This keto ice cream recipe has a rich vanilla flavor and a super smooth, creamy consistency. It’s easy to make and stays soft and scoopable in the freezer. It’s the sugar-free ice cream of your dreams!
Well it’s about time I updated this recipe for keto ice cream. It’s one of my all-time favorites and it always gets rave reviews.
Don’t panic, though. I didn’t change the recipe itself, since it’s absolute perfection as it is (she says humbly). I’ve been making this delicious low carb vanilla ice cream recipe the exact same way for over 10 years now. And I make a batch every few weeks so that I have it on hand when I want it. It’s absolutely sublime with some Keto Caramel Sauce drizzled over it.
But I truly want everyone to get the best out of my recipes. With that in mind, I have updated the helpful information and added tips in this article. Because you deserve to have the creamiest, dreamiest sugar free vanilla ice cream in your freezer too!
Why you will love this recipe
Prepare to be AMAZED! This is no ordinary keto ice cream recipe. Oh no, my friends, not at all.
This ice cream has magical properties and should not be underestimated. Sure, it looks like regular vanilla ice cream and tastes like regular vanilla ice cream. It even behaves like regular vanilla ice cream.
And that, my dear readers, is exactly the point. It has the truly astonishing property of staying soft and scoopable, even after several days in the freezer. And it’s entirely egg-free and has no added sugars, which makes it all the more astonishing.
If you’ve ever made your own sugar-free ice cream at home, you know that this is no small feat!
Why it works
The magic of this stay-soft keto ice cream comes down to a few little tricks.
The first is using my keto condensed milk as the ice cream base, which contains a mix of both allulose and erythritol. These sweeteners have a symbiotic relationship, with each one making up for what the other lacks. If you’ve ever made ice cream with just erythritol, you know how rock hard it gets in the freezer. I’ve tried doing just allulose but then it never firms up at all and stays like soft serve. Together, they are perfect.
The condensed milk also contains a little bit of xanthan gum. Xanthan is often in commercial ice creams because it inhibits recrystallization, so the ice cream doesn’t get icy.
This sugar free ice cream recipe also contains a touch of alcohol. This raises the freezing point of liquids so it also reduces iciness. It is not enough to affect even a child (yes, I do feed my kids this ice cream), as it amounts to about half a teaspoon per serving. That said, the choice to include it is up to you.
Reader Reviews
“Best ice cream EVER. Have made it numerous times and it turns out perfect and delicious. Thanks, Carolyn!” — Anna
“I have tried several vanilla ice cream recipes and haven’t been pleased. This one is delicious. The salted caramel recipe was also delicious. I can’t wait to try all the other flavors that she has created.” — Becky
“Once again, you’ve hit the mark. I used your adaptation to make your Browned Butter ice cream and the result was exactly as you said. Thanks for continuing to work on Keto everything.” — NK
Ingredients needed
- Sugar Free Condensed Milk: You will need to make my recipe for sugar free condensed milk prior to making this ice cream.
- Heavy cream: If you want to lighten the ice cream a little, you can replace half of the cream with nut milk or other low carb milk.
- Additional sweetener: Using a powdered sweetener avoids any grittiness in the ice cream.
- Vodka: This is optional, but it does help reduce iciness from occurring. Don’t worry, it only amounts to about 1/2 teaspoon per serving
- Pantry staples: Vanilla extract and salt.
Step-by-step directions
1. Prepare the condensed milk: Make the sugar-free condensed milk according to the directions and let cool to room temperature.
2. Add the remaining ingredients: Whisk in the heavy cream, powdered sweetener, vodka, vanilla extract, and salt.
3. Taste test: Taste the mixture and adjust sweetener to taste. You can use additional Bocha Sweet or allulose here but because it’s granular, you will need to whisk for a while to dissolve it properly.
4. Refrigerate and churn: Chill the mixture at least one hour and up to overnight, then pour into the canister of an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s directions.
5. Freeze: Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
Tips for Success
I highly recommend churning this in a proper ice cream maker like this Cuisinart model. I had one for years and it always worked well for me (I now have a larger compressor-style model). Don’t forget to freeze the canister for at least 12 hours before you churn!
The ratio of sweeteners is very important. Too much erythritol and it is less scoopable. Too much allulose and it becomes so soft, it takes days to firm up properly. It also melts very quickly when out of the freezer.
If you can’t access allulose, try using xylitol. Just remember that it is toxic to dogs so keep it away from your pets.
No ice cream maker?
Don’t want to purchase yet another piece of kitchen equipment? You can still make this recipe. While churned recipes have better texture, I also have plenty of experience with no churn keto ice cream. It’s a relatively simple adaptation.
To make this keto ice cream without an ice cream maker:
- Make the condensed milk as directed. Let cool to room temp and then whisk in the vodka and salt.
- Whip the heavy cream with the powdered sweetener and vanilla extract until it holds stiff peaks.
- Pour in the condensed milk and fold these two together until no streaks remain.
- Transfer to a container and freeze at least 6 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
This keto vanilla ice cream recipe has 2.4g of carbs and 0g of fiber per serving. That comes to 2.4g net carbs per serving.
Once your ice cream has set, store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Unfortunately, I have not had much luck making this with ingredients like coconut milk or coconut cream. It always freezes harder and has a more icy texture. So I do not have a good dairy-free equivalent.
