This Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream is one for true pistachio fans! It relies solely on pistachios and oats for creaminess. Made with just 6 ingredients and no cashews or coconut milk to dilute the lovely pistachio flavor.
Why This Recipe Works
My patient husband has been asking for a pistachio ice cream for SO long. Finally, I got around to testing this flavor, and honestly, it kind of blew my mind.
This pistachio ice cream isn't messing around. We're talking 1 ½ cups of pistachios packed into this dairy-free, wholesome, homemade ice cream, with no coconut milk or cashews to dilute the flavor!
Before going vegan pistachio was never one of my go-to ice cream flavors, so just before I blended up the first batch I actually said to my hubby, "I don't remember what pistachio ice cream tastes like."
Smarty pants that he is, he answered, "Pistachio."
Then I tasted it and couldn't believe the level of flavor. Seriously, this ice cream is unapologetically pure pistachio, but in a 100% real, non-fake-y sort of way!
This recipe is similar to my other oat-based ice cream recipes in that it focuses on real, simple ingredients and has less fat overall than most ice creams.
This means that it will be pretty solidly frozen after it's been in the freezer for a while. But give it 15 minutes to soften on the counter before scooping, and it will be gloriously creamy and delicious.
Ingredient Notes
- 1 ½ cups roasted, unsalted pistachios - If starting with raw pistachios, roast them in a 325 degree F (160 Celsius) oven for 5 to 7 minutes to intensify the flavor. Allow the nuts to fully cool before using.
- 3 cups oat or soy milk - plain and unsweetened
- ¼ cup rolled oats - once cooked, the starch in oats helps create an amazing creaminess in our vegan ice cream, a little trick I learned from The Homemade Vegan Pantry by Miyoko Schinner.
- ⅔ cup organic cane sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ounce vodka, optional - this helps to reduce ice crystal formation and slightly softens the ice cream.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
How To Make Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream
Homemade ice cream is pretty easy, but if you're using a typical ice cream maker with the removable canister, there is some planning involved. So let's do a quick review to make sure things go smoothly for you.
The basic process looks like this:
- Make sure your ice cream machine's canister has been in the freezer for at least a day.
- Cook the oatmeal in a small sauce pan, then spread onto a plate to cool.
- Blend the remaining milk and the pistachios until smooth. Add the cooled oatmeal and remaining ingredients, and blend again.
- Refrigerate the the ice cream base until chilled (anywhere from 2 hours to overnight). TIP: speed up this process by placing it in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Churn the ice cream according to the instructions for your ice cream maker.
- Enjoy now like soft-serve, or freeze the ice cream for 3 to 4 hours for a firmer, scoopable consistency.
- Let the ice cream soften at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes and dig in!
Equipment
You'll need a blender strong enough to puree the pistachios in the non-dairy milk. A high-speed blender like a Vitamix works best here. Otherwise, if using a standard blender, you can strain the blended mixture to remove any unblended bits, or just leave them in the ice cream for texture!
Ideally, you'll also need an ice cream maker. A freezer-safe dish or loaf pan will also come in handy.
No-Churn Method
I haven't tested this recipe with the standard no-churn method, but I do think the results will be similar to the results I got when I tested this Vanilla-Maple Oat Milk Ice Cream.
Essentially, the ice cream will still taste amazing, but it will take on an icy appearance compared to the churned version.
So if you're pistachio's biggest fan and don't have an ice cream maker, but you just reeeaaally want this ice cream in your life, I say go for it!
I mean, a day with vegan ice cream is always better than a day without, even if it isn't the creamiest looking ice cream of all time.
The standard no-churn instructions look like this:
- After blending the ice cream mixture, pour it into a shallow, freezer-safe container.
- Freeze until the ice cream begins to freeze around the edges, about 45 minutes. Give it a vigorous stir, then return it to the freezer.
- Repeat this process every 30 to 45 minutes until the ice cream reaches the desired consistency. It will likely take about 5 to 6 hours to reach soft-serve state.
Storing and Serving
Store vegan ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer. It tastes best when consumed within one week primarily because it can be difficult to protect it from air.
Be sure to allow about 15 minutes for the frozen ice cream to soften before serving.
More vegan ice cream recipes:
Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 3 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk such as oat or soy
- ¼ cup rolled oats - Certified gluten-free, if needed.
- 1 ½ cups roasted and unsalted pistachios
- ⅔ cup organic cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 ounce vodka, optional - See Notes.
Instructions
Plan/prep:
- If using an ice cream maker with a removable canister, be sure to freeze the canister at least one day before you plan to make ice cream. Also note that the ice cream mixture needs time to chill before churning (at least an hour), and the churned ice cream needs about 3 to 4 hours in the freezer for a firmer, scoopable consistency.
Make the ice cream:
- In a small sauce pan, simmer oats in 1 cup of milk until soft, about 10 minutes. Immediately transfer to a bowl or spread out on a plate to cool.
- In a blender combine the remaining 2 cups of milk and the pistachios. Blend on high until completely smooth, about 1 minute. Add the cooled oatmeal, sugar, vanilla, salt, and vodka, if using. Blend again until smooth and oats are fully broken down. Refrigerate until cold (minimum 2 hours), or to speed up the process, transfer ice cream mixture to a container and place in freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Churn the ice cream according to manufacturer's instructions for your machine. After churning, the ice cream will be softer than a typical soft serve consistency. For a firmer, scoopable consistency, transfer ice cream to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze for 3 to 4 hours.
- Around the 4 hour mark, and definitely once the ice cream has been in the freezer longer, it will be too hard to scoop right out of the freezer. It's important to let the ice cream soften at room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Storage and Serving: Store ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer. It tastes best when consumed within 1 week only because it can be difficult to fully protect it from air. Always allow about 15 minutes for the ice cream to soften before serving. Nutrition facts are estimates.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
Jessica
Looking forward to this recipe! Do you think it would be ok to halve it or would it not churn well?
Lori
That's a good question and I guess will depend on the size of your ice cream maker. Mine tends to freeze the ice cream very hard around the edges, against the walls of the canister, and I have to wait for that to melt a bit before I can scoop it out. So you may run into that issue. The ice cream will freeze pretty quickly, too. But I think it's worth a try!
Constanze
I really have to try this! I love pistachio ice cream and usually make my own. I have never used oats though. Bad experiences in the past. I think this recipe will totally change my mind. Thanks for sharing it.
Lori
Thanks, Constanze! I love the extra bit of creamy mouthfeel the oatmeal adds. I've been on a kick of making coconut-free ice creams for a while, but I think I'll try the oat trick with a coconut cream/milk base soon. That should be ultra luxurious! Thanks for stopping by. 😀
susan spalding
I love and am inspired by how you continue to engage us with innovative and delicious recipes. Especially in these times when we are home and have the time to try new things. Keep it up!
Lori
That's so kind, Susan. Thank you for being here!