Creamy vegan coffee ice cream, with no eggs, dairy, or added sugar – made in under 5 minutes!
When I first went vegan over ten years ago, one of the things I missed most was being able to just go into a grocery store or a shop like Baskin-Robbins and choose from a dizzying array of ice cream flavors.
Back then, there was no vegan Haagen Dazs or Breyers, and there was definitely no vegan Ben & Jerry’s.
Out of necessity, I started coming up with my own ice cream flavors at home—everything from classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, to cookie dough and coffee fudge, to the truly adventurous cardamom pistachio and amaretto chocolate chip.
I’d use cashews, or coconut, or banana as the base, and soon my kitchen had turned into an ice-cream-making factory. Recipes for some of my favorite flavors are linked below:
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This vegan coffee ice cream can be made with just a few ingredients – no refined sugar, corn syrup, stabilizers, food dyes, or artificial flavors.
While the main version is made with banana, I also link to a banana-free option because I know not everyone is a fan of banana ice cream.
I like to add the optional coconut cream or nut butter for extra richness and to give the final result more of a café latte taste, but you can definitely leave it out for coffee ice cream that is fat-free.
If you want to avoid extra caffeine, go with the just-as-delicious decaf option.
My favorite thing about nice cream is how quick it is to make. You can easily whip up multiple flavors, which is especially great if you’re serving a crowd and everyone wants something different.
Or if you’re like me and hate making decisions.
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Why not throw a nice cream party with coffee, strawberry, and Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream??
When you finally get a warm and sunny day after what felt like an interminable winter, celebrating with ice cream is pretty much a requirement.
Adapted from my Banana Ice Cream Recipe
Vegan Coffee Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 large frozen bananas (For banana-free, use either my Coconut Ice Cream or this Almond Milk Ice Cream)
- 1/2 tsp instant coffee, decaf or regular
- 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- optional 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- optional handful chocolate chips
- optional for richness, 2 tbsp almond or cashew butter, or 1/4 cup coconut cream
Instructions
- *To make mocha coffee nice cream, feel free to blend in a spoonful of cocoa powder. I also opted to stir in homemade hot fudge (stir together equal parts cacao powder and melted coconut oil, sweeten with maple syrup).Be sure to use bananas whose skin is at least halfway brown before you peel, break into pieces, and freeze them, because unripe bananas will give an earthy taste to the nice cream that you don’t want. To make the ice cream, throw the frozen banana pieces (2 large bananas-worth) into a blender with all other ingredients except the chocolate chips. Blend until super smooth. Taste, and add a little sweetener of choice if it’s needed (depending on your tastebuds and the ripeness of your bananas). Either serve immediately, or transfer to a container and freeze an additional 30 minutes, then scoop out with an ice cream scoop for authentic presentation.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
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Hannah says
This looks amazing! I don’t know why I haven’t tried any of your ice cream recipes yet but I have a stash of frozen bananas in the freezer right now so that will definitely have to happen soon.
Kathryn says
My husband loves coffee ice cream, and I do too, but can’t do caffeine. So I’m totally going to try this decaf version! He’s not keen on banana ice cream (or vegan ice cream in general), but he did enjoy your chocolate peanut butter flavor. So maybe this will help win him over 🙂 Is it your hot fudge that makes those ripples and gooeyness? That’s one thing that I must include.
Also, I love that you said it was out of necessity that you create your own ice cream 😀 Ice cream definitely is necessary.
Whitney says
“Ice cream definitely is necessary.” Truer words could not be said. 😀
Jason Sanford says
Yes adding the homemade coconut oil hot fudge takes this (or any) banana ice cream to a whole new level.
Emily says
Coffee has always been my favorite ice cream flavor – so glad that you were able to veganize it!
xo,
Em
Whitney says
I have been on such a nice cream craze this last week! This is the perfect recipe to add to my queue! This made my early Monday morning so happy.
Nina says
Would love to watch a video of thus to some summer style music… thanks for the recipe. Quick question, com you have an App to purchase?
Jason Sanford says
She doesn’t have an app but does have an ebook. I know it’s not the same thing, maybe she needs to work on an app too! https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2016/10/11/healthy-breakfast-cookbook-food-blog/
K Ann Guinn says
This looks amazing (along with all your other flavors), and I also have a huge stash of bananas in my freezer.
