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AIP Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Minimalism is having a moment right now. From capsule wardrobes to Marie Kondo, everyone seems to be embracing the philosophy that less is more. But what about dessert? I would argue that minimalism has a place in desserts too, and to make my point, look no further than this AIP Madagascan vanilla ice cream. This ice cream is free from dairy and refined sugar and it only has three ingredients. It doesn’t get much more minimal than that! Sure, you could easily use your vanilla ice cream as a blank canvas and dress it up with fruit, or nuts, or other toppings. But I’m here to tell you, if you invest in high quality ingredients for this recipe, this vanilla ice cream can stand on its own.
Where Does Vanilla Come from and How Do You Choose the Right Kind at the Store?
Did you know that vanilla comes from an orchid? That’s right, the vanilla plant is in the same family as those beautiful brightly colored flowers. The vanilla orchid is a vine, which grows on trees in warm climates such as Mexico and Guatemala.
Vanilla extract is made by macerating the seed pods for the vanilla orchid in alcohol, or a combination of alcohol and water. If you are strictly avoiding alcohol for AIP, you can also purchase alcohol free vanilla, at specialty stores or online. You can also buy a vanilla bean to ensure that you know exactly what is in your flavorings.
It is important to read the labels carefully on vanilla. Some brands add sweeteners or stabilizers to their blend. Vanilla is expensive but it’s worth buying a high-quality brand with no additives. Artificial vanilla is not worth wasting money on and can’t compare to the real thing.
I often keep two bottles of vanilla n my cabinet. One is the regular quality pure vanilla extract for my local grocery store. The other is my high-quality vanilla extract, which was a gift. In something where the vanilla is one flavor among many, I use the regular old grocery stuff but in a recipe like this with only three mild ingredients, I break out the expensive one.
Why Choose Honey?
Honey is a good option for sweetening a variety of AIP recipes. Aside from personal preference here are some other reasons to sweeten with honey.
- Lower glycemic index and table sugar
- Sweeter than table sugar
- Easily available across the country
- Raw honey even contains antioxidants!
More AIP-Friendly Desserts to Make with Vanilla Extract
Whether you can’t get enough vanilla-flavored treats, or you just love the complex flavor it adds to the background, there is a dessert recipe for you.
Starring Vanilla
Vanilla in a Supporting Role

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Description
Quality vanilla goes a long way to add a superior flavor to this ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1–2 Madagascan vanilla pods
- 2 13.5oz cans (800 ml) of coconut milk, room temperature
- 1/4 cup (60ml) of honey
Instructions
- Shake the cans of coconut milk well and empty into a large bowl. Scrape the seeds of the vanilla pods and whisk into the mixture until there are no lumps. Whisk in the honey.
- Place the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Transfer the churned ice cream into a suitable freezer container. Cover and store in the freezer until needed.
Notes
All nutritional data are estimated and based on per serving amounts.
Nutrition
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 6 g
- Fat: 19 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g