Ice cream is America’s favorite dessert! Who doesn’t love some ice cream?
Arguably one of the most common foods people like to indulge in and not a food you would associate with when on a diet, especially on the Keto or Low Carb Diet.
Is there anything better than a sweet, smooth, icy bowl of your all-time favorite flavor?
The sad part about it is, we as some individuals have to watch out for other things that normally children wouldn’t even dream thinking about.
Our weight! Yes, our weight, health, goals, etc… You name it.
Some of us are on our fitness journey, some are watching their weight and health, some of them are prediabetic or diabetic.
Many ice cream products are high in sugar and fat and should be avoided for obvious reasons but there may be a way to possibly include ice cream into your Keto or Low Carb Diet, believe it or not.
Whatever the case may be, this shouldn’t deter us from enjoying one of our favorite desserts: ice cream.
In today’s day and age where we’ve become more health conscious as a society, certain bright and healthy people sought to find it a good idea to make/produce healthier, low-carb versions of ice cream.
Isn’t that what we’re looking for? Healthy, low carb ice cream?
Who isn’t looking for something like that, especially people who are on the Keto or Low Carb Diet practically the whole week!
It was our duty to inform you about the wonderful options you have for ice cream, even when you’re on your Keto or Low Carb Diet, or any diet you may be doing.
We have options for you who like to get up, go to the store, and buy it from the shelf; we also have options for you who may like to DIY and create your own ice cream from a recipe.
Here in this article, we’ve listed the top Keto/Low Carb ice cream brands found in your local grocery store as well as included 50 incredible Keto/Low Carb-friendly recipes from all over the web!
Related: The Ultimate Keto Shopping List | Quick & Easy!
Is ice cream keto friendly?
If you are following the Keto Diet for weight loss you know the aim is to stay in ketosis, which happens when your body is using fat for fuel in the form of ketones instead of glucose.
To remain in a state of ketosis, you have to strictly limit your consumption of carbohydrates, which means no ice cream, or does it?
The trick to the Keto Diet is to select food, low in carbs and high in fat. Ice cream is best known as a sweet, frozen food made out of dairy products.
The key ingredients in a classic ice cream are milk and cream. These ingredients are paired with many other flavors, mostly high in sugar content, creating the huge variety of flavors you see in your local store.
Whilst most ice cream flavors provide an appropriate amount of fat for your ketogenic diet, they are also high in carbs due to their sugar content.
Most popular, commercial brands also lack dietary fiber. If you want to add ice cream to your diet, it’s always best to make your own, so you can properly track and measure the calories and macronutrients.
Is ice cream low carb friendly?
If you’re following the low carb diet, the reason it exists, carbs are reduced quite a bit but not on the same level as the Keto Diet.
The Low Carb Diet still has the same idea but on a different level in terms of macros and nutritional ratios.
In simpler terms, the Low Carb Diet is much more common than the Keto Diet and definitely not as strict.
The trick for the Low Carb Diet is selecting foods that are low in carbs, high in protein, and low in fat.
In general, most popular ice cream products and brands don’t fit into this category because of their high carb and fat content.
This makes it considerably difficult to enjoy a little ice cream while you’re on the Low Carb Diet.
With the help of some smart people who have developed friendlier ice cream versions for those on the diet, it’s completely possible to enjoy a little bit of “healthy” ice cream without the guilty feelings.
Again, even so-called “healthier” ice cream, doesn’t mean you have to go overboard with it.
While on the Low Carb Diet, watch your macros, make the serving(s) fit into your diet, and enjoy the wonderful experience in indulging into your favorite dessert even when you’re on the Low Carb Diet.
It’s all about moderation and once you’re able to work with this kind of ice cream, the sky’s the limit!
Keto/Low Carb Friendly Ice Cream Brands
Where can I buy keto/low carb ice cream?
There are a few brands available to purchase from your local grocery store that are keto/low carb friendly.
Each of us have a different tolerance level for carbs before so it’s always best to check the pack for serving size information and exact ingredients.
No brand, yet (except for Rebel & Sola ice cream), has been specifically designed for the Keto Diet but two extremely popular brands do come close – Enlightened and Halo Top.
Nonetheless, plenty of options to choose from including lesser known ice cream brands that are keto/low carb friendly.
Do your due diligence and decide for yourself if a particular brand fits into your diet.
Keto/Low Carb Ice Cream Brands
Halo Top is one of those brands where it seems like everyone is mentioning it, especially in the health and fitness world. The company has risen in popularity over the last few years and has quickly become a fan favorite, dominating the healthy food market.
Began and based in Los Angeles CA, they feature more than 20 different kinds of ice cream flavors!
They even took it further by separating them into “dairy” and “non-dairy” categories. Pretty easy, right?
The only downside regarding Halo Top is that their product isn’t specifically designed for Keto dieters, so they cut out most of the fat which Keto enthusiasts might be looking for. Nonetheless, this ice cream still fits into the Keto Diet, only in moderation of course.
