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This low-carb keto ice cream is a creamy, custard-based vanilla ice cream made with simple ingredients like egg yolks, cream, and almond milk. It’s smooth, rich, and scoopable-without sugar or gluten.
Perfect for summer, meal prep, or when you want a real dessert that actually satisfies.
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why make a homemade Keto ice cream?
- Ingredient Notes (What Actually Matters)
- How to Make Keto Ice Cream (Overview)
- How to Get the Best Texture
- No Ice Cream Maker Option
- Flavor Variations
- What Sweetener to Use for Keto Ice Cream
- Important Sweetener Tip
- Fat & Texture (Why It Matters)
- Milk Options
- Storage
- What to Serve With
- FAQs
- More Keto Sweet Treats:
- Low-Carb Keto Ice Cream Recipe Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
- Actually scoopable (with one small trick most recipes miss)
- Custard base = creamy texture (not icy or crumbly like many keto versions)
- Balanced fat + sweetener → smooth, not overly heavy or artificial
- Low-carb + sugar-free with simple ingredients you already use
- Churned or no-churn option included
Why make a homemade Keto ice cream?
Because making it is easier than you may think and I have not been able to find some good keto ice cream in the stores. Most of them are still high in carbs and I don’t like the flavors.
Ingredient Notes (What Actually Matters)
- Egg yolks → this is what gives that real ice cream texture (don’t skip)
- Heavy cream + almond milk → balance of richness + lightness
- Powdered erythritol (Swerve) → smoother texture than granulated
- Coconut oil → improves mouthfeel and prevents iciness
- MCT oil (optional) → boosts fat + slightly softer texture
- Vanilla extract → use good quality, this is the main flavor
Optional but smart:
1 tsp vodka → keeps ice cream scoopable (very important for keto versions)hurn. I’m planning to try a coconut milk based one and going to share it if it works.
How to Make Keto Ice Cream (Overview)
You’re making a simple custard → chill → churn → freeze.
- Heat cream + almond milk until just simmering
- Whisk egg yolks + sweetener until pale
- Temper with warm liquid
- Cook gently until thickened (coats the back of a spoon)
- Add fats + vanilla
- Cool completely
- Churn → freeze until firm
How to Get the Best Texture
- This is where most keto ice creams fail.
- Let sit at room temp 5 minutes before scooping
- Always cool the custard fully before churning
- Use powdered sweetener, not granulated
- Add a little fat (coconut oil or MCT) → prevents iciness
- For scoopable texture → add 1 tsp vodka before freezing
No Ice Cream Maker Option
No machine? You can still make it.
- Pour mixture into a freezer-safe container
- Freeze
- Stir every 30 minutes for 2 hours
Result:
✔ softer, slightly less airy
✔ still creamy enough to enjoy
Flavor Variations
Once you master the base, you can easily switch it up:
- Coffee → espresso powder
- Lemon → add zest + juice
- Chocolate → cocoa powder + melted chocolate
- Berry swirl → low-carb jam
- Almond vanilla → add almond extract
What Sweetener to Use for Keto Ice Cream
For this recipe, use a powdered low-carb sweetener for the best texture.
- Powdered erythritol (Swerve) works well and keeps carbs low
- Allulose is even better if available → smoother texture, no crystallization
Start with 1/4 cup sweetener and adjust to taste.
If the base doesn’t taste sweet enough, you can add:
- up to 1–2 tsp liquid stevia
Important Sweetener Tip
Keto ice cream tends to freeze harder than regular ice cream.
To improve texture:
- use powdered sweetener (not granulated)
- combine sweeteners (erythritol + stevia or allulose)
Fat & Texture (Why It Matters)
Adding fat improves creaminess and prevents iciness:
- Coconut oil → helps create smoother texture
- MCT oil (optional) → adds fat and keeps ice cream slightly softer
In this recipe:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp MCT oil (optional)
Milk Options
- Use heavy cream + almond milk for best balance
- Do not use regular milk (too high in carbs)
Alternative:
- Coconut milk can replace almond milk for a richer result
Storage
- Let sit 5–10 minutes before serving
- Freeze in an airtight container
- Best texture: first 24–48 hours
- Keeps up to 1 week
What to Serve With
- Coconut flakes or nuts
- Fresh berries
- Melted dark chocolate
- Keto brownies
FAQs
Yes, but it won’t be as creamy. Custard = better texture.
