Creamy. Smooth. Bursting with real vanilla bean flavor. And not a drop of dairy.
This Ninja Creami Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream is everything store-bought dairy-free ice cream wishes it could be. No weird gums, no pudding mix, no artificial anything. Just coconut milk, oat milk, a natural sweetener, and real vanilla bean paste blended into the creamiest, most satisfying vanilla ice cream you'll ever make.
I love ice cream, but sometimes dairy and I are not on speaking terms. So I dialed in a simple base that still tastes like the real thing, not “frozen coconut vibes.” The Ninja Creami does the heavy lifting here, turning a frozen block into soft-serve-style vanilla in minutes.
If you love this base, also try my Ube Coconut Ice Cream and Keto Vanilla Ice Cream!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
- What Is Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitution and Additions
- How to Make Dairy-Free Ice Cream with Ninja CREAMi?
- 🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- How to Store Leftovers
- 👪Serving Size
- 🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Tips for Success
- Recipe FAQs
- Vanilla-Inspired Ice Cream Flavors
- More Classic Ice Cream Flavors
- Did you try this recipe?
- Ninja Creami Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Why You'll Love This Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
- No gums, no pudding mix – just clean, simple ingredients.
- Ultra-creamy texture – thanks to coconut and oat milk.
- Classic vanilla bean flavor – rich, smooth, and indulgent.
- Super easy to make – just blend, freeze, and spin!
- Dairy-free & gluten-free – perfect for special diets.
- Cheaper than store-bought - Quality dairy-free pints cost $6-8. This costs a fraction.
What Is Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Traditional vanilla ice cream relies on heavy cream and milk for its rich texture. Dairy-free ice cream swaps those for plant-based alternatives like coconut milk, oat milk, almond milk, or cashew milk.
The challenge? Getting that same creamy, scoopable consistency without dairy's natural fat content. That's where the Ninja Creami shines. It transforms a solid frozen block into soft, creamy ice cream that rivals the real thing.
This recipe uses a combination of full-fat coconut milk (for richness) and oat milk (for smoothness and a neutral flavor). Together, they create an ice cream so good you'd never guess it's dairy-free.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Coconut milk – for a rich, creamy base.
- Oat milk – adds smoothness and balances the coconut flavor.
- Agave syrupor allulose – a natural sweetener with a mild taste.
- Vanilla bean paste – for that deep, Madagascar vanilla flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitution and Additions
- Swap oat milk → Almond milk or cashew milk.
- Swap agave syrup → Maple syrup or honey.
- Swap vanilla bean paste → Vanilla extract.
- Extra additions:
- Coconut flakes – for more coconut flavor.
- Almond butter – for a nutty twist.
- Cinnamon – for a warm, cozy taste.
How to Make Dairy-Free Ice Cream with Ninja CREAMi?
- Combine oat milk, coconut milk, blue agave, and vanilla bean paste.
- Freeze – Freeze for 24 hours.
- Spin in the Ninja Creami – Once frozen solid, place the container in your Ninja Creami, select the lite ice cream function, and let it do its magic.
- Respin if Needed – If still crumbly, add a tablespoon of juice and respin. This will give it a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Serve & Enjoy – Scoop into a bowl and dig in!
🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Crushed cookies (GF)
- Dairy-free chocolate chips
- Peanut butter or almond butter
- Toasted coconut flakes
- Fresh strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries
- Sliced bananas
- Mango chunks
- Maraschino cherries
- Crushed Oreos (Vegan)
- Granola
- Chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans)
- Sprinkles
- Dairy-free chocolate sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Maple syrup
- Honey (if not vegan)
- Fruit compote
How to Store Leftovers
Store in your Ninja CREAMi pint container and flatten the surface before refreezing. This keeps the blade from getting damaged when re-spinning. For best results, re-spin once after freezing.
👪Serving Size
This Ninja CREAMi Deluxe recipe makes 4 servings—perfect for sharing!
Using the standard 16-oz pint? Use two-thirds of all ingredient amounts.
🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Blender: Makes mixing ingredients effortless.
- Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: The star of the show, perfect for creating creamy, smooth ice cream.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: The pint container is essential for freezing and churning your ice cream mix.
Tips for Success
- If crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of oat milk and re-spin.
- Blend well before freezing to avoid grainy texture.
- Use full-fat coconut milk for extra creaminess.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before re-spinning if too hard.
- Don’t overfill the pint container to avoid overflow.
Recipe FAQs
Full-fat coconut milk is the best option for creamy, dairy-free ice cream. Oat milk also adds a smooth texture without overpowering the vanilla flavor.
Oat milk has a neutral, creamy flavor closest to regular milk. Almond milk is also a great option, but it has a slightly nutty taste.
You can use coconut milk, oat milk, or almond milk as a cream base in Ninja CREAMi dairy-free recipes. Blending frozen bananas also makes a great alternative.
Full-fat coconut milk is the creamiest dairy-free option. It creates a rich texture and mimics classic vanilla soft serve.
Vanilla-Inspired Ice Cream Flavors
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
More Classic Ice Cream Flavors
Did you try this recipe?
Share how it turned out in the comments below, and if you loved it, share it on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram.
Thank you! - Rose
Ninja Creami Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream
- 24 ounces Ninja Creami Container Pint
Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup oat milk
- ¼ cup agave syrup or allulose
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Combine coconut milk, oat milk, agave, and vanilla bean paste.
- Pour & freeze: Pour the mixture into a Ninja CREAMi pint container. Freeze for 24 hours.
- Spin it: Place the frozen pint in your Ninja CREAMi machine. Use the Ice Cream setting.
- Check texture: If crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons oat milk and re-spin.
- Enjoy! Scoop into bowls or cones and add your favorite toppings!
Notes
- If crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of oat milk and re-spin.
- Blend well before freezing to avoid grainy texture.
- Use full-fat coconut milk for extra creaminess.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before re-spinning if too hard.
- Don’t overfill the pint container to avoid overflow.
Karla says
Great recipe. My recipe weighed 25 ounces. I froze it as 1 pint and 1 half pint.
Rose Sioson says
Thanks so much! Great idea splitting it into a pint and half pint. I’ve updated the measurements—really appreciate the feedback!
Rose says
You’d never guess it’s dairy-free—it’s so creamy and has the perfect vanilla flavor. A great option for anyone avoiding dairy! I hope you all enjoy it just as much. Let me know if you try it!