Maple Walnut Dairy Free Ice Cream is delicious creamy goodness for a hot summer's day! In fact, it's a great treat anytime! This healthy version is made with coconut milk, Medjool dates, and pure maple syrup.
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We've had a bit of a heat wave around here. After the long, cold winter we've endured, warm weather is especially welcome! Given that I had just visited our local maple syrup producer and picked up our annual jug, plus more for our expat kids, it seemed like the perfect day for some Maple Walnut Dairy Free Ice Cream.
Ingredients
- Coconut Milk from a carton - doesn't even have to be coconut milk. This could be almond milk, cashew milk, or any other nondairy milk beverage.
- Coconut Milk from a can - the full-fat kind makes your ice cream rich and creamy
- Gelatine - a flavourless, colourless, translucent powder derived from collagen. It helps your ice cream to thicken up.
- Medjool Dates - soft dates add natural sweetness, but need a high speed blender to incorporate them into smooth ice cream
- Maple Syrup - Pure, natural maple syrup has some health benefits.
- Walnuts - Use fresh walnut pieces as walnuts can quickly become rancid and taste bad.
How Do You Make Dairy Free Ice Cream?
After dissolving the gelatine, process everything but the walnuts in a high-speed blender. Chill this mixture and then process it in an ice cream maker.
Dairy Free Ice Cream Tips
The tricky thing about homemade ice cream, and I've had this problem with both dairy and nondairy recipes, is knowing when to remove your ice cream from the machine. The ice cream maker operates on the principle of a frozen bowl chilling the ice cream while your mixture is constantly being stirred. You want to allow the process to continue until your ice cream is as thick as possible. However, if you wait too long, the bowl will get warm from the heat of the motor. It can actually reach a point where your ice cream begins to soften again. For best results, be sure your mixture is well chilled in the refrigerator before you begin to process it in the machine. Then, as it gets near to finishing, after about half an hour, watch it closely so you can remove it at it's thickest.
I take my ice cream from the machine and store it in an airtight plastic container in the freezer. After a couple of hours, mine is perfect for scooping!
However, there is nothing wrong with eating it straight from the ice cream machine, either!
Recipe FAQ's
Canned full-fat coconut milk is great for ice cream because it imparts a creamy richness. In addition to that, cashew milk is very nice. Almond milk is good, and coconut milk in the carton is a great nut-free option.
Essential Equipment
High Speed Blender
This recipe utilizes a high speed blender and an ice cream machine. Both were purchases that I had put off for years because of price. However, we have worn out more than one cheap blender. I must say that had I started with the good blender, I could have been enjoying smooth smoothies all along. With a high speed blender, things like the dates in this ice cream blend nicely rather than leaving little flecks and pieces in my liquid.
Ice Cream Machine
The ice cream maker was another purchase that I had considered for a long time. My reasoning for buying one was that I could make healthful, whole food ice cream with "real" ingredients and no artificial additives and preservatives. Now that I eat mostly dairy free ice cream, the machine is even more valuable to me.
Storage
Keep your ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer.
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Recipe
Maple Walnut Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk from carton (or other dairy free milk), divided
- 1 packet gelatine (enough to set 2 cups liquid)
- ¼ cup boiling water
- 8 soft Medjool dates, pitted
- 1 400 mL 13.5 oz can full fat coconut milk
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts pieces
Instructions
- Sprinkle gelatine over ¼ cup cold coconut milk (from carton). Stir in ¼ cup boiling water until gelatine is completely dissolved.
- Add remaining ¾ cup coconut milk, canned coconut milk, dates, maple syrup, vanilla, and dissolved gelatine mixture to a high speed blender. Process until smooth.
- Chill this mixture in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Process the coconut mixture in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's direction.
- When ice cream has finished processing, stir in walnut pieces.
- Either enjoy some soft ice cream right away, or store it in an airtight container in the freezer. After a couple of hours, stir it up and eat it or return it to the freezer.
