The Best Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream You Can Buy (Taste Test!)

July 2025 Update! I do appreciate flavor creativity, I really do. But like many of you, I often just want simple dairy-free vanilla ice cream. Fortunately, there are several dairy-free vanilla ice cream brands available for your humble cravings and à la mode needs. And we’re here to help find the best one for you! We purchased every vegan and dairy-free vanilla ice cream variety that we could find in our local area and had a taste test with our groups of dairy-loving and dairy-free friends. Here are the results!

Allergen Notes: All items listed below were dairy-free by ingredients at the time of our review, based on manufacturer’s information. But ingredients are subject to change at any time. And all products are at some degree of risk for allergen cross contamination, whether they have a “may contain” statement or not. Always read the label before consuming any food, and make sure you are familiar with this may contain information. Contact the company to discuss their allergen protocols if concerned about potential cross contamination.

The Best Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream You Can Buy Is …

Since our original dairy-free vanilla ice cream taste test, nearly a dozen brands of vegan ice cream have disappeared from the market. Sadly, there was some downsizing after a rather big vegan boom. But don’t worry, there are still good options at a freezer section near you. I’ll start with some category favorites, and then list the brands individually, starting with our favorite first!

• Best Overall: So Delicious Cashewmilk
• Best À La Mode: Breyers
• Cleanest Ingredients: Fronen
• Best Allergy-Friendly: So Delicious Plant-Based

So Delicious Very Vanilla Cashewmilk (where to buy)

All of the adults agreed that this flavor really was so delicious. Despite the “very vanilla” name, it doesn’t quite taste like pure vanilla ice cream. The caramel-like undertones of the cashews and the vanilla merge to create a rich taste that’s a bit like the base flavor of butter pecan. The consistency is also rich, creamy, and the closest to dairy ice cream that we tasted. It’s a joy to eat on its own, but still complements most toppings and desserts à la mode. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Rich and very creamy mouthfeel
• Deep and alluring with warm notes of caramel
• Broad appeal among both dairy and dairy-free tasters
• Seamless flavor from first bite through the aftertaste
• Versatile as stand alone or dessert ice cream
• Certified gluten-free
• Kosher parve

Cons: 

• Doesn’t taste specifically like vanilla ice cream

Ingredients: cashewmilk (filtered water, cashews), cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic tapioca syrup, pea protein, sea salt, guar gum, vanilla extract, natural flavors, locust bean gum. Contains: tree nuts.

Breyer’s Non-Dairy Oatmilk Vanilla (where to buy)

This versatile frozen dessert has a whipped cream meets ice cream consistency, making it perfect for sundaes and topping other desserts. The flavor offers a nice balance of sweetness and vanilla that tastes quite seamless as it readily melts in your mouth. And the large 1.5-quart size of this brand has made it a value-oriented staple for parties. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Whipped consistency with a creamy finish
• Vanilla is noticeable, but doesn’t overwhelm
• Lighter taste without iciness
• Sold in large tubs
• No off notes or overt oat taste in the flavor
• Ideal taste and consistency for pairing with desserts

Cons: 

• Contains more additives
• Notably less dense than ice cream
• Not soy-free (a bit misleading for people who buy oat milk products for food allergies)

Ingredients: water, oat milk (water, hydrolyzed oats), sugar, coconut oil, corn syrup, soluble corn fiber, less than 2% of: soy protein isolate, mono and diglycerides, natural flavor, cellulose gum, guar gum, polysorbate 80, carob bean gum, salt, polysorbate 65, soy lecithin, carrageenan, annatto (for color). Contains soy.

Nora’s Vanilla Bean (store locator)

The first time I bought Nora’s, we were pleasantly surprised. It has an appealing, relatively neutral base flavor with the perfect dose of vanilla. The cashew and coconut in this dairy-free ice cream balance and slightly mute one another, to allow the vanilla to come through. It’s somewhat rich, but has an icier mouthfeel than many other varieties, making it a little more refreshing on the decadence scale.

Pros:

• Pleasant well-balanced base flavor
• Warm vanilla is ever-present without overwhelming
• Texture is very smooth with subtle richness
• Not whipped, but not too firm
• Contains no legumes or added proteins 

Cons: 

• Only sold in Canada
• Mouthfeel is a little frosty

Ingredients: cashew base (water, cashews), organic cane sugar, coconut cream, coconut oil, vanilla extract, vanilla bean specks. less than 1% of the following: sea salt, guar gum, xanthan gum, locust bean gum. Contains: tree nuts.

