Fig season is short, so when I'm not baking with them, I'm roasting them with honey and turning them into ice cream. This dairy free Honey Roasted Fig Ice Cream is made in the Ninja Creami with fresh figs caramelized in honey and coconut sugar until they're jammy and deeply sweet. Completely paleo friendly and unlike any fig ice cream you've had before!
Fresh figs are an elusive fruit with a very short season. If you blink, it's gone, so you have to be ready and waiting for them to not miss out. They are in season in late summer and early fall, so I always keep my eye out for them in the store starting late July - early August. There are a number of traditional ice cream recipes out there using figs, but I obviously had to make a dairy free and Ninja Creami version. Per usual, it did not disappoint and this recipe is a perfect way to use fresh figs this time of year!
Why You'll Love This Honey Roasted Fig Ice Cream
- Dairy free and paleo friendly: every other roasted fig ice cream recipe out there is loaded with heavy cream, egg yolks, or goat cheese. This one skips all of it for an allergy friendly fig ice cream that is still as rich and delicious as the others. Plus, it can be made completely vegan.
- Refined sugar free: this fig ice cream skips the refined white sugar for a healthier and lower sugar ice cream.
- Honey roasted figs: roasting the figs first caramelizes the natural sugars and deepens the flavor into something closer to fig jam.
- Made for the Ninja Creami: no ice cream maker, no egg tempering, no custard base to babysit. Just roast, blend, freeze, spin. This is an easy recipe for fig season.
- Figs for the win: fig season disappears fast, but this is one of the best ways to use a batch before they're gone. If you're a fig lover, save this one for when the season hits!
Are Figs Good For You?
Figs are loaded with fiber, potassium, calcium, and antioxidants for gut and overall health! Their natural sweetness reduces the need for added sugar in this ice cream recipe, leading to a lower sugar, healthier dessert overall. Paired with coconut milk for healthy fats, this is a genuinely more nutrient-dense frozen treat than a typical custard-based ice cream.
Ingredients for Honey Roasted Fig Ice Cream
- Fresh figs: you'll need ripe, in-season figs. Black mission are sweetest, but brown figs also work and are usually easier to find.
- Honey: for roasting the figs.
- Coconut sugar: just a little helps caramelize the figs during the roasting process.
- Full fat coconut milk: this results in the creamiest outcome, see substitutions below.
- Maple syrup: be sure to use pure maple syrup.
- Vanilla extract: vanilla ice cream is a classic flavor, so be sure to use pure vanilla extract for the best results.
- Cinnamon: a little bit of warm spice helps to balance the sweet fig flavor.
How to Make Honey Roasted Fig Ice Cream
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Halve figs and toss with honey and coconut sugar. Spread them on the baking sheet in a single layer and roast figs until caramelized. About 15-20 minutes.
- Let figs cool completely to room temperature.
- Blend all of the ice cream base ingredients together along with half of the roasted figs until smooth.
- Pour base mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container to the max fill line, place storage lid on top, and freeze for 12-24 hours. Be sure the pint is sitting on a level surface in the freezer.
- Before spinning, microwave the ice cream base for 30 seconds or run the outside under hot water for a minute.
- Add the pint to the Ninja Creami container and add the outer bowl lid.
- Spin on the lite ice cream setting.
- Add the remaining roasted figs and use the mix-in setting.
Substitutions and Variations
- Coconut milk: you can use almond milk, oat milk, or any other milk you like, but it won't be as creamy. To still get the best texture, use ½ cup of dairy free yogurt with 1 cup of your favorite dairy free milk.
- Maple syrup: you can sub this for coconut sugar or honey in the ice cream base.
- Coconut sugar: you can also use brown sugar, but this is not refined sugar free.
- Variations: add a splash of balsamic vinegar to the roasting pan for a deeper, more complex flavor (nod to the classic fig + balsamic pairing)
- Mix-in ideas: crushed pistachios or walnuts, dark chocolate shavings, or drizzle with caramel sauce upon serving.
