Keto ice cream and frozen treats

  1. 10 top recipes
  2. Toppings
  3. Ice cream desserts
  4. No ice cream maker?
  5. Store-bought
  6. FAQs

Ice cream never goes out of style because ice cream is, hands down, one of the world's favorite treats. Whether you are on a keto or low carb diet, or prefer dairy-free or vegan foods, we have a tasty version of this chilly dessert for you!

We've put together 10 of our healthiest and yummiest, low carb ice cream recipes, with tips, toppings, and desserts to go alongside.

And guess what? You don't even need an ice cream machine! Making keto-friendly ice cream without a commercial ice cream maker might take a bit longer, but it's definitely worth the wait.

Our latest ice cream favorites

keto ice-cream sandwich

Keto mason jar ice cream

Low-carb chocolate ice cream

Jump to keto ice cream FAQ

Top 10 low carb and keto ice cream recipes

1. Low carb cookie dough ice cream


If you enjoy the old-school classics, you'll love our recipe for low carb cookie dough ice cream.

2. Keto vanilla ice cream


If you're a fan of classics, try this easy vanilla recipe. This is quite likely the creamiest keto ice cream you will ever try.

3. Keto mason jar ice cream


No ice cream machine? No problem! Try our Mason jar ice cream, fun and scrumptious for parents and children alike. Not only does it yield a creamy, keto treat, but it keeps the kids busy shaking for at least five minutes.

4. Creamy dairy-free keto vanilla ice cream


If you're keto and dairy-free, we think you'll love this creamy vanilla recipe. The secret to the smooth texture is the avocado oil. Shhh… let's keep it a secret!

5. Keto peppermint and mocha


We've got a peppermint mocha ice cream that's not only perfect for summer but adds a festive touch to Thanksgiving and Christmas, too.

6. Low carb blueberry ice cream


Low carb blueberry ice cream is bursting with flavor. The lemon and cardamom are unexpected additions that give your taste buds an extra treat.

7. Low carb chocolate ice cream


This smooth and luscious chocolate ice cream is dairy-free and vegan-friendly. You can enjoy it within four hours.

8. Keto lemon ice cream


For a refreshing citrusy frozen treat, try our light and luscious keto lemon ice cream. The perfect keto recipe for summer fun.

9. Low carb popsicles with berries and lime


Another alternative when you don't have an ice cream maker is to use popsicle molds. Make our lime and berry pops, or create your own flavors depending on what seasonal fruits are available.

10. Low carb frozen yogurt popsicles


Yogurt and heavy cream can be combined with frozen fruit to make truly decadent low carb popsicles. This is a summertime treat everyone can love.

Keto-friendly ice cream toppings

Just a sprinkle of fresh berries can give a simple scoop of vanilla a lift. A teaspoon of chopped nuts adds a nice crunch, and a smattering of chopped, low carb chocolate adds that rich flavor we love. Use a bit of both, and you've made yourself a sweet little sundae!

If you're looking for something a little more elaborate for your ice cream sundae bar, try one of these topping recipes!

Homemade ice cream desserts

Low carb ice cream sandwiches

Ice cream, like sweetened whipped cream, pairs really well with other desserts — it adds another level of texture, flavor and creaminess! Armed with our low carb recipes, it's ok to double-up!

Bake small low carb cookies, about 1 inch in diameter, to make ice cream cookie sandwiches. Roll the sides in chopped nuts or chocolate and place in the freezer to chill. Surprise the kids — big and small — or save them as a treat for yourself when others are enjoying high-carb desserts.

Low carb ice cream with cake

Make a dessert extra-special with a small scoop of ice cream over a mini-muffin or a thin slice of low carb cake. Cake and ice cream make a heavenly combination.

Easy keto mason jar ice cream

Can you make creamy keto ice cream without an ice cream maker?

With this super easy keto ice cream recipe, you can! No ice cream maker required, just shake, freeze, and serve. Creating this sugar-free version of classic vanilla ice cream is so simple, it's child's play.

Level: Preparation time: Chill time: Servings:
Easy 8 minutes 3 hrs 1

Ingredients 1

  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp xylitol or erythritol
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Keto mason jar ice cream

Nutrition per serving: Kcal: Protein: Fat:
Net carbs: 4 g 497 6 g 47 g

Instructions

  1. To make vanilla ice cream, add all the ingredients to a portion-sized mason jar, or any glass jar with a lid. Is vanilla not your flavor? Pick your favorite from the list below, and add the ingredients to the vanilla mixture.
  2. Seal the lid, and shake vigorously for at least 5 minutes.
  3. Place the jar in the freezer and chill for at least three hours. Enjoy!
Flavor suggestions

The fun thing about making mason jar ice cream, is that everyone can personalize their flavor. Add the following ingredients (per serving) before you shake!

