Opinion 9 dairy-free ice creams & vegan desserts perfect for summer

Cosy desserts are out, refreshing summer desserts are in! These delicious dairy-free ice cream recipes and easy vegan desserts keep it short and sweet, with plenty of fruitiness, frostiness, and indulgence to keep you satisfied all season long.

Summer’s officially in the air — and what better way to beat the heat than with an (ideally frozen) easy vegan sweet treat? 

If you, like many Aussies, have been cooling off on dairy lately, rest assured there are plenty of decadent plant-based ice creams to choose from at the shops these days. They’re typically made with a velvety base of almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk, and swirled with all kinds of flavour combinations, ranging from the fresh and fruity to the rich and fudgy. 

Not only that, it’s also surprisingly easy to make your own vegan ice cream at home, no fancy appliances required! All you need are a few simple ingredients… and a sweet tooth self-restrained enough to allow everything to set properly in the fridge or freezer before tucking in. That’s the only actually hard bit 😉

Keep reading for some of our favourite (and genuinely foolproof) dairy-free ice cream recipes that whip up super easily and taste like a dream — along with a few other summery vegan treats that are equally delightful on a hot sunny day.

1. Very Berry Nice Cream 

You know what might be even more refreshing than home-made ice cream? A dessert recipe that calls for only four ingredients! If you’re looking for something low-fuss and wholesome, this one’s for you. 

2. Coconut Rum Ice Cream with Fried Bananas & Caramel

Boozy, caramel-drenched, and featuring the iconic summer flavours of banana and coconut, this indulgent vegan ice cream pairing is true beachside bliss in a bowl. 

3. Biscoff Soft Serve with Peanut & Raspberry

You’ll need to buy some plant-based vanilla ice cream from the store for this one — the real magic’s in the toppings. Raspberries, Biscoff cookies, peanuts, and strawberries harmonise even better here than you can imagine. 

4. Tahini Chocolate Ice Cream

My personal favourite and a top recommendation for fellow chocolate fiends! If you’ve never tried a tahini-based dessert before, some initial scepticism is natural — but trust me, it won’t last long. (And neither will your deliciously rich ice cream.)

5. Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Cake

We’ll say it: The world needs more ice cream cakes, and it needs them now. Do your bit for our collective childhood nostalgia by making this fully plant-based, Oreo-crusted delight.

6. Apple Pie Tacos with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Anything apple-pie-related would usually be filed away in our winter repertoire, but there’s something inherently summery about enjoying the same flavours in bite-sized taco form.

7. Mango, Lime & Coconut Swirl Popsicles

Fruity, zesty, creamy, and bright — these refreshing coconut popsicles are the easiest things ever to whip up, and are just begging to be enjoyed in a deck chair by the pool.

8.Pineapple Dessert Tacos with Sweet Coconut Sambal

If you’re craving something tropical, you can’t go past these Mexican-inspired pineapple dessert tacos. Topped with a lightly spiced lime and coconut sambal, they hit that sweet spot right between easy and impressive. To take it up a notch, swap the coconut yoghurt for a creamy coconut ice cream!

9. No-Bake Blueberry & Lime Meringue Slab

Fluffy, egg-free meringue is not only possible, but it’s also utterly divine! This no-bake blueberry slice uses the magic of aquafaba to create a mallow-y layer of melt-in-your-mouth sweetness that needs to be tasted to be believed.

Summertime just got a whole lot sweeter… with no dairy in sight!

With an abundance of juicy summer fruits ripe for the picking at this time of year, and plenty of easy ways to replace eggs and dairy in all your baking endeavours, your next hit vegan dessert is just a few measuring spoons away.

Then it’ll be time to get out the flashy dessert spoon, dig into the dreamy plant-based deliciousness you’ve created — and immediately start planning which refreshing summer treat to make next.

Don’t have time to make dessert from scratch? Swing by your local supermarket and pick up one of these ready-made vegan desserts or decadent dairy-free ice creams instead!