This gluten-free and vegan Ice Cream Bread is the perfect way to use up leftover ice cream or simply enjoy a unique treat. Made with just five simple ingredients, it’s quick to prepare and bakes in less than an hour. Add your favorite mix-ins to make it your own!
What Is Ice Cream Bread?
Ice cream bread is simply a loaf of bread made from ice cream. A dessert quick bread variation, it starts with basic bread ingredients like flour (or in this case gluten-free flour), baking powder, and salt. This combination works together to act as self-rising flour. Then, we fold in softened ice cream for a unique sweet flavor and a soft consistency!
Note: The texture of this bread is like a combination of cake and quick bread, offering the best of both worlds, it’s soft, tender, and full of flavor!
It might sound like a strange combination, but somehow it just works. Trust me on this. You do not want to miss out on this recipe! It’s a staple in the summer but is so tasty I find myself making it all year long.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour – We use Bob’s Redmill, but any brand you like best will work. For the best results, look for a flour blend without any gums. Or, use a homemade gluten-free flour blend!
- Baking Powder – Make sure it’s fresh, or your bread won’t rise!
- Sugar – Feel free to use your favorite sugar substitute. Or, omit the sweetener completely if your ice cream is particularly sweet.
- Salt – Just a pinch helps enhance the rest of the ingredients.
- Vegan or Non-Dairy Ice Cream – We typically stick with vanilla ice cream, but your favorite flavor of ice cream will also taste great!
How this Recipe Works
We know what you’re thinking, “There’s no way this recipe is going to work.” And we get it! It might sound odd, but trust us. The gluten-free flour, baking powder, and salt combine and act as a gluten-free self-rising flour, creating a soft, fluffy texture.
Then, the soft ice cream adds sugar, fat, and moisture. As a result, this recipe has all the components you’d find in a more standard quick bread recipe like banana bread or pumpkin bread and offers incredible flavor!
How to Make Ice Cream Bread
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, line a bread pan (also known as a loaf pan) with parchment paper, and set it aside. You can also grease the pan with cooking spray, but your bread will be more likely to stick.
- Combine the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, sift or whisk the dry ingredients until well combined.
- Add the ice cream. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the softened ice cream, stirring just until no lumps remain and a smooth texture is formed. Fold in any mix-ins.
- Bake. Pour the bread batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until the bread is fluffy and very lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or mostly clean.
- Cool. Allow your ice cream bread recipe to cool slightly in the pan. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely, and enjoy!
Flavor Variations and Optional Mix-Ins
This is one recipe that’s super fun to experiment with. So, feel free to mix and match different ingredients to replicate your favorite ice cream flavor.
- Ice Cream – Use any flavor of vegan/dairy-free ice cream you like best such as chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, or birthday cake. Note: You’ll need to use ice cream with some fat in it to help the bread rise. Avoid using fat-free ice cream!
- Mix-Ins – Stir in dye-free rainbow sprinkles, almonds, cashews, pecans, candy pieces, or chocolate chunks for extra flavor and crunch!
More of Our Favorite
Gluten-Free Quick Bread Recipes
Common Questions
Once cool, transfer leftover bread to a sealable bag or airtight container to keep it fresh.
Leftovers will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Place a sheet of parchment paper between each slice to prevent them from clumping together!
Full-sugar, full-fat ice cream will create the richest flavor and best rise, but any flavor you prefer will taste great. Use chocolate ice cream, butter pecan ice cream, strawberry ice cream, mint chocolate chip – it all goes!
Ice Cream Bread (Gluten-Free + Vegan)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Experience your favorite dessert in a new, delicious way with this gluten-free, vegan ice cream bread recipe featuring just five simple ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups gluten free all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon sugar (optional) – see notes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups softened vegan ice cream
- Mix Ins – dye free (natural) sprinkles, chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a bread pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, sift or whisk the dry ingredients together.
- Mix in the ice cream and stir until a smooth batter is formed.
- Gently fold in your favorite toppings (sprinkles, chocolate, etc.)
- Pour into the prepared bread pan and bake at 350 F for 40 to 45 minutes.
- Store bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Baking Tips – You’ll need to use ice cream with some fat and sugar in it to help the bread rise. Avoid using fat-free ice cream! Only a Tablespoon of sugar is needed for the entire recipe. Omit it, if desired, or use a sugar alternative. The bread is not too sweet, it varies depending on the ice cream flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6.3 g
- Sodium: 177.6 mg
- Fat: 3.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 33.5 g
- Fiber: 3.4 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
How long should I let it cool?
Do you want to eat it cold or room temp?
This recipe is a hit with my kids! I love how you can use any flavor, so it’s very versatile!
Yaayy!! Glad it was a hit!
Interesting, but why is there cholesterol in the nutrition facts for a vegan recipe?
Sorry about that! Just updated. Since the ice cream is “ice cream of choice” the nutrition calculated a dairy free ice cream, not vegan. I updated the nutrition with vegan vanilla ice cream using Nadamoo brand. 🙂
how much fun, ice cream bread! love how it only calls for a small amount of sugar, that’s also even optional, and even that it works with conventional dairy ice cream if I want to go that route, thank you for this very creative dessert!
You’re welcome, Sabrina!
This is just so fun and makes me smile! Love the sprinkles!
Me too! Thanks!
This is such a fun dessert! Love how easy it is to make!
Thanks!
If we don’t have gluten flour is it ok to sub regular flour?
whoops Gluten-free flour**
Looks so delicious Lindsay! Bet kids and adults would love this! So fun for summer parties.
Yes, totally! Thanks, Mary Ann!
Such a fun and delicious treat! My kids loved it!
Yaayy!! Glad to hear that!
My kids will love this! This looks so delicious!
Thanks, Beth! Keep me posted.
My mom used to make something very similar and it was always my favorite. This recipe will be in my rotation from now on, it’s delicious!
So glad to hear that! Thanks, Lauren!