It started with the latte. Then made its way to yogurt. Coffee creamers were next. And now, oat milk is taking over the ice cream aisle. Oatly popularized the trend of oat-based ice cream in the States, but other brands—both vegan and dairy-based—soon followed suit.
It’s no surprise that this creamy, neutral-tasting beverage lends itself remarkably well to frozen desserts where it is churned into every flavor of ice cream imaginable—from simple strawberry to pints reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s Scrumdiddlyumptious bar. If you’re looking for an oat milk-based ice cream, here are 11 brands to look for.
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What is oat milk ice cream?
While most ice cream is made with cow’s milk or cream, which is flavored with sweeteners or sugar, oat milk ice cream is totally dairy-free, and made with, you guessed it, oat milk. It also usually contains sugar, as well as coconut oil, stabilizers, and other ingredients, like caramel or fruit, depending on the flavor of the ice cream.
Where to buy oat milk ice cream
The vegan ice cream market is growing all the time. In fact, in 2022, the global industry was valued at more than $639 million. This means that more and more flavors are consistently appearing on grocery store shelves, and many of them are made with creamy oat milk. If you’ve got a craving, here are some of the best brands to check out for some delicious frozen oaty goodness.
Vegan oat milk ice cream to buy this summer
1 Oatly
Perhaps the purest form of oat-based ice cream, Oatly’s flavors are tame but magnificent in their simplicity. The pints are packed with smooth, single-flavor ice cream uninhibited by chunks or swirls. The strawberry is exactly what strawberry ice cream should be—sweet, creamy, and refreshing while steering clear of healthy-tasting sorbet territory. The brand also makes Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Mint Chip, Banana Split, Raspberry Swirl, Fudge Brownie, and more.
Find it here
McConnell’s
2 McConnell’s
This Santa Barbara, CA-based dairy company debuted a line of non-dairy pints back in the spring of 2018, but the five flavors were quietly discontinued. Luckily, McConnell’s is back in the plant-based market with its second attempt at dairy-free frozen dessert, switching from a pea protein base to an oat milk base. The flavors include riffs on the originals—such Cookies and Cream—but we must admit, we do miss that Dairy-Free Eureka Lemon & Marionberries (now only available in cow’s milk form).
Find it here
Van Leeuwen
3 Van Leeuwen
For a dairy-based ice cream company, Van Leeuwen has an abundance of vegan options. The brand uses several bases for its non-dairy flavors, but oat milk options include Vegan Oat Milk Brown Sugar Chunk and Vegan Churros and Fudge. Find these options in scoop shops, online, or at your local grocery store.
Find it here
Planet Oat
4 Planet Oat
What began as a non-dairy beverage company has expanded to include other tasty products including coffee creamers and ice cream. The eight pints include classics such as mint fudge and smooth vanilla in addition to some wildly tasty creations that go heavy on the mega chunks and drizzles—think Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl with thick ribbons of peanut butter and Blueberry Oat Crumble with crunchy pieces of buttery crisp topping. Grab a spoon and start digging.
Find it here
Whipped Urban Dessert Lab
5 Whipped Urban Dessert Lab
We flipped when we saw this vegan Manhattan-based company on Goldbelly. Finally, you can try the luscious ice cream that’s been popping up in our feeds for months (we just can’t unfollow it—the imagery itself has us hooked) from anywhere in the nation. The shop carries a more extensive list of options (including crunchy, salty, chewy, and sweet toppings), but those who order through Goldbelly have their pick of four pints that range from Coffee Fudge to Salted Pecan. Oh yes, this is oat milk, fancified.
Find it here
Everyday Allegra
6 Salt & Straw
The secret behind Salt & Straw’s divine ice cream is the wait—the 45-minute-plus line injects a sprinkle of delicious anticipation. Vegan flavors rotate seasonally and can vary by location, but the Peanut Butter Brittle Caramel Fudge has piqued our most recent interest. Those who do not live within the vicinity of a scoop shop (or have better things to do than wait in line) can order pints online.
Find it here
So Delicious
7 So Delicious
This long-standing vegan brand was churning out oat milk ice cream before Oatly’s frozen treats landed in the States. While So Delicious’ cashew-based flavors elicited fervent loyalty, the more recent oat-based options have garnered an equally devout following. With several varieties made with oat milk, there’s a pint for every craving (looking at you, Chocolate Salted Caramel).
Find it here
Chloe’s
8 Chloe’s Oat Milk Pops
Most of us can’t sit down to a pint of ice cream every night, but a popsicle? That’s always fair game. Typically a fruit-based pop brand, Chloe’s gets a bit more decadent with its six oat milk novelty treats. Choose from delights like Brownie Batter, Raspberry Chip, and Cookies & Cream.
Find it here
Trader Joe’s
9 Trader Joe’s Strawberry Oat
Trader Joe’s has vastly improved the quality of its vegan ice creams in recent years. The Strawberry Non-Dairy Oat Frozen Dessert is more than just a basic strawberry ice cream—it’s studded with candied strawberries and hunks of almond brittle. With exceptional products like this, we don’t know why TJ’s just doesn’t go completely vegan.
Find it here
10 Target’s Favorite Day Oat Milk Bars
Target is yet another massive brand entering the plant-based territory at rapid speed. While it already carries a line of almond-based ice cream pints as of 2018 under its Archer Farms brand, the megastore has launched Non-Dairy Vegan Oat-Based Forest Fruit Dessert Bars under a new brand name—Favorite Day (which has replaced the Archer Farms label). The creamy pink berry-flavored pops are coated with chocolate and studded with raspberry pieces. They’re definitely better than chocolate-covered strawberries.
Find it here
Breyers
11 Breyers
While not completely based in oat milk, Breyers’ line of non-dairy ice cream is too good to pass up. The consistency is dense in the best possible way, making for a delightfully creamy bite that melts slowly on your tongue. Oaty flavors are limited to Non-Dairy Vanilla, perfect for topping your favorite summer desserts.
Find it here
For more on non-dairy ice cream, read:
Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the vegan lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission. In no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
