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The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley
Ice cream is one of life’s simple pleasures, and although your favorite Häagen-Dazs pint may be off-limits on a keto diet, you don’t have to miss out entirely. Today, there are plenty of available ice creams that are rich, creamy, and as close to the "real" thing as you can get.
The best keto ice creams aren’t just low in net carbs, but they actually taste good, so you never have to feel like you’re missing out on the treats you love. Just because an ice cream is categorized as keto doesn’t necessarily mean you should eat it. Important things to assess on the nutrition label are the net carb count, serving size, and ingredients.
Best Overall
Nick's Swedish Best Sellers Variety Pack Ice Cream
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Amazon
Large variety of flavors
Use of natural sweeteners
Super creamy texture
Price is a bit steep
N!CK'S is a Swedish company run by Niclas "Nick" Luthman, who was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in 2014, according to the brand’s website. After getting his health back under control, he recognized a need in the market for tastier snacks that were also healthy. According to Nick, the company "is all about finding creative solutions through science to make the world a better, healthier place."
Nick's now produces not only keto-friendly ice cream by the pint, but also snack bars, ice cream sandwiches, bundles for those who can’t pick just one flavor, and vegan ice cream. They use a variety of natural sweeteners like allulose, monk fruit, stevia, birch sugar/xylitol, erythritol, and chicory root fiber in their products. But it still tastes just like ice cream and nothing more.
The wide variety of flavors will appeal to just about everyone—from Cookies & Cream to Peanut Butter Cup to Salted Caramel, you can’t go wrong. They are all low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and keto-friendly, so you can indulge to your heart's content.
Price at time of publish: $5 per pint
Net Carbs: 7 grams | Serving Size: 0.66 cup/100 grams | Calories Per Serving: 70
Best Bars
Keto Pint Sea Salt Caramel Keto Ice Cream Bars
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Amazon
Dipped in MCT oil + chocolate
Contain 2 grams of net carbs
Other flavors available
Only four bars per box
If you prefer your ice cream on a stick (and dunked in chocolate), Keto Pint ice cream bars are the choice for you. These low-carb ice cream bars are made with cream, egg yolks, and a combination of keto-friendly sweeteners, including erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit. They’re then dipped into an MCT-rich chocolate coating, made with coconut and MCT oils, to create a delicious, satisfying keto dessert with 15 grams of fat and only 2 grams of net carbs per serving. There are only four bars per box, but the price isn't too steep, so you can stock up easily.
In addition to sea salt caramel, the brand also offers peanut butter cup and mint chip ice cream bars, as well as a full line of keto ice creams by the pint with flavors such as black raspberry, peanut butter cup, butter pecan, and cake batter.
Price at time of publish: $6 for a pack of 4 bars
Net Carbs: 2 grams | Serving Size: 1 bar | Calories Per Serving: 160
Best Flavor
Enlightened PB Cookie & Brownie Dough Keto Ice Cream
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Amazon
0 grams of added sugar
Only 8 grams of net carbs per pint
Fun flavor with lots of add-ins
Lengthy ingredient list
What’s better than cookie dough? Peanut butter cookie dough plus brownie dough. This vanilla ice cream is packed with chocolate chips, peanut butter swirl, brownie bites, and peanut butter cookie dough—the perfect treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
But there is, in fact, 0 grams of added sugar and 8 grams of net carbs per pint, perfect for those sticking to a keto diet or just watching their carbs/sugar intake. the ingredient list is a bit long for our liking, but there are no hydrogenated fats, high fructose corn syrup, bleached or bromated flour, or synthetic nitrates or nitrites . If you enjoy this pint, be sure to check out some of Enlightened’s other keto offerings and make some room in your freezer; you won’t want to miss out on the other mouth-watering flavors such as Mint Chocolate Chunk or Butter Pecan.
Price at time of publish: $5 for 1 pint
Net Carbs: 8 grams per pint | Serving Size: 0.67 cup | Calories Per Serving: 260
Best Vanilla
Mammoth Creameries Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
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Amazon
Thick like custard
Contains vanilla bean seeds
Four servings per pint
Slightly expensive
Mammoth Creameries proves that vanilla doesn’t have to be boring and that it’s possible to make a delicious keto ice cream. Although it’s more of a frozen custard than a true ice cream, this keto-friendly dessert is made with things like cream, grass-fed butter, egg yolks, xylitol, vanilla extract, vanilla bean seeds, and pink Himalayan sea salt. It’s rich, creamy, and only has 1 gram of net carbs per serving, with four servings in the pint.
"Our formula melts like traditional ice cream, tastes like traditional ice cream, and has the best mouth feel according to our reviews! We use 100% grass-fed butter, heavy cream (no milk), and minimal ingredients," says Susan Krauss, the founder and creator of Mammoth Creameries.
