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Black Raspberry Ice Cream (Dairy-Free)

A burst of summer in every bite, this black raspberry ice cream is just as creamy and rich as traditional ice cream, but it’s made without dairy and refined sugar!

One of my favorite things about growing up in Vermont is being surrounded by wild berries. When I was a little girl, every summer around this time, you would find me deep in the pricker bushes in our backyard. I would emerge, sometimes hours later, with red scratches all over my body, a container of fresh berries in my hand, a triumphant smile on my face. And we'd enjoy them all day long.

Red raspberries would come first, followed quickly by the black raspberries and then in mid- to late-August, the big juicy blackberries would start to pop. If you haven't tried black raspberries, I wish I could send you some. They're a little more tart than red raspberries but have that dark, bold flavor that blackberries do. They're a genius blend of berry goodness.

Closeup of black raspberry ice cream scoop

I was visiting my parents in Vermont a few weeks ago and the black raspberries were bursting off the bushes. I picked as many as humanly possible, scouring the hills behind their house until each bush was picked clean.

We ate some in our pancakes the next day, but I knew what I wanted to use the rest for black raspberry ice cream. I've used them in recipes before, like this Peach & Black Raspberry Tart or this Black Raspberry Cheesecake, but never in ice cream.

Overhead view of ingredients for black raspberry ice cream

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Full-fat coconut milk – Use the kind that comes in a can, not the refrigerated cartons.
  • Unsweetened almond milk
  • Honey – You can use agave to make this ice cream vegan.
  • Pure vanilla extract
  • Black raspberries – If you can’t find black raspberries locally, red raspberries, blackberries, or a combination of the two would also be scrumptious.

Are Black Raspberries and Blackberries the Same Thing?

While they look similar, black raspberries really are raspberries! You can tell because they have that hollow core in the middle, just like red and yellow raspberries do. Black raspberries are also sometimes called blackcaps or thimbleberries.

Overhead view of black raspberry ice cream in ice cream maker drum

How to Make Black Raspberry Ice Cream

When planning this recipe, make sure you put the bowl of your ice cream maker in the freezer beforehand. It’s always a bummer when you’re ready to make ice cream, but your ice cream maker isn’t!

Make the ice cream base. Blend the milks, honey, and vanilla in a high speed blender. Refrigerate this mixture for 1 to 2 hours.

Churn the ice cream. Follow the instructions for your ice cream maker and churn the base mixture. Add the black raspberries at the very end.

Chill. If you like your ice cream soft, you can eat it right away, but in most cases, it’s best if you transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze it for 2 to 4 hours, or until it sets.

Serve. Take the ice cream out of the freezer and let it sit for 10 minutes, then scoop and serve!

Scoop of black raspberry ice cream in ice cream scooper

Can I Make This If I Don’t Have an Ice Cream Maker?

Yes, you can still make creamy Black Raspberry Ice Cream even if you don’t have an ice cream maker!

Pour the base into a loaf pan place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top so it’s touching the liquid. Freeze for an hour or two, stir, then return to the freezer, continuing to stir every hour or so.

Once the mixture is thick but not completely solidified, stir in the black raspberries, then return to the freezer until the mixture is scoopable.

Tips for Success

Here are some tips for making perfect dairy-free ice cream with coconut milk!

  • Make sure you use full-fat coconut milk. Don’t substitute lite coconut milk! The texture of the ice cream won’t turn out the same.
  • Chill your ingredients. This is important because it helps the coconut milk churn into ice cream more quickly.
  • Don’t add the raspberries until the very end. Seriously! They only need to be churned in for about a minute before you turn off your machine.
Three scoops of black raspberry ice cream set atop pan of ice cream

Variations

As long as you add any mix-ins at the end of the churning time, you can feel free to customize this recipe and make it your own! Here are some ideas:

  • Add a swirl of raspberry or chocolate sauce.
  • Mix in some chocolate shavings.
  • Double the fruit and add some diced peaches, too.

How to Store 

Homemade ice cream is best eaten within a few days, but it will keep in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh!

More Ice Cream Recipes To Try

Black Raspberry Ice Cream

4.8 from 5 votes
This Black Raspberry Ice Cream is rich and creamy, but it's made with coconut milk instead of dairy!
author: Alyssa
yield: 3 Cups
Overhead view of black raspberry ice cream in loaf pan with ice cream scooper and fresh berries
Prep: 2 hours
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Blend the milks, honey, and vanilla in a high speed blender. Chill in the fridge for 1 – 2 hours.
  • Prepare the ice cream according to your ice cream manufacturers instructions, adding the black raspberries at the very end.
  • If the ice cream is not quite the consistency you're looking for, transfer it to a freezer safe container and freeze for 2 – 4 hours.
  • To serve, let ice cream sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

This ice cream can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 391mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin C: 11.9mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 5.1mg
cuisine: American
course: Dessert

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12 comments on “Black Raspberry Ice Cream (Dairy-Free)”

  1. Avatar photo
    LeAnn @ Real Fit, Real Food Mom

    This looks awesome, thanks! I’m going to attempt more dairy-free ice cream recipes soon because I’m noticing that milk upsets my stomach (something I’ve never paid attention to much until now). I love raspberries, so I’m sure I will be trying this soon!

    1. Would love to hear how it works for you! I was shocked at how creamy and delicious this was. Can’t wait for the warmer weather to start experimenting with more flavors!

    1. Yes, I think you probably could, but I don’t think the texture would be quite the same. When you make ice cream with no ice cream maker, you would blend it, chill it, then transfer it to a freezer safe container and as it’s freezing, you’ll have to give it a stir every hour or so to break up the ice crystals that will form. Let me know if you try it and how it works out for you 🙂 If you don’t have black raspberries, it would be delicious with any other berry!

  2. Hi
    I live in Australia so I’m not sure how large the can of coconut milk is that you are using for this recipe & also, I don’t have an ice cream maker – is there another way of making this?

    This is a wonderful site – you have done wonders for the like of us who can’t and don’t want to eat the rubbish that is so common place these days

    Thanks very much

    Paula-Ann

  3. Avatar photo
    Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens

    I love black raspberries! And, I love how you explain them as a combination of red raspberries and blackberries and suggest that combo as a yummy alternative for those of us who don’t have a patch of wonderful, prickery black raspberry bushes! Looks sooooo good!

  4. #2 in preperation for black rasberry ice cream….
    “according to your icecream manufacturers instructions”…..
    what do you mean by this?

    1. Yep! I would say that any other non-dairy milk would work great. Regular milk would work as well if you don’t have a sensitivity to dairy!