Easy Keto Ice Cream Recipe: Best Sugar-Free Ice Creams
The food that is most missed when switching to a ketogenic diet is ice cream. I mean, what's summer without cones and tubs of creamy, decadent ice cream made with heavy cream?
Thankfully, there are plenty of low-carb ice cream replacement options available to keep you in ketosis, including sugar-free ice cream varieties that can be made in a food processor (1).
And based on the number of homemade ice cream creations we showed you last year, it seems like a lot of you fall into this category, too!
Below you will find our best keto ice cream recipes made with heavy cream!
Choose from old favorites—vanilla or more exotic ones like mango lassi and salted caramel apple—we have something to delight your taste buds, including strawberry ice cream.
Keto Ice Cream Brands
In case you are not feeling like preparing your own ice cream, these few brands of keto ice cream are worth keeping in consideration.
These include low-carb ice cream recipes.
Halo Top: The most popular of the keto ice cream brands, and for good reason.
They also offer more than a dozen low-carb ice cream flavors, as well as sorbet and frozen yogurt.
Halo Top ice cream is available in many grocery stores and online for those on a free keto diet, making it a convenient choice for keto recipes.
The only con is that this one does not come cheap, at about $4 a pint.
Another option, with a wider selection of low-carb ice cream options, is Arctic Zero, which offers a variety of sugar-free ice cream flavors without an ice cream maker, perfect for quick keto recipes.
Although our focus is primarily on the flavor of this sweetener, it may be low in carbs.
Enlightened: A good variety of flavors can be found with this dairy-free keto ice cream brand, including Mint Chip and Salted Caramel, ideal for homemade keto ice cream recipes.
And slowly, I came to realize that it packs more fat and calories than Halo Top, so it's not as keto-friendly for those seeking sugar-free ice cream.
How To Make Keto Ice Cream?
Keto Ice cream is as simple as can be.
It's also far healthier than shop-bought versions of regular ice cream because you are in command of what goes into it, especially when using coconut cream.
Here's what you'll need:
Full-fat coconut milk in a can, frozen—this will be your ice cream base for a keto diet (2).
Vanilla or plain (vanilla tastes better with most ice cream flavors)
Swerve is best, but stevia and monk fruit work too (3).
You will need something that will not add an overpowering flavor, and for this reason, a liquid sweetener works best in your ice cream mixture to keep the ice cream balanced.
Flavoring—for this recipe, we're using vanilla extract, but feel free to use a few vanilla bean pods!
Or even a handful of fresh berries or a tbsp of chopped nuts.
Toppings of your choice (optional): Fresh fruit, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts for an ice cream sundae, perfect for regular ice cream lovers.
Keto Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
- One can of coconut milk is essential for a creamy homemade keto ice cream recipe.
- 2 tbsp cacao powder can be added to your low-carb ice cream for a chocolatey flavor (4).
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice for your homemade sugar-free ice cream.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Toppings: optional chopped nuts, berries with CBD oil to garnish, or sugar-free chocolate for extra flavor.
Instructions for making this ice cream.
Combine all items in a bowl and refrigerate for at least 5 hours.
Serve, topping it with Nuts or Berries.
Keto Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- One can of coconut milk
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- The vanilla extract, a few drops, or vanilla bean, 1 tbsp, can be combined with heavy whipping cream to elevate the vanilla flavor.
Optional: a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of your ice cream mixture.
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and put in the freezer for a minimum of 5 hours.
Sprinkle with salt before serving to elevate the taste of your homemade keto ice cream recipe.
Almond milk, keto coffee, and chocolate chip ice cream
Ingredients
- One can of coconut milk
- 1 tbsp ground coffee
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- Optional: a pinch of salt
Instructions
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and chill for at least 5 hours before you churn.
Sprinkle with salt before serving.
Keto Salted Caramel and Walnut Ice Cream
Ingredients
- One can of coconut milk
- 1 tbsp caramel sauce
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 3 tbsp chopped walnuts for added texture in your low-carb keto ice cream.
- Optional: a pinch of salt
Instructions
Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl, cover, and freeze for 5 hours to make this ice cream.
Season with salt before serving your homemade sugar-free ice cream.
Keto Mango Lassi Ice Cream
Ingredients
- One can of coconut milk
- 1 tbsp mango lassi concentrate
- 1 tbsp of allulose sweetener of choice can be used to keep it low-carb.
- Optional: 1 tsp vanilla extract for your cream mixture to enhance the vanilla flavor.
Instructions
Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and churn before freezing for at least 5 hours.
Sprinkle a few chopped almonds or pistachios over it and serve your homemade sugar-free ice cream.
Final words
All over the world, ice cream is one of the sweetest desserts, and who would wonder why? Creamy, thick, and decadently sweet without being sugary. Low-carb ice cream is also relatively easy to make at home if you use the proper ingredients.
While there are a ton of amazing keto ice cream recipes, we do hope this list has helped you think about some new flavor combos for your next batch.
Our flavors range from traditional (vanilla) to exotic (mango lassi or salted caramel apple), so there is something for everyone, including our best low-carb options.
Learn more about the keto diet!
FAQs on Easy Keto Ice Cream Recipe: Best Sugar-Free Ice Creams
Is ice cream keto-friendly, especially when using an ice cream machine to make ice cream?
Sure, but they have to be low-carb and have no added sugars, making them suitable for keto desserts that keep the ice cream delicious. You can now make one yourself at home with keto-approved ingredients such as coconut milk or natural sweeteners, or you can find a store-bought version from names like Halo Top and Enlightened that have developed specific product lines for those following a ketogenic diet.
What is the Best Keto Ice Cream for Store-bought?
Halo Top is one of the favorites… simply because it's so widely available and has a wide range of low-carb keto flavors that can be enjoyed with an ice cream scoop. Enlightened has dairy-free and high-fat varieties, while Arctic Zero is lower in calories but possibly not strict keto, depending on your macros for the keto diet; you can check the recipe card for details.
Ingredients for keto ice cream
The majority of the recipes will use full-fat coconut milk for the base and a keto sweetener such as monk fruit or stevia and be personalized with vanilla, cacao, or fruit concentrates to make the ice cream. Chopped nuts, dark chocolate chips, suggestions, or even some low-carb fruit.
Is an ice cream maker necessary for making keto ice cream?
Nope! Each of the recipes is a matter of combining the ingredients and putting them in the freezer for a minimum of 5 hours. No-churn, no-mess, and deliciously creamy too!
Homemade keto ice cream: What does it feel like?
It is slightly firmer because it does not have to be frozen for 24 hours and uses coconut milk as well as natural sweeteners. Leave it out at room temperature for a couple of minutes before scooping for a smoother, creamier result.
Related Studies
1. Title: Effects of the Daily Ketogenic Diet on Weight Loss and Ketosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Demonstrates that restricting carbohydrates to under 50 g/day induces nutritional ketosis and supports significant short-term fat loss.
Link: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-02874-y
2. Title: Plasma Ketone and Medium-Chain Fatty Acid Response in Humans Following MCT Intake
Shows that consuming medium-chain triglycerides (e.g., from coconut milk) elevates blood ketone levels rapidly, aiding energy metabolism.
Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2019.00046/full
3. Title: Effects of the Daily Consumption of Stevia on Glycemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Finds that regular stevia intake does not raise blood glucose or HbA1C levels in healthy adults.
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/10/3049
4. Title: The Acute and Sub-Chronic Effects of Dark Chocolate and Cocoa on Cardiovascular Health in Older Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Demonstrates that cocoa flavanols improve vascular function and blood pressure in older adults.
Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2015.00093/full
