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Vegan Kefir Ice Cream

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Prep Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Fermentation Time 3 days
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert, Vegan
Makes 1.5 quarts/liters

Equipment

  • ice cream maker

Ingredients

Base

  • 13.5 oz (400 ml), 1 can coconut milk
  • 13.5 oz (400 ml), 1 can coconut cream
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) water kefir
  • 4 oz. (100 g) raw cane sugar
  • 2 tsp. (10 ml) vanilla extract, or 2 whole vanilla beans
  • 1/2 tsp. (3 ml) fresh grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp. (5 ml) fine sea salt
  • ¾ cup (190 ml / 60g) Dutch process cocoa powder (Optional for Chocolate base)

Optional Mix-ins (total 1 1/2 cups or 350 ml)

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) toasted coconut shreds (sweetened or unsweetened)
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, or other nuts or seeds, diced
  • 1 cup (250 ml) crushed fresh fruit (berries, peaches, cherries, etc.)

Instructions
 

  • Chill ice cream machine bowl at least 24 hours. (I store mine in the freezer so it's always ready!)

Make Water Kefir

Prepare & Ferment Base

  • Add coconut cream, coconut milk, water kefir, sugar, lemon zest and sugar to a 3 quart or larger pitcher or mixing bowl with a pouring spout. Whisk or stir to combine.
  • If using vanilla beans, split beans lengthwise, and scrape out the insides into mixing bowl. Add long bean pod pieces (3" or longer) to mixing bowl. If not, add vanilla extract.
  • Place mixture in refrigerator to chill and slowly ferment. You can ferment the base from 3 to 7 days.

Make Ice Cream

  • Fish out vanilla bean pods from mixture.
  • Whisk ingredients together (settling may have occurred during chilling).
  • Follow machine instructions for making ice cream. Pour mixture in slowly, being careful not to overfill the machine, otherwise it may overflow or not freeze properly.
  • When mixture has aerated and resembles soft-serve ice cream (15-20 minutes for most machines), add the mix-ins. Let machine run a few more minutes.
  • Scoop ice cream into jars or wide container(s).
  • Harden in freezer overnight, at least 8 hours.