If you’re not really a vanilla person, Mammoth Creameries also makes chocolate, lemon buttercream, and chocolate peanut butter flavors. You can try them all in the Keto Starter Pack.
Price at time of publish: $9 for 1 pint
Net Carbs: 1 gram | Serving Size: 0.5 cup/86 grams | Calories Per Serving: 250
Best Cookie Dough
Rebel Cookie Dough Ice Cream
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Amazon
Cookie dough made of almond flour
7 grams of net carbs per pint
Cost-effective
high sugar amount
What’s a life without cookie dough ice cream? Thanks to Rebel Cookie Dough, you’ll never have to find out. Made with cream, almond-flour-based cookie dough, and egg yolks, and sweetened with a combination of erythritol and monk fruit, this keto ice cream has high levels of fat, moderate amounts of protein, and 7 grams of net carbs per pint (roughly 2 grams of net carbs per serving). It does contain 14 grams of added sugars per serving, so it may be too sweet for some.
You’re not limited to just cookie dough, though. Rebel has a full line of keto ice creams with flavors like chocolate peanut butter, birthday cake, coconut almond swirl, and cookies and cream. It also offers keto ice cream sandwiches in packs of three.
Price at time of publish: $5 for 1 pint
Net Carbs: 1 gram | Serving Size: 0.66 cup/92 grams | Calories Per Serving: 160
Best Chocolate
Nubocha Vegan Chocolate Arriba Gelato
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Amazon
Made of Italian chocolate
Vegan
0 grams of net carbs
Expensive
The Nubocha Chocolate Arriba is crafted by Gianluca Franzoni, the founder and creator of Domori, one of Italy’s finest chocolate brands. Franzoni was on a mission to make the best-tasting vegan gelato—and he may have nailed it. Perhaps what makes it so great is that it’s sweetened only with allulose and has a short ingredient list. Here’s the best part: It has 0 grams of net carbs, so you can enjoy a serving (or more).
"We use just [three] core ingredients: nuts or cacao, allulose and pure spring water. We don’t use any fillers or dairy replacements (such as oat milk, coconut cream, etc.) because we want to emphasize the real, unadulterated flavor of our premium ingredients," says Katrina Smith, the Co-Founder & CEO of Nubocha.
The price per pint for this one is slightly more than others, but we think it's a necessary evil because of the rich, chocolatey taste. Nubocha has other keto-friendly and equally delicious flavors, like Italian vanilla, peanut butter, and salted caramel, but these have around 7 grams of net carbs per 0.66-cup serving, so keep that in mind.
Price at time of publish: $15 per pint
Net Carbs: 0 grams | Serving Size: 0.66 cup/123 grams | Calories Per Serving: 100
Best Budget
Breyers Frozen Dairy Dessert Vanilla Chocolate Strawberry
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Instacart
3 flavors in 1 container
Low in calories
Good value
Not for those who don’t tolerate Splenda
If you’re looking for a more wallet-friendly option, you can get 1.5 quarts of this keto-friendly ice cream for about the same price as a pint from other brands. And with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry all included in one container, there is something for everyone–no need to compromise.
This no sugar added flavor from Bryers has only 100 calories per serving and is sweetened with Splenda. It’s also made with non-GMO sourced, high-quality ingredients including California strawberries, cocoa, and 100% sustainable Madagascar vanilla. For those with allergies, note that this product is gluten-free, egg-free, fish-free, peanut-free, shellfish-free, soy-free, tree nut-free, and wheat-free. You’ll be thankful to have more of this ice cream; with 3 flavors to choose from, you’ll keep coming back for more.
Price at time of publish: $5 for 1.5 quarts
Net Carbs: 17 grams | Serving Size: 0.67 cups | Calories Per Serving: 100
Best with Real Cream
Two Spoons Keto Ice Cream Best Sellers
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Amazon
Popular flavors
First ingredient is cream
Gluten-free
Contains sugar alcohols
This sample pack of Two Spoons' beloved keto ice cream flavors includes rocky road, caramel swirl, fudgy brownie, and strawberries & cream–a variety that fits everyone's preferences. What we love about this brand, though, is that the first ingredient listed on each carton, regardless of flavor, is cream. Others include sugar alcohols, but that isn't a surprise given it is keto ice cream. Another thing they all share? the fact that they are gluten-free.
Basically, this ice cream is great for a wide variety of diets—those with little or no wheat, sugar, and carbs—but there is still a lot of taste to go aorund.
