Dairy Free Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream is filled with sweet, ripe cherries and rich chocolate! It’s so delicious, it’s hard to believe that it’s entirely dairy free.
PinWhy I Love This Recipe
- Dairy-Free Deliciousness: Whether you’re vegan, lactose intolerant, or simply looking to cut down on dairy for other reasons, this ice cream provides all the pleasure of traditional ice cream with zero dairy! Looking for more dairy free frozen treats? Try some of my nice cream recipes like Coco-Blue Nice Cream and Chocolate Banana Nice Cream!
- Easy to Make: This dairy-free ice cream is a breeze to prepare. Just mix your ingredients, pour into your ice cream maker, and let it do the work. In no time, you’ll have a homemade treat ready to enjoy.
- Irresistible Flavor Combo: The combination of deep, chocolatey goodness and juicy cherries creates an irresistible flavor profile. Each bite delivers a delightful balance of sweetness and tartness, keeping you coming back for more.
- Cool Treat: There’s nothing better than a big scoop of ice cream to beat the summer heat. I know for our family, during the summer, we’re always reaching for something cold to eat – whether it be a delicious smoothie, nice cream or a frozen chocolate peanut butter banana bite.Â
The Ingredients
Pin- Full-fat coconut milk: Provides a rich and creamy base for the ice cream.
- Oat, almond, or soy milk: Adds extra creaminess and a touch of flavor.
- Coconut sugar: A healthier alternative to white or brown sugar, but feel free to use either as substitutes.
- Cocoa powder: For that deep, chocolatey flavor.
- Cherries: You can add fresh pitted cherries (here’s a great cherry pitter) or frozen cherries that have been defrosted to add a juicy, fruity bursts to the ice cream.
- Vanilla extract: Elevates the overall flavor.
- Dairy Free Chocolate Chips (optional): For some added chocolatey goodness and texture.
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.*
How to Make Dairy Free Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
PinStep 1: Pit cherries and chop into small pieces.
PinStep 2: Place the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine and make sure there are no lumps and sugar is dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop.
PinStep 3: Prepare ice cream based on ice cream maker instructions (my ice cream maker takes 50 minutes).
PinStep 4: 5 minutes before the ice cream is complete add the cherries, any additional cherry juice and chocolate chips or walnuts if desired. Serve immediately if you prefer a softer texture similar to soft serve or cover and freeze if a harder consistency is desired.
Tips and Tricks
- Use Full Fat Coconut Milk: Ensure you’re using full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest dairy free ice cream ever.
- Sweetness Check: Adjust the amount of coconut sugar based on your preference and the sweetness of your cherries.
- Storage: Keep your ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer to prevent ice crystals from forming.
PinMore Healthy Frozen Treats
This Dairy Free Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream is out of this world delicious and I’m so happy to have this one in our frozen treat rotation any time of year. Leave a review and comment below if you try this recipe!
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Dairy Free Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 ounce can full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup oat, almond or soy milk
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar (you can use white or brown sugar instead)
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- pinch kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cup fresh cherries, chopped or 10 oz bag frozen cherries, defrosted and chopped
- 1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips or chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Place the first 6 ingredients in a bowl and whisk to thoroughly combine and make sure there are no lumps and sugar is dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop.
- Whisk the mixture one more time and pour into bowl of ice cream maker. Prepare ice cream based on ice cream maker instructions (my ice cream maker takes 50 minutes).
- 5 minutes before the ice cream is complete add the cherries, any additional cherry juice and chocolate chips or walnuts if desired.
- Serve immediately if you prefer a softer texture similar to soft serve or cover and freeze if a harder consistency is desired.
Notes
- Use Full Fat Coconut Milk: Ensure you’re using full-fat coconut milk for the creamiest dairy free ice cream ever.
- Sweetness Check: Adjust the amount of coconut sugar based on your preference and the sweetness of your cherries.
- Storage: Keep your ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer to prevent ice crystals from forming.
Looks great! Can you make this with oat milk instead of coconut milk?
This is the best dairy free ice cream I have ever eaten, and I have tried quite a lot of them! It reminds me of ColdStone. For those of us with dairy allergies and an affinity for ice cream, we thank you!
I have ice cream maker envy right now. I think that we need to invest in an ice cream machine, especially since we have two members of our little family with dairy sensitivities. I think this recipe would be great with the sour cherries that we pick and freeze from our own tree, but I may add a little more sugar to balance out the tart flavor.
When are we supposed to add the vanilla? I assume at the beginning but I think it was left out of the instructions. Thanks!
That looks so yummy! I’m going to have to try it 🙂 thank you