Mocha almond ice cream

+1 gram of carbs
0.25 tsp almond extract
0.25 tsp instant espresso powder
0.5 tbsp slivered almonds
0.5 tbsp chopped low carb chocolate chips

Coconut almond ice cream

+1 gram of carbs
0.25 tsp almond extract
0.25 tsp coconut extract
1 tbsp flaked coconut
0.5 tbsp slivered almonds

Blueberry ice cream

+2 grams of carbs
2 tbsp fresh or frozen blueberries, finely chopped

Strawberry ice cream

+3 grams of carbs
5 tbsp fresh or frozen strawberries, finely chopped

Chocolate

+2 grams of carbs
0.5 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp chopped low carb chocolate chips

Store-bought low carb ice cream

While there are now a lot of commercial "low carb" ice cream options available, always read the nutrition information and ingredients.

Tips when buying store-bought low carb ice cream

Tips on buying pre-made low carb ice cream

Tips when buying store-bought low-carb ice cream

The best options will use cream, eggs, natural sweeteners, and as few ingredients as possible.

Avoid any store-bought low carb ice cream that has:

  • sugar
  • corn syrup
  • coconut sugar, or other forms of sugar.

Look for sweeteners that are on our approved sweeteners list such as erythritol, Allulose, xylitol, stevia, or monk fruit.

Pay attention to serving sizes — as ice cream is sweet and full of flavorful fat, it can be easy to overeat.

Note how you feel after eating commercial ice cream. If your blood glucose tends to be higher, your weight loss stalls, or you aren't seeing the progress you expected, then store-bought ice cream might be the culprit.

Keto ice cream FAQ

What is keto ice cream made of?

For our keto and low carb ice cream, we begin with heavy cream, eggs, and sweeteners, which make delightfully rich and highly satisfying ice cream. Our dairy-free recipes use coconut cream and almond milk instead of heavy cream.

Sour cream in glass bowl isolated on white background with clipping path
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Heavy cream

Whole and cut in half coconuts with coconut milk
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Coconut cream

Almond milk
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Almond milk

Group of brown raw eggs, one is broken, isolated white
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Eggs

Vanilla pods and vanilla essence in glass bottle.
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Vanilla extract

Erythritol
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Erythritol, or Allulose

Xylitol
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Xylitol

Stevia
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Stevia

monkfruitextract
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Ingredients for keto-friendly ice cream:
Monk fruit

Can you make keto ice cream with almond milk or coconut milk?

Keto ice cream without heavy cream? Try almond milk or coconut milk instead! Neither has as much fat as heavy cream, so the ice cream may seem a bit icy when it freezes. Let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-7 minutes to soften before serving.

Almond milk ice cream recipe

Creamy dairy-free keto vanilla ice cream

Coconut milk ice cream recipe

Dairy- and egg-free low carb chocolate ice cream

Keto ice cream without sweetener

If you find that ice cream is sweet enough without added sweeteners, then you can omit them. Fresh berries are nature's sweeteners and can be used instead.

blueberry
1 of 4

Natural sweetener: Blueberries
3.3 grams of net carbs
per ounce (28 grams)

Two strawberries isolated on white background
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Natural sweetener: Strawberries
1.6 grams of carbs
per ounce (28 grams)

Raspberry with leaves isolated on white background
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Natural sweetener: Raspberries
1.5 grams of carbs
per ounce (28 grams)

Blackberry with leaves isolated on white.
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Natural sweetener: Blackberries
1.2 grams of carbs
per ounce (28 grams)

Does keto ice cream have sugar?

Avoid any that have sugar, corn syrup, coconut sugar, or other forms of sugar. Look for sweeteners that are on our approved sweeteners list such as xylitol, Allulose, erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit.

Why is my keto ice cream so hard?

It may be the sweeteners:  Any Diet Doctor recipes that use granulated sweetener call for erythritol, a natural sweetener. While we use erythritol because it doesn't raise blood glucose, erythritol isn't ideal for ice cream.

Ice cream made with erythritol freezes very hard and doesn't yield the soft and scoopable texture of homemade ice cream made with sugar. Even adding alcohol or oils doesn't seem to reduce the rock-solid results common when using erythritol.

One option is to simply let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-7 minutes to soften before serving. Another solution is to use a sweetener like xylitol, which, when used in ice cream, yields a familiar, picture-perfect scoop of ice cream.

Xylitol measures just like sugar and has about half the calories. Keep in mind that xylitol is toxic to pets and can cause digestive upset when used in large quantities.

For more information about xylitol, and other sweeteners, please read our guide.

Is keto ice cream OK to eat if you have diabetes?

Keto or low carb ice cream made with an approved sweetener is generally safe to consume even for people who have diabetes. Test your blood glucose if you have concerns. Read more about low carb sweeteners in our medically reviewed guide.

Is there a keto ice cream without eggs?

Recipe Yes! This smooth and luscious chocolate ice cream is dairy-free and vegan-friendly. You can enjoy it within four hours.