Lenny and Larrys
Everyone loves ice cream — try to remember a time when you saw a person not smiling when eating a banana sundae! Now that many popular ice cream companies are making vegan ice cream, there's never been an easier time to enjoy one of the world's most delicious treats. But toppings can get sort of tricky, especially if you are trying to avoid dairy or just want topping options with less sugar. But thankfully, through sheer resourcefulness, the world's hungriest minds have thought of this! We've searched high, low, and everywhere in between to find the best low sugar, dairy-free, and vegan ice cream topping, so you don't have to.
The Best Low Sugar, Dairy-free, and Vegan Ice Cream Toppings
1. Fresh Strawberry Sauce
If you're anything like us here at Lenny & Larry's, you're of the firm belief that one can never have too many strawberries. These sweet, delicious little bites of delight are sure to win you over, so long as you have enough delicious strawberries to top the saucey ice cream.
While this particular recipe calls for sugar, feel free to substitute it for your favorite non-sugar sweetener of choice.
2. Vegan Butterscotch Sauce
This dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free vegan ice cream topping is simply delectable. This recipe calls for items that you've likely got at your home already, but if not, they're all affordable. The best part about this recipe is that you can use any type of plant-based milk, including coconut milk!
Just remember when doing this that it will probably look a bit watery until it cools down and thickens up a bit.
3. Veggie Brownies
Brownies made with zucchini and beets? SIGN US UP! You know, it's hard to believe that someone was smart enough to make brownies out of what's likely the last thing you'd ever imagine brownies being made of. But they did. And we are glad.
For those who prefer a more cake-like texture, it's advised to add 1/2 tsp of baking soda. For the fudgey fanatics, simply do the opposite and reduce the amount of baking soda by 1/2 tsp.
4. Lenny & Larry's The Complete Cremes
Coming in with five grams of plant-based protein and a 1/3 less sugar than those other creme-filled cookies, The Complete Cremes make an outstanding ice cream topper that's not only irresistibly delicious, they're also packing the goods. Jam an entire cookie into the top of a heaping pile of ice cream or crush them up and sprinkle generously. Or, just eat The Complete Cremes whole. Or crushed up. We won't tell.
5. Nuts
Aw, nuts! You didn't think we were nuts enough to forget about nuts, did you? We can't help but wonder how the world ever existed without vegan ice cream sundaes coated with delicious crushed almonds or half-split cashews providing bite-sized pieces of textured heaven. Unfortunately, it did — those poor souls. And don't even get us started on pecans.
Seriously, don't. We can never stop eating pecans.
6. Dairy-free Key Lime Cheesecake Bars
Despite the long name, these bars take no time at all to completely devour. And while you'll essentially be making an entire cake pan's worth of these little guys, we like to put some of the ones we don't immediately eat into the freezer. Once they're the appropriate level of solid, shred them over your favorite ice cream for a sweet, tart, and scrumptious treat you won't soon forget.
*Note: Not all graham crackers are created equal. It's advised to check store-bought graham crackers to ensure they'll work within your dietary restrictions.
You Scream, I Scream
...we all scream for... well, you get the idea. Enjoying delicious ice cream toppings that are low-sugar, dairy-free, or vegan doesn't have to be complicated. With the above list, you're sure to find an ice cream topping that's just right for you. Consider yourself warned, though: They're really hard to share.