Exploring Top Sugar-Free and Lower Sugar Ice Cream Brands

Ice cream lovers rejoice! If you’ve been craving a deliciously creamy, cold dessert but are concerned about sugar intake, we’ve got your solution: sugar-free and low-sugar ice cream! As more people become mindful of how sugar affects their health, whether it’s to manage diabetes, maintain weight, or pursue a keto or low-carb lifestyle, you don’t have to skip dessert entirely. Many brands offer satisfying and thoughtfully crafted frozen treats without the sugar overload. So, grab a spoon and dive into this cool guide all about sugar-free ice creams!

 

What Are Sugar-Free and Low-Sugar Ice Creams?

Sugar-free and low-sugar ice creams (and frozen desserts) offer all the satisfaction of a classic scoop but with a fraction—or none—of the sugar. These treats come loaded with the same creamy textures, bold flavors, and delightful mix-ins you love, but without a sugar spike.

To understand the various low-sugar frozen dessert options, you’ll first want to know that there are multiple kinds, depending on the sweeteners used, fat content, and diets they cater to. From full-flavor custards to keto-friendly delights, these ice creams fit into diverse eating habits.

 

• Sugar-Free Ice Cream: These often use sugar substitutes such as monk fruit, erythritol, or stevia to sweeten the treat.
• Low-Sugar Ice Cream: Usually containing a small amount of real sugar, enough to balance flavor but much lower than standard ice cream.
• Keto Ice Cream: Higher in fats and low in sugar (or sugar-free) to meet the requirements of a keto diet.
• Frozen Custard: An extra-rich version, usually enhanced with egg yolks for creaminess but made with little to no sugar.
• Dairy-Free and Low-Sugar Frozen Desserts: For those who avoid lactose but still want a lower-sugar option. Typically made with almond, coconut, or oat milk. Some call this “nice cream.”

 

What Are the Most Common Sweeteners Used in Sugar-Free Ice Cream?

Sugar might be the main ingredient missing, but that doesn’t mean these ice creams lack sweetness! Here’s a quick scoop on the most popular sugar substitutes used by brands to keep your frozen dessert experience just as sweet and satisfying without all the sugar.

 

• Stevia: A natural plant-based sweetener, stevia is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar, which means a little goes a long way without adding calories.
• Monk Fruit: Another zero-calorie, natural sweetener, monk fruit delivers a mellow sweetness and is gaining rapid popularity in keto-friendly products. We wrote an article with more on the differences between monk fruit and stevia.
• Erythritol: A sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits, erythritol offers the sweetness of sugar with none of the calories and doesn’t cause blood sugar spikes.
• Allulose: A rare sugar substitute found in small quantities in foods like figs and raisins, allulose adds a natural sweetness with just 1/10th of the calories from sugar. Our guide on allulose covers more.
• Sucralose: A widely used artificial sweetener that’s about 600 times sweeter than sugar, sucralose is calorie-free. To learn more, check out our post on sucralose vs stevia.

 

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing Sugar-Free Ice Cream

Ready to stock your freezer? Fantastic—there’s just a scoop or two of helpful advice that will make you a pro in selecting the perfect sugar-free ice cream for your health goals and taste preferences.

 

Blood Sugar Balance

If you’re choosing sugar-free ice cream because of concerns related to diabetes or blood sugar management, this is the most important consideration. You’ll want to opt for products that don’t utilize traditional sugar or simple carbs that spike glucose levels. Instead, pick ice creams that use low-glycemic sweeteners like erythritol or allulose, which have little to no impact on your blood sugar.

 

Calorie Intake

Fewer calories don’t always equate to healthier food, but it can make a difference if your main goal is weight control. Some sugar-free and low-sugar ice creams are significantly lower in calories, especially those labeled “light” or designed to be part of a diet (like Halo Top). However, some keto-friendly varieties might actually be higher in both fat and calories, focusing on healthy fats for energy instead of sugars.

 

Nutrient Content

Always check the label! While sugar-free and low-sugar ice creams might help reduce the sugar load, you should still be aware of the full nutritional picture. Look for options that maintain a good balance—some nutrient-dense versions include higher protein ice creams (like Mammoth Creameries) or added fiber to support digestion and help conquer sugar withdrawal.

 

Popular Brands of Sugar-Free Ice Cream (and Frozen Desserts) 

The market has exploded with impressive sugar-free ice cream brands in recent years. Whether you’re looking for indulgent flavors, low-carb treats, or dairy-free options, there’s a brand that’s perfect for your palate!

