The Only Dairy-Free Ice Cream Recipe You Will Ever Need: Cashew Milk Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

What is cashew ice cream made of? ›

As it turns out, finely processed cashew butter acts as a fat and stabilizer when blended with non-dairy milk. When this combination is churned and frozen, you get a rich and creamy frozen treat. Make no mistake — the flavor is decidedly nut-forward, although the maple syrup gives it a caramel sweetness.

Pints made with almond, soy, cashew or other nut milks tend to be lower in saturated fat and calories than those made with coconut cream or milk. While great for creating creamy frozen treats, coconut's high saturated fat count may elevate harmful LDL cholesterol levels, increasing risk for heart disease.

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

“'Vegan' simply means that whatever product it is, it is plant-based and made free of any animal products,” says Julie. Most vegan ice creams are made with coconut milk, almond milk or soy milk. All of those bases come from plants, and none include anything that comes from an animal.

Oh-so-creamy cashewmilk frozen dessert blended with oh-so-indulgent flavors. From Peachy Maple Pecan to Snickerdoodle, every smooth spoonful is dairy-free, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan.

Compare this to the nutrition information for our Cashew Cream recipe, and you'll see that cashew cream has fewer calories, total fat, saturated fat and sodium. Going by these numbers, cashew cream is healthier than heavy cream.

From a nutrition standpoint it is a high-calorie and high-fat food, just like dairy cream. But most of the fat in cashew cream is the heart-healthier unsaturated type, and dairy cream is a significant source of saturated fat.

Cashew milk contains fewer calories

Compared to cow's milk and even almond milk, storebought cashew milk is low in calories. At just 25 calories per cup, this seems like a calorie-saving food swap as long as you're mindful not to overeat elsewhere.

If you're looking for an affordable homemade plant-based milk, I have an answer for you: oat milk. Yes, oats, the unassuming grain that we devour every morning actually makes incredible, creamy milk. Plus, it's cheap and fast.

It's not made with low-fat or skim milk, or anything like that. Dairy-free frozen desserts typically substitute regular milk with plant-based milk such as almond, soy, coconut, or cashew milk, although there are some amazing brands (*cough, cough, Eclipse*) that take it even further.

What milk does Ben and Jerry's non-dairy use? ›

You dared us to go dairyless—and we did! Our Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk, 100% certified vegan, and boldly loaded with chunks and swirls. You'll get Ben & Jerry's euphoria in every bite. These flavors deliver everything… but the cow.

Yes the Ice cream in all McFlurry® desserts does contain milk.

From the Farms

Albans Cooperative Creamery in St. Albans, Vermont. At the Co-op , the milk is separated into heavy cream and condensed skim milk, then shipped by tanker truck to our St. Albans and Waterbury Vermont factories.

Our certified vegan Non-Dairy flavors are chock full of the chunks and swirls you love. Look for Non-Dairy versions of our classic ice cream flavors, plus plenty of exciting Non-Dairy exclusives.

From a nutrition standpoint it is a high-calorie and high-fat food, just like dairy cream. But most of the fat in cashew cream is the heart-healthier unsaturated type, and dairy cream is a significant source of saturated fat.

It's a lot more neutral tasting than coconut milk, and I think it comes closer to replicating real dairy or cream than silken tofu does. Cashew cream can feel like a bit of a project if you've never tried it before. Truthfully, though, it's a 3-4 ingredient recipe that takes very little time or effort.

The word cashew is derived from the Tupi word “acajou” which means “nut that produces itself”. This is most likely in reference to the fact that the cashew shaped fruit dangles below the fleshy, squash-shaped stem of the fruit (called the cashew apple). We think it looks like something Dr. Seuss would have illustrated!

Cashew cream is not the same as cashew milk, since the ratio of cashews to water is much higher. You can use cashew cream to make cashew milk, however, by diluting it in water. To make cashew milk from cashew cream, combine 2 tablespoons of cashew cream in 3/4 cup water and stir well.