I just have one question. Do you have one of those high-powered blenders? Because I still have my trusty, old “regular” blenders, and I could be wrong, but I’m quite sure it won’t handle something this thick. (I usually have to add enough liquid to get it to operate for smoothies, etc.) And if so, do you think I can just transfer this to either a food processor or even my KitchenAid mixer and get the same results?
Thanks!
Jason Sanford says
I’ve made banana ice cream in a regular blender and I know Katie has used a food processor before. It can be done! You might need to add a little liquid sometimes, but as long as the banana pieces are small enough (and you use enough bananas so it has enough to process) I don’t always need to add any.
Karen Schuppert says
Eek! Looks fabulous but I can’t do bananas. What can I substitute? Thank you?
Jason Sanford says
Linked in the recipe ingredients 😉
Cassie Thuvan Tran says
Nice cream is heavenly, but instead of blending it, I use a Yonanas machine that works amazingly. I have to start making nice cream again though! Cacao powder, peanut butter powder, spirulina, cinnamon, and maca powder are my favorite additions in plain nice cream!
The Curious Frugal says
Omigod, as soon as I saw the first photo I knew I wanted to make this. Looks amazing!
Nina says
Yummmm! I can’t wait to make this. Coffee is my favorite flavor.
Linda @ the Fitty says
Oh my gosh this sounds amazing. Even though I’m not vegan by any means.
k says
Who are those women with you in pic? JW
Dailycupo says
My children’s love coffee ice cream, and I do too, but can’t add caffeine. So I’m totally going to try this decaf version! They do not like vegan ice cream in general but they did enjoy your chocolate peanut butter flavor. So maybe this will help. Is it your hot fudge that makes those ripples? I love that you said it was out of necessity that you create your own ice cream ? Ice cream definitely is a mandatory food in life.
Anastasiya Kosovan says
Can I use regular coffee that is not instant? We don’t buy instant coffee
Jason Sanford says
You can always experiment! 🙂
Samantha Everson says
When using bananas to make any flavor nice cream..can you taste them???
Marie says
I’m a little confused about the amount of coffee to put in… In the introduction, it says 2 tsp., but in the recipe it says 1/2 tsp. Which is it?
Karrie says
If using the almond milk ice rather than bananas…can I just add all of the ingredients into the ice cream maker while making the almond milk ice cream? (with the chocolate chips at the end of course)
Jason Sanford says
Hi! Just make the almond milk ice cream recipe based on this post: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2018/08/06/almond-milk-ice-cream-recipe/
Then for a coffee flavor, add the 1/2 tsp instant coffee, 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract, and pinch of salt, following the recipe instructions on the post linked above… if that makes sense?
Jason (media relations)
Karrie says
THank you, I understood that I needed to add the additional ingredients, but was wondering more that if using an ice cream maker, if I needed to wait until I finished the almond milk ice cream to add the additional ingredients or if I could just add the coffee, additional vanilla and salt at the same time as I was making the almond milk ice cream.
As with most flavored ice creams in the ice cream maker you add everything from the start and then include chunks, such as nuts or chocolate chips the last 5 minutes (or less).
Maybe it doesn’t matter in the end?
Jason Sanford says
Oh sorry for my confusion! Yes, add all non-chunky ingredients in the beginning. So add the extract, salt, coffee in the beginning. Stir chips in at the end.
Aveley says
Hey I had a question what kind of things would you use as a sweetener
Jason Sanford says
Hi! Just use your favorite – sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave, xylitol, etc. 🙂
Beth says
Can you substitute plantain for banana in this recipe? Bananas are too high sugar for my diet, but I so miss making Nice Cream without an ice cream maker!
Jason Sanford says
Seems like you could… I’ve never tried a plantain but I think it’s pretty similar?
Jason
Keely says
Hi! For the coffee, is it coffee grounds or brewed coffee?
Jason Sanford says
Grounds – instant coffee grounds
Patricia says
I read above that you made Amaretto Chocolate Chip. Is this in your library of recipes. I looked through and couldn’t find any. Can’t wait to try the Coffee ice cream.
Pearson says
Lol plantains are not that similar. While on the outside they look similar they have a harder texture and have a bitterness to them.