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    You are here: Home / Vegan Desserts / Blueberry cashew ice cream

    Blueberry cashew ice cream

    Published: May 3, 2020 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Sarah Brooks

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    This fresh blueberry cashew ice cream is the most amazing colour and sings of sweet blueberries and roasted, creamy cashews. It's plant-based and both dairy and egg free, perfect for those with allergies or dietary restrictions.

    Blueberry cashew ice cream

    Originally I made this recipe with coconut. Delicious but not what I was going for. If that sounds more like you, check out my recipe for coconut blueberry ice cream. Which is better? I couldn't say, but I wrote a post comparing the two so you can decide for yourself. This version uses pure cashews in two different forms, milk with raw cashews and butter with roasted cashews. It's worth making the two to get a more complex cashew flavour and they are super easy to whip up yourself at home.

    The secret to this recipe is to blend blend blend. You will need a good-quality immersion blender or you can use a food processor.

    Looking for more fabulous blueberry desserts? Why not try making my blueberry coulis which is perfect drizzled over my no bake blueberry cheesecake. Delicious!

    To make the blueberry cashew ice cream

    Blueberry cashew ingredients

    Make the three elements first, then combine them at the end.

    Cashew milk

    Pouring boiling water on raw cashews

    Put the raw cashews into a large heatproof bowl and cover them with boiling water. Soak for one hour. Don't skip this step, you want the cashews to absorb the water and make them easier to blend into nice creamy milk. There is some debate online on if soaking in boiling water reduces the nutritional value of cashews. If you are worried about this you can cover it with water and soak it overnight in the fridge instead.

    Straining cashews for milk

    Drain the soaking water off and put soaked cashews into a deep bowl you can use an immersion blender in. Alternatively, you can use a food processor. I don't recommend using a blender as I find the finer pieces tend to get stuck in the bottom and it's hard to get a smooth consistency. Plus they are a total pain to clean.

    Blender with whole cashews for milk
    Blended cashew milk

    Add the cold water to the cashews. This can be water from the tap, it does not need to be cold water from the fridge or especially 'room temperature water. Blend the water and cashews well until it forms creamy milk. Taste the cashew milk or rub some between your fingers. It should have a smooth, creamy consistency. If there are still gritty large particles you need to keep blending.

    Cashew butter

    Roast cashews in chopping bowl
    Roast cashews creeping up bowl
    Roast cashews starting to form paste

    Next, make the cashew butter. Put the roasted cashews into the chopping bowl of an immersion blender or food processor. Blend until it resembles fine bread crumbs and is starting to creep up the sides.

    Roast cashews adding oil
    Roast cashews smooth butter

    Add the peanut oil and blend again until a smooth paste forms. Test it will a spoon or between your fingers, again it should be smooth without any grittiness or large particles. If not, you need to keep blending. It's almost a shame to put this in ice cream, it's so delicious you could easily pop it into a jar and spread it on toast instead of peanut butter.

    Blueberry jam

    Adding blueberries to pot
    Adding sugar to pot

    To make the blueberry jam measure out the blueberries and add them to a small pot with the sugar and a couple of tablespoons of water to get it started. If you don't want to use refined sugar you could substitute it for something like maple syrup but be aware anything other than plain sugar will have a stronger flavour which may distract from the blueberry and cashew flavour in the final ice cream.

    Reduced blueberry jam
    Blending blueberry jam
    Blended blueberry jam

    Simmer on low, stirring frequently until rich and jammy and the total volume in the pot has reduced by about one-third. Allow to cool, then transfer to a deep bowl you can use an immersion blender, or a clean food processor. Blend until smooth, all the skins are blended up and the seeds are well blended as much as possible. The blueberry jam is harder to get very smooth due to the seeds but do your best.

    Hot tip: Wait untill the blueberry jam is properly cool. Do not try to blend hot blueberry jam or you may be badly burnt by hot, sticky jam going everywhere.

    Once the jam is smooth add the lemon juice and mix well.

    To finish making the blueberry cashew ice cream

    Adding vanilla to cashew mix
    Adding salt to cashew mix
    Adding blueberry jam to cashew mix

    In a deep bowl, you can use an immersion blender to add the cashew milk, cashew butter, vanilla essence and salt. Blend well. Add the blueberry jam and mix well, either with a spoon or the immersion blender again.

    Chill well in the fridge, for at least three hours, ideally longer.

    Churning ice cream

    If you are using a self-refrigerating ice cream churner turn this on about ten minutes before churning your ice cream and make sure your storage container is in the freezer chilling. Otherwise, take your freezer bowl out of the freezer just before churning.

    Churned blueberry cashew

    Churn your ice cream. It will be the consistency of soft serve when done. Eat immediately or transfer to a chilled container and freeze overnight or until desired consistency is reached.

    To serve

    Blueberry cashew ice cream with pan

    Remove the ice cream from the freezer for five minutes to soften up then scoop and enjoy. Yummy served with some extra blueberries and some crushed cashews or on its own. Delicious!

    Have you made this recipe? I'd love to know how it went in the comments below.

