This VeganSalted Caramel Ice Cream is sweet, creamy, delicious and made with homemade caramel sauce, coconut cream and crunchy almonds. It’s easy to make and ready in no time with or without an ice cream maker, making it the perfect easy sweet treat for summer! Paleo, dairy-free, vegan and includes low carb keto sweetener options.
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Updated June 2020
Homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe
There’s nothing better than a cool frozen treat on a hot summer day. If you’re looking for a healthy homemade ice cream recipe, this paleo and Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream is a delicious favorite.
It’s creamy with sweet swirls of homemade caramel sauce swirls and crunchy almonds in every bite. And instead of traditional dairy cream cheese, we use coconut cream and cashew butter to give that rich and creamy texture and taste.
Why we love this Dairy-Free Ice Cream
We love that we can make this paleo ice cream whenever that ice cream craving hits. Plus, we have even included instructions to make this homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker.
It’s perfect for enjoying outside in the backyard and is filled with the sweetest flavors that just come together so easily. The hardest part about this ice cream recipe is just waiting for the ice cream to freeze!
And if you’re looking for more homemade ice cream recipes, we also love this have this Mango Ice Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream and classic Vanilla Ice Cream.
Ingredients you need
Like most no churn ice cream recipes, this one is simple to customize and starts off with:
- coconut cream – we like to buy the one from Trader Joe’s or you can spoon out the thick part of chilled full-fat coconut milk
- full-fat coconut milk – be sure to buy the canned full-fat coconut milk and not lite coconut milk from a carton
- cashew butter – is what gives this ice cream the best “cheesecake” flavor without traditional cream cheese. However, if you don’t have cashew butter, you can sub another nut butter such as almond butter or even homemade cashew cream
- maple syrup for vegan ice cream OR you may also sub with honey, agave or your favorite low carb keto liquid sweetener such as liquid monk fruit sweetener, stevia or Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup
- pure vanilla extract
SALTED CARAMEL SWIRL:
- Easy caramel sauce – use our paleo caramel sauce below or your favorite store-bought brand
OPTIONAL:
- sliced almonds – for a delicious crunch
- crushed grain-free keto chocolate cookies OR use your favorite brand
Paleo Caramel Sauce Ingredients
- Canned Coconut milk – be sure to use canned full-fat coconut milk
- Coconut sugar – a refined sugar-free sweetener that resembles the look and taste of brown sugar with a lower glycemic level
- Coconut oil – use refined coconut oil if you are not a fan of the coconut taste
- Vanilla extract – be sure to use a high quality vanilla extract
- Flaky sea salt – adding a pinch of fleur de sel makes this a delicious and healthier paleo salted caramel sauce
How to Make Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- MAKE THE ICE CREAM: Place the coconut cream, almond milk, nut butter, sweetener and vanilla into a Vitamix or a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until smooth and the mixture is combined.
- ICE CREAM MAKER INSTRUCTIONS: If you have an ice cream maker, have it ready and the bowl chilled prior to starting. Pour the blended mixture directly from your blender into the ice cream maker while it is moving. Churn for 20-25 minutes until it becomes a firm ball or the ice cream maker stops rotating.
- WITHOUT AN ICE CREAM MAKER: If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into ice cube trays for 2 hours, or until frozen. Blend frozen ice cubes in a high-speed blender until smooth.
- TRANSFER TO ICE CREAM CONTAINER: Spoon half of the ice cream mixture into a 9 x 5 loaf pan or 2-quart ice cream container. Pour half of the salted caramel sauce on top and gently swirl with a knife to form ribbons.
- Sprinkle in half of the almonds. Pour in remaining half of the ice cream then top with more salted caramel.
- Swirl again with the knife then top with almonds & crushed cookies, if using. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- REMOVE FROM FREEZER TO SOFTEN: When ready to serve, remove from freezer and allow to stand at room temperature for at least 20 minutes to slightly soften.
How to make Vegan and Paleo Caramel Sauce
- Start by bringing the coconut milk and coconut sugar to a light boil in a medium saucepan, stirring the mixture constantly over medium heat.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken and turn darker in color it’s ready. Remove from heat and stir in the coconut oil and vanilla extract. Set aside to cool, and store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
Vegan Ice Cream Flavors and Variations:
Instead of salted caramel, add melted chocolate or fresh fruit like strawberries, add raspberries, blueberries or chopped peaches
Add-ins: add chocolate chips, chopped vegan cookies or edible cookie dough to switch things up
How long can I keep this dairy-free salted caramel homemade ice cream for?
