The Best Sugar-Free Ice Cream Recipe: A Healthy Dessert 

If you read our previous post on ’10 Reasons Why Ice Cream Is Bad for You’, you must have taken note that added sugar is one ingredient that can contribute to a lot of health issues. This sugar-free ice cream recipe is an excellent option to continue enjoying ice cream without being worried about any added sugars and their health risks.

What Is a Sugar-Free Ice Cream Recipe?

This recipe is one that has no added sugars but rather uses either natural or artificial sweeteners. Of course, you may want to enjoy a healthy ice cream recipe without added sugars for various reasons, including the following: 

• Diabetes Management – if you have diabetes, you might benefit from a sugar-free ice cream recipe for diabetics – one that does not have added sugars, as an alternative way to manage your blood sugar levels.
• Weight Concerns – added sugar can spike the calorie content in ice cream and eating more calories may contribute to weight gain (12). If you don’t want to gain extra weight or are struggling to lose some weight, then you need to eat fewer calories.
• Dental and Other Health Concerns – excessive consumption of sugar can cause dental problems such as dental caries (1). If this is your situation, then you may want to enjoy your diet without added sugars.
• Personal Preference – you can enjoy ice cream without added sugars just for personal preferences.

It’s important to understand that most recipes use either artificial or natural sweeteners to make sugar-free ice cream. But which sweeteners are used in sugar-free ice cream?

Of the number of sweeteners or sugar substitutes that are used, some are naturally extracted while others are artificially made. All of them have fewer calories than added sugars. 

Natural Sugar Alternatives

Some natural sugar substitutes you could use in your recipe include: 

• Erythritol – this is a sugar alcohol that has fewer calories than regular sugar. This sweetener contains only about 0.2 calories per gram (6).
• Stevia – this natural sweetener is a popular alternative to sugar. It is considered by many to be a healthy option with no calorie content (300). The sweetener is derived from stevia plant leaves – a shrub that is native to South America.
• Allulose – this is a common sweetener that is used in most sugar-free diets. It is extracted from fruits such as jackfruit, figs, and raisins. Allulose contains almost zero calories – 0.4 per gram (11).
• Monk Fruit Extract – comes from the monk fruit of the Siraitia grosvenorii plant. It is also a zero-calorie sugar and a good choice for making sugar-free ice cream.

Artificial Sugar Alternatives

You may want to use artificial sweeteners or sugar alternatives such as: 

• Sucralose – this artificial sweetener is 600 times sweeter than regular sugar (2). In addition, it doesn’t contain calories and is a good alternative to sugar in sugar-free recipes.
• Aspartame – aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than the regular table sugar. It also contains fewer calories and is one of the sugars used in diet drinks, dairy products, and sugar-free recipes (2).

There has been a great debate on whether aspartame is healthy, but studies have confirmed that it’s safe for human consumption (3). However, it should be avoided by people with a rare genetic disorder called phenylketonuria. 

• Saccharin – saccharin contains zero calories and is an alternative sweetener you can use in most recipes. It is also 200 to 700 times sweeter than regular sugar (2).

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Can Ice Cream Be Sugar-Free?

Yes, ice cream can be sugar-free. It’s possible to make sugar-free ice cream by using natural or artificial sweeteners other than added sugars as we’ve mentioned. Some of the examples of sweeteners we’ve mentioned include stevia, monk fruit extract, aspartame, and sucralose. 

What Does Ice Cream with no Sugar Taste Like?

Ice cream with no sugar generally tastes like normal ice cream. However, if you have sensitive taste buds, you might notice some slight differences in: 

• Flavor – some sweeteners may introduce different flavors that don’t match those of added sugars and that may bring a slight difference in flavor.
• Level of sweetness – you might notice a slight difference in the level of sweetness as natural or artificial sweeteners may not exactly match those of added sugars.
• Texture – one study has confirmed that the use of sweeteners such as stevia rather than sugar can impact on texture. It further indicates that sugar significantly affects the texture of ice cream and its viscosity. The best proportion of stevia as a sugar substitute in ice cream based on properties including viscosity is being studied  (4).

Best Sugar-Free Ice Cream Recipe (14)

This is one of the easiest recipes you can try to make a sugar-free ice cream. Of course, you may have seen different versions such as: 

• Sugar-Free Ice Cream Recipe Without Eggs
• Sugar-Free Ice Cream Recipe for Diabetics
• Sugar-Free Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

These are just a few options. In this recipe, we’re going to use vanilla extract and no eggs. This is a good option for diabetics. 

