If you're looking for more vegan options at your summer party, I've got the perfect nut-free vegan ice cream recipe, this Chocolate Sunflower Ice Cream recipe is for you! It's rich and creamy just like regular ice cream, however, it's packed with nutrient-dense and healthy ingredients, making it perfect for all ice cream lovers!
Two things that always remind me of summertime are sunflowers and ice cream. The first thing you should know about me is I love ice cream so why not combine them and create the most delicious sunflower butter ice cream? After seeing how delicious Sunbutter was in my Sunflower Seed Cookies, I knew it was time to create more delicious Sunbutter dessert recipes!
Since eating clean is one of the biggest trends, I knew this recipe had to be made with the best simple health-promoting ingredients.
This post is sponsored by SunButter - A company that aligns with The All Natural Vegan Mission. Thank you for supporting brands that make The All Natural Vegan Possible!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This recipe features several affiliate links, meaning I will earn a small commission if you purchase through these links.
Jump to:
- Sunflower Ice Cream Ingredients:
- How To Make This Sunflower Seed Ice Cream:
- Substitutions:
- Sunbutter Ice Cream Variations:
- What You Will Need To Make Sunflower Seed Ice Cream:
- How To Store Sunflower Ice Cream:
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Related Sunbutter Recipes:
- Vegan Chocolate Sunflower Ice Cream
- Food Safety:
- More Vegan Ice Cream Recipes:
Sunflower Ice Cream Ingredients:
This sunflower butter ice cream recipe is great, because you only need a few simple that you can find at most grocery stores, and it's made without preservatives, fillers, or flavorings.
- SunButter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter - This is my go-to Sunbutter for my recipes. It's made with just sunflower seeds and salt. The texture is smooth, creamy, and spreadable (not gritty at all), and it's delicious and affordable. I truly believe every brand of sunflower seed butter is different, so I always recommend using the brands I create the recipe with for the best results.
- Medjool Dates - I love sweetening this recipe with dates. They add a burnt caramel base flavor, and they're packed full of fiber and vitamins, and minerals.
- Vanilla Extract - No ice cream recipe is complete without some sort of extract. The alcohol in the extract helps prevent the ice cream from sticking together and forming a block of creamy ice.
- Cacao Powder - I always opt for cacao powder rather than cocoa powder, because it is packed full of antioxidants, fiber, and other essential nutrients, rather than cocoa which is highly processed. They taste and work the exact same in recipes.
- Water - Since this recipe has a sunflower butter base, it's important to add water to create a sunflower milk base. You will also need the water to soak the dates.
- Tapioca Syrup (optional) - This ingredient is not required to make this recipe. However, I add it to all my homemade ice cream recipes, because it helps keep the ice cream from solidifying all the way, crystallizing, and makes it so easy to scoop.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make This Sunflower Seed Ice Cream:
This sunflower seed ice cream recipe is a great homemade ice cream recipe to make, because it only requires a few simple steps, and it tastes even better than store-bought non-dairy options.
1. Begin by adding the dates to a medium bowl and covering them completely with water. Let soak for about 3 hours.
2. Add the soaked dates, Sunbutter, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and tapioca syrup together in the blender.
3. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until it is silky smooth, and there are no chunks of dates.
4. Pour into the ice cream machine and churn for about 30 minutes.
5. Once churned, place in a freezer-safe container and create caramel swirls with the Sunbutter.
6. Freeze overnight, scoop, and serve with a magic shell!
Hint: Add a teaspoon of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of maple syrup to ¼ cup of Sunbutter to create the magic shell.
Substitutions:
If you need to substitute an ingredient in this sunflower ice cream for whatever reason, there are plenty of easy substitutions that can be made.
- Sweetener - Any natural sweetener will work for this recipe. You can use maple syrup (I recommend ¾ cup with ¼ cup water), or ⅔ cup coconut sugar mixed with ⅓ cup water).
- Chocolate - Instead of cacao, or cocoa, you can use carob powder as a chocolate-free alternative. Use as a 1:1 substitute.
- Sunbutter - Although I prefer to make this recipe using Sunbutter's unsweetened varieties, any of their sunflower butter flavors will work perfectly. You can find these at your local grocery store.
- Plant-Based Milk - if you want to add additional creaminess, and are not worried about the nuts, you can soak the dates in nondairy milks like almond milk, sunflower milk, or soy milk.
- Cashew Butter - If you are not nut-free, you can use raw cashew butter. It won't have the same flavor, but it works as a 1:1 substitute.
Sunbutter Ice Cream Variations:
There are so many delicious ways to mix up this sunflower ice cream recipe.
- Vanilla - Omit the cacao powder, and add a teaspoon of vanilla bean powder to create a vanilla base.
- Deluxe - add sunflower seeds and chocolate chips for added crunch.
