Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry doesn’t always get the glory. But this vegan strawberry ice cream—blended with rich coconut milk and swirled with real fruit—lands somewhere between scoopable soft serve and that first bite of a just-picked berry. Creamy, cold, and just a little textured, it hits like the best parts of summer.

There’s no cashew soaking, no fancy methods—just a quick blend, a churn, and a slow freeze to get that perfect spoon-in texture. It’s light but lush. Simple but satisfying. And once you taste it, strawberry might just move to the top of your flavor list.

Why You’ll Love This Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe

This vegan strawberry ice cream is what happens when you keep things simple, use real fruit, and let coconut milk do its creamy little magic trick. It’s churned, scoopable, and tastes like summer—not a smoothie pretending to be dessert. Here’s more reasons you’ll love it:

• Creamy, not icy: The coconut milk pulls its weight here—giving you that soft, melty texture without the freezer-burn crunch.
• Loaded with real strawberries: Two cups of berries means actual strawberry flavor (not the artificial “pink” kind). A little sweet, a little tart, and very much the real deal.
• Just five ingredients: No gums, no stabilizers, no need to soak anything overnight. This is as easy as blend, chill, churn.
• Works with frozen berries too: Fresh is amazing if you’ve got it, but frozen strawberries? Totally fine. The ice cream still turns out dreamy.
• Great the next day (and the next): It scoops best after a few minutes on the counter, and keeps its creamy vibe for several days—assuming it lasts that long.

Key Ingredients

This dairy-free strawberry ice cream keeps it classic—just five ingredients that work together to bring out that bright, creamy, perfectly sweet flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Strawberries: Fresh if you’ve got them, frozen if you don’t. Either way, you’re getting that bold berry flavor and a soft blush-pink color. Bonus points if your berries are super ripe and fragrant.
• Coconut milk: Use full-fat canned coconut milk here (not the carton kind). It’s what makes this scoopable instead of icy, and gives the ice cream that rich, dairy-free creaminess.
• Granulated sugar: Adds structure and sweetness. Cane sugar works best, but you can use organic or raw sugar if that’s what’s in the pantry.
• Agave nectar: Just a little for that smooth sweetness and soft texture. You could swap in maple syrup, but agave keeps the flavor clean and light.
• Lemon juice: A tiny splash of acid helps the strawberry flavor shine brighter and keeps everything balanced—not too sweet, not too flat.

Flavor Variations

This easy strawberry ice cream is simple enough to stand on its own—but it also makes a great base for add-ins and twists. Here are a few ways to switch things up if you’re craving something beyond the classic:

• Strawberry & vanilla bean: Scrape the seeds from half of a vanilla bean (or use 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste) and blend it into the base before churning. For a marbled look, swirl a bit in after churning but before freezing.
• Berry blend: Sub half the strawberries for raspberries or blackberries. You’ll get a slightly tangier scoop and a deeper berry color.
• Chocolate chip strawberry: Stir in a handful of mini dairy-free chocolate chips after churning (but before freezing). Think Neapolitan, but upgraded.
• Lemon poppy seed: Add a little extra lemon juice and zest, plus 1–2 teaspoons of poppy seeds for a bright, bakery-style twist.
• Roasted strawberry: Roast halved strawberries at 350°F for 20 minutes until soft and jammy. Let them cool completely, then blend as usual. This deepens the flavor and adds a slow-roasted sweetness.

How to Make

This vegan strawberry ice cream comes together with just a few ingredients and a bit of freezer patience. It’s a churned, dairy-free dessert that’s creamy, fresh, and wildly scoopable. For full recipe details, scroll to the end of this post!

• Step 1: Blend the base – In a high-speed blender, add your strawberries and pulse until mostly smooth—leave some fruit bits if you like texture in your ice cream. Add the coconut milk, sugar, agave, and lemon juice. Blend again until the mixture is silky and fully combined.
• Step 2: Chill the mix – Pour your blended vegan ice cream base into a container, cover, and chill for at least 2 hours. Overnight is even better—it helps everything firm up and churn like a dream.
• Step 3: Churn until creamy – Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions. In about 10–15 minutes, it should look like soft serve—and smell like peak-season strawberries.
• Step 4: Freeze until scoopable – Transfer the churned dairy-free strawberry ice cream to a freezer-safe container, smooth the top, and cover. Freeze for 5–6 hours, or until firm enough to hold its shape.

• Step 5: Serve it up – Let the ice cream sit at room temp for a few minutes if it’s too firm straight from the freezer. Then scoop generously and enjoy a strawberry dessert that tastes like it came from an ice cream shop—but made at home, without dairy.

Don’t Have an Ice Cream Maker?

You can still try this strawberry ice cream without a machine. The texture won’t be quite as smooth or airy, but the flavor holds up—and it’s a great option if you’re short on space or tools. Here’s how to make it no-churn:

• Blend all ingredients as directed until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into a shallow freezer-safe container or loaf pan.
• Freeze for 45 minutes, then stir vigorously with a fork or whisk to break up any ice crystals.
• Return to the freezer and repeat every 30–45 minutes for 2–3 hours, until it firms up to an ice cream–like texture.
• Before serving, let it sit at room temp for 5–10 minutes to soften.

This method takes a little more hands-on time, but it’s doable—and still delicious.

Pro Tips for the Best Texture and Flavor

This vegan strawberry ice cream is simple to make, but a few smart techniques will help you get that just-right scoop every time.

• Use full-fat coconut milk: Lite coconut milk or carton versions won’t create the same creamy texture. You want the richness and fat content from full-fat canned coconut milk to get that soft, scoopable base.
• Chill the base fully: Don’t skip the refrigeration step. A well-chilled base (at least 2 hours, or overnight) helps the ice cream churn faster and with better structure—preventing ice crystals and improving texture.
• Churn until soft serve–thick: You’ll know it’s ready when it looks like soft serve and clings to the paddle. Under-churning leads to icy results; over-churning can create separation. Most machines take 10–15 minutes, depending on how cold the base is.
• Freeze in a shallow container: A loaf pan or wide, flat container helps the ice cream freeze faster and more evenly. It also makes it easier to scoop later on.
• Let it rest before scooping: Vegan ice cream firms up more than dairy versions. Let it sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes to soften slightly—this brings out the flavor and makes scooping easier.

How To Serve

Once your ice cream is frozen and scoopable, you’re halfway to dessert bliss. From fruit pairings to crunchy toppings, here’s how to turn a bowl of dairy-free strawberry ice cream into something even more special.

• Chocolate & strawberry forever: Drizzle warm chocolate sauce or sprinkle on vegan chocolate chips for that classic, dairy-free sundae vibe. This combo is sweet, nostalgic, and always hits.
• Brighten it with berry-on-berry: Spoon on a simple homemade strawberry sauce (just frozen berries, a quick microwave zap, and a blitz with a mixer). It doubles the fruit flavor and adds a jammy finish.
• Toasted coconut flakes FTW: The sweet, nutty crunch of toasted coconut flakes balances the creamy base perfectly. Bonus: they look beautiful on top of a scoop.
• Go for crunch and contrast: Chopped walnuts, slivered almonds, or crushed Oreos all bring texture and a little salty-sweet edge. They make every bite more interesting—and more fun.
• Sweeten the finish: A drizzle of pure maple syrup or a shake of vegan sprinkles adds that final bit of flair. It’s simple, colorful, and feels like a celebration.

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