Desserts

April 17, 2023

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream (No-Churn)

This no-churn vegan birthday cake batter ice cream is a rich and decadent dessert perfect for a plant-based birthday celebration! No bananas or coconut milk in this recipe. The ice cream has a true cake batter flavor.

Sprinkles falling onto a bowl of Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream.

My no-churn ice cream recipes are one of my favorite series of recipes I've done on this blog. It is ah-maz-ing how a few whole food ingredients transform to an ultra smooth and creamy vegan ice cream. All without an ice cream maker!

For my birthday this year, I decided to make a birthday cake version.

Birthday cake + ice cream = the ultimate sweet, colorful, decadent, rich birthday dessert.

A lit birthday candle in a bowl of Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream.

Why this recipe works

For an ultra creamy, rich, and decadent ice cream, you need sugar and fat.

The ratio of fat and sugar is what makes an ice cream that has a creamy texture and is super flavorful.

In this vegan ice cream, the fat source is nut butter, which is naturally creamy and high in fat. The sugar source is maple syrup.

Obviously, maple syrup and nut butter alone don't create ice cream. So non-dairy milk and applesauce help to lighten up the texture to the right consistency.

And the remaining ingredients create the flavor.

It's that simple!

A tub of Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream with a scoop taken out, surrounded by candles and sprinkles.

Why I love this Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream

  • Dietary needs — this ice cream is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, sugar free
  • No coconut — lots of vegan ice cream recipes use coconut milk. I avoided it in this recipe for two reasons: 1) to give an option for people with coconut allergies and 2) so the vanilla ice cream doesn't get a coconut flavor
  • No bananas — I LOVE me some banana nice cream, but ice cream from bananas usually has a slight hint of banana flavor, even when you make it chocolate or peanut butter flavored. This vegan birthday cake ice cream is totally banana-free. Just sweet, decadent birthday cake flavor
  • No-churn — If you have an ice cream maker, great, use it. But this recipe is intended to be no-churn, so you aren't missing out if you don't own one
  • Whole food ingredients — the ingredients are simple, real foods.
  • Epic color — this ice cream has that beautiful blue swirl, just like "regular" birthday cake ice cream

A bowl of Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream covered in sprinkles.

Ingredient Notes

  • Non-Dairy Milk: I recommend using almond, oat, or cashew milk to avoid any strong flavors. I used homemade oat milk.
  • Nut Butter: I recommend cashew butter or almond butter, since they have the most neutral flavor compared to other nut butters.If you are allergic to nuts or would prefer to have a nut-free ice cream, use full-fat coconut milk instead.
  • Maple Syrup: This recipe gets sweetness from the maple syrup. If you prefer a fruit-sweetened version, sub the maple syrup with 6 pitted medjool dates and use a blender to combine all the ingredients.
  • Unsweetened Applesauce: I use applesauce in this recipe for texture. Applesauce isn't as liquid as milk and it's also not as solid as nut butter. If there's too much non-dairy milk in a recipe that isn't churned, the texture can become icy instead of smooth. But if there's too much nut butter, the ice cream will be really dense. The density isn't necessarily a problem, except it's a lot denser than regular ice cream (when I first tested this recipe, I was using it to make ice cream floats and the ice cream didn't float!!). So, applesauce helps lighten the texture, and you can't taste it at all. But if you don't want to use applesauce you can use an additional 1/4 cup of non-dairy milk and 1/4 cup of nut butter.
  • Vanilla Bean Paste or Vanilla Extract: I used vanilla bean paste because it really packs a punch of vanilla flavor, even compared to vanilla extract. But vanilla extract works just fine.
  • Almond Extract: this is optional, but highly recommended. Almond extract helps to create that cake batter flavor, and differentiate the flavor from a regular vanilla
  • Salt
  • Blue Spirulina: Spirulina is a blue-green algae. It’s considered a health food because of its high nutrient content. But in this recipe we're just using it because it's blue! It's a natural way to dye part of the ice cream blue to create the cake batter vibe. Don't worry, you can't taste it! If you want to leave out the spirulina, that's totally fine - you can have a completely white ice cream that will still taste the same!
  • Vegan Sprinkles: most sprinkles are NOT vegan because of the food dyes. Make sure your sprinkles are vegan by purchasing naturally colored sprinkles. I used sprinkles from Sweetapolita. I also recommend Sweet Eva's, which we used at the vegan bakery I worked at. And Whole Foods also sells vegan sprinkles.

