Here’s What You Need to Know About Dairy-Free Ice Cream

Ice cream is well-loved all around the world because it's cold, sweet, and comes in so many flavors. Aside from the chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla that everyone knows and loves, there's a lot more out there. Birthday cake, cookies and cream, mint chocolate chip, pecan—the possibilities are endless.

That said, some people aren't able to enjoy their favorite flavors just yet. Lactose intolerance, food allergies, and even a vegan diet tend to deter many from having a sweet treat. Thankfully, there's an easy solution: dairy-free ice cream!

So many other alternatives to dairy have come about over the years. Milk made from nuts like almonds, cashew, or even coconut is a start. Soy milk, too! Avocado and other plant-based ingredients have also gained a rather prominent use.

It’s Called Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts

When you head out to your local grocery in order to find dairy-free ice cream, you should read labels a little closer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually requires anything called ice cream to have at least 10 percent milk fat in it. So if something gets made with no dairy in it, then it's instantly not classified as ice cream.

In those cases, what you'll want to find is something called "non-dairy frozen dessert.” While that term is nowhere near as catchy or known as ice cream, it's worth keeping in mind. That way, you'll be able to find exactly what you need: creamy, frozen goodness with no dairy.

Colloquially, a lot of people still prefer (and use) 'dairy-free ice cream.’ There are several types of this available in the market, such as:

Almond Milk Ice Cream

When almonds are soaked in water and blended with water, the result is strained through a cheesecloth. The final product is almond milk used in ice cream and sold in cartons out there. Take note that in terms of ice cream, there will be extra oil such as coconut or vegetable oil in the base. It's meant to prevent the texture from being too icy by adding some fat.

Coconut Milk Ice Cream

These are made using coconut milk as a base, taken from coconut flesh. It's grated, soaked in hot water, and strained through cheesecloth. The result is a liquid that's a lot like whole cow's milk. That's why ice cream made with coconut milk is pretty close to traditional ice creams that are made with dairy.

Take note that while the mouthfeel is a lot like usual ice creams alongside the rich smoothness, there's a strong coconut flavor, strong enough that it may be entirely overpowering, depending on the flavor in question.

Rice Ice Cream

One of the oldest beverage substitutions out there to address dairy-free needs, rice milk is widely available and used in a lot of ice cream. However, much like coconut milk, beware that it can have a certain overpowering taste at times.

Conclusion

Everyone all over the world loves ice cream; that's just a given fact. That said, plenty of people have trouble partaking in it due to allergies and lactose intolerance. Luckily, dairy-free ice cream or non-dairy frozen desserts exist. They're usually made with almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, and other alternatives.

Looking to get dairy-free ice cream for parties in Denver? Besties Ice Cream has got the answer for all your needs! We have fresh, local organic ice cream that will surely tickle your tastebuds.