An Earth Day-Inspired Zero-Waste Homemade Sweet Potato Ice Cream

Celebrate Earth Day with a scoop of something unexpected! Our zero-waste ice cream transforms humble sweet potato into a velvety, dairy-free dessert that’s light, creamy, and packed with flavour.

With Earth Day upon us (22nd April), many of us are looking at ways to be more mindful, not just with our energy use or recycling habits, but in the kitchen, too. And what better way to honour the planet than by turning something simple, seasonal, and often overlooked into a homemade treat worth sharing?

If This Potato Can Become Vodka…

My brother recently sent me a picture of a potato, captioned:
“If this can become vodka, then you can become anything you want to be.”
Nice, very inspirational (thanks Bruv), and of course it got the cogs turning… If a humble spud can be distilled into a vodka, maybe we can reimagine it as a scoop-worthy homemade ice cream, too.

While we’re not using a regular potato, its sweeter cousin — the sweet potato — is just as versatile.

Naturally creamy, beautifully coloured, and full of fibre and natural sugars, it makes a surprisingly fantastic base for ice cream. Paired with coconut and warm spices, it creates a rich yet refreshing dessert that feels indulgent and rich.

In This Article, We’ll Share With You
✅ A quick look at Earth Day and why it’s a great time to rethink our food habits
✅ A celebration of sweet potato as a surprisingly brilliant ice cream ingredient
✅ A step-by-step recipe for our Sweet Potato & Coconut Ice Cream – naturally vegan and deliciously creamy
✅ Wholesome topping ideas – including candied sweet potato peels for a no-waste crunch
✅ Easy zero-waste kitchen tips to help you use every last bit (peelings included!)
✅ A spotlight on Jungle Culture – sustainable coconut bowls perfect for planet-friendly plating
✅ Adaptations for alternative diets, including nut-free and low-sugar options

Whether you’re here for the flavour, the planet-friendly inspo, or just some good old kitchen creativity, we’ve got you covered.

Why Earth Day Is the Perfect Time to Rethink Dessert

Earth Day (22nd April) reminds us of the importance of looking after our beautiful planet — and that includes our food choices. From how we grow and transport ingredients to how we use up (or waste) what’s in our fridge – food plays a huge role in sustainability.

Our Homemade Sweet Potato ice cream celebrates;

✅ Zero-waste cooking – using all of the main ingredient, peels and all
✅ Plant-based goodness – no dairy, no eggs, just real, nourishing ingredients
✅ Seasonal and store-cupboard simplicity – nothing fancy, all wholesome

And the best part? It still tastes like a delicious dessert.

The Flavours That Make This Ice Cream Work

Sweet potato might sound like an unusual choice for ice cream, but consider this…

It has a mild, earthy sweetness and a naturally creamy texture that blends beautifully with coconut milk. Add a touch of maple syrup, vanilla, and warming spices like cinnamon or ginger, and the result is:

• Silky smooth
• Comfortingly spiced
• Light but indulgent
• Naturally dairy-free
• Completely crave-worthy

Why Sweet Potatoes Are So Good For You

Not only are sweet potatoes wonderfully creamy, naturally sweet, and beautifully coloured — making them the perfect base for this ice cream — they also happen to be incredibly good for us too.

Here are just a few of their nutritional benefits:

✅ Rich in fibre – great for digestion and helping you feel fuller for longer
✅ Packed with beta-carotene – converted into vitamin A to support vision and immunity
✅ Naturally sweet – reducing the need for added sugars in desserts
✅ Source of antioxidants – including vitamins C and E, which help protect your cells
✅ Low GI – meaning they release energy slowly, helping to keep blood sugar stable

So with sweet potatoes at the heart of this Earth Day dessert, you’re not just making a more sustainable choice — you’re making a nourishing one too.

👉🏽 Click the following link to learn more about the incredible health benefits of Sweet Potatoes – Sweet Potatoes: Nutrition and Health Benefits

Sweet Potato & Coconut Ice Cream with Candied Peel Topping

Our sweet potato recipe is one of those “how is this not full of cream?” kind of recipes – it’s lusciously smooth, naturally sweet, and packed with wholesome ingredients that you’ll most likely already have on hand.

(Prep Time: 20 mins (plus chilling) | Churn Time: 25 mins | Freeze Time: 4–6 hrs)

Ingredients

For the ice cream base:

• 400g roasted sweet potato (peeled and chopped into cubes)
• 400ml tin of full-fat coconut milk
• 150ml oat or almond milk (or whole milk if preferred)
• 80g maple syrup or soft brown sugar (to taste)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• Pinch of sea salt

Optional swirl:

• 2 tbsp maple syrup or date caramel (swirled in before freezing)

For the candied sweet potato peel topping:

• Peelings from 2–3 sweet potatoes (washed and scrubbed before peeling)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup or agave
• 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• Pinch of sea salt
• Optional: sprinkle of coconut sugar or cinnamon

To serve:

• Toasted chopped pecans
• Black sesame seeds (optional – for crunch and contrast)

Method

1. Prep and roast the sweet potatoes:

• Peel and wash your sweet potatoes, setting the peels aside for later.
• Chop the peeled potatoes into cubes and roast on a baking tray at 200°C fan for 25–30 minutes, or until soft and lightly caramelised. Let cool.

