Does dairy-free ice cream exist?

Yes, absolutely! Dairy-free ice cream is a popular alternative to traditional ice cream made without milk, cream, or any animal-derived dairy. Instead, it uses plant-based milks like coconut, almond, oat, soy, or cashew as the creamy base. These alternatives are churned just like traditional ice cream and often include stabilizers, emulsifiers, and natural sweeteners to create a similar texture and taste. You can find dairy-free ice cream in nearly every grocery store, and it serves as the perfect foundation for dairy free ice cream cakes . If you love fruity flavors, don’t miss our deep dive into Is sherbet dairy free? to understand how it fits your dairy-free lifestyle.

Is there dairy-free soft serve ice cream?

Yes—many brands and dessert shops now offer dairy-free soft serve options. These are typically made with oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk and deliver the same creamy, swirled texture as regular soft serve. Some popular chains like TCBY and Pinkberry have added plant-based soft serve flavors to meet the growing demand. You can even make dairy-free soft serve at home using frozen bananas or coconut milk in a high-powered blender. This soft serve can be layered into an ice cream cake or served on top of slices for an extra treat.

What is the crunchy stuff in Carvel ice cream cake?

The iconic crunchy layer in a Carvel ice cream cake is usually made from chocolate cookie crumbs coated in a hardened fudge shell , giving them that distinctive crunch. While the original version contains dairy, many dairy-free ice cream cake recipes replicate the texture using crushed dairy-free chocolate cookies (like Oreos or allergy-friendly brands) combined with coconut oil or melted dairy-free chocolate chips. This mixture is layered between two ice cream layers to mimic the texture and flavor of the original.

Dairy Free Ice Cream Cake – The Best 2025 Guide for Guilt-Free Dessert

Dairy Free Ice Cream Cake

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

A rich and creamy dairy free ice cream cake layered with plant-based ingredients and your favorite flavors—perfect for vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly diets.

Author: Nia Yarden
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 0 minutes
Yield: 10 servings 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: No-Bake, Freezer
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale

2 pints dairy-free ice cream (coconut, almond, or oat-based)
1 cup crushed vegan cookies or granola
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
Optional mix-ins: fruit compote, fudge sauce, cookie dough, nut butter swirl

Optional toppings: coconut whipped cream, berries, vegan chocolate drizzle

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Let ice cream soften at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.
In a bowl, mix crushed cookies with melted coconut oil. Press mixture into a lined springform pan to form the crust. Freeze for 10 minutes.
Spread one pint of softened ice cream over the crust. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Add optional mix-ins (like jam or cookie dough), then spread the second pint of ice cream on top.
Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight until firm.
Remove from freezer 10–15 minutes before serving.

Decorate with whipped topping, berries, or chocolate drizzle.

Notes

For easier slicing, run a sharp knife under warm water before each cut.
To make this nut-free, use oat or rice milk-based ice cream and nut-free toppings.
Store leftover slices individually wrapped in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 cake)
Calories: 290
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 85mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Find it online: https://www.nytrecipe.com/dairy-free-ice-cream-cake/