When it comes down to nutrition, a serving of Halo Top ice cream ranges from 4 – 10 grams of Net Carbs depending on the flavor. Non-dairy & vegan flavors tend to have lower net carb counts than the dairy ones.
Dairy Flavors
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Bean | 6g |  |
| Chocolate | 6g | |
| Lemon Cake | 6g | |
| Strawberry | 6g | |
| Mint Chip | 6g | |
| Birthday Cake | 6g | |
| Peanut Butter Cup | 6g | |
| Pistachio | 6g | |
| Black Cherry | 6g | |
| Rainbow Swirl | 6g | |
| Chocolate Mocha Chip | 7g | |
| Oatmeal Cookie | 7g | |
| Chocolate Covered Banana | 7g | |
| Caramel Macchiato | 7g | |
| Cookies & Cream | 8g | |
| Sea Salt Caramel | 8g | |
| S’mores | 8g | |
| Red Velvet | 8g | |
| Pancakes & Waffles | 8g | |
| Candy Bar | 8g | |
| Peaches & Cream | 8g | |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | 9g | |
| Cinnamon Roll | 10g | |
Non-Dairy & Vegan
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate (dairy-free) | 4g | |
| Chocolate Almond Crunch (dairy-free) | 4g | |
| Peanut Butter Cup (dairy-free) | 5g | |
| Birthday Cake (dairy-free) | 5g | |
| Vanilla Maple (dairy-free) | 5g | |
| Oatmeal Cookie (dairy-free) | 6g | |
| Toasted Coconut (dairy-free) | 6g | |
| Caramel Macchiato (dairy-free) | 7g | |
| Chocolate Covered Banana (dairy-free) | 7g | |
| Sea Salt Caramel (dairy-free) | 7g | |
| Candy Bar (dairy-free) | 7g | |
| Pancakes & Waffles (dairy-free) | 7g | |
| Cinnamon Roll (dairy-free) | 8g | |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (dairy-free) | 9g | |
If you thought Halo Top was the only ice cream brand on the market that caters to Keto dieters, then you haven’t heard of Enlightened. In fact, Enlightened has grown in popularity so greatly and fervently that it acquired its own following, rivaling Halo Top.
Based in the Bronx NY, Enlightened has made it possible to enjoy ice cream as if it’s the actual “non-healthy” ice cream found in your freezer or grocery store. Keto dieters, in fact all fitness enthusiasts and dieters around the globe, can enjoy a piece of sweetness without feeling guilty that they did so.
Nutrition-wise, Enlightened ice cream is extremely similar to Halo Top. As a Keto dieter, please consume any brand of ice cream, healthy too, in moderation and stick to one serving if possible.
Enlightened has a smooth, creamy texture. Whereas Halo Top is slightly icier more like a sorbet style. Unlike Halo Top, Enlightened also produces an ice cream bar. They have 11 different flavors ranging from 3 – 8 grams of Net Carbs per serving.
Pints
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Marshmallow Peanut Butter | 3g | |
| Chocolate Peanut Butter | 3g | |
| Butter Pecan | 4g | |
| Chocolate | 4g | |
| Cold Brew Coffee | 4g | |
| Snickerdoodle | 4g | |
| Toasted Almond | 4g | |
| Vanilla | 4g | |
| Birthday Cake | 5g | |
| Mint Chocolate Chip | 5g | |
| Red Velvet | 5g | |
| Strawberry Cheesecake | 5g | |
| Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip | 6g | |
| Sea Salt Caramel | 6g | |
| Black Cherry Chocolate Chip | 7g | |
| Caramel Oatmeal Cookie Crunch | 7g | |
| French Toast | 7g | |
| Frozen Hot Cocoa | 7g | |
| Movie Night | 7g | |
| Triple Chocolate | 7g | |
| Bananas Foster | 8g | |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | 8g | |
| Glazed Donut | 8g | |
| Cookies & Cream | 8g | |
| Brownies & Cookie Dough | 9g | |
| Fudge Brownie | 9g | |
| S’mores | 12g | |
Bars
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| Fudge | 3g |  |
| Toasted Almond | 3g | |
| Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl | 4g | |
| Red Velvet | 5g | |
| Birthday Cake | 5g | |
| Mint Chip Swirl | 6g | |
| Sea Salt Caramel | 6g | |
| Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip | 6g | |
| Frozen Hot Cocoa | 7g | |
| Cold Brew Coffee Chip | 7g | |
| Cookies & Cream | 8g | |
Arctic Zero is a frozen dessert company based in San Diego, California. They specialize in light, dairy-free, and lactose-free ice cream without the calories and artificial sweeteners and ingredients.
Arctic Zero has developed many products with different flavors, providing their customers with a wide array of choices for different taste buds.
Their mission is to make healthy, low-calorie ice cream with the cleanest ingredients. One of the biggest differences between Arctic Zero and other similar brands is their ice cream is made without the sugar alcohol, Erythritol.
