That might be the question in your mind, especially since you (like all of us) are feeling the heat! It’s already May. Is it even summer at this point?

We definitely understand feeling the urge to indulge in something both cool (cold?) and sweet to combat the heat. (Hey, it rhymes!) However, if you are on a keto diet, you might kick yourself out of it with even just a lick!

So, does ice cream count as one of the many keto dessert foods out there? Or is it something that has to be avoided at all costs in a ketogenic diet? 

We’ll take a look at that (and more!) in this article. Let’s get to it!

So… Is ice cream keto?

We don’t want to be one of those articles that don’t answer the question immediately, so here it is.

According to Healthline, since ice cream generally has a high carb count, most of which come from sugar, it typically doesn’t fit into a keto diet.

Sorry to bring your hopes up.

Why is ice cream not keto? What’s it made of?

Well, you already know it has sugar. Aside from that, most ice cream brands have milk, cream, and usually, a flavor. 

Speaking of flavors, that’s the great thing about ice cream – it’s super flexible! You have standard flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and fruits like mango or banana. Then there are also non-standard ones like chocolate peanut, caramel with sea salt, and mint chip ice cream.

One more great thing about ice cream is that it’s not exclusive to any professional ice cream maker. You can make it at home, and customize it to your tastes. For example, you can use coconut milk and make dairy-free ice cream.

(Speaking of making ice cream, check out our class with Chef Joey Prats: Artisan and No Churn Ice Creams! You’ll be taking homemade ice cream to the next level, guaranteed!)

So… is homemade ice cream keto-friendly?

Well, if you make ice cream with the usual ingredients, then no, your end result will probably not be keto-friendly. 

Will ice cream ruin keto? Are you sure?

Remember, to be in ketosis (and to stay there), you need to eat fewer than 50 grams of carbs per day. Carb counts of more than 50 grams will make you leave your ketogenic state.

What does this have to do with ice cream? Well, the usual ice cream brands have the following nutritional values for ½ cup:

Now, if you compute the sum of carbs and sugar, ½ cup will not kick you out of ketosis. But face it, how many of us can stop at just a half-cup? Plus, how many other carbohydrates will we be eating in the day?

Let’s just say that indulging in the usual ice cream is definitely a gateway to leaving ketosis. Unless, of course, you have super self-control.

Darn it! Where did ice cream come from, anyway?

According to BBC, there are plenty of ice cream origin stories such as: 

• A kind of ice cream was invented in China back in 200 BC. It was a milk and rice mixture that was frozen by packing it into the snow.

• King Tang of Shang ate an ice cream-like food in China back in 618-97 AD. It involved 94 ice men making a dish of buffalo milk, flour, and camphor.

• Roman emperors were known to have sent slaves to the tops of mountains to bring back fresh snow. The snow was then flavored and also became an early form of ice cream.

• Charles I, the King of England, was rumored to have offered his chef £500 a year. Why? To keep his ice cream recipe a secret from the rest of England!

• People believe Marco Polo to have seen people making ice cream when he went to China. He is credited to have introduced the concept to Italy. 

• One final story involves Evanston, an American town. During the 19th century, authorities deemed it illegal to sell ice cream sodas on a Sunday. To get around this decree, some traders replaced the soda with syrup. They then called the dessert an ice cream sundae.

Whatever the origins of ice cream, we’re just glad that it exists! Wouldn’t you agree?

Yes, but going back… So, can I eat ice cream on a ketogenic diet?

Is ice cream allowed on the keto diet?

Going back to what we said earlier, you can, as long as you have self-control. And as long as you don’t go past 50 grams of carbs while indulging in ice cream. 

Do take note that most ice creams have a lot of grams of net carbs. Yes, even in a half-cup serving. If you are resolute that this will be your only carb for the day, then great!

If not, better choose your carbs wisely. Ice cream might not satisfy your carb craving, after all.

Well, then, is there such a thing as low-carb ice cream? 

Now you’re asking the right questions! And yes, there is such a thing! You can also call it keto ice cream.

Hey, if we can have keto cake, why not keto ice cream, right?

What is keto ice cream?

How is keto ice cream different from regular ice cream? Keto ice cream is still ice cream, but for one thing, it’s sugar-free! 

That means instead of sugar, the ice cream maker used one of the following low-calorie, low-carb sweeteners:

• Stevia
• Monk Fruit
• Sugar alcohols like erythritol and/or xylitol

Also, keto ice cream tends to have the usual qualities:

• It’s high in fiber, in the form of soluble corn fiber or chicory root fiber.

• It has less dairy. There is still some form of dairy but most of the usual dairy content is replaced with protein concentrate or ultra-filtered milk.

How many carbs are in keto ice cream?

Yes, keto ice cream still has carbs. However, compared to the usual ice cream, it has lower grams of carbs. And that means eating it will not kick you out of ketosis.

As there are plenty in the market, make sure to check the nutritional values of each keto ice cream brand. That way, you can be sure you haven’t gone over your total carb of fewer than 50 for the day!

Can keto ice cream come in different flavors?

For example, we know banana is not a keto-recommended fruit. So is banana ice cream keto?

Don’t worry – if regular ice cream can come in different flavors, so can keto ice cream! For example, the brand Enlightened Ice Cream has flavors like Peppermint Brownie, Caramel Chocolate Double Dough, and Chocolate Glazed Donut. So you can be sure your keto ice cream will be anything but boring!

And you can also be sure that the flavoring used will be just fine for your ketogenic diet.

Well then, are ice cream cones keto?

Ice cream is best eaten with an ice cream cone, right? Of course, just because the ice cream you’re eating is keto doesn’t mean your cone is! Don’t worry, there are keto cones in the market – just look for them.

How healthy is keto ice cream?

Is keto ice cream really better than regular ice cream, for instance? Well, we’re not doctors, so we really can’t answer that. The best way to find out is to talk to your doctor or nutritionist. 

Oh, and keep this saying in mind: enjoy everything in moderation.

Where is keto ice cream sold?

You can check your local grocery for keto ice cream. They usually have the word keto stamped on them, so you won’t confuse them for regular ice cream. There are also plenty of brands you can buy online.

They seem to be so expensive! Can I make my own keto ice cream?

The answer to this is one big yes! How is keto ice cream made, you ask? Well, The Bailiwick Academy has a class that is great for answering your question.

Introducing: Keto Ice Cream by Ms. Chiqui Dingcong!

Whether you are on a keto diet or you just want to indulge in something sweet without increasing your sugar level, this class is for you! You’ll get to make the following delicious ice cream flavors:

• Avocado
• Chocolate
• Strawberry 

Of course, you might have done your research and you might have found complaints about keto ice cream, like, “Why is keto ice cream chalky?” or, “Why is keto ice cream so hard?”

Or you might also have read about this particular ice cream giving bad reactions to people who eat it.

Well, believe it or not, Ms. Chiqui had the same questions, as you can see in this video. That’s why she decided to do something about it!

See? When you enroll in this class, you’ll be creating easy-to-make and delicious keto ice cream. 

You don’t have to be intimidated by unfamiliar ingredients or terms. Ms. Chiqui will guide you through the process. And because The Bailiwick Academy lets you replay the video as much as you want, we’re sure you’ll be on your way to making this ice cream successfully!

Scream for (keto) ice cream today! Enroll in The Bailiwick Academy!

P.S. If you’re reading this blog post today, May 15, 2022, then this class is on sale! Act now to get it at 20% off!