A rich, creamy chocolate ice cream made easily in a blender with just 5 wholesome ingredients, and no ice cream maker needed for this dairy free no churn ice cream recipe. Add chocolate chunks for a double chocolate ice cream flavor.
Healthy no churn chocolate ice cream is easy to make, high in protein, and has a surprising ingredient that adds nutrition and creaminess - sweet potatoes!
I used canned sweet potato puree, but you can also use a fresh baked potato. The entire 5-ingredient recipes is such an easy way to get a quick bowl of chocolate ice cream on the table. Just blend up the ingredients, freeze them into ice cubes and blend again. Add chocolate chunks for a double chocolate ice cream flavor.
How No Churn Recipes Work
This chocolate ice cream works well without an ice cream maker because the dates keep it from freezing solid, and the sweet potato provide the creamy texture. If you like this recipe, you'll love my chocolate oreo ice cream.
Ingredients
Dates. I use medjool dates, soaked briefly in boiled water, and pitted. Maple syrup or sugar are not good swaps for this ice cream.
Milk. Full-fat canned coconut milk is necessary for this recipe to work. No, the ice cream does not taste like coconut.
Cocoa. A high quality cocoa powder is recommended to carry the ice cream's chocolate flavor.
Cashews. You can use unsalted, unroasted cashews soaked briefly to soften, or use cashew butter. Cashew butter is better than peanut butter for a neutral flavor.
Sweet Potato. I used an organic canned sweet potato puree, but you can also use fresh, just bake a sweet potato, remove the skin and blend with milk into a puree.
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Prep: Soak the dates and cashews in a pot of just-boiled water for 20 minutes. Pit the dates. Be sure the canned coconut milk has not separated which can happen if it gets cold.
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a blender.
Step 2: Blend into a creamy liquid.
Step 3: Pour into ice cube tray and freeze.
Step 4: Add the ice cubes to a blender.
Step 5: Blend or food process the ice cubes for 20 seconds for a creamy result.
Step 6: Add the mixture to a loaf pan or ice cream container. You can either eat it now as a soft serve, or freeze it until it is scoopable - this could be a few hours or overnight to reach the texture you want.
Storage
Store the ice cream in containers or in a parchment-lined loaf pan covered with plastic or another sealed container. Keep frozen for up to a week.
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Recipe Tips for Success
- Make sure your can of coconut milk is at room temperature and shaken so the liquid is not separated. If it is separated with the solid coconut at the top when you open it, sit the open can in a pot of just-boiled water or even as it boils and stir the coconut milk until it is creamy
- Make sure you soak your dates and cashews for at least 10 minutes so they soften and blend well into the ice cream.
- Taste-test the blended mixture to be sure it is sweet enough for you and add a little more sweetener if necessary.
- Use sweet potato puree, but if you want to use a fresh sweet potato, wash it, pierce the skin with a fork, wrap it in a paper towel and microwave for about 5-7 minutes. Scoop out the interior and blend with a few tablespoons of any milk until you have a puree.
Other Healthy Ice Creams
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
Equipment
- blender or food processor
- ice cube trays
Ingredients
- 4 dates, soaked and pitted
- 1 can full fat coconut milk room temperature, not separated
- ¼ cup cashews, soaked*
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup sweet potato canned or fresh
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Instructions
Prep
- Submerge dates and cashews in just boiled water for 30 minutes. Drain, rinse, pit the dates.
Make Ice Cream
- Blend up all ingredients in a blender until creamy.4 dates, soaked and pitted, 1 can full fat coconut milk, ¼ cup cashews, soaked*, ¼ cup cocoa powder, ¼ cup sweet potato
- Add the mixture to ice cube trays and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
- Blend or use a food process to blend up the ice cubes.
- Pour the now creamy mixture into a container and freeze until scoopable. Or eat now as a soft serve.
Blooming Nolwenn says
Who thought ice cream could be a healthy snack? 😀
It looks delicious and I'm very excited to try it!
Debbie says
Thank you so much for your feedback! I hope you enjoy it! Dee xx
Nisha / RainbowPlantLife says
Ice cream as a post workout snack? Sign me up! Love how healthy and nourishing this is yet so delicious and divine!
Debbie says
Hah, Nisha, my thinking exactly! I have been really benefiting from post workout treats and so I think I'm on a runaway train, haha! Dee xx