Top 10 Best Vegan and Plant-Based Ice Cream in Toronto
We all scream for ice-cream, but sometimes we scream “where should I go for vegan ice-cream?”
Have no fear, as this list solves that dilemma for you! Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, lactose-free, flexitarian, or just enjoy delicious things, read on to discover some of my favourites spots in Toronto to get some of the best frozen desserts.
When you’re done eating your way through ice-cream, don’t forget to check out my Vegan Chocolate Dipped Cookie Recipe to make a perfect ice cream sandwich!
Note: This list is in an arbitrary order. They are not ranked from best-to-worst.
Honey’s premium plant based Ice Cream
Craving ice-cream? That tastes like ice cream? Without the cream?
Honey’s. You go to Honey’s Ice Cream.
This place is pure magic and parlour tricks. I have no idea how it tastes so darn good. But it does, and it’s vegan, and you have three flavours to look forward to each month. I go far too often, and I also buy too many pints.
Just try it - even non-vegans love it. Trust.
Location:
1448 Dundas Street West
Photo courtesy of Ed’s Real Scoop’s official Facebook page.
This is a WILD snap I sent someone. But alas - you may see it.
Noteworthy Flavour:
Double Pistachio
THE ROASTED NUT
This is perhaps a wildcard entry - but The Roasted Nut’s nut-based gelato is phenomenal and entirely vegan. I dream of this stuff, and often take it out in tubs to enjoy at home (pictured).
The flavours switch up, but the quality of this iced treat is exquisite. It’s unbelievably creamy considering there’s no cream. After a day exploring Trinity Bellwoods, make this a pit-stop for sure. Grab some nuts as well, and your day is complete!
N.B. Evidently not nut-free! Nut-free options below.
Location:
101 Yorkville Avenue
Noteworthy Flavour:
Hazelnut
Creamery X
A unique batch from scratch… That’s how I would describe Creamery X.
This frozen custard and vegan ice cream shop makes some of the boldest and most intriguing iced flavour combos in Toronto. Case in point: Mango Tajin Sherbet and 3-Berry Balsamic Cheesecake.
They use either an oat milk base, or a coconut milk base, for their vegan delights.
While not everything is vegan, there is an abundance of plant-based flavours that deliver a mighty flavour and texture punch. You won’t miss the milk at this fabulous establishment!
Location:
114 Queen St East
Noteworthy Flavours:
German Chocolate Cake and Dark & Stormy Sherbet
death in venice gelato
An acutely aesthetic interior accompanies expertly crafted gelato at this quirky Gelateria counter.
While their flavours often rotate, vegan and dairy-free options are always available. If you can’t visit the brick-and-mortar shop, there are tubs of the stuff available throughout the city,
Inventive flavours and a delectable texture make this a worthwhile visit!
Location:
1418 Dundas St W
Noteworthy Flavours:
Coconut Pandan and Strawberry Basil Lemon Sorbet
bunner’s bakeshop
Bunner’s is a staple for those with alternative diets, and dietary restrictions.
All of their products are vegan, gluten free, and nut free, so allow yourself to feel like a kid in a candy store when you enter their colourful establishment.
For vegans with a nut allergy who still crave soft serve, Bunner’s is a safe choice. Made with oat milk, it’s creamy, with a refreshing airiness.
Not to be missed!
Location:
244 Augusta Avenue
Noteworthy Flavours:
German Chocolate Cake and Dark & Stormy Sherbet
happy sundae
Vegan soft serve scrumptiousness abounds at Happy Sundea!
For a TikTok or Instagram approved dessert, this is the place to go.
To top it all off (or, to bottom I suppose), grab one of their vegan flavoured cones. You can nab one in matcha, red velvet, or even lavender. Bonus? The cones are also gluten free!
Location:
85 Portland St
Noteworthy Flavours:
Classic vegan chocolate vanilla swirl!
brett’s iCE CREAM
Brett’s Ice Cream has been a firm favourite of mine since the pandemic. They cater to many dietary restriction or alteration, without sacrificing flavour or quality.
Vegan? Got options. Gluten-Free? Got options. A a lot of them!
