Cherry Almond Ice Cream

I could not be more excited to share today’s Cherry Almond Ice Cream Recipe with you all! It’s no secret that I am an ice cream fanatic, so any excuse to make a vegan ice cream I’m in! I’ve been on a cherry kick recently, and this vegan cherry almond ice cream was at the top of my to-make list. The best part? This recipe is super healthy and only takes a few simple ingredients!

Making homemade vegan ice cream can be a bit challenging at first. However luckily for you I have run many tests and can confidently say that I have mastered making homemade ice cream! I have plenty of other healthy vegan ice cream recipes on my blog, and I am always adding new ones. Make sure to subscribe to my email list so you are the first to know when the next one comes out! In the meantime, check out some of my favorites!

How To Make Cherry Ice Cream With Fresh Cherries:

If there is one flavor that I absolutely can not stand it might just be artificial cherry flavor (or artificial banana). It’s a flavor common in many “naturally flavored” cherry ice creams, and it drives me bananas. I don’t understand why anyone would make something cherry flavored and not use the delicious natural flavor of cherries!

Luckily for you this cherry almond ice cream recipe is made with fresh natural cherries. How do you make almond cherry ice cream with fresh cherries. Well, you see we are not actually going to use fresh cherries for this recipe for 2 reasons.

First, fresh cherries are absurdly expensive. Therefore this cherry almond ice cream recipe is budget friendly. Second, it would simply take too long to de-pit each cherry individually. Therefore we are going to use frozen cherries for this ice cream recipe! They will give us the perfect natural cherry flavor we are looking for. Frozen cherries will also help lower the calories of this vegan ice cream recipe making it a healthy plant based dessert!

Why I Love This Vegan Cherry Almond Ice Cream Recipe:

I’m an ice cream girl what can I say. However after starting my health journey I try to avoid processes foods such as store bought ice cream, because they are typically loaded with refined sugars and oils. This cherry almond ice cream recipe on the other hand is the perfect healthy solution. That is why I love it so much! This vegan cherry ice cream recipe is:

• Oil-Free
• Refined Sugar-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Gluten-Free
• Raw Vegan
• WFPB
• Nutrient dense

How did I make an ice cream this healthy taste so delicious? There is a couple key ingredients to successfully making healthy vegan ice cream. First is using raw cashews. I get mine in bulk from Wilderness Poets. This is my favorite place to get them, because they are organic, raw, and affordable.

Make sure you choose raw cashews and not roasted cashews. This is important because it can effect the creaminess of the ice cream. My Wilderness Poets discount code: “VEGAN10” gets you $10 off your purchase! Second, use medjool dates for the sweetness. I prefer medjool dates over other dates, because they are creamy and super sweet – perfect for making this cherry almond ice cream recipe!

How To Make This Vegan Cherry Ice Cream Recipe Low Fat:

Although this cherry almond ice cream recipe is extremely healthy, it is not a super low-fat ice cream recipe. However, with a few simple adjustments you can make this vegan cherry almond ice cream recipe low-fat! I will say that if you are planning on making this recipe low-fat, that you should us an ice cream maker. If you do not have an ice cream maker you may run into a problem of this ice cream recipe getting too solid in the freezer.

In order to make this cherry and almond ice cream low-fat, all you have to do is half the cashews and coconut milk, and double the amount of cherries! It’s that simple. By using more cherries in place of the nuts, you are lowering the calorie density of the ice cream, and making the recipe lower in fat. Honestly I love this trick! I love making ice cream recipes that include fruit, because you can easily lower the calories while still keeping the same sweet flavor and smooth consistency!

Ingredients For This Cherry Almond Ice Cream:

• Raw Cashews – Use my code: “VEGAN10” for $10 off your purchase!
• Medjool Dates
• Almond Extract
• Frozen Cherries
• Sliced Almonds
• Coconut Milk
• Plant Based White Chocolate (optional)

How To Make This Cherry Almond Ice Cream Recipe:

Making this cherry almond ice cream recipe is actually super simple! In order to make this ice cream the perfect consistency I recommend investing in two products: a high speed blender like a Vitamix, and an ice cream maker.

Although these are not absolutely necessary to make this recipe successfully, they do help a lot! I understand that not everyone has the budget for these products. However if you are committed to making plant based recipes at home I could not recommend them enough!

Luckily there’s two ways to make this Cherry Almond Ice Cream recipe: with a high speed blender and without. To make this recipe with a high speed blender, simply combine all ingredients together in the blender and then pour into the ice cream maker. Churn for 30-45 minutes. Serve immediately as soft serve, or pour into ice cream containers and freeze for a couple hours. Scoop and serve with toppings of your choice!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I Make This Cherry Almond Ice Cream Recipe No-Churn?

To make this recipe without an ice cream maker and simple blender you will need to thoroughly soak the ingredients (AKA definitely soak overnight) and ice cube trays. Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth. Pour the cream into the ice cube molds and freeze until solid.

I wouldn’t recommend freezing overnight, because then they may become too solid. Once firm, add back to the blender and blend until smooth (like a smoothie bowl consistency). You may need to add a bit of plant based milk to get it going again. Blend it for awhile (even after it’s smooth), because you want to achieve the fluffy ice cream texture. Serve immediately as soft serve, or freeze again and scoop and enjoy!

What Makes Vegan Ice Cream Creamy:

To put it simply: fat. Fat and protein work together to create this fluffy and creamy treat. This is why low-fat ice creams often taste a little off. This may freak you out a bit. However there are good fats and bad fats.

Luckily this cherry almond ice cream recipe is made with whole foods plant based ingredients, so it is full of healthy fats! Many recipes use oil to create creamy vegan ice cream. However I typically avoid oil, because it is high in calories and low in fiber. Instead of oil I used cashews and coconut milk. Both of these ingredients contain fiber. This makes them the perfect ice cream base for creamy vegan ice cream!

Is Vegan Ice Cream Healthier?

If you’re not vegan, but looking to eat healthier, vegan ice cream may be for you (especially if it’s one of my recipes). Vegan ice cream contains fiber (which is not found in animal products). Fiber is one of the best nutrients to improve your overall health and wellness.

Vegan ice cream is also typically lower in sugar, and in the case of this cherry almond ice cream refined sugar-free. Therefore you can eat this ice cream and not experience a sugar hangover.

Recipes like this cherry almond ice cream are also healthier when made with whole foods plant based, because it is full of real fruit. The real fruit contains vitamins and minerals that processed ice cream does not contain.

Therefore you can eat this vegan ice cream and essentially be eating a bowl of fruit and nuts!

Related Recipes:

• Vegan Superman Ice Cream
• Healthiest Vegan Ice Cream
• Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream