Dairy-free Mint Chip Ice Cream is made with a coconut milk base studded with dark chocolate chips. The only other ingredients you need to make this paleo dessert recipe are hemp seeds, honey, peppermint, vanilla, and water. That’s right, this ice cream is made with 7 ingredients total.
Last week I made a huge dinner of my Spicy Grilled Chicken, Roasted Broccoli and Kaleslaw for my older son and a couple of his buddies. My goal was to fill ’em with good grub before another big baseball tournament.
After they scarfed down their meal, the boys asked if I had any of that “special ice cream.” They then proceeded to feast on several of my dairy-free ice cream recipes including Banana and Coffee. A gang of three 13 year olds can be tough critics so I was very happy!
- ½ cup hemp seeds
- 1 cup water
- 1 can full fat coconut milk
- ⅓ cup honey or agave nectar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- Place hemp seeds and water in a vitamix
- Blend on high for 30 seconds until smooth
- Blend in coconut milk, honey, vanilla, and peppermint
- Blend in chocolate chips until they are in tiny pieces
- Pour into ice cream maker per manufacturer's instructions
- Serve
This dairy-free ice cream recipe is adapted from the book Dairy Free Ice Cream by Kelly Broznya.
I hope you all enjoy this quick and easy, healthy frozen dessert recipe. I love that it meets the needs of of people on gluten-free and dairy-free diets. If you’re wondering how to make ice cream without an ice cream maker, see my quick and easy 2-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream recipe.
Here are some additional dairy-free ice cream recipes:
marla mervis says
I would like to make the ice cream with fresh coconut milk.
Have you ever done this before?
Does it work in the ice cream maker?
Elana says
Marla, I haven’t tried that so not sure. If you do please let us know how it goes!
The Wooden Spoon says
This is making me reconsider my ‘no ice cream maker’ stance.
Elana says
I think you’ll love this ice cream. We use our ice cream maker all summer long :-)
Kristina says
I just made this today! I love it! Very simple. I subbed 1 cup homemade almond milk for the hemp seeds and water because that is what I had on hand. The recipe has a little too much vanilla flavor for me, but that would be an easy fix for next time. Highly recommend!
Elana says
Kristina, I’m so happy to hear you love this ice cream!
Alandria says
Can I use the carton coconut milk?? My husband and I try to stear clear of using canned goods!
Thank you!
Elana says
Alandria, I haven’t tried that so not sure. I use canned coconut milk for this recipe and it is perfect!
Allison says
I made this tonight, and my seven year old declared it the best ice cream ever. It was so good, thank you!
For everyone asking about an ice cream maker, I made it directly in the Vitamix. I omitted the water and added two big handfuls of ice and followed the instructions in the manual for making ice cream in the Vitamix. It turned out great (although you might need to experiment a few times. I’ve made ice cream quite a few times, and the first few weren’t a great consistency.)
Elana says
Allison, thanks for letting me know your seven year old said this is the best ice cream ever! We love it too :-)
Terrie says
I’m considering purchasing a vitamix. Wondering why you would have to put the recipe into an ice cream maker when i’ve seen the rep make ice cream when demoing at costco? He turns the canister upside down to prove its frozen.
Kristina says
None of the ingredients in the recipe are frozen, so you have to get them cold somehow, hence the ice cream maker. I bet if you froze your hemp milk and coconut milk, it would work really well in the Vitamix! I have a Vitamix and love it. I use it every day. It really is so worth the money to me.
Molly says
What would you suggest I use instead of hemp seeds? Milk or coconut milk?
Elana says
Molly, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Kenna says
This ice cream is amazing! I have made it about three times a week since I read this recipe. Super easy, no guilt, and it is the most rewarding treat I have had in years since going dairy free. My hubby said he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between this ice cream and dairy ice cream! Thank you to the grand masters of this creation!
Elana says
Kenna, I’m so happy to hear this ice cream is amazing!
Sarah says
Love, love, live this recipe! Made it exactly as suggested and it was delish.
Elana says
Sarah, thanks for letting me know this was delish!
OrGreenic says
Dairy free ice cream seems interesting. Thanks for the Vegan Mint Chip Ice Cream recipe.
Elana says
You’re welcome!
Lindsay says
I have never used Coconut Milk so I am curious does it present a very coconut-y flavor? If so are there any GF alternatives?!
