Vegan pistachio ice cream is ultra creamy, nutty, and bursting with pistachio flavor! This frozen dessert is made with only 6 ingredients and requires no banana. It is dairy-free, refined sugar-free ice cream can be made in a Ninja Creami, an ice cream maker, or without an ice cream maker!
So random fact about me, I used to be OBSESSED with the Talenti Pistachio gelato. It is so, so good. Unfortunate for me, my dairy intolerance would not be happy with me if I dove into a pint of that, so I set out to create my own that is JUST as good. Whether you like soft serve, gelato, or frozen yogurt, you will LOVE this pistachio ice cream recipe!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Vegan pistachio ice cream is dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free.
- Packed with flavor! This ice cream is bursting with sweet and salty pistachio flavor!
- It’s super easy to make and comes together in a blender, then ice cream machine.
- Stores well in the freezer and stays creamy!
- It has the texture of extra creamy ice cream/gelato!
- You can double or triple the recipe to feed a large crowd.
- This nice cream can be made without banana or coconut.
How to make vegan pistachio ice cream
Full recipe and measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
equipment
ingredients & substitutions
- Pistachios: Raw shelled pistachios work best!
- Cashews: Cashews make this ice cream extra creamy!
- Milk: You can use whatever milk you prefer, however if you’re looking for the most indulgent, creamy ice cream, I recommend using full-fat canned coconut milk!
- Sweetener: Honey works wonderfully with pistachios, but maple syrup or monk fruit for a sugar-free option both work!
- Lemon juice: Lemon juice adds a little tang to the recipe and really brings the flavors together.
- Coconut yogurt: Coconut yogurt helps create a super creamy texture. You can also use a full-fat greek yogurt (lite yogurts will not produce the creamiest texture).
- Pantry Staples: vanilla extract, sea salt
Vegan pistachio ice cream recipe video
3 methods to make pistachio ice cream
1. Making pistachio ice cream with a Ninja Creami
Note: If making ice cream with the Ninja Creami, the ice cream mixture will need to be frozen over-night. Just keep that in mind incase you’re planning on enjoying it at a certain time! Blend all of the ice cream ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth. Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint and freeze over-night or for 8ish hours until completely solid. Then use your Ninja Creami on the Lite Ice Cream setting. I like to run mine twice to get it extra creamy!
2. Making pistachio ice cream with an ice cream machine
Note: Freeze the ice cream bowl in the freeze the night before or the morning of making your ice cream. Blend all of the ice cream ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth. Then turn the ice cream maker on and follow your ice cream makers directions on how to make the ice cream (usually you just pour it right in while it’s running!)
3. Making pistachio ice cream without an ice cream machine
Blend all of the ingredients for the pistachio ice cream until smooth, then freeze in silicone ice cube tray. The next day, once they’re frozen, pop them out and re-blend into creamy ice cream or soft serve.
Pistachio ice cream variations
- Add in chocolate chips or cacao nibs or drizzle over chocolate shell.
- Add sprinkles to your ice cream!
- Serve pistachio ice cream in an ice cream cone or waffle cone.
- Mix-in some diced strawberries.
- Stir in chopped pistachios for crunch.
Tips
- If storing leftover ice cream, be sure to let it sit out at room temperature for 10 minutes or so before enjoying, for the creamiest texture!
- Storing leftover ice cream: Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the freezer.
- Want to make high protein ice cream? Blend in a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder!
More healthy, Vegan ice cream recipes to try
- Strawberry shortcake ice cream bars
- Snickers ice cream cake
- Frozen yogurt bites
- Healthy cookie dough ice cream
- Homemade Dilly Bars
- Peanut butter cup nice cream without banana
- Blueberry crisp ice cream
Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 12oz can of full-fat coconut milk *see notes
- 1/2 cup milk, of choice (I used almond)
- 3/4 cup raw, shelled pistachios
- 1/4-1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 2/3 cup THICK coconut yogurt or greek yogurt
- 1-2 scoops protein powder (optional!)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon juice *Optional!
- 1/8-1/4 tsp almond extract *Optional! Gives that traditional pistachio ice cream taste!
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Making pistachio ice cream with a Ninja Creami
- Note: If making ice cream with the Ninja Creami, the ice cream mixture will need to be frozen over-night. Just keep that in mind incase you're planning on enjoying it at a certain time!
- Blend all of the ice cream ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth. You can taste the mixture & add extra sweetener, if needed (keep in mind the mixture tastes more sweet before freezing/making into ice cream).
- Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint and freeze over-night or for 8ish hours until completely solid. Then use your Ninja Creami on the Lite Ice Cream setting. I like to run mine twice to get it extra creamy.
Making pistachio ice cream with an ice cream machine
- Note: Freeze the ice cream bowl in the freeze the night before or the morning of making your ice cream.
- Blend all of the ice cream ingredients in a high powered blender until smooth. You can taste the mixture & add extra sweetener, if needed (keep in mind the mixture tastes more sweet before freezing/making into ice cream). Then turn the ice cream maker on and follow your ice cream makers directions on how to make the ice cream (usually you just pour it right in while it's running!)
Making pistachio ice cream without an ice cream machine
- Blend all of the ingredients for the pistachio ice cream until smooth. You can taste the mixture & add extra sweetener, if needed (keep in mind the mixture tastes more sweet before freezing/making into ice cream).
- Pour the ice cream mixture into a silicone ice cube tray. The next day, once they're frozen, pop them out and re-blend into creamy ice cream/soft serve!
Love pistachio and creami recipes! This one is great!!
Hi amy! Ugh, pistachio ice cream is just the best! Thank you so much!
this ice cream is sooo delicious!! I used truvia instead of honey/ maple and it was terrific!! I tried a little before I froze city and city was a little grainy. but after using the Creami on lite ice cream it was so creamy and not grainy at all. this is a keeper for sure and provides guilt-free options for the summer!! thanks so much and look forward to more recipes for Ninja Creami!!!!
Hi Bill! Thank you so much for trying my recipe – i’m so, so happy you liked it! The Creami really works magic!
I don’t see the cashews in the recipe but they are noted in the upper text. did the recipe change?
also…if I want to remove the full fat coconut milk could I replace with same amount of thick greek yogurt?
OK I know getting comments about changing the recipe can be super annoying (sorry), the pistachio was good (I loved it, my partner was happy but not amazed) BUT I used this exact recipe and swapped the pistachios for frozen strawberries and didn’t do the almond extract and it tasted just like strawberry ice cream it was AMAZING. So thank you!!!!
Hi! Aw, well i’m happy that you loved it with strawberries too – so good to know! Thanks for trying !(: