This peanut butter ice cream cake is not only low carb and grain-free, it’s also no churn and no bake! It’s incredibly simple to make but it tastes like you slaved over it. The perfect keto frozen dessert.
This summer is fuelled by all sorts of low carb ice cream treats. I simply cannot get enough. I want All. The. Ice. Cream! And I have so many delicious recipes to share with you.
I re-posted my classic Keto Vanilla Ice Cream, and I also created a decadent Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake. And now I am updating this post for peanut butter ice cream cake. And trust me, my friends, I am not yet done. I’ve got plenty more low carb ice cream treats up my sleeve!
Really, it’s the best way to enjoy the summer, I think. And it makes me so happy that it’s easy to make ice cream in a keto-friendly way. It makes sense when you think about it. What is ice cream besides cream, milk, vanilla and sugar? Switch out the milk for more cream, and switch the sugar for your favorite sweetener. And voila! Keto ice cream.
No Churn Keto Ice Cream
It’s also easy to make ice cream without an ice cream maker. I love my ice cream maker but sometimes it’s nice not to have to drag it out from the pantry and set it all up.
Still, it has its trade offs. No churn ice cream is lighter and a bit fluffier than properly churned ice cream, because you use whipped cream to give it structure. Some people don’t enjoy the texture quite as much.
For me, I think it has its own special thing going on. The texture isn’t quite the same but it can save time and expense if you don’t want to purchase a full ice cream maker. Or if you just have too many kitchen gadgets already and don’t want to purchase another one!
And for an easy ice cream cake like this, you really won’t notice the difference in texture.
No Bake Brownie Base
This low carb ice cream cake is also great because it features a no-bake brownie base. It’s high summer and you don’t feel like turning on the oven. I get it! You don’t have to for this special treat.
I’ve made no bake brownies before and it’s really quite easy. I find nut butter to be the best way to get that fudgy brownie texture without an oven.
Obviously for a peanut butter ice cream cake, I used peanut butter in the base. I simply melted it with some butter, and then worked in the dry ingredients.
Depending on what kind of peanut butter and cocoa powder you use, the brownie mixture can be quite thick. You want it to be like a stiff cookie dough but you don’t want it to be crumbly. It should hold together when you squeeze some in your hands. So work in just enough water until does so.
Anyone with an egg allergy will love this recipe, since there are no eggs in either the brownie base or the no churn ice cream.
How To Make Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake
Both the brownie base and the no churn peanut butter ice cream are quite easy to make. The hardest part might be waiting for it to set in the freezer! But here are a few tips for the best keto ice cream cake:
- Use a springform pan. This makes it much easier to release the sides and have a perfect ice cream cake. As far as I am concerned, a springform pan is a must on a keto diet, as it’s ideal for keto cheesecakes too. I highly recommend a glass bottom springform pan, as it looks much prettier to serve from.
- Press the brownie base firmly and evenly into the pan. I do this by covering it with waxed paper and using a flat bottomed glass or measuring cup.
- Use a thick base for the no churn ice cream. In this recipe, I used sour cream. Don’t worry, it doesn’t taste at all like sour cream in the finished product. But it does provide the proper structure for the final product.
- Use any peanut butter you like best. I prefer the all natural creamy kinds that don’t have a ton of oil at the top. My favourites are Justin’s Classic or the Thrive Market brand.
- Beat the remaining whipping cream to stiff peaks. This is a hallmark of no-churn ice cream recipes, since it also helps provide structure.
- Be patient! Now you just need to let the whole thing freeze for at least 4 to 6 hours before serving.
Can you believe that’s all there is to making this glorious peanut butter ice cream cake?
It’s especially good drizzled with a little sugar free chocolate syrup before serving.
Want more No Churn Keto Ice Cream Recipes?
No Churn Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake
Ingredients
Brownie Base:
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- ⅓ cup softened butter
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 to 3 tablespoon water
No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup confectioner's Swerve Sweetener divided
- 1 cup whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownie Base:
- In a medium bowl, stir peanut butter and butter together until smooth. Stir in the cocoa powder, sweetener, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Stir in the almond flour. The dough will become very stiff and hard to mix. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you have a cohesive but stiff dough.
- Press evenly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Top with a layer of waxed paper and smooth with a flat-bottomed glass or measuring cup. Refrigerate while preparing the ice cream.
No Churn Peanut Butter Ice Cream:
- In a large bowl, beat together the sour cream, peanut butter, and ¼ cup of the sweetener. In another large bowl, beat the whipping cream with the remaining ¼ cup sweetener and the vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold whipping cream into peanut butter mixture until well combined and no streaks remain. Spread ice cream over brownie base and freeze until firm, 4 to 6 hours.
