Vanilla Date Ice Cream

This is the story of an ice cream named Vanilla Date who had a bit of an identity crisis, because people got the wrong impression when they heard the name vanilla date. I mean, who, really, equates dates with a decadent ice cream? But vanilla date was decadent. Rich, creamy, sweet, delectable, sophisticated, and ready for a long term relationship.

Unfortunately, we are already in a long term relationship with chocolate. But then we kind of broke up. And guess what? There was vanilla date, ready to pick up the pieces of our shattered dreams. A respite from chocolate, absolutely.

Not that there is anything wrong with eating chocolate ice cream often. Very very often. But just in time, along came this chocolate alternative. Something fresh, and just a little bit naughty. The hit is vanilla, but somehow there is a little caramel tease going on. Not sure where that comes from.

The texture is light and soft and incredibly creamy. A new family fave. No complaints here from anyone.

ingredients:

2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup coconut oil

1 cup dates (pitted or take the pits out)
1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut nectar


2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp sea salt


directions:

1. In a large bowl, pour 2 cups boiling water.
2. add your coconut oil
3. add your dates, followed by the coconut nectar
4. let the whole thing sit for 10 minutes to soften
5. using a hand blender or a blender, blend until perfect homogenized and smooth
6. add the vanilla extract, sea salt, and coconut milk
7. process a little more
8. chill
9. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions
10. serve by itself, make into ice cream sandwiches, use to top brownies ...

Creamy Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Creamy milk chocolate ice cream today, friends. Luscious, creamy, smooth, date-based frozen confection given added dreaminess of lovely mellow coconut milk. An excellently delicious vegan dessert.

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates
3 cups hot water
1/2 to 1 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1 cup raw cacao
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp stevia

1/2 cup coconut nectar
400 ml can of coconut milk




directions:
1. combine the dates and the hot water, tthe coconut oil, and allow to sit for 10 minutes
2. add the coconut nectar then puree with an immersion blender (or in your blender if you have one!!!)
3. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
4. chill thoroughly!!

Chocolate Ice Cream Update -- vegan, whole foods, decadent ice cream

As I enjoyed a tiny scoop of this after dinner tonight I was struck by the following thought: I am a genius. This is genius.

Okay so I don't usually go off on such a high rant about myself ... but come on -- mixing dates and cacao and coming up with this? Genius!

I took whole foods and transformed them into something more than the sum of its parts. Something rich, creamy, decadent, delicious, and utterly satisfying.

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates
3 cups hot water
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil (1 cup)

1 cup raw cacao
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp stevia

1/2 cup coconut nectar




directions:
1. combine the dates and the hot water, tthe coconut oil, and allow to sit for 10 minutes
2. add the coconut nectar then puree with an immersion blender (or in your blender if you have one!!!)
3. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
4. chill thoroughly!!

This is rich and smooth and velvety and tastes amazing. Prepare to be amazed!

Raw Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream V 2.0-- rich, creamy, smooth, and delicious

Version 2. What can I say? I'm addicted. Sublime. Subliiiiiiiiiime.

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates
3 cups hot water
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup unrefined cacao butter
3/4 cup raw cacao
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp stevia

1/2 cup coconut nectar




directions:
1. combine the dates and the hot water, the cacao butter, and the coconut oil, and allow to sit for 10 minutes
2. add the coconut nectar then puree with an immersion blender (or in your blender if you have one!!!)
3. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
4. chill thoroughly!!

This is rich and smooth and velvety and tastes amazing. Prepare to be amazed!

Just to be super crazy this time around, I did  a full cup of cacao and a full tsp of stevia. Turbo chocolate for true chocolate lovers only.

Honey Vanilla Ice Cream

4 cups raw whole milk
1 cup raw honey
2 tbsp organic vanilla extract
generous pinch of salt

Raw Vegan Ice Cream

My kid could eat this everyday!!

ingredients:

1 cup pitted honey dates
3 cups warm water
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
3/4 cup raw cacao
2 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 tsp stevia

1/2 cup coconut nectar


(variation: add 2 tbsp ground vanilla bean)


directions:
1. combine the dates and the hot water and coconut oil, and allow to sit for 10 minutes
2. puree with an immersion blender (or in your blender if you have one!!!)
3. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well
4. chill thoroughly!!
5. freeze according to the directions of your ice cream maker's manufacturer.
6. say that last sentence fast 5 times and then realize it's barely English.
7. put the ice cream in the freezer to firm up.

This is dark, creamy, and verging on obscene. For true chocolate lovers only.

