Dairy-Free Salted Caramel Ice Cream is an indulgent summer treat that's naturally sweetened with dates! You'll also love how easy it is to make, and you only need 5 simple ingredients.

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Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• 🍴Ingredient Notes
• 🍴Step by Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• Helpful Kitchen Tools
• Ice Cream Toppings and Mix-In's
• How to store leftovers
• Recipe Card
• Want more recipes?
• 💬 Reviews

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This is the BEST Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream recipe! It's sweet, ultra creamy, and naturally sweetened with dates.

Simple & Easy

This recipe is simple and easy! There's no need to make homemade vegan caramel sauce or date caramel, just blend the ingredients, churn, and enjoy your homemade ice cream in less than an hour!

Healthier

Unlike traditional ice cream recipes, this recipe is refined sugar free, dairy-free, and nut-free!

It's also much healthier than any store-bought ice creams that include canola oil, soy lecithin, xanthum gum, and lots of cane sugar or corn syrup.

If you love making your own ice cream, check out my Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream and my Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream recipe!

And if you like no churn ice cream recipes, try my Caramel Nice Cream or Cherry Garcia Nice Cream that you can make in the blender or food processor!

🍴Ingredient Notes

• Medjool Dates - This is what gives the ice cream its caramel flavor and extra soft texture! Make sure you remove the pit before soaking the dates.
• Full-Fat Coconut Milk - To create a creamy ice cream texture without dairy products, I love using full fat coconut milk. The Native Forest brand has an option with no guar gum that I prefer.
• Coconut Sugar - For a little bit of extra sweetness, add coconut sugar or any granulated sugar.
• Vanilla Extract - I suggest using a high-quality vanilla extract.
• Salt - For a more salted caramel flavor, I used a little extra sea salt.

🍴Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Soak Dates

Start by soaking the pitted dates in water for 20 minutes. Then drain the water from the dates.

Step 2: Add Ingredients into Blender

Add the soaked medjool dates, 2 cans of full fat coconut milk, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, and salt into a high-speed blender.

Step 3: Blend Ice Cream Mixture

Blend on high for about 1-2 minutes or until it's a smooth and creamy consistency.

Then blend on low for 15-20 seconds to remove any bubbles or froth from the top of the mixture.

Step 4: Churn Ice Cream

Pour the creamy ice cream mixture into an ice cream maker and churn for 20-25 minutes.

Step 5: Freeze Ice Cream

Once the ice cream is thick and creamy, transfer into a loaf pan or freezer safe container. Freeze for 30-60 minutes for a firmer consistency.

Expert Tips

• When it comes out of the ice cream maker it has more of a soft, creamy texture, but you can transfer it into a container and freeze for 30-60 minutes for a firmer consistency.
• The ice cream base for the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker must be stored in the freezer for 24 hours prior to making the ice cream.
• On a hot summer day this ice cream will melt quickly once removed from the ice cream maker. I recommend freezing longer so it can harden before scooping.
• For best results, I recommend using an electric ice cream maker, but you can use a no churn method by freezing the mixture for 6-8 hours or overnight.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Ice Cream Maker

For this recipe, I used the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker which works great! My husband and I have been using this ice cream maker for years.

You can use it for dairy-free ice cream or traditional dairy ice cream recipes.

Blender

To create a smooth and creamy consistency, I recommend using a high speed blender.

I have the Vitamix A3300 Ascent Series Smart Blender and it's my most used appliance in the kitchen.

Ice Cream Scooper

To achieve the perfect ice cream scoop, I suggest using an ice cream scooper instead of a spoon.

Ice Cream Toppings and Mix-In's

If you're planning on churning in an ingredient like chocolate chips, don't pour it into the ice cream machine until the last minute or two.

You can also fold it in with a spatula once the ice cream has finished churning.

• Extra Dates - You can either chop them and fold in or add to blender with the creamy ice cream mixture and pulse until chunky.
• Flaky Sea Salt - For a saltier flavor, add flaky sea salt on top of the ice cream before freezing.
• White Chocolate Chips
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Melted Chocolate - Melt chocolate chips with a little coconut oil to create your own chocolate sauce! (AKA magic shell!) Pour over ice cream and watch it instantly freeze!
• Chopped Nuts like almonds, walnuts, or peanuts.
• Shredded Coconut or Toasted Coconut
• Coconut Whipped Cream - My homemade recipe is so easy!

How to store leftovers

Store leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer. If the container does not have a cover, it will get freezer burn.

Leave the ice cream at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before serving. Because of the dates and full fat coconut milk, it does maintain a pretty soft texture even after freezing overnight.

More Allergy Friendly Ice Creams!

After you make this Dairy Free Salted Caramel Ice Cream, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!

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