- Before serving, drizzle with a little low carb chocolate sauce, if desired
Julie D. says
I LOVE the Olympics, all of them! Always wanted to be a gymnast, but now that I’m trying to take up running, the marathon was amazing to me.
Annah says
What kind of pie pan did you use? Was it a springform? Just wondering how you got that nice clean edge.
Looks amazing!! I’m in Mexico right now but am going to make it as soon as I get home. Seriously can’t wait.
Carolyn says
It’s not a pie pan. I think it says in the instructions… 9-inch springform pan. That’s what gives it the straight edge. You could do this in a pie pan if necessary, but it would be an ice cream pie! 🙂
Erin says
I didn’t have any childhood Olympic dreams:( I remeber Mary Lou Retten.
Can’t wait to make this! Thanks so much!
Jenny says
This looks delish! I’ll try it this weekend! As for Olympic dreams..probably anything having to do with a horse event!
gerry @ foodness gracious says
So there’s no limit on slices right? 😉 I could inhale a few for sure!!
Joellen says
I didn’t have Olympic aspirations, but loved watching the Winter Olympics and gymnastics.
Debi Tisdale says
I loved Dorothy Hammil, I had no dreams of being in the Olympics, I’m not athletic at all!
Karen says
Not sure HOW you do it, but almost every time, I have all the ingredients on hand to make up your deliciousness recipes. My brother-in-law’s birthday is today. Making this bad boy for him … he will never know it’s low carb and healthy. Our secret! =))
Carolyn says
Well that’s awesome, so glad my recipes and your pantry go well together!
Juli V says
I never had any Olympic dreams. I was more into music. I wanted to play an instrument on Broadway or for Disney.
Nicole D says
Made this yesterday and it was a huge hit with everyone–you wouldn’t even know it was low carb! My 9-year-old did most of recipe herself (so easy!) and even requested that we make this for her birthday cake. Thanks for another awesome recipe!
Stephanie Deal says
First things first — as a Navy mom – I love that you added the clip of Brad S to this post. Isn’t he flipping amazing!! I’m so inspired by Brad and ALL of the paraOlympic athletes!!
Second, this cake looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it! I’ve always bought Jif peanut butter and will definitely have to try their Natural product.
Lastly, YES – I always wanted to be a figure skater in the Olympics even though I grew in Atlanta and ice rinks were few and far between but that didn’t stop my 12 year old self from dreaming. 🙂
Thanks Carolyn for all your fabulous recipes — they keep me happy AND low-carb!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
I always loved watching the gymnastics and dreaming about doing those flips! Of course, now that I’m much older and have never taken a gymnastics class, it’s never going to happen…but I can still dream, right? And this cake? I’ll be dreaming of creamy peanut butter goodness all day now!!! Yum!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
I was all about gymnastics and figure skating! Now maybe if somebody had promised me this ice cream cake at the end of practice, I might have been more committed 🙂
Jenny Peters says
i always wanted to be a gymnast, I always thought they were so pretty!
RACHEL says
I don’t remember having Olympic dreams….but I was always fascinated by the figure skating.
Helen Williams says
Made this yesterday for our Labor Day get together! It was so simple and quick to do! I loved the no bake and no churn part! This was a hit with my T1 daughter and everyone else at the get together!!! It tasted like a 10 times better version of the Reece ice cream pie in the the individual cartons. Thanks so much Carolyn for making such great desserts that we can be proud to take to an event and they come out tasting better than the other desserts there. 😉
Carolyn says
So glad it met with approval!
Debra says
Thanks for this recipe. It sounds delicious and badly needed at this point. We are getting frustrated after trying several recipes we found on the internet that just didn’t turn out. Doesn’t sound like it takes too long to make either.
Kelly says
Does the base come out super hard when it’s frozen? I’ve been on a quest for a low carb ice cream brownie base that doesn’t stay too hard. Thanks! Can’t wait to try this!
Carolyn says
The base isn’t too hard. If the cake has been in the freezer for a long time (say overnight), you do need to let the whole thing warm up a bit to be able to cut into it. Give it 15 to 20 minutes on the counter. When it’s first frozen after you make it and you’ve only let it freeze for four hours or so, the whole thing is perfect…easy to cut through but stays together.
Faith W says
I made this cake today and it was so delicious! Thanks for sharing these recipes with us 🙂
Carolyn says
So glad to hear it!
Kathy says
What is the difference between the smooth peanut butter in the base and the creamy pnb in the ice cream? Did you use the same for both?
Carolyn says
Ha, I didn’t even realize I did that. Same peanut butter for both! Smooth/creamy!