Vegan ice creams to try this summer
Plant-based frozen desserts are growing fast and bursting with flavour
![Three types of ice cream surrounded by fruit and berries.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iGdo3NwY6dRPZvdAGME7oB-1280-80.png)
"It is a truth (almost) universally acknowledged that an awful lot of vegan ice cream tastes like it was made by people who hate vegans," said Rebecca Flint Marx in Eater.
There are "exponentially more" dairy-free options than there were five years ago, she said, but "quantity, alas, does not necessarily mean quality".
We may be in the midst of a "vegan ice cream golden age", said Mace Dent Johnson in The New York Times. But this does not, by any stretch, mean that all brands are "created equal".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As plant-based frozen desserts go mainstream (even McDonald's is trialling a vegan ice cream at selected stores across the UK), here are five of the best tubs to sink your spoon into this summer.
Ben and Jerry's
Like its dairy counterpart, Ben and Jerry's vegan Phish Food is an indulgent mix of chocolate ice cream, marshmallow, caramel swirls and fudge fish. Also like the original, said Eater, it is "very, very difficult to stop eating". The almond milk base is velvety and smooth; of all the plant-based options I tasted, this one "came closest to approximating dairy ice cream".
Swedish Glace
I was "delighted" to discover a vegan ice cream that had "all the soft, creamy qualities of the classic soft-serve vanilla ice cream", said Fiona Logan on BBC Good Food. Made with soy and vanilla seeds, Swedish Glace is perfect served on a wafer cone. "We guarantee no one will guess it's vegan."
Booja-Booja
If you haven't yet tried Booja-Booja then "be careful", warned Thea Everett in Delicious. "Like us, you might become obsessed with the vegan chocolate brand" that's branched into ice cream. Ideal for keeping in the freezer for an easy "dinner party pudding", there are several flavours to choose from including caramel pecan praline and cookie dough.
Mochi Ice Cream
The Japan Centre's frozen version of mochi (a traditional steamed rice cake) is well worth trying, said Delicious. Available in a tasty vegan chocolate, miso and cookie dough flavour, the rice dough wrapper remains unfrozen so you still get the "essential chewiness" as you bite into the silky smooth ice cream centre.
Jude's
"When ice cream urges call," said Abha Shah in the London Evening Standard, Jude's plant-based options will "hit the spot". The family-run brand's vegan desserts are made with a coconut base and come in several "crowd-pleasing" flavours, from chocolate brownie to salted caramel.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Irenie Forshaw is a features writer at The Week, covering arts, culture and travel. She began her career in journalism at Leeds University, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Gryphon, before working at The Guardian and The New Statesman Group. Irenie then became a senior writer at Elite Traveler, where she oversaw The Experts column.
-
Amandaland: Lucy Punch dazzles in 'glorious' Motherland spin-off
The Week Recommends Joanna Lumley reprises her role as Amanda's 'exquisitely disparaging' mother
By The Week UK Published
-
Paris AI Summit: has Europe already been left behind?
The Explainer EU shift from AI regulation to investment may still leave it trailing in US and China's wake
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Codeword: February 13, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
5 absorbing books to read this February to help you escape the chaos
The Week Recommends 5 absorbing books to read this February
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
TV to watch in February, including 'The White Lotus' and 'Apple Cider Vinegar'
The Week Recommends An HBO fan favorite, the true story of a wellness scam and a 'Planet Earth' survey of America
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
How to have more hygge in your life
The Week Recommends Embracing coziness is just one aspect of this Danish way of life
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Movies to watch in February, including 'The Monkey' and 'Paddington in Peru'
The Week Recommends The return of a beloved bear, a Stephen King-inspired horror and an undersea thriller based on a true story
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Montenegro offers Adriatic adventures without the crowds
The Week Recommends There is room for everyone in this Balkan destination
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Hands-on experiences that let travelers connect with the culture
The Week Recommends Sharpen your sense of place through these engaging activities
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Intimate hotels for a romantic couple's getaway
The Week Recommends Love is in the air at these enchanting properties
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 Valentine's Day gifts for your special someones
The Week Recommends These tokens of affection cover all the bases
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published