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream Ingredients

How to make Vegan Cake Batter Ice Cream

Step 1. Add the non-dairy milk, nut butter, maple syrup, applesauce, vanilla seeds/extract, and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream Step 1 - blend the main ingredients.

Step 2. If using the spirulina, divide the mixture into two freezer safe containers. Mix the spirulina into one of the bowls. Freeze for 30 minutes or until the mixture is semi-solid. If skipping the spirulina, move to step 3.

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream Step 2 - divide into two containers and mix in the spirulina.

Step 3. Mix the sprinkles into each container. (Or, if skipping the spirulina, just mix in the sprinkles.) Then swirl the ingredients together in a larger container. Avoid over mixing so you don't blend the colors completely. Then freeze for an additional 2-3 hours, or overnight.

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream Step 3 - stir in the sprinkles, then swirl the colors together.

Step 4. When ready to eat, let the ice cream thaw 5-10 minutes before scooping. Serve with extra sprinkles. Enjoy!

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream Step 4 - let thaw slightly before serving.

FAQ & Expert Tips

Do I need a blender?

No. I recommend using a blender because it will result in a smoother ice cream.

But if you don't have a blender or food processor you can use a whisk to combine all the ingredients. Whisk well to ensure all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

Can I make this ice cream fruit-sweetened?

Yes! My no-churn vegan vanilla ice cream is totally date sweetened and it's one of my most popular recipes!

You will need a blender if you choose the date-sweetened option. Simply replace the maple syrup with 6 pitted medjool dates. Bend until smooth - this may take a bit longer than the maple syrup version. And the proceed with the recipe as written.

How do I make this ice cream nut-free?

You can sub the nut butter for 1 cup of coconut cream. Or you can use a seed butter like sunflower seed butter.

Both of these subs may change the flavor slightly so I don't recommend subbing unless you have a nut allergy.

Get the right scooping consistency

This ice cream IS scoopable, just like regular ice cream. But it will be pretty solid if you take it out of the freezer and try to scoop immediately.

To get the perfect consistency, thaw for 5-10 minutes at room temperature. You'll know it's the perfect consistency when the edges of the container start to get melty.

Storing No-Churn Vegan Ice Cream

Store this ice cream in the freezer.

You can store it in the container you made it in. Be sure to add some type of lid or plastic wrap to avoid the ice cream picking up any other flavors in your freezer.

I typically transfer the ice cream to a freezer safe zip top bag, which keeps it sealed and saves space.

A bowl of Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream ready to eat.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for this birthday ice cream. We praise you for the celebration of birthdays. Amen.

Related Recipes

Love this no-churn ice cream? Check out my other vegan & no-churn ice cream recipes:

Tried this recipe?

Please leave a review in the comments section below and post on Instagram tagging me @elizabeths_table. You can also stay in touch with me on social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok or by subscribing to my newsletter.

**This post contains affiliate links When you purchase from these links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information see my disclosure here.

Vegan Birthday Cake Batter Ice Cream (No-Churn)

This no-churn vegan birthday cake batter ice cream is a rich and decadent dessert perfect for a plant-based birthday celebration! No bananas or coconut milk in this recipe. The ice cream has a true cake batter flavor.

