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)
I NEED Kelly's book! My fiance is an ice cream freak; he would be so happy if I made him many of these.
I also tweeted - @almostveganchef
I would love to win this cookbook, because I´m just getting used to eat and live vegan.
I've been eying this book! But I know it will make me buy an ice cream maker. LOL Not that my family would object. Thanks for the great review.
I would absolutely love to have this cookbook in my collection. I am the "go to" person in my office on how to feed people with allergies and diet restrictions. I can always use more good recipes to promote the lifestyle!
I have been cooking a lot from Kelly's other two cookbooks and I look forward to using this one. She is amazing!
I love all of Kelly's recipes--and ice cream at this time of year is perfect! Those flavors sound totally dreamy. Would love this book! :)
I would love a copy of Kelly's book. I've tried making non-dairy ice cream which is good if you eat it straight out of the machine, but after it freezes it is a hard-icy mess! I could use some guidance!
Would love this book. Just had to go gluten, casein, and egg free and this book looks like a wonderful resource!
I'd love a copy of this book! I live in Florida & it's hot! Those pictures look divine :)
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I'd love to win her book!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/DucktorWho82/status/219099229749116928
i'm loving dairy-free ice cream this summer -- would be great to win this cookbook!!
I would love to have a copy of this cookbook. I have looked at the website of the spunky coconut and very recently discovered I am lactose intolerant. I have been making major changes in my diet and trying to slowly get my 1o yr old on board too. I am dairy free, grain free (for now) and sugar free (added sugars) but I still want to have those treats now and then since we both love icecream and this would be awesome!!!
This is exactly what I've been looking for. I just got an ice cream maker and haven't used it yet as I only want to make ice cream with coconut milk, stevia and maybe some coconut sugar or dates. Thanks for the chance to win.
Yea! I need to get a copy of this book! Thanks for the opportunity to win it!!
I shared on Pinterest and Facebook. I forgot to put my email in the body of my first comment like you asked. diane.goertzen@gmail.com Hoping I win. It would give me an excuse to buy an icecream maker. ;)
Oh, I would love to try out these recipes!
Thanks!
Wow! The book sounds great!! Would love to win one!
I love the Spunky Coconut cookbook, the recipes are yum & would love a chance to win her new ice cream book!! Thanks so much!!
I also shared on pinterest! Thanks!
Would love to win this!!I am dairy free in the milk category. :)
Holly
I also shared this on Facebook.
This is great! Thanks for the opportunity. I have an ice cream maker and just need a little guidance.
Wow, I need to look into this. A book like this would be great for me, as I have issues with dairy
I tweeted https://twitter.com/sunobie/status/219113067273920512
I LOVE Kelly's other books and follow her on twitter & facebook. I will retweet your contest! Thank you for the giveaway...fingers crossed!
I would love to win this copy of Kelly's cookbook! I've been meaning to buy a copy, and winning it would be such a treat! Looking forward to making tons of amazing, healthy, vegan ice creams this summer! Thanks for doing this giveaway!
This book looks amazing!
I shared this on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/karen_rowan/status/219116264394723328
Also shared on facebook and twitter!
http://www.facebook.com/sirona
http://www.twitter.com/sirona
Mint chocolate chip...
HI! I don't have any Spunky Coconut cookbooks...this would be a great first one!
With a whole family with a dairy allergy...we'd LOVE this book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy, if not, we'll definitely be getting one!!
I love how the recipes combine different types of non-dairy milks.
Also shared on FB & Pinterest
The book.sounds wonderful!
I would love the cookbook!!!!
I have to have this cookbook :D. I wanna make vegan ice cream!!!! I LOVE IT!
I have had to go non-dairy for my son who is allergic and still nurses...I love coconut milk as a substitute, so I would treasure this book for he and I to have our own "ice cream!"
thanks!
I have had to go non-dairy for my son who is allergic and still nurses...I love coconut milk as a substitute, so I would treasure this book for he and I to have our own "ice cream!"
thanks!
A much needed book for those who need to avoid traditional ice cream. I definitely want this book. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the giveaway.
My husband is ready to try the rocky road!
We love to win the book. Thanks!
I am so excited to find this book! My youngest son is lactose intolerant. This will be a great addition to have so we can be dairy free. Thanks for putting this together.
We would love to win a copy of Kelly's book. I love her website and recipes, which help enormously as my family transitions to a vegan diet.
I had to go gluten AND dairy-free for medical reasons. Ice cream has always been a special treat for me! I would love to have a delightful option to NONE. I would love this new book, Lexie. Thank you for chance to get my favorite dessert back!
I'd love to win this book and improve our dairy-free ice cream efforts. Thanks.
I pinned the post on Pinterest.
Shared on facebook!