If you’re on the Low Carb Diet, Arctic Zero’s Light Ice Cream may be suitable only if consumed in moderation and fits your macros.
If you’re on the Keto Diet, we recommend sticking to Non-Dairy & Lactose-Free versions since their Net Carbs are more suitable for the Keto Diet.
Light Ice Cream Pints
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Chunk | 11g | |
| Vanilla Bean | 11g | |
| Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cookies | 12g | |
| Cookie & Brownie Dough | 12g | |
| Cookies & Cream | 13g | |
| Mint & Chocolate Cookies | 13g | |
| Toffee Crunch | 13g | |
Non-Dairy Pints
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Peanut Butter | 5g | |
| Cookie Shake | 5g | |
| Cake Batter | 5g | |
| Cherry Chocolate Chunk | 10g | |
| Brownie Blast | 11g | |
| Cookie Dough Chunk | 11g | |
Lactose-Free Pints
| Flavor | Net Carbs | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Maple | 5g | |
| Salted Caramel | 5g | |
| Purely Chocolate | 5g | |
So Delicious is a popular dairy-free based brand that produces frozen desserts, beverages, shredded cheese, creamers, etc… All of their food products and beverages are plant based.
If you’re looking for delicious dairy-free options for ice cream, then So Delicious frozen dessert is perfect for you.
So Delicious is committed to making their products with high-quality and organic ingredients, without the use of artificial flavors, colors, hydrogenated oils or trans-fats.
Bars
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| No Sugar Added* Fudge Bars (coconutmilk) | 2g |  |
| No Sugar Added* Vanilla Bars (coconutmilk) | 6g | |
Breyers is a well-known ice cream, started in Philadelphia in 1866. Breyers is a highly popular brand in American households with tons of options in your local grocery store.
Apart from producing top-notch ice cream products with all-natural ingredients, they also provide a low carb option for “carb-watchers” who are apart of the Low Carb diet.
If you’re a big fan of Breyer’s ice cream and at the same time keeping an eye out on your daily carb intake, you’re going to love this line of low carb ice cream!
Bars
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| Fudge Bars | 6g |  |
| Smooth Mint Bars | 6g | |
| Vanilla Bars | 9g | |
| Almond Bars | 9g | |
Blue Bunny is an ice cream brand, produced by Wells Enterprises, the largest family-owned ice cream manufacturer based in LeMars, Iowa.
They’ve dedicated a line of ice cream products (Sweet Freedom®) to health-conscious people who live the healthy lifestyle.
Even though Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom® ice cream isn’t as popular as Halo Top or Enlightened, it has no sugar added making it possible to indulge in their ice cream with zero guilt.
Strictly speaking for Keto dieters, we don’t recommend Blue Bunny over Halo Top and Enlightened due to the fact that most of their products are in the “higher range” of Net Carbs.
Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom® is perfect for the low carb diet. It provides a healthier/better option for low carb dieters looking to enjoy some dessert (in moderation) after their meal.
If you’re a Keto dieter, we recommend sticking to their ice cream bars because of their “lower” Net Carb counts.
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| Banana Split | 10g |  |
| Vanilla | 10g | |
| Chocolate | 10g | |
| Peanut Butter Party | 10g | |
| Butter Pecan | 11g | |
| Bunny Tracks® | 12g | |
| Salted Caramel Craze | 13g | |
| Double Strawberry Swirl | 13g | |
Bars
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Ice Cream Bars | 4g | |
| Fudge Bars | 5g | |
| Vanilla Krunch Ice Cream Bars | 8g | |
Others
| Flavor | Net Carbs | See Now |
|---|---|---|
| Snack Size Vanilla Cones | 9g | |
| Vanilla Sandwiches | 14g | |
50 Free Keto/Low Carb Ice Cream Recipes
What if I enjoy cooking? Are you somebody who likes to track every single calorie or ingredient that may go into a food product?
Let’s be honest here. If you’re doing the Keto Diet, many top “healthy” ice cream brands on the market are catered towards the low-fat, low-calorie audience.
Check out Sola, Rebel, So Delicious brands if you’re on the Keto Diet.
On the other hand, recipes give you much more flexibility in terms of adding or removing certain ingredients to your liking.
So for example, instead of adding skim milk to ice cream like many top healthy brands do, if you’re on the Keto Diet, you’re going to substitute in heavy cream which helps boost the fat count of the ice cream. That’s the power of a recipe.
If you’re on the Low Carb Diet, depending on your macros, you’re probably looking for ice cream product/brands that are low in fat, carbohydrates, and calories.
Many of the brands we mentioned above, you’ll soon come to find out, are perfectly suitable for the Low Carb Diet.
Once again, we took care of the people who are interested in making their own healthy ice cream by listing 50 Keto/Low Carb ice cream recipes below!
So delicious! Perfect for people who are on diet like me! Keto low carb ice creams! Thank you for sharing this!