Author:

Elizabeth

Serves:

6

Prep:

10

min

cook:

0

min

total:

160

min

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Cup Non-Dairy Milk
  • 1 Cup Cashew or Almond Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Bean Paste or Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract (optional)
  • Pinch Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Blue Spirulina (optional)
  • 1/4 Cup Vegan Sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Add the non-dairy milk, nut butter, maple syrup, applesauce, vanilla bean paste/extract, and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. (Alternatively, whisk thoroughly in a large bowl.)
  2. If using the spirulina, divide the mixture into two freezer safe containers. Mix the spirulina into one of the bowls. Freeze for 30 minutes or until the mixture is semi-solid. If skipping the spirulina, move to step 3.
  3. Mix the sprinkles into each container. (Or, if skipping the spirulina, just mix in the sprinkles.) Then swirl the ingredients together in a larger container. Avoid over mixing so you don't blend the colors completely. Then freeze for an additional 2-3 hours, or overnight.
  4. When ready to eat, let the ice cream thaw 5-10 minutes before scooping. Serve with extra sprinkles. Enjoy!
Thanks for contributing to our community! Your comment will appear shortly.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
March 28, 2023
Paula
Made these today and they’re delicious. Easy to make and didn’t take long to bake in convection oven. Thanks for your creativity. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Hi Paula - Thanks so much for your comment :) So glad to hear that you tried the nuggets and enjoyed them! Can't wait to hear how it goes with other recipes you try!
March 17, 2023
merlinda
thanks for ginger tea recipe it's really good remedy for cold and flu.
January 15, 2023
Kathy
I really appreciated your ginger tea recipe. I also read it is great for morning also.
December 3, 2022
Beth
I made one like this a few years ago. Super yummy! Now I need to try some of your recipes. But where to start???🤷‍♀️💕💕
November 21, 2022
Virginia Sparks
I was in the middle of making your Tempeh Swiss Chard recipe and noticed you never mentioned how much Swiss Chard to add. I just added the sautéed tempeh towards the end and mixed it all together. I also reduced the amount of red pepper flakes.
Hi Jenny - so sorry about that! It should be one bunch. I've updated the recipe to include the correct information. Thanks!
November 20, 2022
Elissa
This looks fantastic! Do you think we could substitute butternut squash for the acorn squash?
Hi Elissa - you can definitely use butternut squash. In terms of texture, the pie will be exactly the same with either squash. I'd recommend using the volume measurement instead of the weight measurement, since the density of butternut squash isn't exactly the same as acorn squash. Also, the flavor of the butternut squash might come through in the end pie a bit more prominently than acorn squash does, but I don't think it will be too noticeable. Let me know how it goes if you try with the butternut squash. I'd love to hear!
November 8, 2022
Gerry rauch
I AM NEWLY VEGAN (MOSTLY), HARD GETTING AROUND CHEESE WHEN GOING T FRIENDS HOUSES OR OUT TO EAT WITH SOME GROUPS….OK WITH THAT….DONE W MEAT…BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOLIDAY COOKING FOR MY LARGER, MEAT-EATING FAMILY…ESP CHRISTMAS DINNER…..SUGGESTIONS? THANKS
October 31, 2022
Debbie G.
Hi Elizabeth!Love your recipe prayer! I've never seen anyone else include a prayer with their recipes. Nicely done and to God be all the Glory!Blessings,Debbie
October 8, 2022
Noam
Just made a half batch of these and they came out really good! I learned I don’t know how to work with melted chocolate yet haha but I got it done!
Hi Noam - Glad you liked these bars! And I feel ya on the chocolate - somehow it is always a messy process. Thanks so much for sharing!
September 5, 2022
Sara
I get most of my recipes from youtube. I would love to see you on there. I didn't see a link for a youtube channel, just wanted to ask to be sure. God bless hon and thanks for this tasty recipe.
Hi Sara - thanks so much for your kind words. I am starting to post more on YouTube (I currently only have a few videos posted) but here's the link to my channel if you'd like to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl2QgTWxlePeiezIu6l_BUg -Elizabeth
August 17, 2022
Katherine
THIS LOOKS DELICIOUS! DID YOU USE FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES?
Hi Katherine - yes, I did use fire-roasted tomatoes when I photographed this recipe. I don't call for fire roasted in the recipe because it's intended to be a basic, use-in-anything type recipe. But it does taste delicious with the fire roasted tomatoes! -- Elizabeth
August 15, 2022
Cat Lewis
Hello - Is there a way to PIN this recipe? Thanks.
Hi Cat - yes, I just fixed an error on the site. You should be able to see a button above the very first image on the page that will allow you to pin the recipe. Let me know if you're still having trouble.
August 12, 2022
Allison Macfarlane
As someone who has pretty much never successfully scrambled tofu - this was the best scrambled breakfast dish I've ever had - better than eggs and the seasoning is truly delicious!!
Oh, amazing! So glad to hear it went well :) This is definitely one of my favorites - thanks for sharing your kind words! -- Elizabeth
August 4, 2022
Mary Merkelhess
The pesto is lovely! So happy to avoid the cheese and oil.
Hi Mary - So glad you like the pesto! I'm also happy to avoid the cheese and oil :) Thanks so much for your kind words!
July 21, 2022
Debra
I enjoy reading through your recipes and will be trying a few later in the week. I especially like the prayers at the end of each recipe. It reminds me to be grateful God provides me with so many beautiful and nourishing fruits and veggies.
Hi Debra - thank you so much for your kind words! I can't wait to hear how it goes when you try some of the recipes :)
June 22, 2022
Vickie
I really enjoyed this recipe. Fits PERFECTLY in my allergy to foods world. I used Ripple milk and no sugar added SunButter. Was truly surprised at how quickly the recipe came together! Thank you!
Hi Vickie - I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe and that it works with your allergies. Thanks so much for leaving a comment with your kind words!
June 21, 2022
Linda Casados
It's close to my bedtime, but I've been thinking about making this recipe all day, so I made it just now. After all, it only takes 15 minutes! I used what I had, so I made a few minor substitutions...white beans for cannellini, purple basil from my garden, red onion for more color, and date syrup for maple. I took a bite before putting it in the fridge for tomorrow, and oh my! It's delightfully flavorful, light, and fresh-tasting. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Hi Linda - I'm so glad you liked the recipe - and your substitutions sound great (wish I was growing purple basil in my garden!) Thanks so much for sharing!
June 18, 2022
Carol
Hi, is this ice cream soft to scoop out? I always find my ice creams are hard.
Hi Carol - yes, this ice cream is soft if you let it thaw a few minutes after you take it out from the freezer. It can become pretty solid if it's in a deep freezer, but still thaws quickly on the counter. Hope this helps!
June 18, 2022
Sonia Hope St Claire
thank you for the recipe.
June 13, 2022
Alexandra
I made this pie for my friend who recently discovered she has severe allergies to egg whites, gluten, and dairy. Her favorite pie is sweet potato pie :) She loved it and so did I!
Hi Alexandra - so great to hear from you!! I'm so happy you tried this pie and I'm glad you enjoyed it! It is seriously one of my favorite recipes :) -- Elizabeth
June 7, 2022
Harriett Whited
Love it!!! Wonderful!
Thanks for your feedback! Glad you love this recipe :)
June 7, 2022
Katherine
Hi Elizabeth! I found you by searching for plant based Catholics! There are very few of us! Thank you for your site and sharing recipes!! I look forward to trying these muffins! Can sugar be reduced safely in most of your recipes? -JMJ-
Hi Katherine, Thanks so much for reaching out! Glad to meet another plant-based Catholic - agree, there are so few of us. As for sugar, I never use white granulated sugar in any of my recipes. Most use maple syrup or date sugar/date syrup. I'm not sure if this is what you mean, or if you're asking about reducing the amount of date sugar that the recipe calls for. If that's the case, it really depends on the recipe. A lot of the baking recipes have specific ratios of flour to sugar and wet to dry, so it may not go well if you change the amount of sugar. I hope this helps, but if I didn't answer your question, please let me know. Also happy to advise on a particular recipe if you're looking to change it. Let me know how I can help :) Elizabeth
June 2, 2022
Sharon
Love this vegan lentil/mushroom stew! For some odd reason, I had never thought to put mushrooms into my lentil stew. Thank you for a wonderful addition to my recipe box!
Hi Sharon - I'm so glad you are enjoying this recipe (mushrooms are so good!!). Thank you for taking the time to share :) Elizabeth
May 23, 2022
Geraldine
Hello, I found you on FB and really enjoy your Catholic Plant Based GF information & recipes. About the Chickpea beet burgers: if the beans are dried and not cooked, do you think it is enough cooking for the beans? If beans are not cooked completely I have read they are toxic with phytic acid & also cause digestive problems. I am just wondering and will leave it to you to decide/research. To be safe I am toasting canned garbanzos and trying that way out. God Bless
Hi Geraldine, Thanks so much for reaching out. In the beet burgers, the beans do get cooked when the burgers are cooked. You soak them first and then incorporate the beans into the burger patty, then cook the patty. I find that this is the best way to achieve the proper burger texture - if you use pre-cooked beans or canned beans the burgers are mushy and don't get crisp. Your solution of toasting the beans sounds like a great idea to completely ensure the beans are cooked fully - I hope that it worked for you and your burgers turned out well! -- Elizabeth
May 18, 2022
viki avgen (i am israel)
hi,thank you for the recepie of the banana.Iam diebetik and i would love any recepies without sugar. thank you
Hi Viki - thanks so much for your kind words! Several of my other dessert recipes are only sweetened with fruit - you can find them on my Desserts page. If you have any specific requests, please let me know! -- Elizabeth
April 28, 2022
Jean Mastin
Elizabeth: Thank you so much for making my meal times wonderful again. I am 86 yrs plus, and was finding eating dull and dreary. Now it is " scrum delicious time to eat". . Blessings de Jean
Hi Jean - Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you are enjoying my recipes. Please let me know if you ever have recipe requests or if there's anything else I can do to keep your meals delicious!
April 9, 2022
Katie
Can you leave nutritional info for your recipes? Serving size/calories would be so helpful! Trying mushroom lentil stew tonight! and looking forward to crispy chickpea stuffed sweet potatoes very soon. Thanks for creating healthy, attractive recipes!
Hi Katie - so excited to hear that you are trying some of my recipes! I'd love to hear how they go. I haven't posted nutritional information for my recipes because I know it can be difficult for some people with disordered eating to see nutrition facts. I've gotten a lot of requests to add them recently, so I'm working on a solution that can provide information for those who want it but not be triggering for others. In the meantime, if you're curious about the nutrient info about a particular recipe, I recommend using Cronometer. It's a website/app to track and understand nutrient info and I think it does a great job of emphasizing all the nutrients (not just macros). I hope this helps! Please let me know if I can help in any other way.
April 9, 2022
Vickey
U mentioned date sugar on this recipe but it’s not in the instructions. I know u add it but just in case u wanna add to instructions. Love ur recipes! Thank u. I’m thinking of going to vegan a little nervous tho lol
Hi Vickey - thanks so much for catching that! I am updating the post now. So happy to hear you enjoy my recipes. And exciting that you are thinking about going vegan!! If there's anything that I can do to help, please let me know.
March 28, 2022
Sr Maureen Egan
I'd love to try this soup. What are the nutritional values, like how much fat does it contain, carbs, etc.
Hi Sr Maureen - I usually don't post macronutrient information because I know each person has their own goals and I don't want to encourage or discourage anyone's specific goals. But I often use Cronometer as a tool to understand the nutritional profile of my recipes. I plugged the ingredient information for this recipe into Cronometer and got the following nutrient information per serving: 521 calories, 44g fat, 23g carbs, 16g protein. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions and if you try the recipe!
