This delicious cardamom-infused Indian ice cream is about to become a summer staple. Today I’m sharing a recipe for kulfi that is paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free! No need for an ice cream machine either!
I’m giving kulfi, a famous Indian ice cream, a paleo-friendly makeover! And it’s just as good as the original version! You’d never know it was dairy-free or vegan.
What is kulfi? How is this recipe different?
If you’ve never tried kulfi before, it’s a dense and creamy frozen dessert that melts slowly. It’s typically made by reducing milk on the stovetop, which gives the dessert a subtle caramel-like flavor and makes the dessert thick/dense.
Kulfi is typically a dairy-heavy dessert that’s made with milk, condensed milk, milk powder… you get the point, a lot of dairy. Well, this version is made with cashew milk and coconut milk and it’s just as creamy and just as tasty as traditional kulfi! It’s also loaded with nuts and flavored with cardamom and saffron.
So if you have a dairy allergy or if you’re vegan, this is the recipe for you.
(That’s definitely a grapefruit spoon pictured next to my kulfi. I’ve never used that spoon to eat grapefruit. But kulfi? Absolutely.)
So if you’ve never had kulfi before, let me *officially* introduce you two. You’re about to fall in love and have a long and happy life together because let me tell you, kulfi will keep you happy. Kulfi is dependable. It won’t melt into a puddle and get all over the place like regular ice cream. Kulfi is pretty good-looking, and oh, it also happens to be rich and creamy… sounds dreamy, right? Yep. I’m basically obsessed. I’d marry kulfi if I could.
How’s that for an introduction? For kulfi’s full biodata, click here (just kidding… also, you probably only got that joke if you’re Indian…).
A few things to know about this dairy-free kulfi:
- Cashew milk. My recipe calls for it – you can make your own or go with store-bought (silk cashew milk works well).
- No need for an ice cream maker! That’s actually the one appliance I don’t currently own.
- These are traditional kulfi molds BUT I actually use small paper dixie cups! I find them much easier to unmold – you just tear the paper cup right off – so easy and they give the ice cream a “kulfi-like shape.” You can use the ice cream mold of your choice.
Let me know what you think of this vegan kulfi. You’re going to love this tasty frozen dairy-free dessert!
Paleo Kulfi (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
Paleo Kulfi (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free)
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened cashew milk*
- 1 13.5 ounce can full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch of saffron
- ¼ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons sweetener maple syrup or honey, to taste
- ¼ cup pistachios finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
Instructions
- Add the cashew milk, coconut milk, cardamom and saffron to a pot and bring the mixture to a full boil. Keep an eye on the pot so that it doesn’t boil over.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the almond flour, and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and immediately stir in the sweetener and pistachios. Allow the mixture to cool on the stovetop. (I suggest tasting a spoonful of the mixture and adding more sweetener to taste if needed).
- Next, pour the mixture into an ice cream mold and freeze until solid.
- When serving, garnish with crushed pistachios.
Notes
- I use small dixie cups as they are easy to unmold and give the ice cream a "kulfi-like shape." You can also use these traditional kulfi molds or the ice cream mold of your choice.
- *If you use sweetened cashew milk then you may want to use less maple syrup/honey.
- I suggest tasting a little spoonful before you freeze the mixture - that way you can adjust the level of sweetness!
This recipe is from my Paleo Indian eBook, South Asian Persuasion with 100+ gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo-friendly recipes (just fyi, my cookbook is not vegan… but if you are vegan or even if you’re not, try my paleo jalebi!)
Jana says
Hi could you please give me the nutritional value to this recipe? Thank you
RK says
Hi. What brands of cashew and coconut milk do you use? Does it taste at all like coconut? I don’t like coconut so trying to find something that will mask the taste. Have you tried this recipe with sugar and is it just as good? Thanks!
veronica bellotti says
Can I use Coconut flour instead of Almond flour? Thanks
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Veronica, I haven’t tried – typically these two flours are not interchangeable but if you experiment, please let us know how it goes!
Adarsh Vijay says
Hi could you tell me how many servings does this make?
Joanna says
Hello Ashley,
You title this recipe as Paleo Kulfi (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free) …
Yet the sweetener options given are maple syrup or HONEY (!)
Honey is NOT vegan …
Anyway, I haven’t tried out the recipe yet (waiting for the moulds to arrive) but looking forward to it as I love all the individual ingredients (minus the honey). Yes, you guessed it, I’m vegan.
When I’ve made it, I’ll let you know the verdict.
Kindest Regards,
Joanna
My Heart Beets says
Hi Joanna, it’s vegan if you use a vegan sweetener – I listed maple syrup or honey as options however you can use maple syrup, or whatever sweetener you’d like 🙂 Let me know what you think!
Sr says
Doesn’t taste anything like kulfi
Tastes like cashew/almond paste 😩
I did everything just like above, but didn’t have pistachios so used almonds and I used homemade cashewmilk from here https://cookieandkate.com/cashew-milk-recipe/
Very disappointed
Nisha Agarwal says
Hey Ashely,
I do not like cashew or coconut milk. Can I just make this with alone milk. If yes, sweetened or unsweetened?