So Delicious Vanilla Bean Plant-Based (formerly Wondermilk) (where to buy)

In their most recent packaging update, So Delicious rebranded their Wondermilk line with a “Plant-Based Blend” label. But the product inside has remained the same. Like Breyer’s, this variety is lighter and fluffier, with a whipped cream vibe. It’s the most vanilla of the bunch, but a touch sweet and in need of a little more depth. We all liked it, but think it’s best à la mode or as a sundae base with toppings. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Vanilla forward flavor
• Smooth and creamy mouthfeel
• Whipped consistency great à la mode
• Made without top allergens
• Certified gluten-free
• Kosher parve

Cons: 

•  A little sweet, lacking depth
• Notably less dense than ice cream

Ingredients: filtered water, organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic tapioca syrup, organic sunflower oil, rice starch, pea protein, sea salt, guar gum, natural flavor, vanilla bean specks, locust bean gum, vanilla extract, annatto extract (for color).

So Delicious Vanilla Bean Organic Soymilk (where to buy)

I like soymilk, I really do. But I had to agree with other tasters that this does taste a little beany. A nice warm vanilla is ever present at first, but the soy gradually overtakes it. That said, this variety does have balanced sweetness and a nice lightness about it. It’s got a slightly whipped consistency that melts into a creamy, milky texture. I’d definitely eat it again, it just wasn’t a top contender. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Tasty vanilla infusion
• Balanced sweetness
• Milky creaminess
• Contains no coconut at all
• Made with whole soy (no protein isolates)
• Comes in larger quart size
• Certified organic
• Certified gluten-free
• Kosher parve

Cons: 

• Soy beaniness is quite notable

Ingredients: organic soymilk (filtered water, organic soybeans), organic tapioca syrup, organic cane sugar, organic soybean oil, organic inulin, organic locust bean gum, gellan gum, organic guar gum, natural flavor. Contains:soy.

Fronen Madagascar Vanilla (not vegan) (store locator)

This unique brand shines with simplicity, giving you homemade taste without the fuss. The three flavorful ingredients are both assertive and complementary, making themselves known in each bite before harmonizing into a creamy finish. It tastes less “coconut” than the other coconut milk brands on this list, but it is still a little dense and quite different from classic vanilla ice cream. Nevertheless, the overall rating was a love for a two tasters, a solid like for most, and a dislike for one due to the honey flavor. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Simple, clean ingredients
• Pleasant flavor overall with no “off” notes
• Creamy mouthfeel that’s rich, not whipped
• Not as overtly coconut as other coconutmilk brands
• Contains no legumes or added proteins 

Cons: 

• A bit dense
• Honey taste not loved by all
• Several steps away from classic vanilla ice cream

Ingredients: coconut cream, honey, water, vanilla extract

So Delicious Vanilla Bean Coconutmilk (where to buy)

I honestly expected this variety to be a top pick, but it was just too coconut forward. The tropical flavor masked nearly every hint of vanilla. The consistency was quite creamy, but more whipped than the other coconut milk brands on this list. Even so, the aftertaste was a bit heavy with the fattiness of coconut milk. It was a love for our top coconut fan, a “good for coconut ice cream” from most, and a dislike for the coconut averse in our group. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Great with tropical desserts and in dairy-free pina coladas
• Rich and creamy, but not dense
• Made without top allergens
• Certified gluten-free
• Kosher parve

Cons: 

• Flavor is overtly coconut
• Lacking in vanilla flavor
• Mouthfeel has heaviness of canned coconut milk
• Some said the consistency was becoming like CocoWhip

Ingredients: organic coconutmilk (filtered water, organic coconut), organic cane sugar, organic coconut oil, organic tapioca syrup, pea protein, locust bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor, vanilla bean specks.

Simple Truth Vanilla Bean Almondmilk (available at Kroger family of stores)

Many in our group use almond milk, but this frozen combination of vanilla and almond milk didn’t meld as well as we hoped. It’s creamy, but on the refreshing side, and has a somewhat whipped consistency. The vanilla flavor is notable, but the almond competes, creating an “off” flavor for some. Most of us agreed it would be good à la mode or sundae style, but it wasn’t a top pick by the scoop. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Vanilla is noticeable in taste
• Affordable store brand option
• Smooth texture that’s light, almost refreshing
• Visible flecks of vanilla bean
• Contains no legumes or added proteins 
• Contains no coconut at all

Cons: 

• Almond and vanilla compete rather than complement
• Consistency lacks richness
• Contains more additives

Ingredients: water, sugar, maltodextrin, almonds, expeller safflower oil, potato starch, cellulose gel, sunflower lecithin, guar gum, locust bean gum, sea salt, vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds, cellulose gum, natural flavor. Contains: tree nuts.

Oatly Vanilla (where to buy)

We found the overall flavor of this pint a little difficult to pinpoint at first. But as comments were hashed out, we all agreed it was a bit too oat-forward, lacked vanilla flavor and had an underwhelming, rather nonexistent aftertaste. As one taster said, it was a bit like the sweetness of Oreo filling without the shortening aftertaste. On the plus side, it was just creamy enough, and a couple oat fans felt it had a good general flavor. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Light creamy consistency
• Made without top allergens
• Certified gluten-free
• Contains no legumes or added proteins 

Cons: 

• Oat forward taste
• Lacks vanilla flavor
• Flat, watery aftertaste

Ingredients: oatmilk  (water, oats), refined coconut oil,  sugar, dextrose, dried glucose syrup, low erucic acid rapeseed oil. contains 2% or less of: mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, locust bean gum, guar gum, vanilla extract, sea salt, ground vanilla beans.

