Ciao Bella’s Coconut Sorbet is a non-dairy frozen dessert made with coconut cream.

No matter the season, I’m in the mood for ice cream, even when winter storms blast into town. But because of ice cream’s fat content, I often opt for nonfat frozen yogurt.

Lately I’ve become curious about all those non-dairy offerings made with various nut, bean and grain milks — ideal for vegans or people who cannot eat dairy. So I conducted a solo sampling, choosing vanilla whenever possible for a fair comparison.

Below are the results of the taste test with the brands listed in alphabetical order.

Almond Dream, Vanilla
I love almonds, so I fell hard for this creamy, almond-milk-based treat flecked with real almond meal and tasting more of sweet almonds than vanilla. It has a soft, smooth consistency and delicate sweetness from evaporated cane juice. I like it topped with fresh raspberries, warm chocolate sauce and toasted almonds.
Per ½ cup serving: 140 calories; 7 g fat (1 g saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 12 g sugar; 1 g protein

Ciao Bella Coconut Sorbet
This delectable sorbet is creamy, densely textured and deeply satisfying. It has a strong coconut flavor, which I love, but isn’t for everyone. Made with coconut cream, it has a pleasing richness — but also a big dose of saturated fat. Evaporated cane juice and tapioca syrup lend it a soft sweetness. I love to pair it with Ciao Bella’s nonfat passion fruit sorbet for a tangy-sweet, creamy-rich contrast.
Per ½ cup serving: 190 calories; 10 g fat (9 g saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 21 g sugar; 1 g protein

It’s Soy Delicious, Vanilla
Of all the frozen desserts I tasted, this one mimics vanilla ice cream the best, yet was the leanest. Made with organic soymilk, it has a nice fluffy consistency — it makes ice cream’s signature surface cracks when scooped — and a clean, vanilla-bean flavor. I like that it’s sweetened with fruit (pineapple and apple syrups and pear and peach concentrates), along with tapioca syrup and/or brown rice syrup, chicory root extract and tapioca sugar. It’s ideal for accompanying summer fruit crisps, crumbles, and cobblers.
Per ½ cup serving: 130 calories; 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 9 g sugar; 2 g protein

Rice Dream, Vanilla
That I still have almost a full pint of this guy in the freezer bespeaks my reaction — not enthusiastic. The texture is pretty dense and the concoction doesn’t melt easily. Kudos to the company for sweetening it with organic agave and brown-rice syrups, but I found the taste to be oily, with a flavor reminiscent of overcooked milk.
Per ½ cup serving: 160 calories; 6 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 14 g sugar; 0 g protein

Do you have a favorite non-dairy frozen dessert or recipe?