Dairy-Free Ice Cream Cookbook & Giveaway
A new cookbook from The Spunky Coconut launched last month.The moment a copy of The Spunky Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream landed in my hot little hands, I was off and churning up some sweet cold treats. Here is my review of the book. I hope you find it helpful.
The Intro
The Spunky Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream opens with a well-researched history of dairy-free ice cream penned by no other than Kelly's husband Andrew. Andrew is a history buff and knew how and where to find factoids on the subject. Quite an interesting read.
The Chapters
Classics
Coffee & Tea
Cake & Cookies
Yogurt, Pops & Sherbert
The Flavors I've Made
My goal is to churn my way through this book by the end of summer. So far we've made Chocolate, Rocky Road, Chocolate Brownie Batter Swirl, Vanilla, Swiss Almond, Toasted Coconut, Vanilla, the Yummy Yogurt Drink (used for making frozen yogurt), Lemon Lime Frozen Yogurt, and Strawberry Rhubarb Sherbet. All have been ridiculously tasty, but the standouts for me have been Chocolate Brownie Batter Swirl and Lemon Lime Frozen Yogurt. The vegan brownie batter was divine. Half went into the ice cream and half was eaten out of the bowl. The Lemon Lime Frozen Yogurt was like eating frozen cheesecake ... oh my ... so good.
The vanilla, which is the base of many other recipes in the book was quite good. A little heavy on the honey taste—but am sure that can be tweaked by using a milder honey or agave (if you do agave). I have not made any of the toppers or cookies to accompany these flavors so cannot speak to those at this time.
The flavors next up to try are Eggnog, Mint Chocolate Swirl, Rum Raisin, Pina Colada, Pistachio (which Kelly said has been most popular), Honeysuckle Tea, and Apricot Amaretto Frozen Yogurt. There are 55 recipes in the book—which will you try first?
The Ingredients
So you're probably wondering—what ingredients are used? The milks used for the base of the ice creams are coconut, cashew, and/or hemp. My son is nut-free so we make ours with coconut and hemp milk. One secret to Kelly's creamy, won't-freeze-to-a-brick ice cream is guar gum. It definitely helps but may be omitted if it's something you need to avoid.
The frozen yogurts are made using a base of Kelly's Yummy Yogurt Drink (recipe in the book). It requires time for culturing but is well worth it. Plus it will introduce you to making non-dairy cashew/coconut milk yogurt if you've not ventured there yet. Fresh fruit, dates, and coconut water are also ingredients that are called for in some recipes.
Kelly's Got the Tips
One of the greatest things about this book is the pointers Kelly offers for successfully mixing, freezing and storing non-dairy ice cream. Without heavy dairy cream and commercial additives, it can be challenging to get a creamy ice cream that doesn't freeze to a solid brick.
For an ice cream that resembles soft serve, "eat it straight out of the ice cream machine," Kelly suggests. For "pretty scoops," spread out in a shallow dish, freeze until hard, then let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Great tips there. Especially the "shallow dish" part. I always scooped mine into a bowl which prevented it from thawing evenly.
Kelly, as do I, uses a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker (use that link to purchase one and support Lexie's Kitchen :). She expertly reminds us that the insert must be frozen for at least 24 hours and to thoroughly chill the milk mixture before pouring into the ice cream maker. Some additional tips from me to you would be to 1) use a wooden/bamboo spoon for scraping off the ice cream that freezes to the sides of the insert and 2) crank your freezer up a bit. You want that insert good and frozen or you'll get soft, soft serve.
Two Thumbs Up
This book is a treasure and not just for the lactose-intolerant, casein-intolerant, and vegans—but for all. It retails for $20.00. If you really want to support Kelly, purchase it through her e-book store where she makes a better profit margin than she does over at Amazon—either way, it's a highly recommended buy!
Cookbook Giveaway
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED
Between now and 5:00pm CST July 4, 2012 you can enter to win a copy of The Spunky Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream here at Lexie's Kitchen.
1. Just leave a comment at the end of this post.
2. For an additional chance to win, share this post with your friends via Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook or other social media then leave an additional comment saying you did so. Help spread the word about this great new cookbook!
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Reader Comments (348)
Would love Kelly's new cookbook, I have her other cookbooks and use them lots! And we love ice cream :)
Would love to win a copy of Kelly's book! I have been dying to make my own ice cream and this will push me to actually go out and get a machine. The recipes are too good not to!!
Would love to win this! Thanks for a chance. Susan s 815 at gmail dot com.