- Extra Creamy- If you don't need to make this nut-free, you can add a can of coconut milk to the ice cream base. This will result in more ice cream that is super creamy!
What You Will Need To Make Sunflower Seed Ice Cream:
This vegan Ice cream recipe is great because it doesn't require any crazy equipment, and it comes out like a classic Ben & Jerry's ice cream!
- Medium Bowl - You will need a medium bowl to soak the dates in.
- Blender - Unlike my other vegan ice cream recipes, this sunflower ice cream recipe does not require a high-speed blender. Although I always recommend investing in a high-speed blender, it is not required to make this recipe.
- Ice Cream Maker - Any ice cream maker will work perfectly. however I have owned a couple, and the quality of your machine can have a huge impact on the quality of your ice cream. I recently upgraded my ice cream machine, and I love it.
As always you can find all my go-to equipment on my Amazon storefront or my affiliate page.
How To Store Sunflower Ice Cream:
This Sunbutter ice cream is great because it stores well for a long time since it's already frozen. I recommend investing in reusable ice cream containers if you plan to make homemade non-dairy pints often. If stored properly, these sunflower butter pints will keep for up to 2 months.
Top Tip
Sunbutter works a lot like peanut butter, so I recommended storing it in a warm location to prevent it from firming up. When you create the swirls, it's best to use warm or room-temperature Sunbutter (do not heat).
Frequently Asked Questions:
When you search sunflower seed ice cream on Google, many results come up and it's quite confusing. Some results refer to the different species of sunflower that grow in warmer climates, some refer to Ben & Jerry's certified vegan ice cream and all their non-dairy flavors, and others are recipes that are just plain confusing. Luckily this post is exactly what it says it is: a nut-free vegan ice cream recipe made from sunflower seeds.
Sunflower seeds freeze fantastically. However, they may change color slightly when mixed and frozen, and have a slightly green hue. This is completely normal.
Related Sunbutter Recipes:
Looking for more plant-based eating using Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter, try some of these recipes:
If you try this Sunflower Ice Cream recipe, I’d really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating! Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
Vegan Chocolate Sunflower Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 ice cream container
Ingredients
- 1 cup medjool dates
- 1 cup water
- ⅔ cup Sunbutter No Sugar Added Sunflower Seed Butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon tapioca syrup
- ¼ cup cacao powder
Instructions
- Begin by adding the dates to a medium bowl and covering completely with water. Let soak for about 3 hours.
- Add the soaked dates, Sunbutter, cacao powder, vanilla extract, and tapioca syrup together in the blender. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until it is silky smooth, and there are no chunks of dates.
- Pour into the ice cream machine and churn for about 30 minutes.
- Once churned, place in a freezer-safe container and create caramel swirls with the Sunbutter.
- Freeze overnight, scoop and serve with magic shell*!
Video
@theallnaturalvegan NEW! 🌟Chocolate Sunflower Seed Ice Cream 🌟 Happy Wednesday friends! I’ve got the perfect healthy summer treat featuring @sunbutter for you guys today! This ice cream recipe is incredible smooth and creamy and is made with all simple clean ingredients. I I love using Sunbutter unsweetened sunflower seed butter in both sweet and savory recipes, because it’s so rich, flavorful, and SMOOTH! It’s not grainy at all and completely oil-free! This homemade vegan ice cream recipe is vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free! You can find the full recipe on my website: theallnaturalvegan.com, or search sunflower Ice cream the all natural vegan and it’ll pop up right away! Enjoy 💕 #sunflowerbutter #sunbutter #sunflowerseeds #healthyrecipes #homemadeicecream #nutfree #nutfreevegan #oilfreevegan #refinedsugarfree #glutenfreevegan #healthyvegan #veganicecream #icecream #icecreamlover #icecreamrecipe #healthydessert #dessertrecipe @SunButter
♬ Pretty (Sped Up) - MEYY
Notes
Food Safety:
Make sure to always practice proper food safety.
- Do not stick foreign objects into machines connected to power.
- Wash hands before handling food.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
More Vegan Ice Cream Recipes:
Looking for new flavors of vegan ice cream to make in your ice cream machine? Try these:
Stephanie
This is such an indulgent tasting ice cream - yet it is guilt-free with all the healthy ingredients!
Holly
So good and easy! Sunflower ice cream - the perfect way to use up the sun butter left over from the school year! 😁
Nancy
What a great idea to make ice cream with sunflower seeds. Absolutely delicious and healthy.
Cindy
Creamy and delicious! So excited to have this recipe for summer.
Stephanie
We enjoy making our own ice cream at home so I had to try this chocolate sunflower ice cream. An indulgent, yet healthy treat for myself and the kids.
Sam
This ice cream is amazing!! The chocolate and sunbutter flavors are so perfect together. Yum!!
Maria
Vegan recipe is delicious as well as non-vegan 😋 This is so good recipe