The transition into going dairy free has killed my ice cream vibe, it is my favorite food and I’ve had to try to figure out how to make it work for me. I have tried so many DF options at the grocery store and always end up disappointed. So this spring, I took matters into my own hands and bought an ice cream maker. So let’s chat about how stinkin’ simple this is. I wish I’d made my own ice cream sooner!

The machine:

Its no secret we live in a little row house #houseofkords. Space is highhhly valued here. I don’t just up and buy a kitchen appliance. I research if something I already own has an attachment for a new idea I’m having before anything else. In April, I found this attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer for making ice cream. I ordered it, and it was on backorder until AUGUST. I waited and waited…June came around and I just couldn’t wait anymore. I stumbled upon this one on amazon and honestly, bought it blindly. I didn’t do tons of research or anything but let me tell you. I lucked out because I LOVE THIS THING. I have had so many people ask about heating the recipe on the stove prior to putting into your ice cream maker and tons of other steps that seem like such a head ache. This is so simple and doesn’t hog up too much space in your kitchen. You store the metal bowl in the freezer at all times, and keep your plastic base, lid and churner in your cabinet.

Dairy Free:

I have been DF for about a year, I do it because dairy makes me break out and I noticed a huge change in my skin once I started cutting it out of my diet. I have toyed with a few different ways to make regular ice cream recipes and what to substitute for milk options and this is what I’ve had the most success with:

When the recipe calls for half and half, substitute the same amount of coconut cream. This is usually found in a can at any grocery store. Most often found in the Thai food section (must share that because I assumed it was near baking and spent 30 minutes in Whole Foods looking for it). A few things to keep in mind about coconut cream:

It will more often than not be separated in the can. There will be a creamy part that is pretty thick, then a watery part. Put that in your mixing bowl FIRST and whisk it so its combined completely, then add your coconut milk.
Most ice cream recipes are going to call for ‘chilled half and half.’ DO NOT CHILL YOUR COCONUT CREAM. I did this and it was a mistake. I tossed one can of the coconut cream in the fridge, knowing I’d use it for ice cream that week. When I went to open it, it was really hard to get out and nearly impossible to whisk and get combined. I make it with room temp coconut cream every time and it is 1000% fine.

When a recipe calls for whole milk, substitute the same amount of coconut milk (this can be coconut milk from a can, a box, or a carton. We only drink coconut milk here, so we have a carton of it at all times. I recommend using it cold, just because it’ll speed along the churning process).

Making the ice cream:

I’m going to walk you through JUST how simple this is. Truly, don’t overthink this, it is literally whisking together 5 ingredients and pouring into the freezer bowl, its that easy! Let’s do my mint chocolate chip recipe because its one I created myself and its so DANG good, I just can’t handle it.

Ingredients for Dairy Free Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream:

1 can coconut cream

2 cups chilled coconut milk

2 tsp mint extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

3/4-1 cup dairy free chocolate chips

step by step

Get out a large mixing bowl, add coconut cream and whisk until smooth.
Add coconut milk, vanilla extract and mint flavoring, whisk.
Add Sugar, whisk.
Take freezer bowl out of the freezer, place onto the base. Add the churning tool inside, put lid on. leave frozen bowl in the freezer until RIGHT before you’re going to be churning.
Turn on your ice cream maker so it starts to spin, pour your creamy mixture in through the top and let it churn for about 12-15 minutes. It’ll start to thicken.
After the 12-15 minutes, add your chocolate chips into the ice cream mixture through the top of the lid. I usually do about 1/2 of them, make sure it’s evenly distributed, then do the second half. Let churn for about 5 more minutes, for a total churn time of 20 minutes.
- This step is the same for all recipes with any ‘crunch’ or toppings you plan to use. For instance, I made a strawberry ice cream. I whisked together all of the ingredients to make the ‘cream’ then added my chopped strawberries after 12-15 minutes. If you are making a smooth recipe, for instance, a strawberry ice cream without strawberry chunks, or just a simple chocolate or vanilla, you would leave the ice cream maker going for a total of 20 minutes. These instructions are also on the directions of the ice cream maker if you get the same one I have.
After the 20 minutes, the ice cream should be fairly frozen, but soft, almost like soft serve. If that is what you prefer, you can enjoy immediately. Otherwise, store in an airtight container. I use these Tovolo ones and have really liked them because the recipe and ice cream maker yields 1.5 quarts, and thats exactly the size of these containers. They also store nicely in a freezer. Once left in the freezer for more than 5 hours, I recommend letting the ice cream sit out for about 5-8 minutes before trying to scoop. Coconut milk based ice creams tend to freeze ‘harder’ and is pretty tough to scoop immediately out of the freezer.

Side Tip: I use these dairy free chocolate chunks, and grind them into tiny pieces using my food processor. I prefer the chocolate in my mint chip ice cream to be pretty small and shaved, I hate when there are massive pieces of chocolate, but this is total preference. This is not a necessary step if you just want to add regular chocolate chips, or mini chocolate chips, but I definitely recommend semi sweet flavor.

RECIPES

I started a Pinterest board labeled ‘ice cream’ where I’ll be pinning some recipes I can’t wait to try or have had success with! Follow along if you’re looking to explore more flavors as well!

If you make this, be sure to tag me! Happy DIYing!

xo