Easy Keto Mason Jar Ice Cream, Just 3-Ingredients & No Ice Cream Maker Needed!
Make keto mason jar ice cream at home without using an ice cream maker.
Ready to make keto mason jar ice cream at home?! 🍨
Bet you didn’t even know that was possible! It’s seriously so easy and absolutely amazing! Who knew that you could make keto ice cream without an ice cream maker? Yep, all you need is a mason jar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and a keto sweetener.
Ice cream and a workout!
The best part is that this keto dessert recipe is very easy to customize with your favorite flavors. The vanilla base recipe requires just three main ingredients and then you can get creative with add-ins.
Bonus is that it also happens to be a great arm workout. 💪 Get your whole family involved in making keto mason jar ice cream at home! So fun!
All you do is shake it!
To make this keto ice cream, you place all the ingredients in a quart-size (32-ounce) Mason jar, shake it for five minutes, and then place it in the freezer. All that shaking will eventually result in a rich and creamy keto ice cream. The ice cream will take anywhere from two to four hours to freeze, depending on your freezer and if you have any add-ins.
And the flavor combinations are endless! Try adding in berries, nuts, cocoa powder, keto cookies, or any other keto toppings such as a sugar-free caramel sauce. You can also try adding a 1/4 teaspoon to 1/2 teaspoon of a flavor extract such as mint extract to make mint chocolate keto ice cream! Yum!
For this recipe, we experimented with several flavor combinations that all use the vanilla base recipe with the following additions.
-
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, 2 tbsp chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup frozen berry purée (smash frozen berries with a fork)
- 1 tbsp orange zest with 2 tbsp chopped sugar-free dark chocolate
Tips for making the best keto ice cream in a mason jar:
- To make this recipe keto, we swapped traditional sugar for a keto-friendly sweetener. Ice cream is one of those recipes that’s very EASY to make keto-friendly because all you have to do is switch out sugar to a keto-approved sweetener. We used Swerve keto confectioners sweetener for this recipe, as it dissolves better and it works great here! Check out our guide to keto sweeteners for more information.
- Shake the mason jar for a full 5 minutes! Set a timer as this step is very important. Shaking the ice cream ensures that the cream doubles in size and results in a creamy ice cream texture. You can opt to instead use a mixer. Use the whisk attachment and mix until the heavy whipping cream doubles in size, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Plan for freezing time. You will need about 2 to 4 hours for the ice cream to freeze (it’s worth the wait).
- Use a wide-mouth mason jar. It will be easier to scoop out once frozen.
- To soften the ice cream, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes. The ice cream is pretty hard right out of the freezer. We don’t recommend running a glass jar under warm water as this can crack the jar. But if using a plastic mason jar, you should be fine to run it under warm water. You can also try adding 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerine as we did in this raspberry cheesecake keto ice cream recipe.
Keto Mason Jar Ice Cream
yield: 4 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
total time: 10 MINUTES
Easily shake up this creamy keto ice cream in a mason jar for a delicious treat at home.
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons keto confectioners sweetener (or more to taste)
Cocoa Coconut (optional add-ins):
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Chocolate Orange (optional add-ins):
- 2 tablespoons chopped sugar-free dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
Bright Berry (optional add-ins):
- 1/4 cup frozen berries, smashed into purée with fork
Directions
1
Add heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and sweetener to a mason jar. Add in any additional flavorings. Secure lid tightly.
2
Shake jar vigorously for about 5 minutes until liquid doubles in size. Set a timer!
3
Place in the freezer for 2 to 4 hours until frozen. If you have any "heavy" add-ins like pecans or chocolate chunks, check the ice cream after an hour or two and give it a good shake to prevent the add-ins from all settling at the bottom.
4
When ready to eat, set the ice cream on the counter for a few minutes to soften. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield: 2 cups, Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving:
208 Calories | 21.6g Fat | 5.1g Total Carbs | 0g Fiber | 1.8g Sugar | 3.4g Sugar Alcohol | 1.7g Protein | 1.7g Net Carbs
Nutrition information is with 1.5 tablespoons of Swerve confectioner’s sweetener.
Nutrition Information with add-ins for Cocoa Coconut:
254 Calories | 26.1g Fat | 7.7g Total Carbs | 1.7g Fiber | 2.1g Sugar | 3.4g Sugar Alcohol | 2.7g Protein | 2.7g Net Carbs
Nutrition Information with add-ins for Chocolate Orange:
249 Calories | 25.4g Fat | 8g Total Carbs | 1.7g Fiber | 1.8g Sugar | 3.9g Sugar Alcohol | 2.7g Protein | 2.4g Net Carbs
Nutrition Information with add-ins for Bright Berry:
214 Calories | 21.7g Fat | 6.5g Total Carbs | 0.4g Fiber | 2.6g Sugar | 3.4g Sugar alcohol | 1.8g Protein | 2.7g Net Carbs
We love making this yummy and easy keto ice cream!
This rich dessert doesn’t even taste like it has no sugar added or that it’s keto-approved. It’s a nice treat to help you stay on track when you’re craving ice cream!
The clever mason jar method is also a pretty handy trick and even easier than using an actual ice cream maker.
My Hip teammate tried out this keto ice cream and here’s what she had to say:
“This sweet treat is wonderful and so good on a hot day! It’s super creamy and you can make any kind with your add-ins! I made a cordial cherry and it was over the top delicious! This recipe is so EASY, you could make it between running the kids to activities. Then, by the time they are done, it will be frozen and ready. My family could not taste the difference between this and regular ice cream!”
**For this version, 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries were added to one batch and a 1/2 cup of frozen cherries with a quarter of a chopped Lily’s chocolate bar to the other.
Make this incredible Wendy’s Inspired Keto Chocolate Frosty next!
How do you convert the swerve measurement to monk fruit sweetener?
1 tablespoon Swerve sweetener = 1 tablespoon of Monkfruit Sweetener
Hope this helps!
Not necessarily! Depends on what kind/style the monk fruit is. The pure extract would be only 1/64 of a tsp!!! The one that measures equally is probably monk + erithitol, etc. so it shouldn’t be considered “monkfruit”!
Thanks so much for mentioning that, April! We also have a handy sugar-free substitutes conversion chart here – https://hip2keto.com/tips/sugar-free-sweetener-conversion-chart/ to check out. 💕
Looks awesome! Do you use granulated swerve or powdered?
Hi Jessica! You can use the powdered. Find that variety through the link above. Hope that helps!
Hi Jessica. I use Swerve a lot in cooking/baking. I get less after-taste from the confectioner form of Swerve, and it dissolves quicker. Also, Swerve, in my opinion, loses some sweetness during baking, so, I use a little extra.
Can you use a food processor or blender instead of shaking the jar for 5 minutes? Then put it in an ice cream maker? Would this qualify as a fat bomb? So simple, and delicious for a once a week treat. Thanks.
Hi Melissa! Maybe try a hand mixer or whisk instead. This way you can still incorporate air into the cream and get the desired consistency. Hope that helps!
Would that still be 5 minutes with the mixer?
You could start with 5 minutes with a hand mixer or whisk and add more time if needed to get to the desired consistency. Hope that helps!
Can you use a plastic jar? I have some I use instead of the glass mason jars.
Ya I would think that could work too! Let us know 👍
Ive got an Cuisinart ice cream machine, ill give it a try!
Was it sweet? My Cuisinart recipe I usually use is 2 cups cream, 1 cup milk and 3/4 cup sugar. I realize this is 1 cup cream , so it must make a third of the amount but that would be 1/4 cup sugar ratio…Ill try it in my machine tonight
You’ll have to let us know what you think, Joe!
Could you possibly substitute honey or pure maple syrup for the Swerve sweetener? If so, how would you convert the sweeteners? I don’t have Swerve in my house and I’m trying to stay away from the grocery store.
If you used maple syrup or honey, it would no longer be keto. Here are some other low-carb sweeteners and a conversion chart you might find helpful: https://hip2keto.com/tips/low-carb-keto-sweetener-conversion-chart-recipes/
Could I add unsweetened coca powder to this?
YES!
I use a serving of Pyure Organic, Chocolate Drink Mix, Sugar-Free with the whipping cream. That is all that is needed – 2 ingredients
Just made this today; SUPER easy and tasty! Thanks for helping me along my journey. Stay well.
Hi there! We are so glad that you loved it❤ Thanks for your awesome feedback!
We just put it in the freezer so so don’t know how it tastes, but we had so much fun making it. I let my daughter smash an Oreo and put it in hers (not Keto…I know) and we added NS cocoa powder to my son’s. We can’t wait to try it!
Aww, How fun! Enjoy! 😋
Hey there,
Does this ice cream get rock hard? That’s the problem I have when making Keto ice cream.
Thank you
Hmm it does get pretty hard since mostly cream. You can just set it out a bit before hand – or just not let it get super frozen.
We have used Allulose which we buy off Amazon in our keto ice cream and it’s never been hard like typical ‘diet’ ice cream.
I put it in my microwave for about 20 – 30 seconds. It will soften it up nicely. A little longer if needed
I bought a whipped cream dispenser that I’ve been using to make desserts. it has been fantastic and I recently wondered what the output would do in an ice cream maker. Maybe I’ll just try releasing some into a freezer container and freeze for a few hours. Not as much “fun”, but might be scrumptious.
