This 5-ingredient Paleo Ice Cream only takes 5 minutes to prepare and hits the easy button on dairy-free ice cream! Dairy-free ice cream is $5 a pint and often has ingredients I don’t totally love (like cane sugar and unpronounceables). This one has ZERO refined sugar – and is only sweetened by honey. That was pretty dang exciting to me as a mom. And this ice cream is creamier than most store bought dairy-free ice creams I’ve tried so far (which is a lot). You’re going to love this one!
Do I have to have an ice cream maker?
No, but I absolutely adore my ice cream maker! I don’t love having a lot of extra things and my ice cream maker I have used way more than I ever would have expected. The biggest reason? Because I can make dairy-free + paleo ice cream and treats without a lot of ingredients, additives, or refined sugar. And the texture is AMAZING.
I definitely recommend investing in an ice cream maker. We are pretty budget-focused in this household, but an ice cream maker was such a worth-it investment for us! We love this Cuisinart one, so simple and fast.
Other Ice Cream Flavors you will love!
- Paleo Mint Chip Ice Cream
- Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream
- Paleo Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream
- Paleo Peppermint Ice Cream
Ingredients
- Coconut creme – No, canned coconut creme is not the same as canned coconut milk. It’s higher in healthy fats and its ability to get solid. Make sure you are using canned coconut CREME or you will have a sad soupy mess. I prefer this one by Thai Kitchen that I find at Walmart. I don’t find the coconut flavor overpowering. My kids don’t like the flavor of coconut but they love this! Using the vanilla nutpods will help make a more vanilla/neutral flavor.
- Vanilla nutpods – Nutpods in this recipe will create a wonderful vanilla flavor. I highly recommend them! I get them at Walmart or Winco, but you can also find them on Amazon. Need a nut-free option? Use another dairy-free milk that works for you.
- Honey – Just make sure it’s pure honey.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla is ideal, but imitation works if that’s what’s accessible for you!
- Cocoa powder – Only needed if making the chocolate variety. Whatever is accessible is fine!
Paleo Chocolate or Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 cup full-fat unsweetened canned coconut cream chilled, solid part ONLY
- 1/2 cup vanilla Nutpods recommended, but can use other dairy-free milk of choice
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate Ice Cream
- 1 cup full-fat unsweetened canned coconut cream chilled, solid part ONLY
- 1/2 cup vanilla Nutpods recommended, but can use other dairy-free milk of choice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a blender, combine all ingredients (See notes on coconut cream). If you have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, blend at a low speed, as high speeds will over mix and make it chunky. If this happens, there is no going back, so easy does it. This liquid should be smooth and combined.
- Without an ice cream maker: Pour combined liquid into a freezer-friendly dish (if using ice cream maker, skip to below step).
- If using ice cream maker, pour combined liquid instead into the ice cream maker and add chocolate chips. Turn on ice cream maker and mix for 10-15 minutes. This will result in a soft-serve texture, which we love! If you want something more firm, put in freezer for 30 minutes to firm it up.
- Serve right out of freezer and enjoy!
Notes
COOKIES AND CREAM VARIATION: Stir in 1 cup crushed GF/DF Oreos into vanilla ice cream batter after blending. (Do not blend with the batter in the blender, as it will turn into grey cookie puree!). Put in an ice cream maker or freezer, same as with other flavors. 
I have an immersion blender—has anyone ever tried making the ice cream with that?
Great question! For blending the base nice and smooth, an immersion blender works perfectly. If you’re hoping to skip the ice cream maker altogether, you can do a “freeze-and-blend” method — pour the base into a freezer-safe container, freeze it, and every 30–45 minutes blitz it with your immersion blender to break up the ice crystals, repeating a few times until it’s frozen and scoopable. Just a heads up that it’ll be a little icier than the churned version, but still delicious! I haven’t personally tested it this way, so if you try it I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I made the chocolate version yesterday for a kid with allergies and about 8 kids ate it. It was rated 5 stars from all the kids and one of the kiddos said it was better than what we have gotten from an ice cream shop! Autumn’s ice cream recipes have been 5 stars all the way around! We are making the vanilla version today!
P.S. the Cuisinart ice cream maker is ten times better than the Ninja we have!
Thank you for taking the time to share this—what an amazing compliment from the kids! I’m thrilled to hear the chocolate version was such a hit (especially with allergies in the mix!), and I hope the vanilla one is just as loved. Also agree on the Cuisinart—it’s a workhorse! Appreciate your kind words and support!
Sorry if this has already been asked, can maple syrup be used in place of honey?
We tried this recipe with the honey and it was so delicious and we ate it all however felt it had an overpowering honey taste. Wondering if we could either use less honey or swap out for maple syrup. Thanks for any suggestions.
That’s a great question. I haven’t tried it with maple syrup, so I can’t say if it would work as well – my concern would be that it may not get as thick. Or you could maybe try half maple syrup, half honey first? Also, the vanilla ice cream you will notice the honey flavor more – I encourage you to try the chocolate, mint, or other flavors!
I bought an ice cream maker to make this and wow!! It’s simple to make, so delicious and tasty. You’re right, I don’t taste the coconut. And lol I ate the whole thing by myself 🙂
Thank you and I love your recipes!!