- Make it high protein: this is optional, but I love getting the protein boost! I use Sprout Living pea protein since it has no added flavors or sugars (use code LEMONSNLYME20 for 20% off). You can use your favorite protein powder though to turn this fig ice cream into a high protein dessert.
Ninja Creami Tips for the Best Fig Ice Cream
- Don't skip roasting: roasting provides so much extra flavor and sweetness. Without roasting, you end up with a flat fig ice cream.
- Don't skip the fat: use the milk+yogurt combo or full fat coconut milk for the creamiest texture.
- Let the roasted figs cool completely before blending: warm fruit added into the base can cause texture issues.
- Heat the base before spinning: I always suggest microwaving the frozen ice cream base for 30 seconds or running the outside under hot water for a minute or two to soften the ice cream base some for best results. This helps with ice crystals and the number of times you have to re-spin for a creamy texture.
- Don't overspin: you may be tempted to re-spin the ice cream base if it's crumbly after the first spin, but avoid that. When you add the extra figs as a mix-in, it will re-spin the ice cream and you will end up with a smooth ice cream!
How to Store Leftover Roasted Fig Ice Cream
If you don't finish your dairy free fig ice cream, smooth over the top of the pint and re-freeze any leftovers. You can re-spin the ice cream when ready to eat the rest, following the same directions as above. Just note, any fig chunks will get blended into the ice cream further so you may want to add some more roasted figs when re-spinning or upon serving.
FAQ
Yes, this roasted fig ice cream is dairy free as written.
Yes, this fig ice cream is also completely paleo! It is also completely AIP friendly.
Yes, you can make this into a vegan ice cream by skipping the honey and using maple syrup instead.
Black mission figs are the sweetest variety and will provide the strongest fig flavor, but they have a very short season and can be hard to find. Brown turkey figs are usually more common in stores and will still yield a delicious homemade ice cream!
Unfortunately, it is not quite the same. Fresh figs are best for this recipe, but if you can only find dry, here's what to do: soak the figs in hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate them. Instead of roasting, you may want to simmer them in some water and honey or coconut sugar until they are soft enough to mash.
You always want to use the Lite ice cream setting for dairy free ice cream bases.
Yes, you can. Double the recipe and use a traditional ice cream maker. Churn ice cream following manufacturer's instructions. Dice the leftover roasted figs before adding them into the ice cream base towards the end of churning so they get mixed in.
More Fruity Dairy Free Ninja Creami Recipes
Three other summer flavors you have to try include my Vegan Strawberry Ice Cream, Vegan Cherry Ice Cream, and Vegan Blackberry Ice Cream
Delicious fall and winter flavors include my Vegan Date Caramel Ice Cream and Dairy Free Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream
If you like texture contrast, be sure to make my Gluten Free Peach Crisp Ice Cream or Gluten Free Apple Crisp Ice Cream
Ninja Creami Roasted Fig Ice Cream (Dairy Free, Paleo)
Equipment
Ingredients
Roasted Figs
- 10 medium figs about 1 lbs
- 1 ½ tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoon honey*
Ice Cream Base
- 1 ½ cups full fat coconut milk**
- 2-4 tablespoon maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ of the roasted figs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Halve figs and toss with honey and coconut sugar. Spread them on the baking sheet in a single layer and roast figs until caramelized. About 15-20 minutes.
- Let figs cool completely to room temperature.
- Blend all of the ice cream base ingredients together along with half of the roasted figs until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness based on preference.
- Pour base mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container to the max fill line, place storage lid on top, and freeze for 12-24 hours. Be sure the pint is sitting on a level surface in the freezer.
- Before spinning, microwave the ice cream base for 30 seconds or run the outside under hot water for a minute.
- Add the pint to the Ninja Creami container and add the outer bowl lid.
- Spin on the lite ice cream setting.
- Add the ½ to all of the remaining roasted figs, without overcrowding the Ninja to the point the lid won't close, and use the mix-in setting.
Notes
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