More delicious low carb ice cream recipes!
- Keto Strawberry Ice Cream
- No Churn Coffee Ice Cream
- Keto Chocolate Ice Cream
- Maple Walnut Ice Cream
- Jamoca Almond Fudge Ice Cream
Keto Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Sugar-Free Condensed Milk
- 1 1/2 cups (354.88 ml) heavy cream, (can replace half of the cream with nut milk, coconut milk, etc.)
- 3 tbsp (45.65 g) powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1 1/2 tbsp (22.5 ml) vodka, (optional, helps reduce iciness)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Make the sweetened condensed milk according to the directions and let cool to room temperature.
- Whisk in the heavy cream, powdered sweetener, vodka, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Taste the mixture and adjust sweetener to taste. **You can use additional allulose here but because it's granular, you will need to whisk for a while to dissolve it properly.
- Chill the mixture at least one hour and up to overnight, then pour into the canister of an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer's directions.
- Once it reaches soft-serve consistency, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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Could you add say a banana or orange extract to this to make different flavors. My favorite ice cream is banana pudding, not something you can find in store only at some speciality ice cream places and of course it’s not sugar free. If so how much extract would you add.
Thanks for all your amazing work and recipes!
Absolutely! Try a teaspoon and taste it… there are no eggs so no worry about tasting your mixture.
Best ice cream EVER. Have made it numerous times and it turns out perfect and delicious. Thanks, Carolyn!
Once again, you’ve hit the mark. I used your adaptation to make your Browned Butter ice cream and the result was exactly as you said. Thanks for continuing to work on Keto everything.
You can use this no-churn recipe and try adding some chocolate: https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/low-carb-no-churn-coffee-ice-cream/
Can instant coffee be added to this recipe to make it coffee ice cream?
You want this recipe: https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/low-carb-no-churn-coffee-ice-cream/
I failed to read through the entire recipe and missed the “freeze for 4 hours” part and we started eating it from the ice cream machine when it was like frozen custard and MAN was it good!! The sweetened condensed milk provides that thick, custardy feel to it… it’s really tasty! I added strawberries this time.. will do chocolate chips another time.
So glad you enjoyed!
I used Allulose not Boca. My freezer is set on 0
Allulose usually makes it even softer so I think it has to be your freezer… Mine never freezes rock hard (unless I use coconut milk. For some reason I can’t get coconut milk to make good ice cream).
I commented yesterday on how delicious it is but after being in the freezer all night it’s frozen hard. I followed the recipe exactly. Do you have any suggestions?
Did you use the exact same sweeteners as I used? The other possibility is that your freezer temp is set a bit low.
I have tried several vanilla ice cream recipes and haven’t been pleased. This one is delicious. The salted caramel recipe was also delicious. I can’t wait to try all the other flavors that she has created.
Thank you!
I have never used an ice cream maker. I bought one with a compressor (Breville) to make your recipes. Do I still have to freeze it for 4 hours when it comes out of the maker? I was hoping I wouldn’t have to with one that had a compressor. Thank you!
When it comes out of the ice cream maker, it has to be soft enough to scrape off the churning paddle. So it won’t be full ice cream consistency. You will still need to freeze for at least a bit.
Can the swerve be replaced with powdered Lakanto monk fruit?
Thank you!
Yes… but please know that Lakanto is mostly erythritol. The “monk fruit sweetener” is a bit of a marketing gimmick!
what does 1 recipe of condensed milk mean? sorry im not an expert at these things.
It means you need to make that first, just click the link, and then you proceed with the rest of the recipe.
I just made this ice cream and it is divine. The first step in the process (creating the sugar free condensed milk) was the game changer. I added buttered pecans to my first batch while in the ice cream maker and had to forcefully remove myself from the container to allow the ice cream to properly freeze! My tasting spoon kept dipping back into the container.
Another tweak to the recipe — added 1/4 cup of allulose instead of 3 tbsp of powdered Swerve. Other than that (and the pecans) the recipe was great as written. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Wonderful!
This was my first ever ice cream made at home! Truly delicious and soft. Texture is amazing – even straight from the machine although it melted really quickly (but we were all so excited by this new machine that we wanted to eat it straight away)! Definitely should have put it back in the chiller for maybe an hour (you said to do so, and we ignored that part!).
Served it with your keto caramel sauce which was heaven…hubs made an affogato which he said was brilliant with this treat!
Only thing to note is that it tasted VERY rich. My ice-cream crazy family all suggested a serving is more like a quarter cup…assume that is b/c of the condensed milk? But not taking any stars away b/c we were pigs and no one has had any ice cream since I started keto!
It is incredibly rich because it’s mostly cream. Try replacing some of the additional cream with almond milk.
Delicious! I did use the option to balance the cream with 3/4 cup macadamia milk and might even try 1 cup next time. Stayed perfectly scoopable. Have also made it with the addition of 3 TB key lime juice, some lime zest and light rum in place of the vodka (even though you don’t taste the alcohol). Fun to play around! 🙂
This is suuuuper creamy and delicious! I can’t believe how easy this came together and how the flavor and texture rivals that of big brands.
Next time I’ll sub out some of the cream for almond milk, as a personal preference.