I’m so glad you dove in and loved this recipe! Look at you go, making ICE CREAM. Thanks for the review and the recipe love!
Do you need coconut cream and coconut milk? Or can you just use coconut cream, maple syrup & the flavour?
Great question! You’ll want to keep both. The coconut cream is essential — it’s the rich, high-fat base that makes this creamy and scoopable, so that one can’t be skipped. And that second splash of milk isn’t just filler either: it loosens the thick cream so it blends and churns smoothly, and it adds the little bit of water content that helps ice cream freeze into a soft, scoopable texture instead of a dense, hard block. You can absolutely use coconut milk as that milk portion (another reader uses full-fat coconut milk and loves it! I prefer nutpods for better flavor) — just don’t leave it out entirely. Then maple syrup and your flavoring will work great for the sweet and taste. Hope that helps — enjoy!
Wondering if regular milk could be used for the almond milk?
Great question. I haven’t tested it, but I believe it would work. LMK if you try it!
Chocolate version is amazing! Doesn’t even taste dairy free. My husband was amazed, and it’s so easy. Can’t wait to start experimenting with add ins.
I’m so glad you loved this easy ice cream recipe! WOOT that it impressed your hubby, too. Thanks for the review!
I just made ice cream for the first time EVER, and I can proudly say it’s delicious AND healthy-ish!! I feel like super mom!!! I did vanilla and threw in chocolate chips at the end. It is perfection! I have it in the freezer now bc we couldn’t finish the whole serving. Hoping it freezes well so my hubby can try it when he gets home. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe.
YAY – way to go super mom!! I love that this was an easy big success and enjoyed by your family. Thank you for the review!
Thank you for the simple recipe. I just bought an ice cream maker so I can make this. Waiting for my thing to freeze and will make it tomorrow!
This ice cream is INSANE!! I immediately ordered a case of coconut cream after my first batch because I know I will be making this regularly. Mind and taste buds BLOWN!!
YAAAYYY! I’m so happy you loved it. And HAHA on ordering a whole case of coconut cream to make it on the regular, that’s fantastic. I definitely can relate. Thanks for the rave review!
Have you ever tried using some nutpod creamer? Could that replace the coconut cream? Thanks!!!
Nutpods are great instead of the almond milk but don’t have enough thickness to them to swap for the coconut cream. Hope that helps!
Just got an ice cream maker for prime day and I’m so excited to try this! Can you sub maple syrup or another sweetener for honey?
Good question. YES, you can use maple syrup instead, it just will leave a more noticable flavor (i.e. your vanilla ice cream will taste a bit like maple syrup). Enjoy that ice cream maker!
My 14yo son and I made this tonight with our new ice cream maker and it was fabulous! We made the vanilla recipe, substituting strawberry extract for the vanilla and adding in frozen strawberries. Everyone, including our non-dairy free family members, loved it.
Sounds delicious and I adore that your son made it. So glad it was a family win, thank you!
Do you have an ice cream maker that you recommend?
Yes! I love my Cuisinart one – so easy! Not sure if links work in comments, but here’s the link https://amzn.to/2Z4SAQx
My husband is dairy free and I’m an ice cream lover, so this fits the bill for both of us! I bought the ice cream maker just for this recipe and I’m not sorry! 🙂
Wahoo that this is a new favorite and worth the ice cream maker! Thank you!
Love the ease of this recipe. I made the vanilla and it was a great consistency!
So happy you enjoyed it and YES to the creamy consistency of this! Thank you!
I’ve made this several times now, adding in different fruit depending on what we have! We just use full fat coconut milk (not the cream) in place of almond milk because of my wife’s allergy and it comes out perfect. 🙂
I’m so happy this one has been a win for your family! Thank you!
Excited to try this during my Food Freedom! Do you prefer a certain kind of cocoa? You’re talking about cocoa powder correct? Thanks!
Correct, cocoa powder, and any kind from Hershey’s to 100% cacao is great – whatever is accessible to you! We usually just use the Hershey’s or store brand of cocoa powder. Hope it’s a new easy favorite!
I made this tonight with agave nectar instead of honey and it turned out amazing! I made the vanilla. So easy and with minimal ingredients – I will be making this again!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this easy recipe and thank you for letting us know the agave worked!
I have made this recipe so many times and my family loves it! I am an ice cream fan and needed something healthier! I even got the ice cream maker for my birthday just so I could make this recipe! Chocolate is the favorite!
I love that you have made this often and even got an ice cream maker! Yay!
My family now has a little tradition of making this ice cream recipe every weekend. Sometimes we spice it up and add GF/DF Choco cookies too
I just LOVE that this has become part of a family tradition for you – that’s so sweet! And YES to doing all kinds of add-ins, it’s such a great base for so many options!
I love this! However, my boys do not. The ice cream has a strong coconut undertone. The good news – they leave my ice cream alone!
The variations are seriously endless!
Lol, glad you don’t have to share this one?! ; ) My boys did prefer at first the mint variation, as it hides the coconut flavor a bit more.
I made this with some vegan cookie dough in it 😆 this is the only dairy free ice cream my husband likes! So good
Oooh, cookie dough ice cream – great idea! So happy it was a win even for the hubby. Thank you!