As summer fast approaches in the northern hemisphere, you will undoubtedly start craving more ice cream. As a vegan, you want to know which dairy-free delights are great for cooling off. Luckily, several well-known producers and smaller companies have a choice of vegan ice creams, but which are the best vegan ice cream brands?
Creamy Delights: Top Vegan Ice Cream Brands
Not all vegan ice creams are equal in taste or texture. However, the growing demand for vegan ice creams has created healthy competition, meaning that some manufacturers vie to offer excellent products that please anyone with specific dietary restrictions.
The best vegan ice cream brands no longer find themselves hidden in the back part of grocery store freezers but have earned a place in the hearts of vegans and non-vegans alike.
Ben & Jerry’s
One of the most identifiable brands of ice cream, Ben & Jerry’s, must have a place among the best vegan ice cream brands because of its rich and flavorful plant-based selections. At the time of publishing, the brand has 21 non-dairy-flavored ice creams. Of these, 19 come in pints, while two are only available in shops as scoop selection. These contain sunflower butter and almond milk. If you like your ice cream sweet and richly flavored, try Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy Phish Food with swirls of marshmallow and caramel and an abundance of vegan chocolate fish, which adds some fun.
SoDelicious
SoDelicious has the most extensive availability of ice cream bases with offerings made from cashew, oat, almond, coconut, soy, or “wondermilk”— a combination of dairy-free milk. These choices accommodate people with various allergies and come in delicious flavors, including Oat Milk Coffee Chip, Cashew Milk Peanut Butter Brownie, Salted Caramel Cluster Cashewmilk, and coconut milk flavors without added sugar. Since SoDelicious specializes in dairy-free products, they go all out to ensure quality, creamy textures, and delicious flavors. Look out for their ice cream sandwiches, sundae cones, and dipped bars for those who prefer individual ice creams.
Indulge in Dairy-Free Bliss: Best Vegan Ice Cream Picks
The search for the best vegan ice cream brands continues. If you want to seek the most delicious vegan ice cream based on flavors, for example, peanut butter, fruity, brewed, or cake flavors, this New York Times Wirecutter review will make it easier to choose.
Wicked Kitchen
Wicked Kitchen continues to expand its plant-based offerings, including in the ice cream department. Look for it at certain Kroger stores, depending on your location. Wicked Kitchen vegan ice creams are unique because they have a creamier texture than most other brands by adding lupin beans. Besides novelty ice creams like ice cream sticks and cones in chocolate almond or berry, you can also purchase ice cream pints like Vanilla and Chocolate. However, the chunky Cookie Dough and Mint Chocolate Chip are their most flavorful offerings.
Van Leeuwen
Decadence in a cup comes from Van Leeuwen. They are pricey, but these vegan ice creams win many points for their richness, texture, and flavor. They use either oat or cashew milk and a combination of the two in some ice creams. Non-dairy flavors to look out for include vegan Strawberry Shortcake, Choc-Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb, Cookies & Cream Caramel Swirl, Churros & Fudge, Brown Sugar Chunk, and Chocolate Cookie Dough Honeycomb. There are also three ice cream stick flavors to choose from.
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Alden’s Organic
Alden’s Organic is ideal for those wanting a vegan ice cream brand with organic certification. By proxy, the Oregon-based company’s products are also free of GMOs and have Fair Trade certification in products like their coffee.
Alden’s Organic has expanded its range of vegan ice creams from soy-based to other plant-based milk like almond, coconut, and oat. Its pints come in nine flavors, several ice cream sandwiches and sticks.
Breyer’s Non-Dairy
For some people, a pint of ice cream is not enough. Breyer’s offers their delicious flavors in 1.5 quarts, which is ideal for entertaining and larger families. The company has created the right flavors and formulas for what can be considered one of the best vegan ice cream brands. Besides trying the classical Breyer’s Non-Dairy Vanilla, don’t omit to try its other delicious flavors – Mint Chocolate Chip and Cookies and Crème. Thanks to their pleasant texture, we can’t wait for them to add more vegan ice cream flavors.
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Häagen-Dazs
Häagen-Dazs is another international brand known for its ice creams. They have introduced three new plant-based ice creams in pints, making them ideal for sharing – the oat-based Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle, Coconut Caramel, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge. These join their Coconut Caramel, Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle, Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge, Mocha Chocolate Cookie, Crunchy Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies, and Crème plant-based offerings. Look out for these and their vegan ice cream bars at grocery stores.
