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When you're craving a sweet, cold treat, look no further than these Paleo and AIP Ice Creams! They're dairy-free, delicious, and super easy to make.
Who wants some ice cream?
Even if you're on a dairy-free, Paleo, or AIP diet, you can STILL have your ice cream and eat it too 🙂
These may not be the same cream and sugar-laden versions you're used to, but they're still cold, sweet, and delicious, and that's what really matters, right?
The flavors I share here are a Pina Colada, Cherry Chocolate, and Chocolate Chip
I even show you how to make homemade chocolate chips (and if you're on AIP, homemade carob chips).
Watch the video
If you want to watch the full demonstration of how to make these cool treats, watch the YouTube video: 3 Easy and Delicious Ice Creams (Paleo and AIP)
Otherwise, just continue on below for the recipe and instructions!
Ingredients in these super easy ice creams (and substitutions)
Pina Colada Ice Cream
- Frozen Bananas – You want to break the bananas up into smaller pieces before you freeze them. That way they are easier to blend when you take them out of the freezer later.
- Frozen Pineapple Chunks – You can buy these pre-frozen or you can make them yourself; just remember to use fresh pineapple if you decide to freeze some yourself. Once you take your pineapple out of the freezer to use in your ice cream, try to break them a bit more apart as it can prove difficult to blend large chunks.
- Coconut Milk – Again, you can use store-bought coconut milk, or you can make it yourself. I have a recipe for the homemade version right here. If you are intolerant of coconut, you can use tigernut milk (for AIP) or any other dairy-free milk that works for you.
Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream
- Avocado – Make sure you inspect your avocados thoroughly when you buy them. They need to be soft enough to blend up easily. Also, if you're unsure if an avocado is good, try removing the little stub at the end and looking at the color of the fruit inside. If it looks green and fresh, that is a good indicator of how the rest of the avocado might look inside.
- Frozen Pitted Cherries – You can either buy these frozen or pit and freeze a bunch of cherries yourself. Again, like with the pineapple from earlier, you might want to make sure the cherries are broken a bit apart for an easier blend.
- Cocoa or Carob Powder – If you're on AIP, use carob powder. Otherwise, if you have been able to reintroduce chocolate successfully or are not on AIP, use cocoa or cacao powder.
- Maple Syrup – This is one of the staples on AIP but if you don't have it on hand, you can also try adding honey to the mix instead.
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Frozen Bananas – You want to break the bananas up into smaller pieces before you freeze them. That way they are easier to blend when you take them out of the freezer later.
- Coconut Milk – Again, you can use store-bought coconut milk, or you can make it yourself. I have a recipe for the homemade version right here. If you are intolerant of coconut, you can use tigernut milk (for AIP) or any other dairy-free milk that works for you.
- Chocolate Chips – As with the cocoa/cacao in the former ingredients list, you can use real chocolate chips if you have successfully re-introduced chocolate or aren't on AIP, otherwise, a recipe for homemade chocolate/carob chips will be found further down.
Homemade Chocolate Chips
- Coconut Oil – Expeller-pressed coconut oil (usually just called “coconut oil) doesn't have a coconutty taste. But if you like the coconut taste, use extra virgin coconut oil.
- Cocoa or Carob Powder – If you're not on AIP or have successfully reintroduced chocolate, you can use cocoa or cacao powder. Otherwise, if you're on AIP, use carob powder in this recipe.
- Maple Syrup – This is one of the staples on a Paleo or AIP diet, but if you don't have it on hand, you can also try adding honey to the mix instead.
How to make these delicious summer treats
Put all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender.
Blend for several minutes, stopping every so often to break up chunks and scrape down the sides. It will take at least 3-5 minutes to get creamy (1-2 minutes if you're making the Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream).
If you're making the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, sprinkle the chocolate chips (whether homemade or store-bought) over the surface of the ice cream, once the base is smooth.
Then pulse several times to break the chips up and incorporate them into the mixture.
Once mixed, either serve (it will be a soft-serve texture) or put into a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 3 hours.
If you choose the latter, let sit out at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping and serving.
Make the homemade chocolate chips ahead of time
If you want to make homemade chocolate chips, then you must make those ahead of time.
You do this by mixing coconut oil, cocoa powder (or carob powder for AIP), and maple syrup in a small bowl.
Scoop the mixture onto a parchment-lined plate and spread it out with the back of a spoon until it’s about ¼ inch thick.
Put into the freezer for at least an hour. Once frozen, cut it into chunks with a knife.
Is it possible to make the ice creams ahead of time?
Yes, you can make these ice creams and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can you make these coconut-free?
You can use tigernut milk instead of the coconut milk to make these ice creams coconut-free (or any dairy-free milk you tolerate if not on AIP). However, the chocolate chips need coconut oil to harden, so I, unfortunately, don’t know of a replacement at this time.
