This dairy-free Espresso Ice Cream is a creamy treat that will cool you down on a hot day. It’s full of espresso flavor, sweetened with honey and dotted with chocolate chips—because everything’s better with chocolate!
A creamy lightly sweetened homemade espresso ice cream made with chocolate chips, coconut milk, and honey? I have three words: pass a spoon! The creaminess from the coconut milk is perfection with the rich coffee flavor; add in the dark chocolate chunks and wowza! This ice cream will disappear FAST. (Espresso lovers, don’t miss my Espresso Martini and Paleo Chocolate Espresso Truffles!)
Why This Espresso Ice Cream Is the Best Summer Dessert
This espresso ice cream is ultra rich, but surprisingly healthy! Here’s why you’re going to want to eat it all summer long.
- Dairy-free. Because even if you eat dairy, no one wants dairy bloat in the summer! And if you swap the honey for maple syrup, this espresso ice cream is vegan too.
- Paleo. This ice cream is also paleo-friendly since it doesn’t contain any dairy or processed sugars.
- Deep, rich flavors. The combination of espresso and chocolate is ultra decadent—and perfect for adding to a warm Almond Butter Vegan Brownie for dessert.
What You’ll Need
Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need to make this espresso chip ice cream. Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Coconut milk – Use canned full-fat coconut milk for this recipe.
- Honey – For natural, refined-sugar-free sweetness. Maple syrup, agave nectar, or date syrup also work.
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the flavor with a warm, aromatic note.
- Espresso – This adds a bold coffee flavor, but it can be replaced with strongly brewed coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.
- Dark chocolate chips – If you want to keep this recipe without refined sugar, look for sugar-free chocolate chips.
How to Make Espresso Ice Cream
While it requires a little time and patience, everything about this recipe is EASY! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Warm the ingredients for the base. Add the coconut milk, honey, vanilla, and espresso to a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the honey melts into the rest of the ingredients.
- Chill. Transfer the coconut milk mixture to a container with a cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Churn. Add the ice cream base to your ice cream maker along with the chocolate chips and follow the instructions for your ice cream maker. Transfer to a container and freeze until you’re ready to serve.
Tips and Variations
Here are some additional tips and variations for this espresso ice cream recipe.
- Make it stronger. If you want a bolder coffee flavor (and some extra caffeine too), add an extra 2 ounces of espresso or coffee.
- Use mini chips. These are easier to eat than regular size chocolate chips when frozen and they give you more even distribution of the chocolate.
- Don’t swap in lite coconut milk. It’s fine for using in soups and smoothies, but if you try using it in this espresso ice cream, it won’t be rich and creamy.
- Give it a swirl. Add a swirl of salted caramel before freezing for some extra decadence. (This is a must for caramel latte fans!)
- Try other mix-ins. Like crushed Oreos, toffee bits, or chocolate covered espresso beans.
How to Store
Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container, pressing a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper directly onto the surface before sealing the lid. A loaf pan also works well for ice cream; press plastic wrap on top, then add foil over that for double protection against freezer burn. Eat the ice cream within 2 weeks. (Luckily that’s never a problem in my house!)
More Frosty Treats to Try This Summer
Espresso Ice Cream With Chocolate Chips
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezer
- Cuisine: American
Description
This dairy-free Espresso Ice Cream is full of coffee flavor and dotted with chocolate chips—because everything’s better with chocolate!
Ingredients
- 2 14.5 cans of coconut cream {just use the milk, not the water}
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons of espresso
- 3/4 cup of dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add coconut milk, honey, vanilla extract, and espresso. Heat through until honey is combined, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from heat, cover, and let sit in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Place espresso ice cream base with chocolate chip into ice cream machine, prepare according to manufacturer instructions.
- Store in the freezer in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 438
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
34 comments on “Espresso Ice Cream With Chocolate Chips”
Is that 8T brewed espresso or is it the dry powdered coffee?
hey sophie, its brewed espresso. 🙂
I wanted to get a recipe for ice cream and had my heart ministered to instead! I share the same story of freedom in a Jesus. Married 28 years, i never dreamed such peace existed! Thank you for sharing!!
Ohhh… totally made my day with this Alice! So glad to hear that I spoke to your heart!