March 26, 2022
Margareta Ahle
This curry is absolutely delicious.
Thank you so much! It's one of my favorites :)
March 23, 2022
Martha maloney
Thank you I have been doing the fruit and oatmeal, etc for years and I love it. I will try the pears. I refrigerate my left over oatmeal and with a touch of milk or fruit juice liquid it’s fine the next day. Just a warning about tofu; it interferes with some medicines especially Thyroid medicine. Thank you for the short prayers, there are lovely.
Hi Martha - thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you like the prayers! As someone who doesn't take any medications I have no issues with eating tofu and encouraging others to eat it too (it's a great source of protein!). That said, you should always consult with your doctor about possible interactions with medications. I have plenty of recipes without tofu, so hopefully you can find things that work for you!
March 3, 2022
Susan Cunningham
I made this for Ash Wednesday and it was delicious. It was also simple and not much work time once the mushrooms and onions were cut.
Hi Susan - I'm so glad you liked it!
March 1, 2022
Jade
When you say shape into a rectangular loaf, what dimensions? 1/2 thick by 8 inches long or?
My loaf was about 7" long and 4" wide with about 1" of height. Then I sliced it 1/2" thick along the long end to get 12ish biscotti. I will clarify this in the post! Let me know if this makes sense and if you have any other questions.
January 16, 2022
Tracy Henry
Made this tonight. Absolutely delicious Elizabeth. You got this one just right!
Oh yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :)
January 16, 2022
L Collins
Hi Could you please confirm two things:1. The amount of salt. Seems like too much. 2. The directions say there is lemon juice in the dressing but it’s not listed under ingredients. ThanksL.
Hi there! Confirming that the two teaspoons of salt in the dressing is correct. I didn't salt the cauliflower when roasting it or the salad after it was done, so this amount of salt was perfect. If you're concerned about it you can decrease the amount of salt in the dressing and then add more at the end if you need it. As for the lemon juice, SO sorry about that! It was a typo in my directions and I've removed it now. Hope this helps :)
December 20, 2021
Martha
This looks lovely! Do you have a recipe for the red pepper hummus also? Thank you!
Hi Martha! I don't have a recipe for red pepper hummus on my site. I suggest taking a traditional hummus recipe and blending in roasted red pepper.
November 22, 2021
Amanda J Lehmann
I tried these and they were delicious! A bit dense but flavorful and the "buckeye" blend of peanut and chocolate was on point! Recommend!
Yay! I'm so glad you liked them! -- Elizabeth
December 6, 2021
Grace
Hi, these look amazing. I was wondering, could I used powdered peanut butter in place of creamy for the recipe? thanks
Hi Grace! There is already some powdered peanut butter in this recipe, so adding more might make the texture more gluey. Also, the real peanut butter adds some fat, which helps create flavor. That said, if you want to use powdered peanut butter, I would suggest mixing it with a high-fat liquid like coconut cream and then measuring out 2/3 cup. Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes :) -- Elizabeth
November 15, 2021
Becky
You mention using vegetable broth in your introduction but it isn’t included in the recipe
Hi Becky - thanks for pointing this out. I have removed mention of vegetable broth from this post. You do not need any vegetable broth. The mushrooms will release natural liquid which will prevent any sticking. -- Elizabeth
September 23, 2021
Tracy Henry
Hi Elizabeth, LOVE you recipes. Please keep them coming. :)I was wondering, can you share what is the vegan chocolate bar you used in this recipe?
August 28, 2021
Henry (Hank) Mader
thank you for the oil free recipe. I'm getting introduced to wild Bolete mushrooms here in Colorado, and everyone sautes Bolete's in butter or olive oil. I'm on a veggie, oil free regimen for heart health reasons. and your recipe suggestion may fill the bill. I can't wait to give it a try.
August 13, 2021
Lindsey Kuhn
This is so fun! Loving your creamy photography :)
August 13, 2021
Lindsey Kuhn
This looks incredible! So yummy and pretty photography