We’ve been sweating through a major heat wave here in Philadelphia, and with 97-degree temps set for well into next week, it doesn’t look like the ice cream weather is stopping anytime soon.
That’s alright with me. As just mentioned, it’s perfect ice cream weather. Or should I say, Nice Cream weather.
I’ve been watching the “Nice Cream” trend spread over the past few weeks, keeping it on my to-make list for some time now. I love ice cream. I love niceness. I knew I’d probably love nice cream, too.
A no-added-sugar, vegan, cool summer treat? Count me in.
And so, on a temps-nearing-90-before-8AM morning, I set off in the kitchen to make my own version.
What was awesome about this ice cream is that it came together with a quick 2-minute assembly and a spin in the blender. From there, all the work was left up to the freezer. No ice cream machine needed, no fancy ingredients. Nor too many ingredients that’ll weigh you down on a hot day.
Dates and bananas add the sweetness. This did provide a noticeable, but not overbearing banana taste. If you’re opposed to that, you can play around with cutting down on the banana and maybe even adding additional dates.
It gets its creaminess from coconut milk, also lending an element of richness you want in an ice cream, dairy-free or not.
Enjoy after three hours in the freezer for a soft-serve-like consistency. If you leave it in there much longer, then you’ll want to sit it out for a few minutes before serving and dip your ice cream scooper in hot water. And be sure to finish it with whatever crunchy, salty and fresh toppings your heart desires!
Ingredients
- 2 med.-lg. frozen bananas
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup pitted dates
- Scant 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- Pinch of salt
- Mint, for garnish
- Peanuts, to top
- Any other desired toppings (choc. chips, nuts, raisins, fresh fruit, etc.)
Instructions
- Place bananas, coconut milk, dates, cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth.
- Transfer to a container and freeze for three hours, or until mixture turns into a creamy-cool ice cream.
- Enjoy after three hours in the freezer for a soft-serve-like consistency. If you leave it in there much longer, then you'll want to sit it out for a few minutes before serving.