JD vegan ice cream is a dairy-free frozen dessert made by JD vegan. It’s marketed as a plant-based alternative to traditional dairy ice cream. Unlike regular ice cream which contains milk and cream, JD vegan ice cream is made from plant-based ingredients like coconut milk, almond milk, cashews, and natural sweeteners.
Main Ingredients
Here are the main ingredients used to make JD vegan ice cream:
Plant-Based Milk
The base of JD vegan ice cream is plant-based milk like coconut milk or almond milk. This provides the creamy texture without using any dairy. Coconut milk contains healthy fats while almond milk provides a light and nutty flavor.
Nuts
Nuts like cashews, almonds and coconut are blended to make the ice cream thick, creamy and smooth. They also enhance the flavor and nutritional value by adding protein, healthy fats and fiber.
Sweeteners
JD vegan ice cream is sweetened with natural sweeteners like maple syrup, dates, banana and agave nectar instead of refined sugar. These provide a subtle sweetness while keeping the ice cream guilt-free.
Fruits and Flavors
Real fruit purees like strawberry, raspberry, peach, mango etc are used to provide fruity flavors. Vanilla, cocoa powder and nut extracts also provide delicious flavor options.
Thickening Agents
Small amounts of tapioca starch or arrowroot powder help thicken the ice cream for a creamy, scoopable texture. They act as substitutes for eggs and cream used in regular ice cream.
Emulsifiers
Lecithin derived from soybeans helps evenly blend the ingredients to create a smooth, emulsified texture. It prevents separation during melting.
Stabilizers
Guar gum and locust bean gum give the ice cream body and prevent ice crystals. This results in a creamy mouthfeel just like dairy ice cream.
Nutrition Facts
Here is the nutrition information for a 1/2 cup serving of JD vegan vanilla ice cream:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 180 |
| Total Fat | 9 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 25 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugars | 17 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
As you can see, JD vegan ice cream is low in cholesterol, trans fat and saturated fat compared to regular ice cream. It contains no dairy so is safe for vegans and those with lactose intolerance. The main nutrients are healthy fats from plant sources along with natural carbohydrates and fiber.
Benefits of Ingredients
Let’s take a detailed look at the health benefits of key ingredients:
Coconut Milk
– Rich in MCTs that boost metabolism and aid weight loss
– Contains lauric acid with antimicrobial properties
– High in potassium and electrolytes
– Naturally lactose-free
Almond Milk
– Low in calories and carbs
– Has vitamin E, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin A
– Provides protein and fiber
– Dairy-free and vegan
Cashews
– Supply heart-healthy fats like oleic acid
– Contain magnesium, copper, zinc and iron
– Loaded with plant-based protein
– Have anti-inflammatory effects
Maple Syrup
– Has antioxidants like polyphenols
– Contains zinc and manganese minerals
– Sweetens with lower glycemic impact
– Adds fiber when unprocessed
Dates
– Excellent source of potassium
– Provide B vitamins like niacin
– Have antioxidants like flavonoids
– Adds natural sweetness with fiber
Bananas
– Packed with prebiotic fiber
– Rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6
– Contains heart-healthy pectin
– Adds smoothness and creaminess
Cocoa Powder
– Loaded with flavonoid antioxidants
– Improves blood flow and heart health
– Boosts cognitive function
– Adds delicious chocolatey flavor
So in summary, the plant-based ingredients in JD vegan ice cream provide a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber and antioxidants lacking in regular dairy ice cream.
Vegan vs Regular Ice Cream
Let’s compare the nutrition and ingredients of JD vegan ice cream to regular dairy ice cream:
Nutrition
| Nutrient | JD Vegan Ice Cream (1/2 cup) | Regular Ice Cream (1/2 cup) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 180 | 220 |
| Fat | 9 g | 13 g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 g | 8 g |
| Sodium | 25 mg | 95 mg |
| Carbs | 24 g | 23 g |
| Sugar | 17 g | 21 g |
| Protein | 1 g | 3 g |
JD vegan ice cream is lower in calories, total fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugar compared to regular ice cream. It’s also higher in carbs and fiber thanks to the natural plant-based ingredients. However, it’s lower in protein due to the absence of dairy.
Ingredients
– JD Vegan Ice Cream: coconut milk, cashews, bananas, maple syrup, cocoa powder, natural flavors
– Regular Ice Cream: cream, milk, sugar, corn syrup, whey, mono and diglycerides, guar gum, carrageenan
As you can see, JD vegan ice cream contains wholesome, pronounceable ingredients while regular ice cream has artificial additives and stabilizers.
How It’s Made
Now let’s take a look at the key steps in how JD vegan ice cream is manufactured:
Blending
The plant-based milk and nut base is blended along with fruit purees and natural sweeteners to create an emulsion. Powerful blenders are used to finely grind the nuts and integrate the ingredients.
Pasteurizing
The blend is pasteurized by quickly heating it to around 175°F (79°C) before rapid cooling. This kills any harmful bacteria while preserving nutrients.