    Looking for more allergy-friendly recipes? Try my Vegan Custard or Eggless Carrot Cake

    Blueberry cashew in pan un scooped
    Blueberry cashew ice cream

    Blueberry cashew ice cream

    Author: Sarah Brooks
    This blueberry cashew ice cream is the most amazing colour sings of sweet blueberries and roasty, creamy cashews. It's plant based, dairy and egg free.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 45 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 serves (⅔ cup each), approx.
    Calories 596 kcal

    Equipment

    • ice cream maker
    • immersion blender with chopping bowl attachment OR a food processor

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
    • 1 pinch salt

    Cashew milk

    • 1 cup (150gms) raw cashews
    • boiling water, for soaking
    • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (270ml) water

    Cashew butter

    • 1 cup (150gms) roasted cashews
    • 1 teaspoon peanut oil or similar neutral oil

    Blueberry jam

    • 3 cups (450gms) fresh or frozen blueberries
    • ½ cup (120gms) caster sugar
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Make the cashew milk, cashew butter and blueberry jam, then combine as instructed

    Cashew milk

    • Put raw cashews into a large heat proof bowl. Cover with boiling water and soak for one hour
    • Drain well. Add to deep bowl you can use an immersion blender in, add water.
    • Blend very well until cashew milk is smooth and no longer gritty

    Cashew butter

    • Place roast cashews in chopping bowl of immersion blender. Blend until fine and starting to form a paste.
    • Add peanut oil. Continue to blend until very smooth paste and no longer gritty

    Blueberry jam

    • Add blueberries, sugar and water to a small pot.
    • Simmer, stirring frequently until water is reduced by about ⅓ and you have a thick, jammy consistency.
    • Allow to cool. Transfer to a deep sided bowl you can use an immersion blender in.
    • Blend well until jam is smooth and no longer gritty. Add lemon juice and mix well.

    To assemble the ice cream mix

    • Add cashew butter to bowl with cashew milk. Add salt and vanilla essence.
    • Blend well with immersion blender until fully combined.
    • Add blueberry jam to cashew mix and mix well with a spoon or immersion blender until fully combined.
    • Chill mix well, at least 3 hours or overnight if desired.
    • If using a self churning ice cream machine turn this on ten minutes before churning to allow bowl to chill, otherwise take churner bowl out of the freezer just before churning.
    • Churn ice cream. This took about 30mins in my machine but yours may vary.
    • When ice cream is done it will be soft serve consistency. Eat immediately or if a firmer texture is desired transfer to chilled container and freeze overnight.
    • To serve remove from freezer and leave for a few mins to soften up, then scoop and enjoy! Delicious with some extra blueberries on top or on its own

    Notes

    I used frozen blueberries here but you could use fresh if available.  Either way berries can vary in their ripeness and therefore sweetness, and you may need to add more or less sugar accordingly.  
    The secret to this recipes is to make sure all your elements are well blended to ensure a smooth, creamy texture to your final ice cream.  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 596kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 14gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gSodium: 21mgPotassium: 578mgFiber: 5gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 64IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 5mg

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate based on an online database. The nutritional content of ingredients may vary by brand. If you require accurate nutritional information, you should calculate this based on the specific brands and products you are using.

    Keywords: dairy free, egg free, ice cream machine, plant based, vegan
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Blueberry cashew in pan scooped
    281 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sylvie

      May 04, 2020 at 4:50 am

      5 stars
      What a great dairy-free and vegan ice cream! I love blueberries and I'm sure it tastes delicious with the cashew nuts!

      Reply
    2. Gavin

      May 05, 2020 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      I've never had that combo before but the colours are making me wanna make it ASAP. Great tips on the cashew - I never knew you should soak them to make the "cream" element.

      Reply
    3. Sally

      May 05, 2020 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      I love the colour of this ice cream! Being dairy free I am always looking for options for the best tasting ice cream alternatives and I find that I tend not to prefer the coconut based ones so this looks like a great option! Can’t wait to give this a go!

      Reply
    4. Robyn

      May 06, 2020 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      What a fantastic idea to use cashews to replace any dairy and eggs in the ice cream! And what a combination with the blueberry jam - yum!

      Reply
    5. Sydney

      August 28, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      I made this and it's delicious. I wonder if I could make it with strawberries next.

      Reply
      • Sarah Brooks

        August 29, 2020 at 12:30 pm

        I'm so glad you loved it! You could defiantly try this with strawberries. I would make the strawberries according to my strawberry ice cream recipe and add that. Would love to know how it goes 🙂

        Reply
        • Sydney

          August 31, 2020 at 6:23 pm

          I looked at it, but I'm vegan so the cashew milk is perfect for us. I'll try it this blueberry way and keep my fingers crossed. 🙂

          Reply
    6. Roland

      June 02, 2021 at 11:19 pm

      Just wondering, why do you need roasted cashews for the butter and why is this separate? Why not just use only raw cashews, and combine all ingredients and blend? I've been doing that, and it seems to work well, but I'm curious to see if I can improve it. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sarah Brooks

        June 03, 2021 at 5:14 am

        Hi Roland, I find roasting the cashews for the butter gives an extra boost of flavor without over doing it, hence some roasted, some raw. But you could certainly try giving it a good with only raw cashews and see if you like it that way. If you do let me know how it goes!

        Reply

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