Although most store-bought ice creams will last longer than two weeks in the freezer, we recommend enjoying the fresh flavors of this frozen coconut caramel ice cream on the same day since the flavors and texture is best the day it is made. You can technically keep it frozen for up to a few weeks and thaw before eating.
Although most store-bought ice creams will last longer than two weeks in the freezer.
This ice cream will be super hard to resist, though, so it may not last two weeks!
More Vegan Ice Cream Recipes You Will Love
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream
No-Churn Cake Batter Ice Cream {Funfetti}
Easy Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars
Dairy Free No Churn Oreo Ice Cream
This dairy-free Salted Caramel Ice cream is creamy, delicious and made with homemade caramel sauce, coconut cream and crunchy almonds. It's easy to make and ready in no time with or without an ice cream maker, making it the perfect easy sweet treat for summer! Paleo, vegan and includes low carb keto sweetener options.
- 1.5 cups coconut cream ,we like to buy the one from Trader Joe's or you can spoon out the thick part chilled full-fat coconut milk
- 2 14- ounce cans full-fat coconut milk chilled
- 1/4 cup creamy cashew butter can sub with any other nut butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup OR sub with any liquid sweetener of choice
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup homemade paleo caramel sauce (recipe below) , or use your favorite brand
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tsps coconut oil , use refined if you are not a fan of the coconut taste
- 1 tsp high-quality pure vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp flaky sea salt
- crushed homemade grain-free chocolate cookies or use your favorite brand
MAKE THE ICE CREAM: Place the coconut cream, milk, nut butter, sweetener and vanilla into a Vitamix or a high-speed blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until smooth and the mixture is combined.
- ICE CREAM MAKER INSTRUCTIONS: If you have an ice cream maker, have it ready and the bowl chilled prior to starting. Pour the blended mixture directly from your blender into the ice cream maker while it is moving. Churn for 20-25 minutes until it becomes a firm ball or the ice cream maker stops rotating.
WITHOUT AN ICE CREAM MAKER: If you don't have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into ice cube trays for 2 hours, or until frozen. Blend frozen ice cubes in a high-speed blender until smooth.
TRANSFER TO ICE CREAM CONTAINER: Spoon half of the ice cream mixture into a 9 x 5 loaf pan or 2-quart ice cream container. Pour half of the caramel sauce on top and gently swirl with a knife to form ribbons.Sprinkle in half of the almonds. Pour in remaining half of the ice cream then top with more caramel sauce. Swirl again with the knife then top with almonds & crushed cookies, if using. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- When ready to serve, remove from freezer and allow to stand at room temperature for at least 20 minutes (or more) until desired consistency.
Start by bringing the coconut milk and coconut sugar to a light boil in a medium saucepan, stirring the mixture constantly over medium heat.
Once boiling, reduce heat to low and allow the mixture to simmer slowly for about 25 minutes, stirring constantly so that it doesn't burn.
The sauce is ready when it has reduced and thickened to a darker syrup. Remove from heat and stir in the coconut oil and vanilla extract. Set aside to cool, and store in an airtight jar in the fridge.
Kristen @ The Endless Meal -
This looks totally insane … in the best possible way! I’m drooling over al that caramel. Yum!
Lauren @ Create Bake Make -
Oh my goodness this looks so good! Will definitely be making this when the weather warms up again!
Kelly -
Hope the weather warms up for you soon 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Lauren! Happy Friday!
Emma -
Oh wow this looks amazing I love it. Even though I have an ice cream maker I still love a good no churn ice cream 🙂
Kelly -
Same here, no churns are great for those days I forget to freeze the container overnight 🙂 Thanks Emma!
annie@ciaochowbambina.com -
Awh! I love the story of your son choosing the vanilla – I knew you were going to say that! Sounds just like my hubby! I would not be able to resist your no-churn! This is as perfect an ice cream as they come, in my book! Love it, Kelly!
Kelly -
Aaw, thank so much for reading Annie! So glad you liked it 🙂 Happy Friday! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Kennedy Cole@ KCole's Creative Corner -
This is like my dream ice cream! I’ve been seeing those new salted caramel almonds around, and I think that I’m going to have to try them ASAP! Thanks for sharing this divine dessert, Kelly! Pinned! 😀