Skip to main content

Chocolate Soy Vegan Ice Cream

Image may contain Food Creme Dessert Cream Human Person and Ice Cream
Alex Lau

Using soy lecithin-free chocolate is essential; the additive will cause the base to separate (we learned this the hard way). We developed this recipe using Alter Eco Dark Blackout Chocolate.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1 quart

Ingredients

4 ounces vegan, soy lecithin-free, dark chocolate, chopped
1 pound silken tofu
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons organic or granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
¾ cup virgin coconut oil, melted, cooled slightly

Special Equipment

An ice cream maker

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water (bowl should not touch water), stirring, until melted. Remove from heat and let sit, stirring occasionally, until cool, 10–15 minutes.

    Step 2

    Transfer melted chocolate to a blender. Add tofu, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; reserve pod for another use. Purée until smooth, about 15 seconds. With the motor running on medium speed, slowly stream in oil and purée until thick and creamy, being careful not to overblend or mixture will curdle.

    Step 3

    Immediately process tofu mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s directions. (Head’s up: this will take longer than a traditional dairy-based custard to reach soft-serve consistency.) Do not chill before processing or oil will harden into tiny bits and texture will be grainy.

    Step 4

    Transfer to an airtight container and press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

    Step 5

    Do Ahead: Ice cream can be made 1 month ahead; keep frozen.

Read More
Aided by jarred bouillon paste and some spices, the flavor of this baked tofu is intriguingly complex, and good enough to eat on its own.
Froyo for one, made in a blender and topped with a crackly magic shell.
Two of our all-time favorite desserts, now in one new classic.
Fruity olive oil means this fudgy cake will stay moist for days.
This oversized crème brûlée is far easier to make than individual ones. The crackly top is created from sugar caramelized with a blowtorch, not a broiler.
This vegetarian bowl is as colorful as it is hearty: brown rice and quinoa, roasted tofu and broccolini, avocado, cabbage slaw, and a turmeric-spiked dressing.
Braising canned chickpeas in chicken stock and olive oil makes them unbelievably tender and buttery. This is worth the effort of peeling 40 cloves of garlic.
An electrifying pesto that stays bright green for days on end. With the addition of ginger, and jalapeño, it’s a versatile condiment to have on hand.