A Complete Guide to Making Delicious Keto Ice Cream
Are you a keto enthusiast who’s been missing the creamy, dreamy delight of ice cream? Well, you’re in for a treat! With a few simple ingredients and some creativity, you can whip up your very own keto-friendly ice cream that’s both scrumptious and guilt-free. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to make your own keto ice cream so you can enjoy this frozen treat while staying true to your low-carb lifestyle.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before we dive into the process of making keto ice cream, let’s gather the ingredients you’ll need. Feel free to get creative with flavors and add-ins, but here’s a basic list to get you started:
- Heavy Cream: This will be the base of your ice cream, providing the richness and creaminess you crave.
- Low-Carb Sweetener: Choose keto-friendly sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit to add sweetness without the carbs.
- Egg Yolks: These will help improve the texture and add richness to your ice cream.
- Vanilla Extract: For that classic ice cream flavor.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or Extracts: Use these for various flavors like chocolate, strawberry, or mint.
- Liquid Stevia Drops (Optional): If you need a little extra sweetness without carbs.
- Keto-Friendly Mix-Ins: Think chopped nuts, sugar-free chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or berries.
Equipment Needed
- Ice Cream Maker: This is essential for churning your ice cream to the perfect consistency. If you don’t have one, you can make no-churn keto ice cream, but it won’t be as creamy.
- Mixing Bowls: For combining ingredients.
- Whisk or Electric Mixer: To blend and whip the ingredients.
- Freezer-Safe Container: To store your ice cream.
Now that you have your ingredients and equipment ready, let’s get started.
Steps to Make Keto Ice Cream
Step 1: Prepare Your Ice Cream Base
- In a mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, egg yolks, and your chosen low-carb sweetener. If you’re using a liquid sweetener like liquid stevia drops, add it to taste.
Step 2: Add Flavor and Mix-Ins
- If you’re making a classic vanilla ice cream, add vanilla extract to the mixture. If you’re going for a different flavor, like chocolate or strawberry, add unsweetened cocoa powder or fruit extracts.
- Now, fold in any keto-friendly mix-ins you desire. This is where you can get creative and add chopped nuts, sugar-free chocolate chips, or berries for a burst of flavor and texture.
Step 3: Chill the Mixture
- Cover your mixing bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until it’s well chilled. This step helps improve the texture of your ice cream.
Step 4: Churn the Ice Cream
- Pour the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually takes around 20-30 minutes.
Step 5: Freeze and Enjoy
- Transfer your freshly churned ice cream into a freezer-safe container and cover it with plastic wrap or a lid.
- Allow your ice cream to firm up in the freezer for at least 4 hours, or until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Scoop out a serving, garnish with your favorite keto toppings, and enjoy your homemade keto ice cream!
Tips and Tricks
- Remember that keto ice cream can harden quite a bit in the freezer due to the absence of sugar. To soften it before serving, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes or microwave it for a few seconds.
- Experiment with different flavors and sweeteners to find your perfect keto ice cream recipe.
- Keep an eye on the carb count in your mix-ins. Some keto-friendly options like berries and nuts contain carbs, so use them in moderation.
Conclusion
With just a few keto-friendly ingredients and some patience, you can create a delicious and satisfying ice cream that fits perfectly into your low-carb lifestyle. So, go ahead, get creative, and indulge in guilt-free keto ice cream anytime you crave a cool, creamy treat. Your taste buds and your ketogenic diet will thank you!
Keto Strawberry Ice Cream
Servings 8
Calories 320kcal
Equipment
- Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Almond Milk
- 5 Egg Yolks
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Strawbery Extract optional
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 oz Vodka optional
- 1/2 cup Powdered Erythritol
- 40 drops Liquid Stevia
- 1 pound Fresh Strawberries
Instructions
Step 1 – Prep the Strawberries
- Dice the strawberries and add to a bowl with 1/4 cup of erythritol. Cover and place in refrigerator.
Step 1 – Make a Custard
- In a medium sauce pan, heat the almond milk and 1/2 a cup of heavy cream until just below boiling.
- While the milk is heating, separate the egg yolks from the whites and place in a bowl. Mix with the remaining Erythritol and the salt.
- Remove the milk from the heat, and add a small amount to the egg yolks to slowly raise the temperature and temper the eggs. Pour very slowly so as not to scramble the eggs!
- Once the eggs are tempered, combine it with the milk in the pot and return it to the heat. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the mixture thickens into a custard – it will coat the back of a spoon.
- Optionally, strain the custard in a sieve to remove any lumps. Stir in the vanilla extract, The stevia, and optionally the strawberry extract. Cover and place in refrigerator to cool.
Step 3 – Make the Ice Cream Base
- Add the remaining whipped cream to a large bowl, and beat with a hand mixer until it reaches soft peaks.
- Take about 2/3 of the strawberries and add to a blender. Blend on high until a puree forms.
- Gently fold the strawberry puree and the custard into the whipped cream until uniform in color. Add the remaining strawberries. Taste for sweetness and adjust according to your taste.
- Cover and refrigerate for four hours up to overnight.
Step 4 – Freeze the Ice Cream
- If not using an ice cream maker, put the mixture into a freezer, and stir every 1/2 hour until frozen
- If using an ice cream maker follow your device's instructions for freezing and hardening.
Notes
Net carbs: ~5g
Please note: nutrition values are approximate and intended to serve as a reference only. These values will vary based on the specific brands and ingredients used. To get the most accurate info, calculate the nutrition using information from the labels on the specific ingredients you use when making this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Keto Strawberry Ice Cream
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 320
Calories from Fat 279
% Daily Value*
Fat 31g48%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Protein 4g8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 31g | Fiber: 1g