It’s finally starting to warm up in most areas of the US and if you’re anything like me you know that means one thing: It’s time for ice cream! (Full disclosure: my freezer is stocked with vegan ice cream year ’round because I don’t believe ice cream should be restricted to particular seasons.)
Vegan ice cream is even more delicious than dairy-based ice cream (okay, so my opinion may be a little biased) and there are so many different ways you can make it! Varieties include (but are not limited to) coconut milk, soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk bases ranging from the fruity to the spicy to the sweet to the tart… You get my drift. In short, there’s nothing you can do with a dairy-based ice cream that isn’t possible and probably even more delicious in a vegan ice cream. And vegan ice cream is free of cholesterol to boot!
Now, making ice cream can get a bit complicated. I have an ice cream maker (which is AWESOME) but I understand how it is. It’s a weekend and you want to watch Netflix all day and not have to mess up the kitchen because it’ll contribute to the endless cycle of cleaning dishes that’s just like UGH. So here’s a super easy recipe to make vegan ice cream at home with only a few ingredients! It’s healthy and delicious and SO easy that you will probably be really angry at me for making you want to eat this ALL THE TIME.
Easy-Peasy Vegan Ice Cream
Ingredients:
1 medium frozen banana, in chunks
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp sweetener, such as agave nectar (optional)
1/2 tsp organic vanilla extract
about 6 tbsp non-dairy milk
Method:
Using a hand blender, blend the banana, cocoa powder, sweetener, and about 4 tbsp of non-dairy milk. Pause to scrape down the sides or to add more milk, 1 tbsp at a time. When it’s well-blended, put in a container and chill in a freezer for at least 30 minutes if you want a more traditional, ice cream texture. The longer you wait, the thicker it will be–but immediately tastes wonderful too!
Enjoy!
Tip: Keep individual portions of frozen banana in your freezer to make this an even quicker snack!
Variations:
Add some frozen strawberries for some variety
Add a pinch of cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick
Instead of vanilla, add peppermint extract + chocolate chips
Almond extract + peanut butter = chocolate peanut butter
Also see: How to Make the Best Vegan Chili
Crunchy Raw Chocolate Coconut Cups
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Photo: Peaceful Dumpling
