If you love ice cream but don’t love all of the calories and extra sugar, then it’s time to make your own at home! Light Strawberry Ice Cream is packed full of summery strawberry flavor, minus the dairy and cane sugar.
My new stay-at-home obsession is ice cream. I never thought I’d be a homemade ice cream gal, just as I never thought I’d be a homemade donut gal. But here we are.
With the August heat rolling in, I have a lot of healthy ice cream recipes to share with you in the coming weeks. This one just screams summer for me, as it is peak strawberry season. Since summer is almost over, it’s time to hang onto and enjoy every last minute. Light Strawberry Ice Cream is just the way to do that!
Lightening up Strawberry ice cream
I was inspired to make this recipe by a friend from work. He raved about a recipe from Epicurious that he and his wife have made for a while. Since the base is mainly fresh strawberries and no heavy whipping cream, unlike most ice cream recipes, I figured I could find some tweaks to make it lighter and allergy-conscious.
I’ve been trying to eat less dairy and cane sugar to reduce inflammation in my back, so I knew the entire cup of white sugar from the original recipe had to go. Honey did the trick. I find it adds a more complex sweetness as opposed to regular sugar, so less honey works well!
Of course, the amount of honey you should use really depends on how sweet your berries are. Definitely taste and adjust as you go.
But also, how refreshing can ice cream be without a little creaminess? Almond milk did the trick here! I find that the slight almond flavor works well with the berries and lemon.
But the real secret ingredient is the egg white. I know it sounds weird, but it creates a light fluffiness as the ice cream machine turns, kind of like a meringue. I think the mixture would turn out too icy and crumbly without it.
What Ingredients and Tools do i need?
Honestly, I think it’s worth it to invest in an ice cream maker. I’ve been skeptical for years, but it is SO worth it. I used to search for no-churn ice cream recipes, but I realize now they are so much more work. You have to mix every 30 minutes for up to 4 hours?? Not worth it. Cuisinart has an ice cream machine for around $70 that has great reviews at Target.
Other than that, we are talking only 5 ingredients!
- 1 pound fresh strawberries (I suppose you could use frozen, though they might not be as sweet)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup unsweetened original almond milk
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 egg white
That’s it! All you do is throw all of those ingredient into a food processor, and you’re on your way to the perfect summer treat.
looking for more delicious no-bake summer desserts?
Light Strawberry Ice Cream
Equipment
- Ice Cream Maker, with insert frozen 24 hours before you plan to make this.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, stems removed
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup honey (you may need more depending on the sweetness of your strawberries)
- 1 cup unsweetened original almond milk
- 1 egg white*
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until strawberries are fully blended (chunks are not only okay, but add lovely texture).
- Pour mixture into frozen ice cream maker bowl, inserted in your machine. Churn for 30-35 minutes, or until mixture is frozen the consistency of soft serve ice cream.
- You can serve at this point, though it will be a bit soft. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for about an hour. It will scoop more like real ice cream.
- This is at its best when eaten within the first hour, but it will keep in the freezer for up to a month with some plastic wrap laid over the surface to prevent freezer burn. It will freeze solid. When you want to serve, remove from freezer and let thaw for about 20-30 minutes, then scoop. It will have a more creamy, shaved ice consistency but still be delicious!
Ah-mazing!!! I substituted the honey with 1/2 cup of monk fruit sweetner making this zero smart points. This is a great base to use with other fruits. Peach ice cream is a family tradition and I can’t wait to use this recipe with peaches! Thanks for another great recipe! 🍓🍨
You can’t beat zero points! OMG Peaches and Cream Ice Cream, here we come…
Oh my gosh, Geri!!! Another absolutely incredible recipie! Super delicious AND easy to make! No need to get store-bought ice cream again! Thank you so much for your fabulous recipes! Lots of mangoes from my tree— I think I’ll try using them.
Awww thank you for the wonderful review, Robin! This makes me so happy. 🥰
Can I use Oat Milk vs Almond Milk?
I’m sure that would work!