Thanks
Nisha Agarwal says
Hey Ashely,
Re writing as I noticed a typo. I do not like cashew milk or almond milk. Can I just use almond milk. Let me know if sweetened or in sweetened
Thanks
Poo says
How many kulfis do we get out of this measurements?
Anita Sharma says
Does your recipe get the ice crystals on top?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Anita! I’m not sure what you mean by ice crystals but I don’t think so? Did you try this? If so please let me know how it turned out!
Anita Sharma says
I am making it right now and will let you how it goes! Excited to try it. I’m concerned about the freezer burn or ice forming on the top sometimes when you make ice cream. Will try it and post the results!
Anita Sharma says
I tried the recipe and it looks good and tastes good. When I take a bite into it though, there are ice crystals in it. Is that normal? It tastes like ice cream with ice pieces in it. Does that happen to you?
pym says
I really like kulfi molds shapes but can’t find. In USA(Amazon does have 6; for $36 too much ) what mold did you use?
My Heart Beets says
I used small paper dixie cups 🙂 They’re cheap and easy to peel off once the kulfi is done.
Liz says
This is delicious! I am going to try it in my ice cream maker. Do you know if anyone has tried it?
My Heart Beets says
So great to hear! An ice cream maker is one of the few appliances I don’t own – but please let all of us know how it turns out if you try this with an ice cream maker!
Sonia Varghese says
Hi! I made this and it was good, however next time I would reduce the mix for 5 more mins as it was still watery/icy when frozen and not that creamy. I also want to try making it with Ripple pea milk, have you tried that?
My Heart Beets says
I haven’t tried it with that milk – if you do, let us know how it goes! 🙂
Mellie says
Can you post a pic of the small paper dixie cups? Thanks!
My Heart Beets says
Hi Mellie, here’s a link to the dixie cups: https://amzn.to/2y3igTx
Maneesha says
Wow! Ashley, you really nailed it with this recipe!! Such a great treat!! I LOVED the kulfi! It tastes just as creamy as the dairy kulfi! I love the addition of the pistachio and the saffron! My husband enjoyed it too! He couldn’t believe it was dairy-free! Win!
My Heart Beets says
Thank you so much Maneesha!! I’m so happy to hear that!! I appreciate the kind review so much 🙂
Tessa Simpson says
I love the unique flavor combo her! WOuld be OK to add it a round up post I am doing on Paleo frozen treats? A link back and 1 image for a pin collage? Eager to try it!
My Heart Beets says
Tessa, that’s fine, thanks! 🙂
Shruti says
What other nut can I add if I don’t have pistachios? Maybe almonds or cashews?
Thanks for the recipe!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Either one will work! Almonds would be my preference with kulfi.
Chaya says
Hi Ashley,
I love every. recipe. of. yours that I. have tried and I. have your Insta pot cookbook. Thank you so much!
So, I am wondering if. almond milk would work in this recipe. ( I want to make it today and won’t be able to get. to the store. for cashew milk.) 😉
thanks!
My Heart Beets says
Hi Chaya! Sorry for the late reply here – almond milk will definitely work! I will say that I find cashew milk to be creamier but either one works 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think of this!
chaya says
thanks. sorry for the repeat question. I did not see it earlier
Riddhima Nair says
Wow!!! It looks so yummy, thanks for sharing.
My Heart Beets says
Thank you! 🙂
Gauri says
Can we use almond milk instead of cashwe milk?
My Heart Beets says
Yes, almond milk will work too 🙂 I will say though that cashew milk seems extra creamy to me!
Nicole says
How could I alter the recipe for a different flavor? Such as mango?
My Heart Beets says
Nicole, you can add some mango puree to the mixture before freezing 🙂 That’ll be delicious!
Radha says
Can you swap the cashew milk with regular whole milk – and swap honey for granulated sugar?
My Heart Beets says
Radha, yes you can 🙂
Maneesha says
woohoo i’m so excited!!
Maneesha says
Hi Ashley! Does it matter if you use sweetened or unsweetened cashew milk?
My Heart Beets says
Hi Maneesha, great question! I’m going to update this in the notes! But to answer you here – I used unsweetened and added sweetener but you can use sweetened cashew milk and then decide if it needs additional sweetener. I suggest trying a little spoonful before freezing. Can’t wait to hear how it goes! 🙂
Nikki says
Hi! If I had to normal it vegan or dairy free- what would you replace cashew and coconut milk with?
My Heart Beets says
Hi, sorry I don’t understand the question – normal it vegan?
Nikki says
my bad !
What if i didnt need to restrict the recipe to be dairy free. What would you change or substitute? what would you substitute cashew and coconut milk with?
My Heart Beets says
You can use regular milk and cream if you’d like 🙂 Let me know what you think of it!