Meredith says
I just put the cooling chamber of my ice cream maker in the freezer so I can try this delicious sounding (and healthy!) ice cream! What a delicious treat to enjoy on a warm summer night! Thank you for the recipe!
Cathy says
Wonderful! Enjoy!
Monique says
This recipe is so simple, yet it looks amazing! Homemade ice cream always seems so fancy but I'm inspired to give it a go after reading this 🙂
Cathy says
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it!
Gabby says
This sounds so good! I recently bought the ice cream attachment for my Kitchen-Aid mixer and am SO excited to try it soon! Although I do occasionally buy pre-made ice cream at the store (dairy and non-dairy, always organic), I love the possibilities of making my own and controlling the ingredients! Pinning this to try later!
Cathy says
I think the KitchenAid attachment is a great idea. It will keep the ice cream away from the heat of the motor.
Leslie-Anne says
I love my ice cream maker but rarely use it - I have to dust it off for some dairy-free goodness!
Cathy says
Oh, yes! 'tis the season!
yvonne says
I definitely need to get an ice cream machine before summer hits. This recipe is an inspiration.
Cathy says
You'll love having an ice cream machine!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
I LOVE homemade ice cream, it's one of my favorite things. I also love that you made this with gelatin, it's so great added to dairy-free ice cream, it totally helps the texture. Love those dates in there too! Yum!
Cathy says
Thank you, Emily! It's great to be able to enjoy a wholesome ice cream, isn't it!
Shelby @Fitasamamabear says
I've only ever made banana nice cream and haven't tried coconut milk. I totally have to now though!
Cathy says
For sure!
Brittney Remali says
Could I use collagen instead of gelatin?
Cathy Brak says
Thank you for your question, Brittney. I have not tested the recipe with collagen. Gelatin is included to help thicken the ice cream. I'm not sure that collagen would have the same effect.
Lindsey Dietz says
Yummm! We harvest sap and make our own maple syrup, so this is just perfect!
Cathy says
Oh, that's so great that you make your own maple syrup! We did it once when the kids were young.
Teresa says
Yum! I love ice cream! Great summertime treat. I need to break out our ice cream machine and try this.
Carol Little R.H. @studiobotanica says
Maple Walnut is my own personal favourite just before chocolate!!
I wish I had an icecream machine -- and would make this right away!
Will pin and keep on hand for that dream item to become a part of reality!!
Thanks for sharing. I love dairy-free and gluten free recipes.
Cathy says
I'm so happy that I hit upon your favourite! I hope you get that ice cream machine someday.
Daniela says
This sounds so dreamy! I want some right now! Perfect for warm summer day.
Cathy says
It is! Thanks for stopping by.
Megan Stevens says
Oh I love dates blended into ice cream. This looks wonderful!!
Cathy says
Thank you, Megan!
Tessa Simpson says
what a delicious combo! My hubby always makes fun of me loving butter pecan...says it's an old lady flavor!! Whatever?!! This combo reminds me of that!
Cathy says
I love butter pecan, too!
Raia Todd says
Wow, that flavor combo sounds amazing! I'm always up for trying new ice creams, so I'm going to have to get my hands on all the ingredients!
Cathy says
Thanks, Raia! I hope you enjoy it!
linda spiker says
Drooling...Yum! Great video too!
Cathy says
Thanks so much, Linda!
Jean says
This sounds perfect. I've been debating on investing on an ice cream machine as well and you are making me think tht I need to!
Cathy says
Go for it!
Diane Galambos says
Hi Cathy! I have inconsistent reactions to dairy - so am intrigued by non-dairy ice cream. And now that we have a bit of sunshine I find myself craving ice cream! Will have to borrow the ice cream machine. No worries - Always great ideas from you. Diane from Kitchen Bliss
Cathy says
Thank you, Diane! Enjoy your DF ice cream!
Lizzy says
Ohhh I think I need to get an ice cream maker for the summer. I love maple syrup and this recipe looks delicious!
Cathy says
I don't think you would regret the purchase!