Lemon Coconut Milk Ice Cream -- a vegan, raw, frozen treat

We made this last year with lemon juice, coconut milk, honey, and lemon zest. This year it's a little different. Coconut milk, yes. But no honey this time -- raw agave. And not a lot of  lemon juice. Mostly  lemon essential oil. The beauty of lemon oil instead of lemon juice is you get the bright lemon flavour without the sourness, so not as much sweetening is needed. Any recipes for lemon sorbets that I've seen require such an astronomical quantity of sugar that it ends up being the worst possible choice of sorbet.

ingredients

2 cans coconut milk (total 800 ml)
140 drops lemon essential oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup  clear agave
generous pinch of salt



this will make just 1 L of ice cream


directions:

1. combine the above ingredients. I use an immersion blender
2. chill
3. freeze in your ice cream freezer according to the manufacturers directions.
4. transfer the ice cream to a freezer container
5. serve with the lemon date squares!!

Orange and lemon ice cream -- an awesome vegan treat

ingredients:

400 ml can of organic coconut milk (don't use low fat, use regular)
1/2 cup coconut nectar

30 drops orange essential oil
30 drops lemon essential oil

1/4 tsp sea salt


directions:

1. combine the ingredients and chill
2. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions.

I made a double batch!!!

Due to such things as the coconut milk and the coconut nectar, this ice cream stays creamy and smooth when frozen. Yum yum yum.

Delectable chocolate ice cream -- dairy-free, raw and full of superfoods. Dessert rocks.

400 ml coconut milk -- not lite, absolutely organic
1/2 cup honey -- unpasteurized
2 tbsp organic vanilla extract
1 pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup raw cacao

1. mix together with a hand blender then chill
2. freeze in your ice-cream maker according to the manufacturers directions

Strawberry Coconut Milk Ice Cream -- a vegan treat

I once had strawberry ice cream that had whole strawberries in it. Which is nicer in theory than in practice, because whole frozen strawberries are very hard to eat. There are no whole berries in this -- the whole thing has been pureed. But the high ratio f berries to anything else gives it a bit of a kick. Lovely strawberries and cream  flavour. It's vegan, gluten free, grain free, sugar free, and will increase your charisma 10 fold.

ingredients:

1 can organic coconut milk (400 ml)
1/2 cup coconut nectar
800 ml frozen (or fresh) organic strawberries (I used the 400 ml can to measure)

1 tbsp organic vanilla extract
1 pinch sea salt


directions:

1. puree everything together
2. chill
3. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions

Chocolate Ice Cream for Zephyr -- vegan and sugar free

My beautiful child asked for chocolate ice cream. How could I say no?

This stuff rocks. The coconut milk makes it really creamy and thick. Fantabulous.

ingredients:

1 can coconut milk

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup raw cacao

1/2 cup agave

directions:

1. combine the ingredients -- I like to use an immersion blender, but I'm like that

2. chill the resulting concoction

3. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's specification

Blueberry Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Ice Cream -- vegan and delicious

This ice cream has slightly more blueberries than everything else. It has no dairy in it, and derives its creamy goodness from coconut milk. I would say be careful which coconut milk you use, because I've encountered some that taste like 'can'. Blech. This has a delicate, multilayered flavour, and the taste of 'can' has no place in it at all. I am a big fan of fruity flavours, and think this is terrific. It does taste like coconut milk, so if you find that nuance objectionable, this may not be the blueberry ice cream for you.

ingredients:

1 can organic coconut milk -- 400 ml
2 cups frozen blueberries

1 tsp ground vanilla bean
1/4 cup unpasteurized honey


directions:

1. combine the ingredients, and puree -- I used a hand blender
2. chill
3. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions.
4. share ...

Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Beyond awesome. I have no words. It's great. Eat it.

ingredients:

2 cans organic coconut milk (total 800 ml)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup raw cacao

generous pinch sea salt
1 tsp ground vanilla
black pepper


directions:

1. combine and chill
2. freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturers suggestions.

lemon coconut milk ice cream -- dairy free and delicious

There are two advantages to making a lemon ice cream with coconut milk. One is that those who are intolerant of dairy can still enjoy it. the other is that the lemon juice won't make the coconut milk curdle. Win win!! And this ice cream was definitely a win.

ingredients

2 cans coconut milk (total 800 ml)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
generous pinch of salt
black pepper

lemon zest from one lemon

this will make just over 1 L of ice cream


directions:

1. combine the above ingredients. I use an immersion blender
2. chill
3. freeze in your ice cream freezer according to the manufacturers