365 Vanilla Bean Almondmilk (available Whole Foods stores) 

This brand confused us, which was easy to see by all of the puzzled looks. I thought it tasted like coffee, which I don’t like. There were votes that it was very almond-y, but a little disjointed. One comment was that it was “vanilla in parts.” Another said it starts out vanilla, but then melts into “some other flavor.” We couldn’t say it was a strong dislike, but Whole Foods brand wasn’t met with a great deal of love, either. We all agreed not to buy it again. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• Consistency is smooth and lightly creamy
• À la mode contender
• Affordable store brand option

Cons: 

• Almond heavy flavor
• Overall taste is disjointed and battles with vanilla
• Lacks richness

Ingredients: almondmilk (water, almonds), cane sugar, organic tapioca syrup, organic highly refined coconut oil, pea protein, natural flavor, carob bean gum, sunflower lecithin (emulsifier), gellan gum, ground vanilla beans. Contains: tree nuts.

Cosmic Bliss Madagascan Vanilla Bean (formerly Coconut Bliss) (store locator)

Raw foodists might like this coconut ice cream, but it wasn’t for any of us. Tony said it tasted like young Thai coconut, and nothing else. It was very coconut-heavy in taste and texture. The consistency was dense, more buttery than creamy, and slightly gritty. The flavor was slightly fruity and only a little sweet. Our resident teen even said it was a bit tangy. To our taste buds, this didn’t quite qualify as dessert, and it was a substantial detour from vanilla ice cream. (see more reviews)

Pros:

• Relatively clean and simple ingredients
• Certified organic
• Certified gluten-free

Cons: 

• Dense consistency
• More buttery than creamy
• Texture a little gritty
• Lacks sweetness
• Flavor coconut heavy

Ingredients: organic coconut milk (water, organic coconut, organic guar gum), organic coconut syrup, organic coconut cream, organic vanilla extract, organic vanilla beans.

So Delicious No Sugar Added Vanilla Bean Coconutmilk (where to buy)

No, just no. We all took a hard pass on a second bite of this ice cream. This used to be a fan favorite for dairy-free, sugar-free ice cream. But the new formula just isn’t it. It flaked like coconut, tasted like coconut, was a bit gritty, and had an unpleasant sweetener aftertaste. It received a strong thumbs down from our whole tasting team. (See more reviews.)

Pros:

• It’s added sugar-free
• Certified gluten-free
• Kosher parve

Cons: 

• Tastes like a can of coconut milk with fake sweetener added
• Consistency isn’t creamy
• Dense and a bit hard

Ingredients: organic coconutmilk (filtered water, organic coconut), oatmilk (filtered water, whole oat flour), organic coconut water, organic coconut oil, organic erythritol, chicory root extract, organic sunflower oil, pea protein, guar gum, vanilla extract, monk fruit extract, natural flavor, reb a (stevia leaf sweetener), vanilla bean specks, locust bean gum.

More Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream Brands

I’ve included this list of other dairy-free vanilla ice cream brands sold in North America that we didn’t have available. You can click on each for Ingredients, Nutrition Facts, Availability, and Reviews from other people like you.

• Cado – This brand has decent distribution of select flavors, but the Vanilla Bean has been hard for us to locate.
• Nadamoo – Their pints were once prolific in grocery stores, but these days we struggle to find more than one flavor in an entire city.
• No Bull – We’ve never seen this brand in stores, but they are still churning out oatmilk ice cream.
• Oat & Mill – This is a Canadian artisan oatmilk brand that has regional availability.
• Tofutti – We loved the white chocolate vibe of this soy-cocoa butter ice cream, but it’s become increasingly hard to find.

Discontinued Brands of Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream

Sadly, the following brands have discontinued their dairy-free vanilla frozen dessert pints. Some of these brands are no longer in business, but some still produce other products.  

• Alden’s
• Almond Dream
• Coolhaus
• Daiya
• Elmhurst Soft Serve Mix
• Favorite Day (Target brand)
• O’MY Gelato
• Ripple
• Planet Oat
• So Delicious Oatmilk 
• Valsoia (still available in Europe)

4 Amazing Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream Recipes!

Yes, you can easily churn your own dairy-free vanilla ice cream at home! Here are a few of our favorite recipes.

Dairy-Free Pure Vanilla Ice Cream

Classic Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream

Vanilla Oatmilk Ice Cream (not vegan)

Dairy-Free Vanilla Marshmallow Ice Cream

Also See Our Dairy-Free Chocolate Ice Cream Taste Test!