Lately I’ve been working to eat a little healthier. One thing I’m doing is trying to avoid dairy and refined sugar during the weekdays. It’s been a great change because I save any sugary (or creamy) treats I’m craving for the weekends and focus on filling my days with vegetables, fruits and other good stuff.
But, I do have a sweet tooth (to say the least). So finding some kind of weekday treat was key to this change. I’ve been making lots of different banana ice creams, so I thought I’d share.
I love that you can easily customize this basic recipe to feel like soft serve frozen yogurt or a firmer ice cream depending on how long you freeze the mixture. For me this really hits the spot when I’m craving a sweet treat during the weekdays, but I can feel good that I’m not consuming any refined sugars or dairy—mostly fruit! Plus, it couldn’t be easier to make. Here’s how in pictures:
Here are the combinations I’ve been enjoying the most lately.
Strawberry Poppyseed: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 5-6 frozen strawberries, and 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice).
Chocolate Peanut Butter: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons cocoa. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water.
Vanilla Coconut: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 2 big handfuls of unsweetened coconut flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or coconut water.
Mango: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing) and 2 frozen mangos (peeled and cubed). If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice). This one has a sorbet feel to it!
Now I just need to figure out how to make some no sugar, no dairy hot fudge. Hmm. Anyone have a recipe for me for that?
If you’ve never tried banana ice cream before, I highly recommend giving it a try because it is shockingly good for how simple it is. You could also freeze these into popsicles if you like. Thanks for letting me share a current obsession of mine. 🙂 xx. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
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Ingredients
Strawberry Poppyseed
- 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing)
- 5-6 frozen strawberries
- ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
Chocolate Peanut Butter
- 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing)
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
Vanilla Coconut
- 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing)
- 2 big handfuls of unsweetened coconut flakes
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice).
Try https://www.onelovelylife.com/vegan-hot-fudge-sauce
you could try this:
http://deliciouslyella.com/guest-recipe-raw-cherry-and-chocolate-fudge/
It’s delicious and nutritious 🙂
going out to buy some natural peanut butter for this ASAP! Thanks for sharing, looks delish!
Liana
http://thefrench75.ca
Oh I need to try this!! 🙂 gonna go freeze some bananas right now!
These recipes sound great! For a fudge sauce, you could use raw cacao, coconut milk, and dates to make it. I’ve never made a sauce but once made a paleo-friendly pie and those were the ingredients for the filling. Could fiddle with the proportions to see what happens.
I’ve been wanting to make this forever, but unfortunately neither have a proper blender nor a functioning freezer (student problems). So excited to make these though when I get home to a boiling hot Los Angeles this summer 😀
Julia
ExploresMore.com
I’m definitely going to try out some of these!
I had banana strawberry smoothies this morning 🙂
http://somebodyfromsomewhere.blogspot.com/
We love banana ice cream. My daughter loves to help make it. We’re a big fan of using coconut milk to help smooth it out a bit.
yum!! these all look amazing!
xx nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
Here’s a recipe of a sugar-free chocolate syrup. It’s my favorite, you need to try it! The recipe it’s in spanish, use google translator, here’s the link http://saschafitness.com/panquecas-y-sirope-de-chocolate-light/
I live in Mexico and so often in summer my bananas turn dark and mushy before I get to use them. At last I have something I can do with them, and we’ve been enjoying simple banana ice cream with pecans on top for weeks. Think I’m going to try using coconut milk to make them blend easier, adding some coconut and maybe a little fresh pineapple. All my favorite flavors! Also I didn’t know you could blend it and then put it back in the freezer to get more of an ice cream texture, less of a Dairy Queen. Gotta try that!
Yes! We call it “banana swirl” at our house and our whole family loves it for dessert. We do use chocolate sometimes, but also love to add other fruits or even just a little vanilla extract. So good & much healthier than ice cream!
Mmm these sounds so so nice!
—
prettymadthings.blogspot.co.uk / / x
Wow, thanks for sharing Emma! I’m definitely trying one of these recipes this summer 🙂
Love, Laetitia
http://www.twocraziesoneblog.tk/
OMG! This is such a good idea!
can’t wait for summer to come!! yumm
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Yes! I’ve been looking for healthy, fruit-based dessert recipes for this weekend and this is perfect! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sue me, but I really hate peanut butter 😛 I am intrigued by the strawberry and poppy seed though! Definitely going to try it.
http://www.oneblackrobin.com
These look so good! I definitely need to make the pb one, but I am curious what the mango one tastes like! I definitely need to try! Where do you buy the ice cream containers?
Weekend plans are decided! 😀
http://www.misadventuro.us