I highly recommend a whipped cream dispenser. Mine is from Amazon, of course. I add a bit of vanilla and some “fake sugar” (whatever is on hand). I mix it with thawed frozen blueberries — just a few — and it’s delicious.
YUM! Thanks for the suggestion, Ellie!
Can I use whipped cream instead oh heavy cream ?
Yep!
Oh my goodness, made this tonight and it is heavenly!! So much creaminess, and vanilla is my favorite flavor! I had the hardest time not eating the entire jar. Thank you! 😋
You are welcome, Jamie!
Hi Amber. We found this recipe too fatty. The second time I made it I used 1/2 whipping cream and half 2% milk. I scraped the side of the container I put it in every half hour. It came out a bit icy. Next time I’m going to try 1/2 whipping cream and 1/2 evaporated milk. Hoping that’ll take care of icy issue. Thx
Hi Diana! Hope that consistency works out better for you, but just note that the evaporated milk is not keto so that substitution will change the the nutritional value. Enjoy!
Try adding a teaspoon of MCT Oil or Powder or a teaspoon of Vodka. Helps with consistency and ice crystals.
Great recipe, super easy…make as a treat once a week and split the jar with my husband so I don’t overeat. A few Variations I’ve added, unsweetened cocoa….already mentioned I use a tablespoon per jar, different flavored extracts, coconut, almond, and real unsweetened coconut with almonds, walnuts or pecans. Also sugar free chocolate chips…
Thank you for the suggestions on variations!
Can you use Splendor powder sugar instead?
Hi Karen! I wouldn’t suggest swapping for a granular sugar substitute. Confectioners sugar has smaller granules and works better with this recipe. You can use a coffee grinder to make your granulated sweetener into powdered one though. Hope this is helpful❤
I really love this cite you guys are so encouraging with these Great recipes!!❤️
I was so upset thinking I couldn’t have ice cream ever again due to high carbs & ingredients like msg. I didn’t want to pay for an ice cream machine lol. I made this ice cream last night and OMG!!!!! It came out soooooo good!!!! My bf didn’t think it would work. I used swerve confection sugar and some allulose. It came out sooo soooo smooth. I also added some cinnamon. I’m so mind blown!! Thank you soooooo soooo much for this recipe!! I’m so sensitive to ingredients and now I can still enjoy a treat.
Hi there❤ I’m so happy you loved it. It’s so nice to be able to have a treat.
Oh wow that’s so great! Thank you for sharing!
Could you use maple syrup for sweetener
Hi Denise! We haven’t tried it with a syrup. Here is our guide to all of the keto sweeteners. Hope this helps!
Hi, will the hard part of canned coconut milk work in the ice cream maker? don’t eat dairy.
Hi Cheryl! I did search for an answer to this. It looks like that may work if you whip it first with a handheld mixer. Let us know how it turns out if you decide to try it!
I’m a newbie but things are going good. I had to buy a lot of things I never heard of. I love strawberries. How could I make this strawberry ice scream if possible and stay keto
Hi Tonya! You could make something like this Keto Strawberry Smoothie – https://hip2keto.com/recipes/keto-strawberry-banana-smoothie/
Here are two other similar strawberry options you might enjoy –
https://hip2keto.com/recipes/low-carb-strawberry-cheesecake-popsicles/
https://hip2keto.com/recipes/keto-whipped-strawberry-milk/
Hope this helps!
I’m going to make it today. I have all the ingredients on hand. I’m wondering if I can mix it all together using my standing mixer and then transfer it to a glass container and put it in the Deep Freeze?
You sure can, Louise! Enjoy the ice cream!
Thanks for sharing this recipe . Going to try soon !!
You bet! We hope you love it!
3 ingredient keto ice cream in a mason jar is so easy to make & super delicious!!
Yay! SO glad you enjoyed it, Jan! Thanks for commenting!
Has anyone tried to make mint chocolate?
It looks like it would be heavenly, but 21 grams of carbs is too much for me
Hi there! This has 1.7 net carbs per serving. Hope that helps!
Love ice cream❤
Hi, is it necessary to add in sweetener?
You could try it, but it would probably not taste very good. You could try cutting the sweetener is half.
Anybody had any experience with the ninja Creami machine?
We have not, but if you like it please let us know! 🤗
Was very yummy! Added a tsp of vegetable glycerin and it scoops like regular ice cream. How much mint extract do you think I should use for this recipe with 1 cup of heavy cream?
Was going to try to make a mint choc chip version
I would start with 1/2 teaspoon and then add more to taste.
How long can you keep it in the jar in the freezer?
Great question, Paula! 🥰 It is good in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Enjoy! 🙌