Every time I go to a Japanese restaurant with a good friend, she raves about green tea ice cream. But it’s the one thing on the menu that is always rich in dairy. So I finally decided to whip up a dairy-free green tea ice cream recipe made with just 5 everyday ingredients. And you know what? It just #TastesLikeBetter.
Many online recipes for dairy-free green tea ice cream are actually made with matcha, which is a finely ground powder made from a specially grown and processed variety of green tea. Bloggers like to use it because it has a vibrant green hue, but it can also cost well over $100 per pound. I’ve included an option for dairy-free matcha ice cream, but the main recipe is for simple, affordable, deliciously dairy-free green tea ice cream.
Matcha powder does contain higher levels of antioxidants, but good old green tea should not be underestimated. It’s still high in EGCG, the polyphenol revered in several studies for fighting numerous health issues, from high cholesterol to Alzheimer’s Disease.
This very easy recipe pairs green tea (or matcha) with plant-based cashew milk beverage and coconut milk for a wonderfully creamy experience. I love the flavor of cashew and coconut together when making creamy dishes, but you can use my nut-free option below, if preferred.
Special Diet Notes: Dairy-Free Green Tea Ice Cream
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
For nut-free, dairy-free green tea ice cream, substitute unsweetened coconut milk beverage for the cashewmilk beverage.
- 1 cup dairy-free unsweetened milk beverage (I use Silk Cashewmilk, but nut-free is okay)
- 6 green tea bags
- ½ cup organic sugar
- 1¼ cups full-fat canned coconut milk
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Natural green food coloring (optional)
- Heat the milk beverage in a small saucepan over medium heat until hot and steaming (just before it begins to boil).
- Remove the pan from the heat and steep the tea bags in the hot milk for 5 minutes. Squeeze each tea bag to extract as much of the milky green tea as possible.
- Whisk in the sugar until dissolved.
- Whisk in the coconut milk until smooth.
- The natural color of this ice cream is very pale. For a green hue, you can whisk in your favorite natural green food coloring.
- Pour the mixture into a 3-cup or larger glass measuring cup and let cool to room temperature. Then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
- Churn the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's directions. (or see How to Make Vegan Ice Cream without an Ice Cream Maker)
- Enjoy as soft serve or pack into an airtight container and freeze for 3 hours or more for hard-packed, dairy-free, green tea ice cream!
For More of My Recipes, Get Go Dairy Free!
53 Comments
I love that you use the actual tea bags instead of the matcha powder. Very cool recipe! I’ll have to try it out 🙂
Thanks Alicia! I’m all about affordable but still healthy options 🙂
I just bought a new can of matcha yesterday. I love the sound of this, thanks for the great recipe.
Green tea really is so good for you! I’ll take my dose in ice cream thank you. Perfect way to up the health factor!
Well if you’re going to have dessert, why not add a superfood, right?! 🙂
This looks like HEAVEN! I love green tea flavored things! I will have to make this for sure 🙂
I hope you get the chance to enjoy it Andie!
I’m in love with this recipe! I like how you incorporated coconut milk in this recipe. We always have some on hand so this is perfect!
Thanks Sharon!
What a great idea to make it green! Love that people can afford to make this by using the Green Tea instead! Cannot wait to try this one out!
I’m all about accessible, simple and delicious recipes! I hope you do get the chance to trial it Kristina!
I have always wanted to try green tea ice cream and now I can! Also, I had no idea green tea fights high cholesterol and Alzheimer’s! How interesting.
And many other things, according to the studies!
This looks so creamy and delicious! Super easy too with only 5 ingredients! Can’t wait to try this green tea ice cream!
I’m all about easy! I hope you do get the chance to try it Taylor!
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to make this for my partner!
Awesome! I hope you both enjoy the recipe Katherine!
My daughter has stage for terminal cancer and I just want to thank you for posting the dairy free green ice cream. Because that is her favorite every time she goes in to restaurant but now she can’t get it.
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter Jennifer. I hope that this recipe brings a smile to both of you.
This recipe is incomplete. After step #5, how does one turn the hot green tea mixture into the ice cream? should one pour the mix into an ice cream maker? Is this mix suitable to freeze in a pan and afterwards “fluffing” the iced mixture in a blender?
I think we crossed paths! I did update it just before you commented, but it may have been pulling a cached page for you. I cleared the cache so you should see the full recipe now. Sorry about that!
Really into ice cream at the minute.
Your combo here sounds totally fab!
Yum.
x
Thanks Trinity!
What did you do after the mixing? Did you put it in an ice cream maker or did you just freeze it?
Yikes! That’s an important step to miss. I’ve updated the directions – thanks Holly!
You are so right about how the cost of matcha & I’m loving how this looks with using only green tea. Can’t wait to try this.
When we tested the matcha vs the green tea, my husband and I both liked it better taste-wise, too! We both thought the matcha was more “harsh” in flavor.
This looks so fresh and delicious. I like green tea but don’t have green tea ice cream too often. I think this would even be great with some fresh raspberries. Another simply delicious recipe Alisa!
Ooh, yes, raspberries! that would be delicious and is a brilliant idea for a pop of color Sarah.
I would have never thought to make green tea ice cream – how genius! I love green tea, so I bet this is amazing. 🙂
This is definitely a delicious dessert for green tea lovers. I highly recommend it Jordan!
OoOoo I love this dairy-free ice cream! Such a refreshing way to enjoy green tea and perfect for summer days!
I think so – thanks Laura!
I am so looking forward to making this recipe. Love green tea being added along with the dairy free milks.
I hope you enjoy it Ginny! Creamy, dairy-free, and green tea really are an amazing trio of goodness 🙂
The color is beautiful! I’ve never had green tea ice cream, but it sounds delightful!
If you like green tea, then you will love it Jenn! Definitely a must to try. The flavor actually goes better with coconut milk and cashew than dairy, I’ve heard!
I love how easy you’ve made it to whip up this yummy green tea treat at home!
It’s SO easy Dianne. Homemade dairy-free ice cream is a summer essential.
Ooh this looks so good! I love green tea flavors, and your ice cream looks so thick and creamy!
I’m all about rich and creamy Becky. No reason to go without just because it’s dairy-free 🙂 Since you are into green tea, you will love this, I promise!