Who doesn't love to indulge in a creamy scoop of ice cream?
But that shouldn't come at the cost of ethical or dietary concerns. Fortunately for us, a wave of vegan ice cream brands has emerged, offering a guilt-free and delicious alternative to traditional dairy treats.
The ones in this list are fully vegan and some of them even offer more options besides ice cream.
What are vegan ice creams made of?
Vegan ice creams are made from plant-based ingredients instead of dairy products typically found in traditional ice cream.
Non-dairy milk:
Plant-based milks such as almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or rice milk are commonly used as a base in vegan ice cream recipes. These milks provide the creamy texture and consistency similar to dairy milk.
Sweeteners:
Vegan ice creams are sweetened using various natural sweeteners such as cane sugar, coconut sugar, agave syrup, maple syrup, or date syrup. These sweeteners add sweetness to the ice cream while ensuring it remains vegan-friendly.
Thickeners and stabilizers:
Ingredients like tapioca starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, or carrageenan are often added to vegan ice cream to improve texture, prevent crystallization.
Flavorings:
Natural flavorings such as vanilla extract, cocoa powder, fruit purees, or nut butters are used to add flavor to vegan ice cream.
Add-ins:
Vegan ice creams may include various add-ins such as chopped nuts, chocolate chips, cookie dough pieces, fruit chunks, or swirls of caramel or fudge.
Emulsifiers:
Emulsifiers like lecithin or mono- and diglycerides are sometimes added to vegan ice cream to help stabilize the mixture and prevent separation of ingredients.
So Delicious is a pioneer in the realm of dairy-free delights, crafting luscious frozen treats without compromise.
Country of Origin: United States
Where to Buy: Available in major supermarkets, health food stores, and online retailers worldwide.
Main Ingredients: Coconut milk, Cashew Milk, Almond Milk and more serves as the creamy base for So Delicious ice creams, enriched with wholesome ingredients and natural flavors.
Flavours: Indulge in a diverse array of flavors, from classic Vanilla Bean and strawberry to innovative options like Snickerdoodle and Salted Caramel Cluster.
Additional Offerings: Beyond ice cream, So Delicious offers a range of dairy-free yogurts, beverages, and frozen desserts to satisfy every craving.
Nada Moo is committed to creating decadent dairy-free ice creams using organic and sustainably sourced ingredients.
Country of Origin: United States
Where to Buy: Find Nada Moo products in select grocery stores, health food markets, and online retailers across the United States.
Main Ingredients: Nada Moo's ice creams are made with a coconut milk base and sweetened with agave syrup, offering a creamy and indulgent texture.
Flavours: Explore an assortment of flavors, including Mint Chip, Peppermint Bark, Pistachio Nut, and Rocky Road.
Additional Offerings: In addition to their delectable ice cream lineup, Nada Moo also frozen snack bites.
Oatly revolutionizes the world of vegan ice cream with its oat milk-based creations, prioritizing sustainability and taste.
Country of Origin: Sweden
Where to Buy: Oatly ice creams can be found in supermarkets, specialty stores, and cafes across Europe, the United States, and beyond.
Main Ingredients: Oatly's ice creams feature oat milk as the primary ingredient, delivering a smooth and velvety texture with a hint of natural sweetness.
Flavours: Savor the creamy goodness of flavors like Chocolate Fudge, Strawberry, Hazelnut Swirl, and Salted Caramel.
Additional Offerings: Alongside their delectable ice creams, Oatly offers a range of oat milk-based beverages, including barista editions for coffee enthusiasts.
Wicked Kitchen delights us with its bold and innovative plant-based creations, including an enticing lineup of vegan ice creams.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Where to Buy: Look for Wicked Kitchen products exclusively at Tesco stores across the United Kingdom.
Main Ingredients: Wicked Kitchen's ice creams feature a coconut cream base and are sweetened with natural sugars, ensuring a rich and satisfying experience.