Ageing
For improved texture, the mixture is aged overnight in a refrigerator allowing the ingredients to fully hydrate.
Flavouring
Natural flavors like vanilla, chocolate or fruit purees are added at this stage to infuse the ice cream base with flavor.
Freezing
The ice cream base is frozen using a continuous or batch freezer which both aerates and cools the mixture to below freezing temperature.
Packaging
Finally, the frozen ice cream is packaged into containers before being shipped to grocery stores.
The entire process from plant to pint uses only natural vegan ingredients without any artificial flavors or preservatives.
Common Flavors
JD vegan offers a rotating line-up of creative flavors. Here are some of their most popular ones:
Vanilla
This classic flavor is creamy and rich, redolent with vanilla bean speckles from real vanilla extract. It’s the perfect base for sundaes.
Chocolate
Intense yet dairy-free chocolate ice cream made with unsweetened cocoa and touches of vanilla. It’s like eating velvety chocolate mousse.
Strawberry
Bursting with juicy strawberry puree swirls. It captures the essence of fresh strawberries and cream without the dairy.
Salted Caramel
Buttery coconut milk blended with vanilla and salted caramel ripples for the ultimate salty-sweet combo.
Cookies n Cream
Vanilla ice cream packed with crunchy chocolate sandwich cookie pieces and chocolate fudge swirls.
Mint Chocolate Chip
Cool mint and chocolate chips create a refreshing and nostalgic flavor evocative of Girl Scout Thin Mints.
There’s truly a flavor for everyone whether you like fruit, chocolate, vanilla or cookie-inspired.
Where to Buy
Wondering where you can get your hands on JD vegan ice cream? Here are some places you can find it:
Grocery Stores
– Whole Foods Market
– Sprouts Farmers Market
– Kroger
– Safeway
– Wegmans
– Stop & Shop
– Ralphs
Big Box Stores
– Target
– Walmart
– Costco
Online
– JDvegan.com
– Amazon.com
– Thrive Market
– VeganEssentials.com
Check the freezer aisle at your local supermarket or natural grocery store. You may also find JD vegan ice creams in the pre-packaged pint section. Online stores are another convenient option if you can’t find it nearby.
Reviews
Here is what people are saying about the taste, texture and flavor of JD vegan ice cream:
Taste
“This tastes just like regular dairy ice cream to me! The coconut milk base is so creamy and smooth.”
“You’d never know this was vegan. It’s rich, creamy and very satisfying.”
Texture
“The texture is incredible – so thick and scoopable. It doesn’t melt too fast or get icy.”
“Dense, frothy and very creamy. You can tell it’s high quality from the texture.”
Flavor
“The flavors taste natural and not artificial. I love the fruit and nutty notes.”
“The chocolate and salted caramel are heavenly. The flavor is out of this world.”
Most reviewers agree JD vegan ice cream delivers all the taste and texture of dairy ice cream with purely plant-based ingredients. Customers love the brand’s unique, delicious flavors.
Price
JD vegan ice cream retails between $4.99 to $6.99 for a 16oz pint. Here is how the pricing compares:
| Brand | Price |
|---|---|
| JD Vegan | $4.99 – $6.99 per pint |
| Ben & Jerry’s | $4.99 – $5.99 per pint |
| Halo Top | $4.99 – $5.49 per pint |
| Breyers | $2.50 – $5.49 per pint |
As you can see, JD vegan is priced very competitively with other premium ice cream brands. In fact, it’s the same average price point as Ben & Jerry’s. The price reflects the high-quality ingredients and unique artisanal flavors.
Nutritional Comparison
How does JD vegan ice cream compare nutritionally to regular dairy ice cream and other dairy-free brands? Here is a chart comparing a 1/2 cup serving:
| Ice Cream | Calories | Fat | Sodium | Carbs | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JD Vegan | 180 | 9g | 25mg | 24g | 17g | 1g |
| Ben & Jerry’s | 260 | 14g | 80mg | 24g | 20g | 3g |
| Breyers | 220 | 13g | 95mg | 23g | 21g | 3g |
| Halo Top | 140 | 6g | 100mg | 20g | 12g | 6g |
JD vegan has fewer calories, less fat, lower sodium and less sugar than the regular dairy ice creams. It’s also higher in protein than Halo Top. This makes it a nutrition powerhouse compared to other brands.
Conclusion
JD vegan ice cream provides a deliciously creamy, dairy-free alternative full of simple, plant-based ingredients. It’s made from a base of coconut or almond milk blended with nuts like cashews and sweetened with maple syrup and fruit. The assortment of unique flavors satisfies any craving.
Nutritionally, JD vegan ice cream is lower in calories, fat, and sugar compared to regular ice cream yet provides a rich, frothy texture and flavor. It’s competitively priced at around $5-7 per pint.
Overall, JD vegan makes it easy to enjoy classic ice cream flavors in a vegan, guilt-free way. Their innovative recipes transform nuts, fruits and plant milks into a heavenly frozen dessert.