• Serving: 3 people
• Prep time: 3 to 6 hours.
• Calories: About 99 calories per 69g serving (13)

Ingredients

• 1 cup of heavy cream
• ½ cup of sugar-free sweetened milk (you may use coconut milk)
• ¼ cup of sugar substitute (stevia, monk fruit extract, or erythritol)
• ½ tablespoon of vanilla Extract
• Pinch of salt
• Vodka or rum (optional)

Instructions

1. Whip the heavy cream to soften it.
2. Add all the ingredients one after the other in a medium bowl while whisking until it is evenly mixed with no undissolved sugar substitute left.
3. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for 1-2 hours (until it firms up).
4. Transfer to an ice cream maker and churn for 30-35 minutes (until it is very soft and consistent).
5. Transfer the churned mixture into an airtight container and freeze for about 2- 4 hours.
6. Your sugar-free ice cream is ready to serve.

Notes:

• You may add a small amount of alcohol such as vodka or rum as it gives your final product a creamy texture.
• Use any flavor you want to, whether it is vanilla, peppermint, or almond.

Recipe courtesy of Cuisinart. 

Read more: Satisfying Low Sugar Desserts You Won’t Feel Guilty For

What Is the Healthiest Sugar Substitute?

How healthy the various sugar substitutes are is controversial. They are all safe for consumption and have been shown not to cause harm at normal levels of consumption, but whether they’re “healthy” for you may depend on your personal health needs and goals. For many, such as those with diabetes or other blood sugar issues, any sugar substitute may be considered healthier than sugar due to the dangers of hyperglycemia. Those who want to lose weight can also benefit from the lack of calories in sugar substitutes. Some people prefer sugar substitutes that are extracted from natural sources, such as monk fruit extract, allulose, and stevia. However, being “natural” doesn’t automatically make something healthier than other alternatives. At the end of the day, the answer is dependent on your personal health needs, goals, and preferences.  

Which Milk Is Best for Ice Cream?

You can use nearly any type of milk to make your ice cream. However, you should consider fat content, freshness, flavor, and what you want for your ice cream. Some of the milk options you can use may include whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, or plant-based milk such as coconut and almond milk. 

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What Not to Do When Making Ice Cream?

When making ice cream, there are several things you shouldn’t do to ensure a high-quality, flavorful, healthy, and tasty ice cream. This includes: 

• Not over-churning – when you over-churn the mixture, it may make it become grainy. You should stop the churning when the mixture is smooth, soft, and consistent.
• Don’t use low-fat dairy – using low-fat ingredients can result in less creamy ice cream.
• Using ingredients that are not fresh – using ingredients that aren’t fresh may alter the flavor or taste of the final ice cream.
• Avoiding the chilling step – chilling the mixture is important before you do the churning. This helps improve the texture and quality of the final product.

Read more: Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Recipe: The Best Low Sugar Jam for Your Snacks

FAQs

• What is the sweetest alternative to sugar?

Stevia is one of the sweetest alternatives to sugar. It is a natural sweetener that is derived from the leaves of stevia shrub (Stevia rebaudiana). In terms of sweetness, stevia is up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar (5). There are also other sweetest alternative options such as erythritol, monk fruit extract, saccharin, sucralose, and allulose. 

• Is stevia better than sugar?

Whether stevia is better than sugar depends on your individual health needs, goals, and preferences. Stevia has no calories and doesn’t impact blood sugar levels, which means that it could be better than sugar for diabetics or people who are trying to lose weight. It may even have some antioxidants and other beneficial properties  (10). 

• Is honey healthier than sugar?

There is no definite answer to this as both are added sugars and should be consumed in moderate quantities. Some people claim honey is healthier than sugar, but to better understand, it’s important to consider the number of calories, nutritional content, and benefits that each offers (8). For example, honey contains 64 calories while sugar contains 45 calories per tablespoon. Honey has some additional nutrients that table sugar lacks, but you probably shouldn’t use it solely for that reason. 

• Is Greek yogurt good for diabetics?

Yes, Greek yogurt is good for diabetics. However, you should choose one that is unsweetened or with low added sugar content. Greek yogurt also has a high protein content, which makes it good for the management of blood sugar as it slows down the release of glucose into the bloodstream (7). That being said, Greek yogurt ice cream is also healthy. 

The Bottom Line

Your craving for a healthy dessert is now taken care of. Whether it’s for diabetes, weight, or any other health issue, you may want to manage it with sugar-free ice cream. 

This recipe is an easy way to make ice cream in the comfort of your home. You only need the right ingredients, equipment, and sugar alternatives. It’s also important to choose a sweetener that’s appropriate for your health needs and goals. Consider factors such as the calorie content, impact on blood sugar, taste, and digestive tolerance.