As long as I can remember, I’ve loved the cold creamy texture of ice cream.  As a kid, I preferred hand dipped peppermint ice cream. Then as an adult my tastes changed and I found myself gravitating towards butter pecan, java chip, and the decadent appeal of vanilla ice cream with chunks of cherry and chocolate (just thinking about these flavors makes my mouth water).  Unfortunately, having struggled to digest dairy products my entire life (I’ll spare you the details), I’ve always regretted the decision to give into my sweet tooth….UNTIL NOW.

Several months ago I discovered a substitute for the “naughty” ice cream that always left me with a belly ache and have nicknamed this tummy friendly alternative “nice” cream (for obvious reasons). As you can see from the ingredients list (below), nice cream is a guilt free treat that can be enjoyed any time of day.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Base Ingredients (amounts are approximations)

• 1 cup frozen Banana
• 1/4 cup Nondairy milk (I used almond milk)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 3 Medjool dates (Pitted)

Instructions

• Place frozen banana chunks in blender and blend until small crumbles form
• Add milk and vanilla to blender and blend until you achieve a thick creamy texture
• Last, add medjool dates and blend until they are incorporated evenly into mixture.  I like to leave a few chunks of dates for the occasional gummy surprise.

After making the base recipe for nice cream, there are lots of ways to enhance this tasty treat.  I’ve shared some of my family’s favorites below.

Optional Add-Ins

-Add fresh blueberries and pecans on top of your base recipe

-Throw a handful of frozen strawberries into your food processor with the base ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy

-Mix in a couple drops of Orange essential oil wit’s the base ingredients (I prefer Young Living)

-Add frozen cherries and dark chocolate blending just enough to incorporate them evenly into the base while still leaving a few chunks for texture

The add-in possibilities are literally endless.  I prefer nice cream fresh, but you can freeze it for later. Keep in mind that it hardens quite a bit in the freezer , so allow time for it to thaw before indulging.

Now that I’ve shared my favorite nice cream flavors, I’m curious to know what add-in ideas you have.  Share your ideas in the comments section!

Recipe based on Jeff Morgan’s  YouTube Channel – Guilt Free Vegan.