Ingredients
Method
- The day before use, place your ice cream churning bowl in the freezer for at least 12 hours to ensure a proper chill.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and add the hazelnuts to a bare baking sheet in a single layer. If raw, roast for a total of 10-12 minutes. If already roasted, roast for 8-10 minutes just to warm the natural oils and loosen the skins. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Then transfer to a large kitchen towel and use your hands to roll the nuts around to remove most of the skins.
- Transfer the skinned hazelnuts to your high-speed blender and blend for about 3 minutes, starting on low and working your way up to high, until they look like small crumbs.
- Next, melt your chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until about half of the chocolate chips are melted (~1 minute). Remove the pan from the heat and stir until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate into the blender. Begin blending on low, working your way up to high until the hazelnut butter is completely smooth and combined. This should take about 3 minutes. Once completely smooth, remove 3 Tbsp of your freshly made "Nutella" and set aside for later!
- To your blender with the remaining "Nutella," add the light coconut milk, cane sugar, vanilla extract, and sea salt and blend on high for 2 minutes until smooth, creamy, and completely combined.
- Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill thoroughly.
- Add the slightly chilled mixture to your ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer's instructions — ours took 30 minutes. Pour the reserved Nutella on top of the ice cream and gently fold it in to create a swirl. Transfer the ice cream to a large freezer-safe container, smooth it with a spoon, top with parchment paper, and freeze for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Notes
- For the creamiest vegan Nutella ice cream, ensure your hazelnuts are thoroughly roasted and de-skinned. I once skipped some of the skinning and the texture wasn't as smooth.
- Don't rush the chilling process for the ice cream base; a well-chilled mixture churns into a better consistency.
- Storage: Store any leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 weeks. Allow it to soften at room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture.
- For a richer chocolate flavor, consider using a higher quality semi-sweet chocolate. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- Don't rush the chilling process for the ice cream base; a well-chilled mixture churns into a better consistency.
- Storage: Store any leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 weeks. Allow it to soften at room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture.
- For a richer chocolate flavor, consider using a higher quality semi-sweet chocolate. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
