Keto Ice Cream
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Learn how to make the BEST keto ice cream with just 3 ingredients. No ice cream maker needed- it turns out rich, creamy, and perfectly scoopable every time.
My keto ice cream recipe tastes just like any good ice cream
While ice cream is traditionally high in sugar and carbs, there are plenty of keto-friendly ice creams at the grocery store (hello, Halo Top, Rebel, and Enlightened).
I just can’t justify spending more than $10 on one (and I don’t want you to!) when I can make it at home with a handful of ingredients and a hand mixer. I grew up eating my mom’s homemade ice cream, so I took her recipe and simply swapped the powdered sugar for allulose, and it turned out just as rich and creamy as the original. Here’s why I love it:
- Just 3 Ingredients. Heavy cream, allulose, and a little xanthan gum are all you need.
- No ice cream maker required. I use a hand mixer and freeze the mixture in a loaf pan or container.
- Rich, creamy, and scoopable. Unlike many homemade keto ice creams, this one doesn’t freeze into a solid block or turn icy.
- Endless flavor options. The vanilla base is delicious on its own, but I’ve also tested over 10 different variations for you (mostly thanks to my partner, who requests a different mix-in every time).
★★★★★ REVIEW
“Amazing. I made chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla the first time, and it was amazing. So simple ❤️”- Dawn
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Heavy cream. Australian/UK readers, look for double cream or thickened cream. Do not use reduced-fat or light versions of the cream. Otherwise, the ice cream will not be set as desired.
- Powdered allulose. My preferred sweetener. I never buy the expensive packaged options and instead make my own sugar free powdered sugar. Avoid using erythritol or monk fruit sweetener, as it can crystallize and leave the ice cream feeling gritty.
- Xanthan gum. Please do not omit, as this thickens the ice cream and prevents any crystallization. Be wary, though, as a little goes a VERY long way.
- Vanilla extract. Optional, but only add it if you are making the original vanilla flavor. This can be changed to other flavor extracts.
How to make keto ice cream
Step 1- Make the mixture. In a deep jar or glass mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and gently mix. Using an immersion or stick mixer, blend the mixture until it has thickened and stiff peaks form.
Step 2- Freeze. Cover the jar (or transfer to a pre-frozen loaf pan).
Place it in the freezer for at least 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes during the first 2 hours, to prevent it from icing up.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Whisk to stiff peaks. This is what gives the ice cream its light, airy texture. If the cream is soft (under-whipped), the ice cream won’t be quite as creamy.
- Churn it by hand. Please don’t skip giving the mixture a good stir every 30 minutes during the first 2 hours of freezing (4 times total). It breaks up any ice crystals before they can form.
- Pre-freeze the loaf pan. If you don’t use a large jar, I recommend pre-freezing the loaf pan first. This helps the ice cream freeze more evenly and makes it easier to scoop later.
- Let it soften before serving. The ice cream will be rock hard straight from the freezer. I recommend letting the ice cream sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before scooping.
- Add vodka. Optional, but my mom would sometimes add 1 tablespoon of vodka to the ice cream mixture to make it even more scoopable. You won’t be able to taste it!
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! While I usually make this recipe with just a hand mixer, it also works beautifully in an ice cream maker. Churn it according to your machine’s instructions, then freeze for 1-2 hours if you’d like a firmer, scoopable texture.
Yes. Replace the heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut cream (using only the thick cream part at the top- save the clear liquid at the bottom for a smoothie or drink on its own). The ice cream will have a light coconut flavor but will still freeze up rich and creamy.
Keto Ice Cream
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoon sugar free powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a deep and wide jar, add all your ingredients and mix. Using an immersion or stick mixer, beat everything together until it thickens and soft peaks form.
- Cover the jar and place it in the freezer for at least 4 hours, stirring every 40 minutes, to ensure it doesn't become too icy.
- Remove from the freezer and let sit for 15 minutes, before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Flavor variations
As mentioned earlier, this recipe is a simple vanilla base that is SO easy to customize with tons of flavors. Here are ten to get you started:
Chocolate– Add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixture.
Cookies and cream– Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract and add 1 cup of crushed keto Oreos.
Cookie dough– Fold through 1/4 cup of crumbled keto cookie dough.
Strawberry– Add 1/2 cup sliced strawberries and, if desired, strawberry extract.
Mint chocolate chip– Replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract and fold through 1/2 cup sugar free chocolate chips.
Butter pecan– Add 1/2 teaspoon butter extract and 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
Salted caramel– Fold through 1/4 cup of sugar free caramel syrup.
Peanut butter cup– Drizzle peanut butter and add chopped-up keto peanut butter cups.
Birthday cake– Add 1/4 cup sugar free sprinkles and 1/2 teaspoon butter extract.
Brownie batter– Add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 cup chopped keto brownies.
More homemade keto desserts
Originally published May 2021
Can’t find your coconut ice cream or your strawberry ice cream. You use coconut cream to make it. Only three ingredients.
Hi Margarita- here they are: coconut ice cream and strawberry ice cream.
I love ice cream when l could not eat ‘proper’food l lived on ice cream
Seems very little ingredients. I like this way.
I made the brownie batter version of this ice cream for my husband’s birthday and he loves it! He doesn’t usually like sweets (especially keto versions), but this one is his favorite. It’ll be another regular treat for us. Thanks for the recipe! 😊
Easies and best tasting Keto Ice Cream I have tried.
best keto ice cream I’ve ever made!
So yummy and easy. I have made this several times and it always turns out amazing
I make the base and change up the flavors. So good!
Thank you for posting an egg free low carb ice cream with only a few ingredients. I’m not against eggs but, I think if I make coffee flavoured ice cream egg free might be more flavourful. Do you know that gelatin can reduce crystals also? I’m going to try that because I don’t know if I can have xanthum gum. It might be too oxalate and I have oxalate toxicity. Cheers!
Hmm not sure about gelatin. Let me know how that goes 🙂
Salt reduces ice crystals
This was tasty.
Easy to make and so delicious.
Thanks, Julie!
Can I use a sweetener like Jordan’s skinny syrup instead of the powdered allulose? We don’t have that sweetener in Canada unfortunately. I have tried erythritol and monk fruit in the past and they aren’t favourable. Wondering if a liquid sweetener would work the same way ?
That won’t work sorry, Ashley- I have had many Canadian readers saying they ordered allulose from Iherb and amazon 🙂
How is this keto or low carb if each tbsp of heavy cream is a carb?
That is not correct. Heavy cream has 1.7 grams of carbs per 1/4 cup.
Love this keto ice cream so much!
The problem is that 1/4 of a cup, which is 1.65 carbs is too small a portion. 1/2 cup is still little but it’s probably what I will eat at one sitting and only once a day. I will endeavor to add more flavor to mine. Thanks.
best keto ice cream recipe ever!
Thanks, Ally!
I made this. It is very easy. I used 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste and doubled the xanthan gum and a little more powdered sugar. Rich and delicious. Hit the sweet spot definitely! 🙂
I made this. It is very easy. I used 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste and doubled the xanthan gum and a little more powdered sugar. Rich and delicious. Hit the sweet spot definitely! 🙂
I love your page ❤️ question… when I say powder protein is it casein ?
I love casein 🙂
Maybe I’m blind but, I can’t find the flavor options. I hate vanilla but it seems to be the only option.
Go back through the post. There is a section called “Flavor Ideas”. Options and ingredients are listed there.
I didn’t see them either and must have searched nearly 10 times before I found them 😂