The interior, frankly, is cool. It has plants, it has geometric chairs, it has neon lights, it has cool decor… it really is a fun place visually.
In terms of the ice-cream itself, Brett’s impressed me with their unique flavour selection and their variety of cones available. Each cone is a different colour representing its flavour, such as a “red” red velvet, or a “green” matcha. They even have a gluten-free waffle cone, which is absolutely delicious! There are vegan options, too. It’s worth returning to Brett’s as they have a new feature flavour weekly.
It doesn’t need to be said… but the videos and photos are as drool-worthy as the taste.
Overall, Brett’s Ice Cream is an excellent ice-cream parlour in the city that is well worth visiting. It’s hard to be disappointed here!
Location:
3148 Kingston Road, 1007 Kingston Road
Noteworthy Flavour:
Avocado Lime
BOOYAH inc
You’ll be screaming “booyah” when you try some of this ice-cream joints signature creations!
Located only a short distance from Dutch Dream (another ice-cream shop) Booyah standouts thanks to it’s phenomenal vegan ice-cream (some of the best in the city), and it’s ice-cream sandwiches.
Booyah is nice as it does it’s best to cater to a large market of consumers who look for alternate things in their ice-cream; vegan, gluten-free, lower-fat… they’ve got you covered. Personally, I go for the gluten-free cashew ice-cream cookie sandwich. It never disappoints!
Their vegan ice-cream is well-made and so creamy. Do note - it’s cashew based. While not nut-free, but the cashews make it so luscious. and have interesting flavour combinations. Think honey lavender, German chocolate, taro coconut, and key lime pie. I genuinely find their vegan ice-cream satisfying and close in texture to it’s counterpart.
If you have any dietary restrictions, or prefer to go the healthier route with your ice-cream indulgences, Booyah is an excellent place to check out. You won’t be disappointed !
Location:
16 Vaughan Road A
Noteworthy Flavour:
Taro Coconut + Double Chocolate Cookie
mizzica Gelateria & Cafe
Inside the royal blue Gelateria, is a royal welcome to your tastebuds.
Mizzica is a well-awarded gelato shop, so it should come as no surprise that they serve up great gelato. Luckily for vegans, plant-based people, and dairy-free/ lactose-free individuals, they have some refreshing vegan offerings on permanent rotation.
Choose from seasonal sorbets, and dairy-free gelato. You’ll be back - but come early. There’s always a line!
Location:
307 Queen St W
Noteworthy Flavour:
Lampone
SUMMER’S ICE CREAM (SORBET)
A Yorkville staple for more than 30 years, Summer’s Ice Cream whips up sumptuous ice creams in an assortment of delicious flavours. Their high-quality scoops shouldn’t be a surprise considering the family of the company’s founders had been making ice cream since the late 1930s in their native Czechoslovakia.
Summer’s have added a number of vegan sorbets and soft serves to their normal rotation.
Some of their flavours that I highly recommend are the pineapple soft serve, and watermelon sorbet. and “Simply Butterscotch”, although you really couldn’t go wrong with whatever you choose to try.
Location:
101 Yorkville Avenue
Photo courtesy of Summer’s Ice Cream’s official Twitter (@SummersIceCream)
Noteworthy Flavour:
Watermelon sorbet
BANG BANG
A hot day staple on Ossington, Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery offers customers excellent ice cream sandwiches, with vegan and gluten free options!
Both places serve their customers ice-cream sandwiches, but they have slight points in which they differ. The similarities are the variety of cookies from which you can choose to complement the ice-cream flavours inside your ice-cream sandwich. Some of their staple vegan flavours include Mint Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate.
Even though this sweet spot “officially” closes at 10:00 p.m., don’t be surprised to find it still serving customers well past closing during the summer months! Yes, it’s *that* good.
The only downside? There is often a long line. However, that’s truly is a testament to it’s quality!
Location:
93A Ossington Avenue
Noteworthy Feature:
Owned by the brother of Bakerbot’s owner, Bang Bang is also a great place to visit.
Thank you for reading, lovely! Happy Ice-ing!
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