This Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream is rich, creamy and easily made in the Ninja Creami. It's completely dairy free, paleo, nut free, and refined sugar free - made with dates for a healthy caramel ice cream that has the perfect sweet and salty contrast!
If you know me, you know the Ninja Creami is my favorite kitchen appliance. This vegan salted caramel ice cream is the latest proof that this machine is worth every inch of counter space it occupies and every cent it costs. This date-based ice cream is rich, creamy, perfectly scoopable without a traditional ice cream maker. No churning, no complicated steps, and absolutely no sacrificing flavor.
Why You'll Love This Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream
- Vegan and paleo: this caramel ice cream recipe is completely allergy friendly!
- Sweetened with dates: no refined sugar, no coconut sugar, no maple syrup - just Medjool dates for natural caramel flavor.
- Healthy: lower sugar and lower fat than regular ice cream with an optional protein boost.
- Easy Ninja Creami Recipe: blend, freeze, spin - that's it. Homemade ice cream has never been easier!
Why Dates? The Case for Nature's Caramel
- Medjool dates are nature's candy. They are naturally quite sweet, with a rich molasses flavor that tastes very similar to caramel. I even have a homemade vegan salted caramel sauce made from dates!
- Using dates is much easier than making caramel sauce from scratch. They already taste like caramel, so there is no cooking involved or worrying about the caramel burning while you stand over the stove for 15-20 minutes. You just blend the dates with the other ingredients!
- Dates also contain antioxidants, fiber, and minerals for added health benefits beyond traditional caramel sauce made from processed sugars.
Vegan Salted Caramel Ingredients
- Medjool dates: Medjool dates are the richest, juiciest variety so they provide the most flavor. Be sure to buy pitted or pit before using.
- Full fat coconut yogurt or coconut cream: helps produce a creamy texture without full fat dairy.
- Dairy free milk: your favorite vegan milk will work, whether that is almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.
- Vanilla extract, flaky sea salt: vanilla rounds out the caramel flavor. And for the best salted caramel, you need good quality flaky salt like the Maldon Sea Salt.
- Pea protein (optional): although optional, I love adding a scoop of pea protein (or your favorite plant based protein powder) for a protein boost. This also helps with a creamy texture. My favorite brand is Sprout Living and you can use LEMONSNLYME20 for a discount!
How to Make Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream in the Ninja Creami
- If dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes to soften them.
- Blend all the ingredients together, except for the salt, until smooth in a high speed blender or food processor. Whisk in the salt.
- Pour ice cream 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. If the ice cream is chalky after the first spin, add a splash of milk and re-spin until you have a creamy ice cream.
- Serve sprinkled with a little extra flaky salt on top
Substitutions and Variations
- Yogurt and milk: you can substitute the yogurt and milk combination for full-fat coconut milk
- Make a batch of my date caramel sauce to drizzle on top for extra caramel flavor or even some cashew butter.
- Add mix-ins: after your final spin, use the Ninja Creami mix-in function to fold in dairy free chocolate chips, chopped pecans, or shredded coconut for a loaded caramel cookie situation.
How to Store Leftover Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream
If you don't finish your vegan caramel 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.
Ninja Creami Tips for the Creamiest Results
- Fat ratio matters: using some full fat ingredients yields the best results, that's why we need some full fat yogurt/coconut cream or full fat coconut milk.
- Heat the base before spinning. I always suggest microwaving the frozen ice cream base for 30-45 seconds or running the outside under hot water for a minute or two to soften the ice cream base 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! It can be tempting to keep re-spinning your ice cream for an even smoother texture, but eventually it will be more like a milkshake. If you are new to the Ninja Creami ice cream machine, it might take a few tries before you learn just how many times to spin your ice cream mixture for the perfect creamy texture that still holds its scoop. If you prefer your ice cream to be more like the consistency of soft serve, then feel free to spin it an extra round!
FAQ
Yes, and I want you to go in with full confidence on this one. Medjool dates have a naturally rich, molasses-like sweetness that mimics caramel flavor remarkably closely. Is it identical to a sugar-loaded traditional salted caramel? No. Is it deeply caramel-flavored, rich, and completely satisfying? Absolutely. The flaky salt on top seals the deal.
Yes, you can make this creamy vegan salted caramel ice cream in a traditional ice cream maker. Double the recipe and follow the directions for your ice cream maker.
I find 8-12 hours can be sufficient (you may not even need to microwave it at all before spinning). This will depend on your freezer, so you may have to test freeze times for best results.
Yes, this delicious ice cream recipe is fully paleo and AIP friendly depending on the milk and yogurt brand you use.
Yup! Opt for oat milk or coconut milk instead of almond milk.
More Ninja Creami Recipes
Want more dairy-free ice creams? I've got plenty of recipes for you!
This is my base Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream that is perfect for any occasion. My Golden Milk Ice Cream and Healthy Cinnamon Ice Cream are also perfect year round!
Want summer flavors? Try my Vegan Peach Crisp Ice Cream, Vegan Blackberry Ice Cream, 2-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet, or Dairy Free Salted Honey Ice Cream.
My favorite fall flavors are Vegan Pumpkin Ice Cream and Vegan Apple Crisp Ice Cream.
If you try this recipe, please leave a rating and review below. I'd love to hear how you liked it!
Vegan Salted Caramel Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 Medjool dates pitted
- ½ cup dairy free full fat yogurt* or coconut cream
- 1 cup dairy free milk*
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt plus more for topping
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- If dates are firm, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes to soften them.
- Blend all the ingredients together, except for the salt, until smooth in a high speed blender or food processor. Whisk in the salt.
- Pour ice cream 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. If the ice cream is chalky after the first spin, add a splash of milk and re-spin until you have a creamy ice cream.
- Serve sprinkled with a little extra flaky salt on top.
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