Erythritol freezes very firm. Add a little alcohol or fat to soften.
Yes—monk fruit blends or allulose work well.
(Allulose = softest texture)
You can, but texture will be slightly more icy.
More Keto Sweet Treats:
Low-Carb Keto Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup powdered erythritol, or Swerve
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp MCT oil, optional
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp vodka, for softer texture
- berries or melted chocolate, for serving
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat heavy cream and almond milk over medium heat until just simmering (do not boil).
- In a bowl, whisk egg yolks and powdered sweetener until pale and slightly thickened.
- Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the hot mixture to the eggs, whisking constantly to temper.
- Pour everything back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 160°F / 71°C).
- Remove from heat. Stir in coconut oil, MCT oil (if using), and vanilla extract.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until fully chilled.
- Churn in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer instructions (about 20 minutes).
- Optional: Stir in vodka before transferring to a container.
- Freeze until firm (2–3 hours), then serve.
Notes
Add 1 tsp vodka to prevent hard freezing
Let sit at room temp before scooping
Makes about 1 pint
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This ice cream sounds SO good, Mira! I love that you made a keto version and included how to make it with an ice cream maker and without one. This sounds so creamy and delicious! Just love your pretty photos. Pinned!
Thank you so much Gayle 🙂
I can’t wait to try this keto ice cream! It looks so creamy! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Echo! Hope you like it!
I absolutely love ice cream. Everything about this recipe is perfect, thank you for it!!
I love such yummy treat anytime and this being Keto and Low-Carb makes it more interesting!
What’s the serving size for that nutrition facts? Can’t wait to try this. I just bought an ice cream maker.
Hi,
The total amount that the recipe produces is around 1 pint. 1 serving is 1/2 cup.
Mine turned kind of like gritty I don’t know what that’s about when it was cooking the end result was kind of like gritty looking
HI Adriana, it is a custard based ice cream and sometimes if you cook the custard at higher temp or slightly longer it may turn gritty, but still delicious!
Ok i finished the ice-cream ? so good great recipe!
“Keep in mind that keto sweeteners contain carbs.”
Swerve (Erythritol) does not have any net carbs though… Nor does Monk Fruit.
I did not say “net carbs”. Sorry, may I ask, what is the point of the comment?
To be honest, I was reading through the comments to see if this was addressed because I was confused by the mention of carbs. I thought that the amount of carbs in swerve was moot because it doesn’t count toward your daily carb intake because the body can’t digest it. Is that correct? I imagine the previous commenter was thinking something along those lines as well.
Hi Alexis, Yes, I do have to add carbs so people who do not follow Keto are aware. No you don’t need to worry about the carbs in the sweetener if you follow Keto, you are right. Thanks and let me know if any other questions.
Love the keto ice cream! I am brand new to keto…and this is great…just completed my first batch now! Silly question, to make it chocolate, do you think I could just add in some cocoa powder for that or would I need to adjust other aspects of the recipe? I guess I could always experiment with it but if anyone has tried…always good to ask!
THANKS SEAN! I NEED TO TEST A CHOCOLATE RECIPE, BUT ADDING COCOA POWDER SHOULD WORK. YOU MAY WANT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SWEETENER. ALSO YOU CAN ADD SOME MELTED CHOCOLATE FOR STRACCIATELLA EFFECT. LET ME KNOW HOW IT TURNS.
Thanks Mira! I will certainly do that and I will let you know how it turns out!
For better flavor, churn the chocolate. The added “air” makes for a nicer chocolate flavor
Omg! This recipe is AMAZING! It took me a few times to get it right but it was definitely worth it! Now I have my favorite keto ice cream to eat when I want to have something sweet and not worry about high cars! Thank you for sharing this god gifted recipe! I can continue my weight loss journey and still have the sweet things in life ???