mixture that, together with the coconut oil and plant milk , ensures the fine creaminess.
Cream ice cream - particularly creamy
If you don't have an ice cream maker, you don't have to go without creamy ice cream . Vegan cream is good for a delicious cream ice cream. To ensure that the ice cream mixture stands up, a binding agent such as tapioca starch or locust bean gum is useful.
Even a small amount is enough. Otherwise, cashew nuts form the basis again. To sweeten, use pureed dates or raw cane sugar. Vanilla pulp or tonka beans are suitable for a special flavor .
You can also experiment to your heart's content when making your own : How about Christmas ice cream, which is an extravagant dessert variant with cinnamon, gingerbread or speculoos spice?
After all, vegan and exclusive are not a contradiction. Because especially when you modify recipes , you can create a special ice cream according to your ideas .
Fruit ice cream with fruits of your choice
You can pamper your family and surprise guests with homemade creations ! Fruity ice cream flavors are ideal if you don't have an ice cream maker. Raspberry and lemon ice cream are great classics and are suitable for making yourself .
In the version with lemons, in addition to lemon juice, the abrasion of untreated lemon peels is also used. Raspberry ice cream works with fresh or frozen raspberries. But you can also use other fruits. Berries of all kinds go just as well as oranges, honeydew melons or exotic fruits such as mangoes, passion fruits or papayas.
The mixture is made in just a few minutes. All you need is fruit, sugar or another sweetener and some water. For a good bond, you can add a starchy product in a small amount, but this is not a must.
The proportional ratio of the ice cream ingredients to each other depends on how watery the fruit is and how sweet the finished ice cream should be. The fruity version also tastes great if you add a yogurt alternative . The yogurt substitute produces a slightly sour taste that goes well with lemon ice cream .
If you use sugar, boil the sugar and water together so that it dissolves completely. Then put the chopped fruit and sugar syrup in the blender and puree everything at the highest level. As an alternative to sugar syrup, you can also use agave syrup or another liquid sweetener.
An ice cream maker is suitable for freezing , but plant-based fruity ice cream can also be made in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
Particularly quick and easy: “Nice Cream” made from bananas
Freeze first, then puree : The reverse method is the typical preparation if you use bananas as a base. By the way, the banana is also the fruit that first appeared on the vegan ice cream menu .
You've probably come across the term " nice cream " before. This is the easiest version if you want the ice cream to be vegan and homemade .
Here's how it works : You freeze peeled bananas cut into pieces and process them into plant-based nice cream when needed. The frozen banana pieces go into the blender, and you can add fresh fruit, lemon juice and vanilla pulp as additional flavoring ingredients.
A few tablespoons of soy milk or other milk substitutes add even more creaminess. You dose the liquid as needed. If you want your plant-based banana ice cream to have a chocolatey component, add a few spoonfuls of baking cocoa to the ingredients. Sugar or any other sweetener is not necessary.
You can serve and enjoy the banana ice cream immediately after mixing , but you can also store it in the freezer for a short time.
Present and serve homemade ice cream in style
You can be proud of your own creations . All the more so if you value the appearance and other details when arranging it. Children enjoy ice cream cones with one or more scoops of ice cream .
The balls are also ideal on pancakes or as part of a plant-based dessert . Combinations with fruit are also possible, as is a delicious topping. For example, chocolate sprinkles or sugar sprinkles, chopped nuts or flaked almonds are suitable for this.
Greenforce also has many other vegan products that will enrich your culinary results. The product range also includes vegan baking mixes that can be perfectly combined with homemade ice cream .
Make vegan ice cream yourself - conclusion
Making your own vegan ice cream is easier than you think! Delicious creations can be made with just a few basic ingredients. Plus, making your own is really fun.
And you know exactly what's in it : your plant-based ice cream is free of artificial flavors and colors - so it's a healthy, ice-cold taste experience !
