Ice cream is a very popular dessert and snack world over. It is made of a milk or cream base, sweetened with sugar and enhanced with flavors. It is served frozen. As tasty as ice cream maybe, does going vegan mean giving it up? No! Vegan ice cream is made of plant-based milk, sweetener and flavor, all of which are plant based. Vegan ice creams are steadily gaining popularity.
Veganism does not mean that you cannot enjoy your favorite food or give it up, but rather use alternate ingredients that come together beautifully to as your favorite dish. Veganism follows a vegetarian diet that is devoid of meat, eggs, dairy products and any ingredient that is derived from animals.
Every ingredient that is used to prepare non-vegetarian food or vegetarian food inclusive of dairy products, has a vegan equivalent. This means that there is no question of you giving up for foregoing your favorite delicacies!
What Is Plant-Based Ice Cream Made Of?
This is a very common question asked especially by those who are new to veganism and want to know how vegan ice cream is made. Well, an ice cream consists of the following ingredients: a base (made of milk or cream), sweetening agent and a flavor.
When it comes to vegan ice cream, there are unlimited possibilities. It has exciting prospects. Plant-based ice cream, as the name suggests is made of any plant-based milk, sweetener and flavor.
Here is everything that you need to know about plant-based vegan ice cream. Whether you buy vegan ice cream or make it yourself, you won’t be giving up a thing when it comes to rich and creamy flavors.
- Vegan milk
- Sweetener
- Flavor
Vegan Milk
Some of the most common vegan alternatives for dairy milk are almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, hazelnut milk, hemp milk, macadamia milk, oat milk, rice milk, spelt milk, soya milk and the exhaustive list goes on!
All plant-based milk are different in composition and nutrition. However, each of has their unique properties which makes some good for raw consumption, some for cooking and boiling and some for baking. Vegans have a wider range of ingredients to choose from.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is nutritious and low in fat. It has fewer calories and contains unsaturated fat. It is a rich source of calcium and antioxidants. Almond milk tends to develop a flaky texture when boiled or mixed with certain ingredients.
Cashew Milk
Cashew milk has a wonderful nutty taste and is ideal for cooking and baking. It develops a smooth and creamy texture, which also makes it ideal for preparing ice creams. Since it contains unsaturated fat, it is good for people with heart conditions and diabetes. It thickens well, making it good for vegan milkshakes, ice creams, coffee, etc.
Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is a great choice for cooking and boiling, making it ideal for curries, soups, smoothies and ice cream. It is rich in micronutrients and low in fat. It is quite similar to dairy milk in terms of taste and texture.
Hazelnut Milk
Hazelnut milk is slightly higher in calories but not protein. It emanates a rich and nutty flavour making it ideal for flavoring desserts and sweets. It is good for cooking, baking, making sweets, desserts, smoothies and ice cream too.
Hemp Milk
Hemp milk is a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats. It contains linolenic acid which is very good in controlling heart ailments. It is ideal for cooking, baking and raw consumption.
Macadamia Nut Milk
Macadamia nut milk is a very recently discovered vegan milk. It has low carbohydrates and calories but is high in proteins. It is extensively used for desserts and coffee.
Oat Milk
Popularity of oat milk is on the rise. It is naturally sweet with a thin consistency, just like low-fat dairy milk. It has more protein content than other vegan milk. It is widely used for cooking and baking and is a popular choice for ice creams.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is very popular for the fact that it is nut and gluten-free and is less likely to cause food allergies. It has a natural sweet taste and can be used for cooking and baking. Since it has a naturally thin consistency, it will require additives to thicken rice milk to get the desired consistency.
Soya Milk
Soya milk is very similar to dairy milk, texture-wise and nutritionally too. It has been the most popular choice of vegan milk. It is rich in proteins and calcium but has fewer calories. It can be used for cooking, baking, frosting, smoothies and desserts making it a versatile dairy milk alternative. Just like dairy milk can be turned into cottage cheese, soya milk can be turned into tofu.
Spelt Milk
Spelt milk is derived from wheat. It contains gluten and moderate calories. It is naturally sweet, making it a popular option for preparing sweets and desserts. It can be used to make ice cream too.
Sweetener
Vegan ice creams have an edge that other ice creams don’t – you can use agave (this also prevents ice crystals from forming in the ice cream), maple syrup for that rich flavor or granulated sugar like cane sugar or turbinado. You can also use a combination of these to get a fresh flavor.
Flavor
Ice cream comes in all flavors! It is limitless to list the flavors that can be incorporated in ice cream! You can use any flavor in any form! For example, you can add mango chunks to your ice cream and blend well or use mango extract in the form of thick, concentrated juice to incorporate it in your ice cream.
If you like to add a little texture to your ice cream, you can add fruit chunks, nuts, hardened caramel, etc.
What’s The Secret To Plant-Based Ice Cream?
Vegan ice cream is like a customizable delicacy with infinite combinations, flavors and health benefits. Vegan ice creams are considerably low in fat with almost non-existent saturated fat.
It is a rich source of micronutrients and macronutrients due to the presence of nuts and nut-based milk. Vegan milk also contains dietary fiber which is good for digestion.
Vegan milk is good for the heart as it does not contain fat like dairy milk. Vegan milk has unsaturated fats or “good cholesterol” which is good for health. Vegan ice creams can be consumed even if you are on your weight loss journey! It doesn’t cause bloating like the other ice creams.
While other ice creams may give you trouble with sinus issues, vegan ice creams do not. Vegan ice cream is not just good for you, but the environment too. It is environmentally friendly and responsible.
You can follow a vegan diet without having to stifle your taste buds or the variety of food that you eat. Vegan diets just have environmentally friendly and responsible alternatives to the original ingredients of a particular dish.
Vegan Ice Cream: Yay or Nay?
If you are following a vegan diet, or thinking of switching over to a vegan lifestyle, celebrate with vegan ice cream! If the kitchen is your favorite place, you can make your very own vegan ice cream at home and customize it exactly the way you like it.
One of the best things about trying vegan ice cream out is that it has just as many offerings as its non-vegan counterpart. Imagine going to the store, deciding you want the vegan version of favorite ice cream, and coming home and indulging.
Thanks to companies recognizing what flavors people look for when they want to enjoy their favorite vegan sweets, now you can. Most vegan ice cream gets sold in the frozen food aisle, either in the vegan area or sometimes mixed with regular ice cream.
But what if you’re feeling creative, and don’t want to simply buy from the store? That’s okay because there are several different recipes for vegan ice cream.
You’ll get the chance to create your own flavors and try out what you like best. You might discover a flavor that you never tried with regular ice cream, but it’s now become your favorite. Just because you no longer have dairy in your diet doesn’t mean your toppings get limited.
Try adding fresh or frozen berries, candy sprinkles, or any variety of vegan syrups to give your new ice cream an extra splash of fun.