Flavours: From Birthday Cake to Mint Chocolate Chip and classics like Vanilla, Wicked Kitchen offers something for every taste.
Additional Offerings: In addition to their ice creams, Wicked Kitchen offers a wide range of plant-based ready meals, sandwiches, and snacks.
JD's Vegan is dedicated to crafting artisanal, small-batch vegan ice creams using locally sourced and organic ingredients.
Country of Origin: Australia
Where to Buy: Find JD's Vegan products at select independent retailers, specialty grocers, and farmers' markets across Australia.
Main Ingredients: JD's Vegan ice creams are handcrafted with a cashew or coconut milk base, infused with premium ingredients like organic cacao and seasonal fruits.
Flavours: Indulge in a rotating selection of seasonal flavors, from refreshing Coconut Lime to indulgent Dark Chocolate and Cookies and Cream.
Valsoia is an Italian brand specializing in plant-based dairy alternatives, including vegan ice cream.
Country of Origin: Italy
Where to Buy: Valsoia vegan ice cream products are available in supermarkets, health food stores, and specialty food stores across Italy and other European countries. They can also be purchased online.
Main Ingredients: Valsoia ice cream is typically made from ingredients such as soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk, combined with natural flavorings and sweeteners like cane sugar or maple syrup.
Flavours: Valsoia offers a diverse range of vegan ice cream flavors, including classics strawberry, and chocolate, as well as innovative options like tiramisu and caramel pecan.
Additional Offerings: In addition to traditional tubs of ice cream, Valsoia may offer dairy-free ice cream cones, popsicles, and mini cups.
Cado redefines frozen treats with its avocado-based ice creams, offering a creamy and nutritious alternative to traditional dairy desserts.
Country of Origin: United States
Where to Buy: Look for Cado products in health food stores, specialty markets, and select grocery chains across the United States.
Main Ingredients: Cado's ice creams feature avocado as the star ingredient, providing a rich and velvety texture packed with heart-healthy fats and antioxidants.
Flavours: Dive into a world of creamy indulgence with flavors like Simply Lemon, Deep Dark Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Cherry Amaretto.
Additional Offerings: In addition to their avocado-based ice creams pints, Cado offers avocado-based ice cream sandwichs.
Wonderlab's Doozy Pots offer a whimsical twist on vegan ice cream, blending imaginative flavors with ethically sourced ingredients.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Where to Buy: Discover Wonderlab's Doozy Pots at select specialty stores, independent cafes, and online retailers in the United Kingdom.
Main Ingredients: Wonderlab's Doozy Pots feature a oat and hemp milk base, enhanced with natural flavorings and artisanal ingredients for a delightful taste experience.
Flavours: Embark on a flavor adventure with options like Chocolate Rasberry Swirl, Smooth Coffee and Banana Cinnamon Swirl.
Craigs Vegan is a vegan ice cream brand known for its creamy texture and rich flavors. It aims to provide a delicious alternative to traditional dairy ice cream without compromising on taste or quality.
Country of Origin: United States
Where to Buy: Craigs Vegan ice cream can be found in select grocery stores, health food stores, and online retailers. Availability may vary depending on location.
Main Ingredients: Craigs Vegan ice cream is made from a base of coconut milk or other plant-based alternatives. It may also include ingredients such as organic cane sugar, natural flavorings, chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit.
Flavours: Craigs Vegan offers a diverse range of flavors to suit different preferences, from the classics to more indulgent options like mint chocolate chip, salted caramel, and cookie dough.
Additional Offerings: In addition to its traditional ice cream flavors, Craigs Vegan may offer dairy-free frozen desserts such as ice cream sandwiches, bars, and popsicles.
Whether you're craving a classic indulgence or eager to explore bold and inventive flavors, these vegan ice cream brands offer a tantalizing array of options to suit every palate and preference.
From a classic Vanilla to an indulgent Salted Caramel to an ice cream made with an avocado base, there's plenty of cruelty free options to choose from.