Ice cream has been with us for hundreds of years for the obvious reason:
It’s freaking delicious.
It’s the perfect indulgence on hot summer days, it makes just about every dessert even better, and it comes in almost every flavor you can think of.
It’s also something that’s usually bought in a store, but it doesn’t have to be.
As you’ll see, ice cream is surprisingly easy to make at home with nutritious ingredients like fresh fruit, yogurt, honey, nuts, and eggs, and these homemade vanilla ice cream recipes are a great place to start.
If you want something as close to soft-serve as possible, try the Vanilla Ice Cream with Honey. For a lower-calorie delight, definitely go with the Vanilla Banana Berry Protein Ice Cream. And if you want something simple and protein-packed, check out the Healthy Vanilla Protein Ice Cream.
Enjoy!
Ice cream is already made with dairy, so you may as well add whey protein powder to the mix.
This protein ice cream recipe is so healthy that you can eat a full cup – that’s twice as much as a regular serving of ice cream, but with about half the calories. And instead of fat, you’re getting over 20 grams of protein.
150
Calories24 g
Protein10 g
Carbs1 g
Fat32 oz. nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 can (12 oz.) fat-free evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla paste
2 tsp. stevia extract
1 tsp. natural butter flavor
4 scoops French Vanilla Whey+ protein isolate
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1/4 tsp. salt
Get the RecipeWith both yogurt and milk, this recipe captures the best of frozen yogurt and ice cream. And this healthy ice cream recipe is also egg-free.
When you’re making homemade vanilla ice cream with no eggs, be sure to add a stabilizer like xanthan gum. That will ensure your eggless ice cream is still thick and creamy.
78
Calories8 g
Protein6 g
Carbs2 g
Fat1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup low-fat milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. vanilla crème stevia
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
1/4 tsp. salt
Get the RecipeUse your favorite cereal to quickly add flavor – and crunch – to simple vanilla ice cream.
This easy ice cream recipe only uses a few simple ingredients, including staples like milk, eggs, and sweetener. Then you can mix in Honey Bunches of Oats or another healthy cereal to boost the nutrition and make it even more satisfying.
130
Calories8 g
Protein17 g
Carbs3 g
Fat2 1/2 cups skim milk
2 vanilla beans (about 4 tsp. vanilla extract)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. agave nectar (or honey)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
Get the RecipeThis protein-packed frozen dessert is awesome in every way. And there’s no ice cream maker required to enjoy this vanilla protein ice cream.
Start with four ingredients, including cottage cheese and two kinds of fruit. Blend it together with vanilla whey protein powder, freeze, and then stir it every half hour or so until it’s thickened up enough to eat.
270
Calories38 g
Protein20 g
Carbs5 g
Fat1 cup cottage cheese
1 big frozen banana
1/2 cup French Vanilla Whey+ protein isolate
2 Tbsp. freeze-dried berries
Get the RecipeNot only is this recipe easy, but you have three options to prepare this vanilla ice cream without a machine.
Freeze it in an ice cube tray, thaw for a few minutes, and mix in a high-powered blender. Or stash the ice cream in a shallow container, removing from the freezer to stir every 45 minutes until it’s thick. Lastly, ditch the bowl and use a popsicle mold for dessert on the go.
76
Calories1 g
Protein14 g
Carbs2 g
Fat2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or nondairy creamer)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or xylitol)
Pinch of stevia
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Get the RecipeIf you’re looking for a simple ice cream that reminds of you eating soft serve, try this recipe.
Once it’s frozen, whip it real fast to incorporate extra air. It won’t be exactly the same, but you’ll have a low-fat classic vanilla ice cream that’s delicious whether you eat it plain or with your favorite toppings.
265
Calories7 g
Protein36 g
Carbs10 g
Fat2 cups low-fat milk
1 cup half-and-half
1 vanilla bean
3/4 cup turbinado sugar
Dash of salt
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Get the RecipeInstead of heavy cream, this recipe relies on sweetened condensed milk for that classic dessert flavor. And if you don’t have a can on hand, you can make your own in about 20 minutes.
Simmer skim milk on the stove, stirring it so it doesn’t boil over. The homemade condensed milk is ready when it thickens enough to reduce by half. When you make it yourself, it also means you can add your sweetener of choice.
200
Calories8 g
Protein35 g
Carbs3 g
Fat1 1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin
1 Tbsp. water
3 cups low-fat milk, divided
3 large egg yolks
1 can (14 oz.) nonfat sweetened condensed milk
1 vanilla bean
Get the RecipeAn easy way to increase the nutrition of a classic vanilla ice cream recipe is to use a natural sweetener, rather than processed white sugar.
Choosing honey or agave syrup allows you to add less sugar overall. That’s because, while adding extra flavor to your homemade ice cream, they also pack more sweetness cup for cup.
265
Calories3 g
Protein20 g
Carbs20 g
Fat3 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup pure honey
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and scraped
4 large egg yolks
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Get the RecipeNot all sugar-free vanilla ice cream is healthy. You still have to check how much fat is in it – and what kind.
This balanced dessert still has a touch of heavy cream, lightened up with both regular milk and almond milk. And keep it nutritious with a natural sugar replacer like stevia.
175
Calories4 g
Protein6 g
Carbs15 g
Fat1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 vanilla bean pod (or 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract)
4 droppers vanilla liquid stevia
Pinch of salt
Get the RecipeFor healthy homemade vanilla ice cream, you can get even richer flavor and more nutrition with coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
Then this recipe takes it a step further by adding whey protein to the mix. Legion Whey+ only uses the best quality ingredients, including xanthan gum which is a staple in ice cream recipes to make your frozen dessert even thicker and creamier.
142
Calories5 g
Protein12 g
Carbs8 g
Fat1 3/4 cup (1 14-oz. can) coconut milk
1 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut beverage
1/3 cup pure honey
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 scoops French Vanilla Whey+ protein isolate
Get the RecipeWho knew quarantine cooking could be so tasty?
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Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Puerto Rico, or Guam, your order ships free when it’s over $199.
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Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!
Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $299.
Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.
Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.
We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.
That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.
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