Price at time of publish: $48 for 4 pints
Net Carbs: 4-7 grams | Serving Size: 110 grams | Calories Per Serving: 169-211
Best Dairy-Free
So Delicious Coconutmilk Dipped Vanilla Bars
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Amazon
1 gram of net carbs per bar
Made with creamy coconut
Chocolate is crunchy
Some may not like the addition of stevia
With 1 gram of net carbs per serving, these So Delicious ice cream bars toe the line of keto, but they’re still a nice lower-carb option, especially if you’re trying to avoid dairy. Made with a creamy, thick coconut milk base and plant proteins sweetened with a combination of erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia, they’re completely free of dairy and suitable for vegan diets. Some may not love the use of stevia or the slight taste it gives, but the combo of crunchy chocolate and sweet vanilla is strong enough.
Price at time of publish: $6 for a box of 4
Net Carbs: 1 gram | Serving Size: 1 bar | Calories Per Serving: 140
Nick's Swedish Ice Cream has everything you could ever want out of keto ice cream—including lots of flavors and natural sweeteners, while still providing the classic creamy ice cream texture. Mammoth Creameries Vanilla Bean is a great option, too, because of the cheaper price, the use of grass-fed butter in the ingredients, and the low amount of net carbs per serving.
What to Look for When Buying Keto Ice Cream
Net Carbs
The most important thing is the net carb count. There is no standard way to follow a keto diet, but typical plans require less than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. You can find ice cream that contains fewer than 5 grams of net carbs per serving, and lower is always better if you're on a keto plan.
Sweeteners
There are lots of no-carb sweeteners out there, but they’re not all created equally. Artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, sucralose, and acesulfame K, may not add any carbs to an ice cream, but they can still raise other health issues, according to the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics. They can also leave a funky aftertaste that makes the ice cream less than enjoyable. Look for keto ice creams that are sweetened with stevia, monk fruit, allulose, and/or erythritol. Many manufacturers use a blend of sweeteners to create the most sugar-like taste.
Ingredients
While the net carb count is important, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. Manufacturers are allowed to list 0 grams on a nutrition label if there are 0.5 grams or less of a specific ingredient. For example, if there’s sugar in the ice cream, but it only adds 0.4 grams per serving, it can technically be listed as 0 grams. This creates a problem when you eat more than the recommended serving size. Check the ingredient list rather than relying solely on the nutrition facts label. Avoid any ice cream that contains sugar or starchy fillers, like corn, oats, flour, rice, and/or wheat.
Serving Size
Some ice creams are marketed as low-carb or “light,” but it’s really because the serving size is so small. When you’re choosing a keto ice cream, make sure that you’re actually going to be able to stick to the recommended serving size (usually around 0.66-cup), otherwise, you’ll be way over your net carb goal.
FAQs
What is keto ice cream?
Keto ice cream is ice cream that’s been sweetened with low- or no-calorie, low-carb sweeteners, like stevia, monk fruit, and sugar alcohols, such as erythritol and/or xylitol, rather than regular sugar. Like traditional ice cream, keto ice cream is made with a heavy cream base, but the omission of sugar drastically lowers the net carb count, so you can enjoy it without spikes in your blood sugar.
Is all sugar-free ice cream keto?
The term "sugar-free" is not synonymous with "keto." Most ice creams that are marketed as "sugar-free" contain artificial sweeteners that aren’t the best choice for a keto diet. While the carb count may be low, artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, and certain sugar alcohols, like maltitol, can increase cravings and spike your blood sugar and insulin levels, throwing you out of ketosis. Sugar-free ice creams may also contain high-carb fillers and thickeners, like rice or potato starch, that make the net carb count way too high for a keto diet.
Often, sugar-free ice creams are also made with lower-calorie bases, like skim milk, and don’t have a high enough fat content to qualify as a keto-friendly treat. As a general rule, don’t rely on the package’s marketing to make decisions about whether or not the ice cream is suitable for your diet. Always read the ingredient list and nutrition facts label to make informed decisions.
How We Selected
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best keto ice creams on the market, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, flavor, and net carb amounts—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Lindsay Boyers is a certified holistic nutritionist and keto diet expert who has written several keto cookbooks, including "Keto Snacks," "The Keto for Two Cookbook," and "200 under 20g Net Carbs." She’s experienced the power of fat-adaptation firsthand and knows how important it is to stay on track, even when you want a sweet treat.
The Spruce Eats writer Alyssa Langer is a registered dietitian and foodie, always curious about the next food or ingredient craze and hungry to learn and try more. Having worked in cookbook publishing, CPG label data, nutrition writing, and meal kits, her diverse background and varied interests provide a unique perspective that fosters clear, well-researched, and trustworthy reviews. She updated this story to include the most up-to-date information.
Amanda McDonald is an editor at The Spruce Eats and has over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing about all things food — from what new products are at the grocery store to chef-approved hacks that keep tricky leftovers fresh for days. She updated this article to include the most up-to-date information.
Sources
- Katrina Smith, Co-Founder & CEO of Nubocha
- Susan Krauss, founder and creator of Mammoth Creameries
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