Throughout the years, vanilla has remained my favorite flavor for all things dessert, especially ice cream. I mean, who can resist those warm comforting notes and enticing flecks of bean? Not to mention, vanilla is arguably the most versatile flavor, lending itself as a delicious base to build on. Which is why I simply couldn’t resist creating and sharing a list of dairy-free ice cream toppings.
From homemade to store-bought, whole food to … well, a little indulgent, this extensive list of dairy-fee ice cream toppings is sure to inspire. But it isn’t an end all be all. Feel free to share your favorite toppers or any that you think I missed in the comments!
Please note that all options listed are dairy-free and vegan or have a vegan option. Most are also gluten-free, too, and there are even many top allergen-free tasties in the mix.
And … not only can these dairy-free ice cream toppings offer cool and creamy creativity for your own dessert, but you can also build a fun ice cream bar to share with guests … regardless of their diet needs.
Simple Dairy-Free Ice Cream Toppings
- Flaked or Shredded Coconut
- Fresh Berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, marionberries, etc)
- Chopped Stone Fruit (peaches, cherries, apricots, etc.)
- Diced Banana
- Chopped Nuts (pistachios, almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pecans, etc)
- Crushed Peanuts
- Hemp Nuts (shelled hemp seeds)
- Minced Herbs (such as mint or basil)
- Crushed Potato Chips or Pretzels (sweet & salty! Gluten-free optional)
- Crystallized Ginger
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips (Mini, Chunks or Organic Dark)
- Drained Mandarin Oranges
- Chopped Tropical Fruit (pineapple, mango, passion fruit, etc)
- Crushed Graham Crackers (even gluten-free!)
- Ice Cream Cones (yes, on top! Traditional or gluten-free)
- Powdered Freeze-Dried Fruit (whiz freeze-dried fruit in a spice grinder or food processor)
- Let’s Do Organic Sprinkelz (confetti, chocolate or coconut)
- India Tree Sprinkles (assorted “Nature’s Colors”)
- Marshmallows (natural or Dandies vegan)
- Coarse Sea Salt (just a sprinkle!)
- Organic Candy Factory Jelly Beans
- Surf Sweets Gummy Bears and Worms
- Crispy Cereals (Cocoa Crispy, Koala Crisp, Puffins, etc)
- YumEarth Crushed Candies (peppermint, butterscotch, root beer and more)
Saucy Dairy-Free Ice Cream Toppings
- Chocolate “Magic Shell” (melt 2 oz dairy-free chocolate with 1/2 tbsp coconut oil – pictured)
- Caramel Sauce (recipe w/ salted option)
- Peanut Butter “Magic Shell” (recipe)
- Sour Cherry Rum Sauce (recipe)
- Raspberry Rye Sauce (recipe)
- Emmy’s Chocolate Sauce
- Date Lady Organic Date Syrup or Caramel Sauce
- Vanilla Coconut Sauce (recipe)
- Creamy Green Tea Sauce (recipe)
- Hazelnut Liqueur Sauce (recipe)
- Melted Nut or Seed Butter
- Boozy Caramel Sauce (recipe)
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Jen’s Zen Chocolate Sauce
- Blackberry Basil Sauce (recipe)
- Chunky Blueberry-Maple Sauce (recipe)
- Cranberry Pineapple Sauce (recipe)
- Fresh Strawberry Sauce (recipe)
- Easy Hot Fudge Sauce (recipe)
- Simple Chocolate Sauce (recipe)
- Bee Free Honee (Original, Chocolate, Mint, Slippery Elm, or Ancho Chile)
- Vegan Butterscotch Sauce (recipe)
- Wax Orchards Fruit-Sweetened Fat Free Fudge Sauces
- Melted Coconut Butter (sets up like “Magic Shell”)
- Suzanne’s Specialties Rice Nectars (in various flavors)
- Pure Coconut Dulce de Leche (recipe)
- Santa Cruz Organic Chocolate Syrups (original and mint)
- Marshmallow Sauce or Vegan Ricemellow Creme
- Ah!Laska Organic Chocolate Syrup
- Warmed Jam (any flavor you like!)
- Kahlua Hot Fudge
Specialty Dairy-Free Ice Cream Toppings
- So Delicious CocoWhip
- Chia Jam (recipe)
- Divvies Gourmet Popcorn (kettle, caramel, or chocolate caramel)
- Curry Cashew Crunch (recipe)
- Whipped Cashew Cream (recipe)
- Bananas and Caramel Sauce (recipe)
- Girl Scout thin Mints (or homemade option)
- Coconut Whip (recipe)
- Caramelized Pineapple Macadamia Topping (recipe)
- Cocomo Caramel Corn
- Vegan Snickerdoodles (recipe)
- Wholesome Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars (recipe)
- Chocolate-Covered Chia or Hemp Seeds
- Lucy’s Crunchy Cookies (so many flavors!)
- Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
- NoNo’s (Like Sixlets – Chocolate or Chocolate Peanot Butter)
- Peanot Cups (peanut-free but SO good)
- Crushed Sandwich Cookies (Oreos, Newman’s Dairy-Free or K-Toos Gluten-Free)
- Brownie Bites
- Cookie Dough
- Chopped Go Max Go Candy Bars (copycats for Butterfingers, Snickers, Milky Way and more)
- Dairy-Free Cheesecake Chunks (recipe)
- Biscoff Spread
- Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter
- Mylk Chocolate Frosting (who needs cake?)
- Rawmio Spreads (cookie dough, chocolate coconut, superfood)
- Strawberry Balsamic Topping (recipe)
- No Bake Crisp Topping (recipe)
- Peanut Butter & Co White Chocolate Wonderful
- Chocolate-Date Bits (recipe)
- Grain-Free Cookie Crisp (recipe)
- Navitas Naturals Coconut Chips (caramel, cacao, chili lime)
- I.M. Healthy SoyNut Granola
- Honey Stinger Waffles (not vegan)
- Earth Balance P.B. Pops
- Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Granola (recipe)
- Crumbled Granola Cookies (recipe)
- Hail Merry Macaroons (especially the cookie dough and strawberry ones!)
- Essential Living Foods Chocolate-Covered Cacao Nibs and Gojis
- Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies
- Animal Cookies (natural or gluten-free)
- Low-Sugar Granola
- Glutino Wafer Bites
- Cookies ‘n Dreams Woats
- S’mores Granola
- Rhubarb Compote
- Maple Pecan PralinesÂ
- Crispy Treats
- Wet Nuts (recipe)
- Crumbled Pie Crust (graham or traditional)
What Are Your Favorite Dairy-Free Sundae Toppings?
Inspire us all with your favorite(s) in the comment section below! My current favorite toppings are homemade chocolate magic shell with coarse sea salt – amazing! I married the two in this Salted Chocolate-Covered Cherry Sundae Recipe.
This post is sponsored by So Delicious Dairy Free, the most amazing dairy-free frozen dessert maker in my honest opinion. The ideas in this post are all my own … okay, some friends helped out.
68 Comments
Gotta say, my all time fav is Tax Crunch from 31 flavors. OMG good thing it’s seasonal. I want to recreate it with “healthier” ingredients if that’s possible – it has the yummy slabs of chocolate and I think walnuts, but question is – the crunchy thingys are made from a puffed rice. I’d love to find out how that rice ingredient is done so if anyone has ideas please post. I can’t wait to make this myself. Problem is, I’d probably eat the whole darn thing .
That sounds so intriguing. I found the ingredients here – https://www.baskinrobbins.com/content/baskinrobbins/en/products/icecream/flavors/TaxCrunchIceCream.html – so are the crunchies coated in chocolate?
One of my favorite toppings is chocolate syrup with fruit and cashews! I love sweet and salty stuff.
Me too Natalie!
My absolute favorite is dairy free chocolate sauce, chopped nuts, and maraschino cherries!
Ah yes! I think I forgot the maraschino cherry in my list!
Crystallized ginger is the best!! I especially like it on peanut butter ice cream.
ginger and peanut butter?! I’m all in!
A classic: strawberry syrup and nuts.
Indeed!
Maple chocolate sauce and chopped toasted walnuts!
Yum! Love the maple angle.
strawberry & blackberry combo is my fave
Sounds good – I don’t see those berries together often.
Cherry juice! Simple, but makes a huge difference
Fabulous idea!
Definitely vegan chocolate sauce and some coconut whipped cream!
Mmm, yes, simple perfection.
Sweet potato caramel!
Hello yum!
Shredded coconut and slivered almonds on dairy free chocolate ice cream! Yum…
Sounds delicious Mary!
I’m easy, rainbow sprinkles. But only because it makes my toddler’s eyes completely light up to see the sprinkles.
Aw, how cute – I can picture it now.
Chocolate, fruit, and hot fudge, which is completely different than chocolate. 😉
Agreed – hot fudge is world’s apart!
I sometimes enjoy toasted sesame seeds or toasted flax seeds for a nutty topping.
Great idea and a neat flavor influence.
I love fresh berries as a dairy free topping. Sometimes with a little truwhip on top.
I love peanuts and hot fudge or chocolate sauce. Ice cream just isn’t the same without those two things!
Mmm, peanut buster parfait 🙂
I really like mini chocolate chips and salted cashews on vanilla ice cream. Fresh fruit is also one of my favorites.
Trying that one soon – love cashews – thanks Jordan!