Secret Ingredient Soft-Serve

I love ice cream.  So, I eat it about once a week!

WHAT?!  A vegan who eats ice cream?!  Heresy!

Actually, this post is evidence that vegans can eat ice cream whenever they want to.  And this recipe isn't just for vegans; it is husband-approved too!  Even more shocking, this ice cream is healthy!  Yes, you aren't imagining things.  The words "ice cream" and "healthy" were absolutely used in the same sentence.

So what's in this cold, creamy concoction?!

Secret Ingredient Soft-Serve
Serves 2

2 very ripe, frozen bananas
2-4 T unsweetened almond milk (or other milk)
Flavor additions of your choosing (see below for some of my favorites)

Flavor Additions:
Peanut Butter Swirl - peanut butter
Mint Chocolate Chip - mint extract, chocolate chips
Fudge Tracks - peanut butter, chocolate chips, vanilla extract
Cherry Chocolate Bomb - frozen cherries, chocolate chips
Pina Colada - coconut extract, mango chunks, shredded coconut
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry - frozen strawberries, cocoa powder, chocolate chips

And the flavor additions list could go on...and on...and on...

Directions:

• Place frozen banana chunks in your food processor (before freezing, break up each banana into 4-6 pieces).
• Process 1-2 minutes until bananas are broken up and beginning to smoothe out. (see picture below)

• Add a scant 2 T of milk for each banana (i.e. scant 4 T for two bananas)
• Process until smooth.
• Add flavor additions of your choosing.
• Process until smooth.

Today's flavor is Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie (peanut butter, butter extract, salted peanuts).  YUMM-O!

While I was making this I had an idea for Chunky Butter Pecan soft-serve!  Just swap out the peanut butter for almond butter (or pecan butter from Whole Foods), and substitute the salted peanuts for roasted pecans.  If you ask me, that sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving-esque ice cream!  You could even add a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree!  I know, I know, now I am getting weird!  Maybe I will try it first and then let you know how it goes :)

If you want to get really fancy, you could make some old-fashioned vanilla bean soft-serve (vanilla extract, beans from a vanilla pod) and serve it over the Apple Crumble Bars I made last night!

I borrowed the recipe from Chocolate-Covered Katie (one of my personal favorite blogs)!  She is a genuis in the kitchen!

Last night I served this with a dollop of vanilla yogurt, but it was calling out for some soft-serve.  Too bad I didn't have any frozen bananas on hand at the time (insert sad face here).  Oh well, lessoned learned.  Next time I will be prepared!

Next time - I am feeling a non-food related post...stay tuned!

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?!

Blessings,
Ally and Bo