The Best Dairy-Free Ice Cream
As someone with a dairy allergy, I have tried almost every dairy-free ice cream. Looking for the best options? Look no further.
By: Liz Luongo
The rise of dairy-free ice cream options is fairly new. Ten years ago, if you were dairy-free, you were stuck with sorbet and fruity water-based treats. While those desserts can be refreshing, there is nothing quite like ice cream. Dairy-free ice cream products use plant-based milk as their base, such as almond, oat, soy, cashew, and coconut. Here are some of the most glorious ice cream brands that offer dairy-free options:
First up is Van Leeuwen, which originally started out as an ice cream truck in New York City. While this brand is not completely dairy-free, they are known for their extensive vegan offerings. Depending on the flavor, this brand uses cashew, coconut, and oat milk as the base. The Cookies & Cream Caramel Swirl is very delicious and smooth. The ice cream also contains simple ingredients such as raw cashews and virgin coconut oil. While it is not traditional ice cream, you can make your own ice cream sandwich with dairy-free chocolate chip cookies that are sold at their storefronts.
Another favorite of mine is the renowned Ben & Jerry’s. They introduced their dairy-free line, which uses almond milk and sunflower milk as the base, back in 2016. My favorite flavor is their Non-Dairy Americone Dream. I love ice cream on a cone, so this flavor hits the spot. With the perfect mixture of vanilla ice cream, fudge-covered waffle cone pieces, and a caramel swirl, the combination is truly terrific and completely vegan.
An ice cream brand that has certainly gotten its fair share of publicity is Jeni’s. This brand uses coconut cream as the base for their ice cream. With creative flavors such as Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns and Texas Sheet Cake, this brand is certainly one of a kind.
So, whether you are vegan, lactose intolerant, or simply want to try out new culinary desserts, be sure to check out these dairy-free delights.