Gosh Krista, I just teared up reading this incredibly personal post. First thank you for opening up and showing us your vulnerability. That took strength and courage. We all battle our own demons every day don’t we. But I guess that’s just it, “demons” taking over our thoughts and actions. I always have to remember to trust in God because he is loving and truly wants us to be happy. How calming and reassuring to hear those words at the time you needed them most. AND the ice cream is the bomb!
Your welcome girl! I truly think that if we share our stories more than healing will start to take place… ya know. Its when those things are kept secret is when they start to fester and turn into bigger things. 🙂
You are so right God is loving and only wants God for us and loves us like crazy. 🙂
Not gonna lie, I came for the ice cream-which is just amazing and allergy friendly! but…
Krista, you are such an amazing person who really seems like you have it all. (And you do
Ohh… thanks so much girl! Glad my story was inspiring and so was the ice cream. 🙂
This ice cream looks amazing Krista, I love that there’s espresso in it! And chocolate. Yum! Also, that was a beautifully written post, and awesome to hear how God has helped you through the struggles. I love reading those stories. Thanks for sharing!
The espresso in this rocks Stacey! 🙂
Thank you so much on the post compliments, means the world. 🙂
I’m so glad you found a way out Krista! That’s exhausting. I think every married woman has issues with this sometimes, it’s just something you have to be wary of with the divorce rate the way it is. I’m so glad you’ve found a way to cope! Jesus is the best. <–that sounds weird but I'm goin with it.
haha… I’m going with it too girl! 🙂 It’s corny but so true, only thing that gives you peace in the storm! And your right, I really do think that alot of women deal with it, which it part of the reason I wanted to share ya know…. to let them know they are not alone and there is a way out (thats not divorce). Love you sweet friend, thanks for the words of life!
Oh wow does this sound good!
Thanks jaren! 🙂
This looks so delicious and healthy as well! What a great treat for any occasion…thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jodee! Healthy + delicious + ice cream = my kind of treat. 🙂
I love this story… it’s so relatable for me. I love that you had the courage and strength to share it and GIRL that ice cream sounds AMAZINGGGG
Thanks Lynn! Means so much and so glad you liked the ice cream too girl! 🙂 Hugs to you!
I love dairy free ice cream. It is all I ever eat!
It so rocks right!? Love it, the texture is so much better and better on the tummy. 🙂
Oh Krista – I know that feeling all too well. Some warranted – some not. It’s not a good feeling & your mind takes you to places you don’t want to be & it can tear you apart from the inside out. Huge virtual hugs & I we can definitely eat our feelings with this tasty treat! Because – that’s how I deal with things way too often. It’s either gorge myself or starve – no in-between. Wish I could be there with you –
Ohhh… virtual hugs back girl! I can so relate sweet friend, I know how hard it is so I will definitely be praying for you! But in the mean time yes, so dig into this ice cream! 🙂
Looks absolutely divine, Krista!
Thanks so much Melanie!
First off, beautifully written and I am proud of you for pouring your heart out! From that afternoon in the hotel room as we talked about our struggles, you have helped me to see the light. That my past does not define me and I have no reason to be scared any longer. I am actually in the process of writing up my own story! So thank you for encouraging me 🙂
Ohhhh… you totally made my day Meg! I love sharing recipes with people, but I am so much more passionate helping people see themselves the way God sees them. Beautiful! 🙂 So excited to read your story sweet friend!
I’ve been looking for a good dairy-free ice cream! Looks like my search is over!
Hurray…. search officially done! 🙂
Krista, I’m so sorry that you had to go through that. I went through a similar thing when my husband and I first started dating, I never thought I was good enough for him and I had a lot of self confidence issues. This ice cream looks fantastic and I love that is dairy free. A big bowl of ice cream always seems to make things better!
Thanks Alyssa, but to me its part of what makes us who we are. 🙂 You my dear are incredible, and I know that bc I’ve met you! You and your husband are so cute together!
So glad you enjoyed the ice cream recipe friend!
Oh Krista…I clicked over to check out that amazing ice cream and instead found a profound life lesson. It’s amazing how our own thoughts and fears and insecurities are our own worst enemy! xoxo Thank you for sharing! M-
Thanks so much Martha! You are so right, sometimes we just need to get out of our own head!
I love love coffee ice cream! This looks incredible!
Thanks so much Anna! It so is. 🙂