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is your go-to for plant-based tropical paradise flavors, thanks to the delicious creaminess of macadamia milk! The Hawaii-inspired pint varieties include Big Island Mac Nut, Moloka‘i Sea Salt & Caramel Mango, Liliko‘i, Strawberry Guava, Kona Coffee, and Rocky Road to Hana.
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NadaMoo!
Another recognizable brand making vegan ice creams is NadaMoo!Its diverse, delicious flavors place it on the list of the best vegan ice cream brands. Pure coconut milk provides a silky texture but never overpowers the various flavors. The brand also uses Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a certified palm oil. These vegan ice creams include Pistachio Nut, Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and a seasonal Peppermint Bite flavor. It also has delicious treats called bites with flavors like Mango & Strawberry, Salted Caramel & Vanilla, or Orange Crème & Vanilla. You can place direct orders from the Nada Moo! Website or find them in grocery stores like Target and Walmart.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s stocks an extensive range of vegan foods, including plant-based ice creams made under its label. The Cold Brew Coffee & Boba or Black Tea & Boba brand contains creamy coconut milk. These have a rich coffee flavor and delicious fillings of tapioca balls for a divine texture. Try the soy-based Creamy Cherry Chocolate Chip, the Okie Dokie Oat, or the Strawberry with Crunchy Praline made with oat milk for their refreshing deliciousness. Also, try the Hold the Dairy! If you want a novelty ice cream, try the mini dessert cones in Chocolate or Salted Caramel from their range called Hold The Dairy!
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Planet Oat
The plant-based ice creams from Planet Oat contain oat milk, as the name suggests. It’s available in eight flavors and many grocery stores, so you don’t need to search too far and wide for your ice cream fix. In addition to the traditional flavors of Vanilla and Chocolate, try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Fudge Swirl, Cookies & Cream, Coffee Fudge Swirl, and Blueberry Oat Crumble.
JD’s Vegan
Hailing from Atlanta and created by Jermaine Dupri, the Grammy-winning recording artist, comes a delicious vegan ice cream range, JD’s Vegan. Longtime vegan Dupri understands how to impart flavors in the coconut cream used as a base. Delicious options include Key Lime Pie, Apple Butter, Welcome to Atlanta Peach Cobbler, Strawberry Sweetheart, Chocolate My Way, and (404) Cookies & Cream, all available at Walmart.
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Wonderlab’s Doozy Pots
Wonderlab is committed to sustainable and ethical practices, so their Doozy Pots contain earth-friendly hemp and oat ice cream and containers from certified renewable resources. There are only four offerings: Smooth Coffee, Banana Cinnamon Date Swirl, Chocolate Mint Chip, and Chocolate Raspberry Swirl, but their flavors won’t disappoint. It’s available in specialty stores, making it more difficult to find than most brands. However, their website does have a store locator.
Cado
Cado finds a place among the best vegan ice cream brands for daring to transform avocados into ice cream. The result is deliciously creamy smoothness without a hint of avocado flavor. These pints contain healthy avocado fat and 50% less sugar without compromising their taste. Try their delicious pints or sandwiches. Pint favorites include Deep Dark Chocolate, Java Chip, Cookies & Cream, Chocolate Mud Pie, Cherry Amaretto Chip, and the Simply Lemon. You can order online, but you can also find these in grocery stores.
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Oatly
Oatly does not skimp on decadence with its creamy oat plant-based ice creams. Pick and choose from its ten flavors at grocery stores. Besides the Vanilla, Strawberry, and Chocolate flavors for dolloping over a dessert, try their Coffee Chaos, Chocolate Fudge, Mint Chocolate, Strawberry Confusion, Salted Caramel, and Hazelnut Swirl. Available in stores.
Ripple Foods
Even though they have a small offering in pint flavors, Ripple Foods uses coconut and pea protein for a creamy texture. The Vanilla, Chocolate, and Mint Chip flavors are also gluten-free. The Cookies & Crème and Cinnamon Churros are not gluten-free. Therefore, Ripple Foods is the ideal brand if you want to avoid lactose, nuts, soy, and gluten. Even though they have limited flavors, these non-dairy ice creams are silky and creamy without being rich.
These are some of the best vegan ice cream brands. However, to learn more about these and other ranks, read more from Tasting Table.