Want other summer Paleo and AIP recipes? Try one of these!
Paleo Fruit Tart with Banana Cream – A beautiful make-ahead Paleo and gluten-free dessert that is perfect for the summer holidays. It is also AIP Reintroduction Stage 2-friendly (eggs and almonds).
2 Minute Dairy-free Blueberry Ice Cream – Dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, AIP, and Paleo, this kid-friendly snack or dessert can be made in literally 2 minutes. Uses only 5 real food ingredients.
Portable Popsicles (Paleo, AIP) – See 7 recipes for portable popsicles using zipzicle sleeves. Great for bringing to your kid's daycare, school, and parties so they don't miss out. Paleo and AIP and free from yucky ingredients.
More Helpful Paleo and AIP Resources in the Freebie Library
If you find this recipe helpful, you may really enjoy the resources in my Paleo & AIP Freebie Library! There's:
- a “dump-and-go” freezer meal plan
- a list of AIP-compliant breakfast toppings
- a step-by-step Breakfast meal prep session
- a guide to three 30 min AIP meals
- printable cheatsheets (Food Lists, Spice lists, Egg substitutes, etc)
- a Relaxation guided meditation
- a 5-day Paleo meal plan
- and so much more.
3 Easy and Delicious Dairy-free Ice Creams Recipe
If you make these delicious, cold treats, I'd love to hear how they turned out! Either comment below or share a pic on Instagram and tag me @thrivingautoimmune!
3 Easy and Delicious Dairy-free Ice Creams (Paleo and AIP)
Ingredients
For the Pino Colada Ice Cream
- 2 Frozen Bananas (broken into pieces)
- 2 cups Frozen Pineapple Chunks
- 1/2 cup Coconut Milk ((or Tigernut Milk if you'd rather, or another dairy-free milk of choice if not on AIP))
For the Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream
- 1 Avocado (ripe)
- 2 cups Frozen Cherries (pitted)
- 2 tbsp Cocoa Powder (or Carob powder if on AIP)
- 2 tbsp Maple Syrup ( (or honey))
For the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- 3 Frozen Bananas (broken into pieces)
- 1/2 cup Coconut Milk ( (or Tigernut Milk if you'd rather, or another dairy-free milk of choice if not on AIP))
- 1 recipe homemade Chocolate Chips ((or 1/2 cup storebought Chocolate Chips if not on AIP))
For the Homemade Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Coconut Oil (melted)
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder (or Carob powder if on AIP)
- 1 tbsp Maple Syrup ( (or honey))
Instructions
For the Pina Colada and Chocolate Chip Ice Creams:
- Freeze the bananas at least 4 hours before by breaking them into small chunks and placingon a baking sheet, baking dish, or plate and putting into the freezer.
For the Pina Colada Ice Cream:
- Put all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend for several minutes, stopping every so often to break up chunks and scrape down the sides. It will take at least 3-5minutes to get creamy.
- Once creamy, either serve (it will be a soft-serve texture) or put into a freezer-safe container andfreeze for at least 3 hours.
- If choosing the latter, let the ice cream sit out at room temperature for a few minutes before scoopingand serving.
For the Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream:
- Put all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend for 1-2 minutes untilcreamy, stopping every so often to scrape down the sides.
- Once creamy, either serve (it will bea soft-serve texture) or put into a freezer-safe container and freeze for at least 3 hours.
- If choosing the latter, let the ice cream sit out at room temperature for a few minutes before scoopingand serving.
For the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream:
- First make the Homemade Carob chips if using by mixing the coconut oil, carob powder, and maple syrup in a small bowl.
- Scoop the mixture onto a parchment-lined plate and spread it outwith the back of a spoon until it’s about ¼ inch thick.
- Put into the freezer for at least an hour.
- Once frozen, cut into chunks with a knife.
- Then put the frozen bananas and coconut milk into the food processor or blender and blend forseveral minutes, stopping every so often to break up chunks and scrape down the sides. It will take at least 3-5 minutes to get creamy.
- Once creamy, sprinkle the carob chips (or chocolate chips if using those instead) over thesurface of the ice cream, then pulse several times to break the chips up and incorporate theminto the mixture.
- Then either serve (it will be a soft-serve texture) or put into a freezer-safecontainer and freeze for at least 3 hours.
- If choosing the latter, let the ice cream sit out at room temperature for a few minutes before scoopingand serving.
Notes
I love this treat! I have been dairy-free a long time and this is so creamy and delicious! Thank you for sharing!
I have successfully reintro’d chocolate, so I made the cherry chocolate one with cocoa powder, and chopped up a few squares of paleo-friendly chocolate bar and mixed them in after blending. It is SO GOOD! So indulgent and rich though, just a small serving is perfect as a treat.