We recommend always checking the ingredients and nutrition labels to confirm products meet your dietary needs before consuming or purchasing.

 

Rebel Ice Cream

Rebel Ice Cream is one of the top names in the keto ice cream game. They deliver indulgent, creamy flavors like Salted Caramel, Strawberry, and Peanut Butter Fudge. It is made with heavy cream and egg yolks, meaning high fat with ultra-low carbs, perfect for anyone on a ketogenic diet. The sweetness comes from a mix of erythritol, chicory root and monk fruit, ensuring no spikes in blood sugar.

So Delicious Dairy-Free No Sugar Added

For plant-based eaters, So Delicious Dairy-Free has a solution that might just satisfy your cravings without dairy or sugar. Coconut milk serves as its main creamy base for frozen desserts that include flavors like Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Coconut. Instead of sugar, these treats also rely on monk fruit, chicory root fiber and erythritol for sweetness, which keeps carbs low and the flavor rich.

Enlightened Ice Cream Keto Series

Enlightened has become a popular pick for ice cream lovers looking to cut their sugar consumption or follow a keto diet. Their Keto Series perfects the creaminess with high-fat ingredients while using sweeteners like stevia, chicory root, and monk fruit. Flavors like Red Velvet and P.B. Cookie & Brownie Dough make them particularly crave-worthy! Some flavors have only 0g to 1g of sugar per serving.

Halo Top Keto Series

Halo Top is already a well-known brand for helping dessert lovers meet their low-calorie goals, but their Keto Series takes it to another level. High in fats, low in carbs, and sweetened with stevia, maltitol syrup, monk fruit and erythritol, these pints offer flavors like Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake. Talk about hitting that chocolate sweet spot!

Breyers CarbSmart and No Sugar Added

Breyers is a household name for ice cream that’s budget-friendly and available at most grocery stores. Their No Sugar Added and CarbSmart lines are excellent for those managing their carb and sugar intake. With flavors like Vanilla Bean and Chocolate, you get the classic ice cream experience with minimal sugar impact. Made with sweeteners like maltitol syrup, Ace-K and sucralose.

Edy’s No Sugar Added

Edy’s delivers classic ice cream flavors we all know and love. Their No Sugar Added line lets you indulge without the sugar guilt. Available in flavors like Vanilla and Butter Pecan, it’s a fan-favorite with artificial sweeteners like sucralose. Also made with maltitol syrup, Ace-K and sucralose.

 

Pro-tip: Top with Pyure Sugar-free Syrups

The fun doesn't have to stop at your favorite sugar-free and low-sugar ice cream. Sometimes the perfect finishing touch is exactly what your ice cream sundae needs to go from good to epic. Enter Pyure Organic Sugar Free Syrups—the ultimate companions for your sugar-free ice cream.

 

Pyure Organic Caramel Flavored Syrup brings all of the creamy richness you'd find in traditional caramel syrup, without the added sugar or calories. Drizzle it over your ice cream for a low-carb sundae sensation. With just 1 gram of net carbs per serving, it’s a dream for anyone following a keto, low-sugar, or plant-based lifestyle.

 

Missing that classic maple flavor? Try Pyure Organic Maple Flavored Syrup—a perfect match for your  ice cream cravings! This syrup is the sweet maple drizzle you’ve been dreaming of, but without the added sugar. At 2 grams of net carbs per serving, it’s designed for the low-carb, keto, and sugar-free crowd. Drizzle it generously over your ice cream for a maple sundae twist.

 

Conclusion: Cool, Creamy, and Lower Sugar

Living a low-sugar or sugar-free lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice dessert, much less ice cream. Whether you’re managing blood sugar levels or cutting sugar for general wellness, the market is teeming with tasty frozen options. From the indulgent Rebel Ice Cream to the lighter Halo Top Keto Series and plant-based So Delicious offerings, there really is something for everyone. If you’re ready to take that extra step into sweetness freedom, don’t forget to pair your favorite frozen treat with Pyure Sugar-Free Syrups for an extra layer of sugar-free deliciousness.

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P.S. If you manufacture sugar-free ice cream or any other food and beverage products requiring commercial sweeteners, reach out to Pyure today. We provide organic stevia, allulose, monk fruit, and a variety of other sweeteners in bulk for diverse applications. Learn more on our commercial ingredients page.