That’s So DF and GF Ice Creams
You can take me out of the Midwest, but you can’t take the Midwest out of me, especially when it comes to me referring to “summer days”. I now live in Florida, where it is summer every single day and I do not have to worry about if it is going to be 90 degree in the morning and 40 degrees in the afternoon (Ohio weather gives you whiplash). But summer days in Ohio meant lounging by the pool or running through the sprinkler on the front lawn while also enjoying some cold ice cream after playing all day in the sun! Ice Cream was my jam, specifically UDF Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Some of my other favorites are Caramel Chocolate Cone, Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich, and a Strawberry Shortcake.
However, once I got my celiac diagnosis and realized how much dairy was causing my body pain, I could no longer enjoy those favorites. I have tried every single dairy free and gluten free ice cream product possible (or at least what my local grocery stores offer). I can confidently say I have found my top three brands and want to share with all of you!
Jolly Llama
I have been talking a lot about growing up in Ohio and dropping everything to rush to the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhood. I would always order from the following goodies; a vanilla ice cream sandwich, caramel vanilla cone, and/or strawberry shortcake. However, being diagnosed with celiac disease has kept me from enjoying those childhood ice cream truck favorites (#thatssoceliac). Then you add my body’s ability to not handle dairy very well and I can’t safely enjoy any of those childhood favorites. However, Jolly Llama has made that possible and I can’t believe I just found them.
All the Jolly Llama products are certified gluten free and vegan. I love all the products, but the caramel chocolate cone and vanilla ice cream sandwich are my favorite. These products bring me back to those summer days in Ohio and are very welcomed since I now live in a state where every day is summer! I highly recommend adding any of this company’s products to your freezer. Click here for a coupon when purchasing your own childhood favorites (coupon expires 07/31/2020).
NadaMoo
I have been looking for a dairy free ice cream that offers gluten free flavors that aren’t plain. Typically, I have to stick to vanilla, chocolate, and/or chocolate chip; I couldn’t enjoy any of the “specialty” flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough or cookies and cream. Like Jolly Llama, I was recently introduced to NadaMoo and again, do not know how I haven’t had it before. My fiancé and I did an Instagram Live taste testing of 4 flavors, which we ranked based on how it compared to a non-GF and non-DF flavor.
Carmel Cold-Brew & Cookies; this was our absolute favorite. I love coffee (surprise, surprise) and my fiancé is not a coffee fan, but the flavor of this mixed with the chunks of cookie was to die for!
Cookies & Crème: this flavor was slightly fluffy and filled with lots of cookie pieces! We were surprised with how much this truly tasted like a cookies and crème with all the gluten and dairy in it. This flavor is one that would be great made into a shake as well!
Dutch Chocolate: this flavor was simple but packed with flavor! This is a flavor where I would chop up Sweet Loren’s Cookie Dough and fold it into the flavor to my own cookie dough ice cream!
Cookie Dough Fudge: I was very much looking forward to this flavor as chocolate chip cookie dough is my absolute favorite, but I was slightly disappointed due to the flavor. As these flavors are coconut based, the coconut came through extremely strong and neither of us love a strong coconut flavor.
All the flavors are certified gluten free as well!
Jeni’s
Jenni’s Dairy Free Ice Cream was a very pleasant surprise that I found on National Ice Cream Day at a local venue called Sparkman Warf. I am used to hearing ‘No’ when I ask if there were GF and DF options, so when I was told there were two flavors I could safely enjoy, I went for it! I highly suggest finding Jeni’s Dairy-Free flavors at a grocery store near you or going online to purchase. Please note that not all the DF flavors are GF, so read the ingredients before purchasing!
Do you have any favorite DF and GF Ice Creams? I would love to hear what those are and if you’ve tried any of the above products.