2. Make the ice cream base:

• Add the roasted sweet potato, coconut milk, oat milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and sea salt to a blender.
• Blitz until smooth and creamy.

3. Chill the base:

• Pour into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

4. Churn the ice cream:

• Once chilled, churn in your ice cream maker for 20–25 minutes until thick and creamy.

5. Add your swirl (optional):

• Transfer the churned ice cream to a freezer-safe container.
• Drizzle over maple syrup or date caramel and use a knife to swirl gently.

6. Freeze:

• Cover and freeze for 4–6 hours or until scoopable.

Nutritional Info (Per 100g Serving – without toppings):

• Calories: ~210 | Fat: 11g | Carbs: 25g | Sugar: 15g | Fibre: 2g | Protein: 2g | Salt: 0.2g
  (May vary depending on your ingredients and sweetness preference)

👉🏽 Note: If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can still make this recipe;

Simply pour your ice cream mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze. Every 30 minutes, stir the mixture vigorously with a fork to break up ice crystals, repeating this process for about 3-4 hours or until the ice cream is firm. Please also check out our post – How to Make Homemade Ice Cream: Without an Ice Cream Maker – to learn more.

Candied Sweet Potato Peels – Zero Waste Garnish

Rather than tossing your sweet potato peelings, why not transform them into something beautiful and delicious?

These candied sweet potato peels are crispy, sweet, and just a little bit chewy – the perfect topping for our Sweet Potato & Coconut Ice Cream.

Not only do they add texture and contrast, but they also reinforce the sustainable ethos of this Earth Day dessert. Plus, they’re surprisingly simple to make!

1. Preheat your oven to 170°C fan / 180°C conventional.
2. Toss the peelings in maple syrup, melted coconut oil, salt, and optional coconut sugar or cinnamon.
3. Spread in a single layer on a lined baking tray.
4. Bake for 10–15 minutes, flipping once, until crisp and golden. Allow to cool completely – they’ll crisp further as they cool.

💡 Quick Tip: For extra flair, twist the peels into spirals before baking — they’ll hold their shape and add beautiful texture to your scoops.

Topping Ideas – Keep It Wholesome & Beautiful

Aside from the Candied potato peels, here are a few more topping ideas;

✨ Toasted coconut flakes
✨ Chopped pecans or walnuts
✨ Crushed roasted chickpeas (yes, really – for a nut-free crunch!)
✨ A swirl of tahini or almond butter
✨ Shaved dark chocolate (for a hint of indulgence)

Vegan & Dairy-Free by Nature

This Sweet Potato & Coconut ice cream recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free. It doesn’t rely on egg yolks or dairy cream, and it’s sweetened gently with maple syrup.

You can also adjust it further by:

✅ Swapping maple for agave, date syrup, or a touch of blended banana
✅ Adding a tablespoon of cashew butter for extra richness

Zero-Waste Kitchen Tips for Earth Day

Want to go even further for Earth Day? Here are a few small but impactful ideas:

♻️ Save your coconut tin water: Use it in smoothies or curries later.

♻️ Freeze your base in silicone lolly moulds: Makes great grab-and-go treats for kids.

♻️ Repurpose scraps: Keep a freezer bag for veggie trimmings and make stock later.

Meet Jungle Culture – Doing More Than Their Bit for the Planet

We’re all about flavour with feeling — but we care just as much about what we serve it in. That’s why we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Jungle Culture — a brand that’s as passionate about the planet as we are about unusual ice cream.

Born from a mission to reduce waste and reconnect us with nature, Jungle Culture creates sustainable, ethically sourced products that actually look good on your table. From bamboo cutlery to coconut shell bowls, everything is crafted in partnership with small farms and artisans around the world.

Their signature handmade coconut bowls are not only beautiful — they’re also ideal for showcasing our earthy sweet potato ice cream. Rustic, tactile, and 100% compostable, they add a grounded, natural feel to your dessert that’s totally in tune with Earth Day.

💚 Eco-conscious never looked so delicious.

👉🏽 Explore Jungle Culture’s full collection here and discover how stylish sustainability can be!

The Final Scoop – A Humble Root Vegetable, Reimagined

Our Sweet Potato Ice cream was somewhat of a surprise to us. The texture, the natural sweetness, all lend themselves perfectly to ice cream! Who knew sweet potato could become such a beautiful, creamy and delicious homemade ice cream? Proof that even the simplest things, even a humble spud, can be transformed into a deliciously creamy dessert, and not just vodka!

This Earth Day, we have the opportunity to embrace sustainability in the kitchen. Whether it’s using up leftover ingredients, trying something unusual, or simply taking a pause to appreciate what’s already in our pantry, it’s all a step towards more conscious cooking.

👉🏽 Will you be giving this sweet potato & coconut ice cream a try? Tag us with your creations or drop us a comment below — we’d love to see your Earth Day creations!

If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below.

We hope that you have enjoyed our article – An Earth Day Inspired Zero-Waste Homemade Ice Cream Using Potatoes! – and that we have inspired you to give this unique and totally zero-waste recipe a go. If you have any questions, please drop us a comment below, and we will be happy to get back to you.

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