I'm not entering the giveaway, Lexie (I'll get my own copy), but just wanted to say thanks for the great review and I love the looks of that Brownie Swirl Ice Cream! What a tough summer you all will have working your way through this book. ;-)
xo,
Shirley
This book would be such a blessing to me! I have been eyeing it and the other Spunky Coconut Books for quite some time. If I am the recipient, I look forward to many gatherings of good ice cream and people!
Thank you for making this opportunity available to us!
I would love to win a copy of this book! I'm "almost vegan" for health reasons, and this would be great!
I would really enjoy this book! I love wholesome food, and the ice cream recipe looks amazing and nourishing.
I would love to try these "dairy free" ice cream recipes. I love my Kitchen aid ice cream maker and we use it a lot in the summer months. The new recipes would be very exciting to sample. The chocolate brownie batter swirl sounds delicious!. And Toasted coconut too....
I would love to win a copy of her cookbook! We love homemade ice cream :)
Lexie,
I'm so glad that you have a copy of this Awesome looking book to give away!
I would love to make her ice cream! Her coconut receipes are fabulous!
My email address is: jeanene22@cox.net
Since needing to go gluten- and dairy-free, I have really missed ice cream! I would love this new book! Kudos, Lexie, for giving us the chance! :)
Lexie,
I just posted about the give a way on FB! :)
jeanene22@cox.net
I just decided to attempt a more vegan approach, so this giveaway couldn't have come at a better time! I would love to win!
I would love to win this book! My kids would be so happy to have gluten/dairy free ice cream and I would be happy to be able to give it to them and not settle for regular ice cream!
I also shared this post on facebook!
Also shared on facebook!
I would love to win a copy of this book. We love making our own ice cream! hmmckitrick@yahoo.com
I have Kelly's general cookbook, and LOVE IT! I would love to get a copy of her ice cream cookbook!!!!
Sharing on Facebook Now! :)
I shared this contest on facebook. hmmckitrick@yahoo.com
I've been curious about these recipes. I'd love to expand upon my simple coconut milk and frozen fruit ice cream!!
I would love a copy of this book and have not been able to afford it yet. I have used lots of Kelly's recipes and they are awesome.
I also shared on FB!!
I am so very new to gluten free life style. I have just recently discovered how tastiness of gluten free, sugar free and dairy free foods are. One of the things I miss the most is my ice cream. It is my one and only favourite dessert....hmmmm chocolate. I have found a subsitute, but would love to see if there is something more creamier to make. Thanks Spunky Coconut!!!
Really enjoying your blog. I just shared this link on Facebook.
I would love to win a copy of this book! It would go lovely in my cookbook collection...and summer time means ice cream time!
Sounds likea great book. If I don't win it will prob have to but it.
Posted on FB...thanks Lexie, between your site and spunky coconut....this process will be successful for me I am sure....bless you
I really want this cookbook!
would LOVE to win!!!
I love Kelly's recipes! I can't wait to get my hands on this book. It's at the top of my wish list!
tweeted https://twitter.com/thecraftinfiend/status/219075564877787136
I have the first Spunky cookbook and love it. I would love to be able to make those ice creams this summer. They sound so good!
I would love to win this cook book! Thanks for the give away!!!
Would love to win just started Casein free diet and would love to make tasty ice cream with my 3 year old.
love ice cream, an ice cream book sounds fantastic!
What a neat book, looks so yummy!
I need this book! My dairy free ice cream always ends up hard as a rock and then softens into more of a liquid than a soft serve....sigh...
Would love a copy!
I "shared" this post on Facebook. I have several friends who would like this book as well.
Would LOVE to own this book! My family eats Gluten Free and Casein Free. Thank you for letting us have a chance to win this lovely book!
Was ready to toss the (unused, unloved) ice cream maker since we are gf/dairy free/vegan. I saw a reference on Pinterest and began following The Spunky Coconut on FB. So creative and looks so yummy. Cannot wait to try all the "cool" recipes.
I also shared this giveway on Facebook! Thanks again! :)
I love the spunky coconuts recipes but I haven't tried the ice creams yet I am so excited to be able to make a dairy free ice cream at home hope I win the cookbook ;)
Lexie, yum! I haven't made a batch of dairy free ice cream yet this summer. Kelly's book would be good inspiration.
And, tweeted!
Would LOVE to win this cookbook...thank you for the chance to win and for the great review!!!
Happily shared your link on Facebook :) for another chance to win!
Ohhhh, YES! Just in time for this hot weather! I'd love this book. Thank you for the chance!
I would love to win this cookbook for my gluten/dairy/corn free family. I also shared this contest on my Facebook page. Thank you for the chance to win this cookbook.
I need cookbook books like these to satisfy my non vegan and not gluten free husband!