Vegan Gelato With Date Caramel

Last Updated on November 30, 2023

This no-churn Vegan Gelato with Date Caramel is so satisfying and effortless to make. You only need 6 simple ingredients to make this delightful dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free ice cream at home!

Life without gelato is bleak. No one can resist a big scoop of gelato. It has to be the one that always takes everyone back to their childhood memories of summer. 

Vegan Gelato

Gelato (Italian pronunciation: [dʒeˈlaːto]; lit. ”frozen”) is Italian for all kinds of ice cream. Some believe it originated in Sicily, while others believe it originated in Florence.

The density and richness of gelato distinguish it from other ice creams. Therefore, gelato is less airy than ice cream.

Once I discovered the secret of how easy it is to make vegan gelato at home, I never looked at overpriced store-bought tubs anymore.

Making your own is not just cheaper, the best part is you can use fresh ingredients instead of artificial flavorings.

There are endless possibilities to enjoy vegan gelato. You can serve it with gingerbread syrup, banana bread, buckwheat waffles, or add a scoop to your iced coffee and more!

why you’ll love this recipe

I love this date-caramel vegan gelato so much, and I think you’ll love this recipe too 😊.

• So easy to make! Prepare all the ingredients and let the blender do the work. Easy to whip up in 20 minutes! Yes, it’s that simple!

• Creamy and rich! Even better than the regular ice cream!

• Refined Sugar-Free to make it healthier! Unlike traditional caramel sauce made with lots of sugar, we use the natural caramel-like sweetness of Medjool dates for our caramel flavor. 

• The balance of salty and sweet is tickling your taste buds! It’s a delicious salty and sweet combo. Salt can be adjusted to your liking, or omitted to make it a pure sweet treat.

• You don’t need an ice cream machine to make this creamy vegan gelato! The rich sweetness of Medjool dates lowers the freezing point of gelato. Medjool dates and coconut cream provide a smooth and creamy texture and also enhance the flavors.

• You can serve it with any dessert. You can enjoy vegan gelato by itself, or serve it with literally any dessert.

What is Vegan Gelato made of?

This plant-based ice cream recipe is made with cashews, Medjool dates, coconut cream, and other flavoring ingredients.

• Medjool dates (pitted) – Medjool dates are usually considered dried fruit because they are used in baking. Medjool dates, however, are a fresh fruit. Chemical drying or processing is never used on them. Compared to regular dates, Medjool dates have a rich, almost caramel-like taste and a soft, chewy texture. Thus, they’re often used for raw vegan chocolate-covered dates or dairy-free and sugar-free caramel sauce.

• Raw cashews – If you don’t have time to soak your raw cashews for an hour, boil them in boiling water for 10-15 minutes. Our rich and creamy base of vegan gelato is made from raw cashews and coconut cream.

• Coconut Cream – Full-fat coconut cream works best for vegan gelato and ice cream. I’ve tested this recipe with different brands of coconut cream and they all work. However, the one I prefer is Aroy-D, which is guar gum-free.

• Vanilla Extract – Always buy a good quality vanilla extract.

• Pure Maple Syrup – To enhance the sweetness and flavor.

• Lemon Juice – Lemon juice balances out the creaminess of coconut cream

How to Make Dairy-Free Gelato

Using a powerful blender will make your vegan gelato the creamiest, and it does not need to be expensive.

This blender has never let me down in all my cooking.

1. Soak raw cashews in hot boiling water for an hour, or boil them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain if you’re short on time.
2. Take the pits out of Medjool dates. Place pitted Medjool dates, softened cashews, full-fat coconut cream, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a high-speed blender.
3. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy (please be patient, it will take 8-10 minutes or longer). Occasionally stop and scrape down the sides with a silicone spatula if needed.
4. Pour the smooth puree into a freezable container, smooth the surface, and put the lid on. Leave it in the freezer for at least 4-5 hours before serving. Serve with crushed walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts. Sprinkle sea salt flakes and drizzle more maple syrup on the top. Enjoy! 🍨

Cook’s Notes

• Unlike churned ice cream, no-churn ice cream takes longer to soften at room temperature because it does not contain eggs or sugary condensed milk.

• Vegan gelato and ice cream will form an icy crystal texture since they freeze without being churned.

Pro Tips – Storing & Serving

✴️ Although this is a no-churn vegan gelato recipe, by using an ice cream maker you will be able to scoop it right out of the freezer without crystallization.

✴️ If you won’t use the whole batch at once. The mixture can be portioned into freezer bags individually (sealed tightly and placed in the freezer horizontally to shape thin ice bricks).

When serving, take out the amount of mixture you need. Lightly crush them into smaller pieces and place them in a powerful blender.

Add a bit of non-dairy milk and blend until smooth and serve.

✴️ If the whole batch will be used at once. You can leave the container at room temperature and let it thaw for 15-20 minutes. You will be able to scoop it easier. 

✴️ You can freeze homemade vegan gelato/ice cream for a few weeks without any problems. However, the quality will decrease the longer it is kept in the freezer.

So my suggestion would be, that the most effective way to store it is to put it into your stomach ASAP.😆

Can You Refreeze Vegan Gelato/Ice Cream?

It’s not unsafe to refreeze vegan gelato or ice cream since it does not contain any animal products that could foster harmful bacteria when thawed.

But generally, it’s not recommended to refreeze it after it has melted.

Is vegan Gelato/ice cream healthier?

Saturated fat is less prevalent in vegan ice cream than in dairy ice cream.

Because of this, vegan dairy-free ice cream usually has healthier cholesterol levels than frozen desserts made from dairy milk and cream.

Hope you enjoy this vegan gelato!🍨😘

More Vegan Sweets n Baking

• Chocolate covered dates
• Tofu chocolate mousse
• Peanut butter protein balls
• Protein powder mug cake recipe
• Valentine cupcakes
• Rice pudding with cooked rice