Thanks!
Kenna says
I can’t taste even a hint of coconut in this recipe.
Emily says
Made this and loved it – great taste and texture. I added some fresh mint from our garden too. All around a bit hit and very easy.
Elana says
Thanks Emily!
Dr. Schuster says
This looks like a delicious recipe, though it is still relatively high in carbs because of the honey or agave. Have you ever considered using the natural (and healthy) sweetener Stevia instead of honey/agave? Or at least use some Stevia, so as to be able to decrease the amount of pure sugar (honey or agave is pure fructose, which is not all that healthy…)? Keep up the good work!
Elana says
Thanks Dr. Schuster, here’s a link to my Keto Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/keto/
Enjoy!
Elana
Vita @ Juicer Depot says
I have to buy an ice cream maker. Any good ones out there that someone can recommend? I would love to try this recipe.
Elana says
Hi there! If you click on the green text in the instructions portion of the recipe that says “ice cream maker” you will be taken to the one I use :-)
Nancy says
I love reading your blog, this looks fantastic! what an amazing ice cream sounds like beautiful and fabulous. Thanks for sharing this info! I keep on reading…
Elana says
Nancy, you’re welcome!
Anita H says
This ice cream is AMAZING!!!!! It passed the test with flying colors with my 10 year old boy and 8 year old girl!! The only change we made was using pure maple syrup instead of the honey as a sweetner.
I’m not kidding try this recipe ..you will not be disappointed!!!
Elana says
Anita, I’m so happy to hear this ice cream is AMAZING!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
2 scoops please!! :)
Elana says
:-)
Cari says
This was perfection for a little sweetness at the end of a scorching summer day. From start to finish (frozen) it took less than an hour. I used a Cuisineart ice cream maker and it turned out creamy with a nice mouth feel. The little choco bits just made the savor last longer. A wonderful,no-cook recipe.
Elana says
Cari, I’m so happy to hear this was wonderful!
Kelly says
Almond milk is also good : )
Amanda says
Hi Elana,
Hemp seeds are banned in Australia. Is there anything you can recommend to replace these? I just don’t know what kind of flavor or texture they impart.
Kelly says
I would use almond or cashew milk then : )
Naomi says
Hi Amanda – just wanted to let you know that I got hemp seeds from my local health store here in Melbourne. I thought the seeds were still okay to be sold in Aus?? Not sure where you are but I’m happy to let you know their details if you are local.
Debbie says
I was just wondering if you can still make this if you don’t have an ice cream maker?
Elana says
Debbie, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Molly says
Just out of curiosity, how do you make hemp milk? Is it just grinding up the hemp seeds or do you add coconut milk to it, as well? Sorry if it’s a dumb question; I don’t have any experience with hemp milk
Kelly says
You just add everything and puree. Easy-peasy : )
Kylee says
I’ve not used hemp seeds before – what’s their purpose in the recipe?? Just wondering…
Kelly says
They are fantastic at thickening and adding lots of essential fatty acids : )
Minnie(@thelady8home) says
Wow this looks awesome!! Perfect summer recipe.
Elana says
Thanks Minnie!
Jenn m says
Does the coconut milk make it taste like coconut ? I don’t like coconut so figured I would ask before I made this
Thx!
Elana says
Jenn, I think the peppermint and vanilla hide the coconut flavor in this recipe :-)
Lauren @ Empowered Sustenance says
This looks fantastic! I am also a fan of Kelly’s books and blog. Its interesting that you blended the hemp seeds right into the ice cream base. And I love your retro soda glass in the picture!
Elana says
Thanks Lauren!
CJ at Food Stories says
Oh man … this looks so good :-)
Elana says
:-)
Michele Sirois says
Looks good, but I’m so confused…I thought vegans don’t use honey! Thx!
KB says
Michele – I’m not sure if it’s a hard and fast rule, but you are correct in that many vegans will not use honey. They view it as an animal product and that farming the bees is enslaving them. However, from what I understand, there are some, especially flexitarians, who don’t agree with that train of thought and still eat it.
Elana says
Michele, you are correct, vegans do not eat honey. That is why I’ve also listed agave as a sweetener for this recipe.
Vipin says
But vegetarians do take honey ! Honey is a product, mother nature has gifted us.
Elana says
Vipin, yes!