Vegan Key Lime Ice Cream – a refined sugar-free and paleo friendly key lime ice cream made with a secret ingredient…can you guess what it is??
Avocados!
Cue record scratch.
Do what?
For reals, avocados are the secret ingredient in this key lime ice cream.
As seen in guacamole.
As seen in all the dinner salads to make them more palatable.
As seen in many-a-vegan-and-or-paleo baked good for fat infusion and butter reduction.
I know, it’s a mind blow…but you guys, avocados make the creamiest, dreamiest, most scoopable vegan homemade ice cream that ever made your tongue’s acquaintance.
Because vegan (or paleo) ice creams need a little help in the texture department, I’m always on the prowl for secrets to make it soft that don’t (obvi) involve egg yolks or heavy cream. As it turns out, avocados get the job done in great form!
I promise, you can’t taste the avocado, on account of all the lime juice and pure maple syrup. It really just tastes like key lime coconut bliss.
And it’s about as addicting as a Netflix Original. Following this key lime adventure, I made a chocolate version (sans lime juice butofcourse, cause that’d just be weird), and it turned out marvelously as well. It almost comes out with a gelato-like consistency.
How to Make Vegan Key Lime Ice Cream:
We all know how much I love to use my blender for preparing sweet treats, and this recipe was no exception. All of the ingredients went into my Wolf Blender, then straight into my ice cream maker. No heating necessary, no stirring or whisking…just the zippity do dah in the ol’ blender (or food processor if that’s your jam).
All things considered, this ice cream is:
- Paleo-friendly
- Egg-free
- Dairy-free
- Refined sugar-free
- Super fatty
- Fatty, fat, fat
- But the healthy kind though
- Worth the extra time at the gym
- Will give you wings
- Your one stop shop for tongue bud bliss
This ice cream was inspired by those No-Bake Vegan Key Lime Tarts I showed you a while back.
I ended up freezing a lot of them, and noticed upon consumption that the filling stayed soft and creamy, at which point it dawned on me, lose the silly crust, I just need the filling, and then it dawned on me some more that holy MACKEREL, I can just make ice cream out of the filling and so on and so forth.
So I basically took the exact recipe for the tart filling and turned it into ice cream.
Sweetener Options:
I like using pure maple syrup, but you can also use honey or coconut palm syrup. Make this recipe low-carb and keto by replacing the liquid sweetener with a powdered zero-sugar sweetener, such as Swerve, Stevia, or Monk Fruit. If using a zero-sugar sweetener, start with 1/3 cup and increase up to 1/2 cup to your personal taste.
No regrets. Just tears of joy. My hips don’t lie. Roll with it.
My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!
If you make this Vegan Key Lime Ice Cream, please feel free to share a photo and tag me at @The.Roasted.Root on Instagram!
More Delicious Ice Cream Recipes:
- Keto Coffee Ice Cream
- Keto Vanilla Ice Cream
- Paleo Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
- Boozy Roasted Cherry Dark Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
- Green Tea Coconut Milk Ice Cream
Here’s that recipe I’ve been talking about:
Key Lime Avocado Vegan Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 large avocados peeled and pitted
- 3/4 cup key lime juice
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup coconut oil melted and cooled
Instructions
- Start by placing the bowl of your ice cream maker in your freezer and freeze overnight.
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.
- Transfer ice cream base to your ice cream maker and churn until thick and creamy.
- Serve immediately for soft serve consistency, or transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container and freeze until hardened, about 2 hours.
- When ready to serve, thaw ice cream 5 to 10 minutes before scooping.
Joy
Monday 29th of May 2023
Avocados are in most of my homemade, Clean, nutrient dense Smoothies, so this will be a win-win since Key Lime is a hubby fav. I’m loving the total 3 Net Carbs, woohoo!!
Julia
Wednesday 31st of May 2023
So happy you enjoy the recipe, Joy! xoxo
Sylvia W
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
This sounds scrumptious and I will be trying it this afternoon! One note, however; you know how good the vanilla and orange works in a creamcicle? Have 3ever tried the chocolate orange candy that usually comes out around the holidays? Chocolate and citrus is delectable together! Many years ago, when I worked in a chain that served ice cream and shakes I used to make a special using sherbet and chocolate syrup, almost any citrus flavor works. Folks went nuts for it! So don't write off the chocolate and lime combo, it rocks!😉
Sylvia W
Tuesday 28th of June 2022
@Julia, I finally got the time to make this, and yummy!!! I followed the recipe almost exactly - left out the vanilla because I dislike the aroma and flavor unless in creamcicle form, and added about 1/4 cup of dairy free dark chocolate chips during the blender step, so some got chopped, some got powdered and some stayed intact for a variety of texture. It so delicious!!! So glad I don't have to share!
Sarah
Tuesday 14th of June 2022
@Julia, I made this tonight and I have to say this taste amazing! Zero taste of avacado and it’s the ONLY way I have been able to keep an avacado down! I am sooo looking forward to the health benefits that comes from something so tasty yet so healthy!? Thank you for sharing this!
Xo
Julia
Friday 10th of June 2022
Oh, YES! My brother and I are both obsessed with that chocolate orange candy! We used to always get it in our Christmas stockings :) Love the idea of key lime and chocolate now that you've mentioned it! xoxo
Steveo
Wednesday 19th of August 2020
Oh wow - this looks so so good. And super healthy too!
Julia
Wednesday 19th of August 2020
Let me know if you try it! It has been a favorite on this site for years! :D xoxoxo
Sylvia W
Wednesday 27th of May 2020
Oh my! I just acquired a hand cranked ice cream maker at a thrift store a few days ago and was wondering what my first recipe would be......I wonder no more! I am already a fan just based on the ingredients - I love avocados and lime is my favorite citrus <3 Once I have gathered a couple missing items (or found them hiding in my absurdly stocked pantry LOL) I will check in to report on how it turned out :-)
Julia
Thursday 28th of May 2020
Yaaaay looking forward to hearing how it turns out, Sylvie!! xoxo
Lori
Tuesday 26th of May 2020
Hi. Has anyone tried substituting monkfruit sweetener for the maple syrup to cut down on sugar?
Julia
Wednesday 27th of May 2020
Hi Lori,
I haven't had a chance to try a low-carb version yet, but I assume it will work great! If you happen to have a liquid sugar-free sweetener, it may turn out better, as liquid sweeteners tend to help keep homemade ice cream soft. I use this brand quite a bit: https://amzn.to/2AejooV Let me know if you try it!