Regardless of you either loving summer or complaining about the scorching heat, there is one thing we can all agree on during these months: ice cream. If there is anything that brings together a perfect summer day, it is always ice cream. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy a nice cup of ice cream throughout the summer. However, the calories, fat, and sugar can quickly add up when you indulge in ice cream multiple times throughout the week.
Well guess what? I am here to tell you that you can enjoy your ice cream guilt-free with this simple ice cream made with only 3 ingredients! This ice cream is made with frozen bananas, which is blended to make a creamy base that resembles the texture of ice cream. Keep a batch of sliced bananas in your freezer all summer long for a quick treat when you are craving some ice cream. Although I have made the most basic form of this ice cream with just sliced bananas in the past, I wanted something more, maybe something with a little bit of caramel and chocolate?
One of my favourite food bloggers is Minimalist Baker, mostly because her recipes use simple ingredients and taste SO good. I came across her recipe for Date Caramel, which is literally just dates blended with a bit of water. The texture and taste of this date caramel is AH-mazing. A couple of nights ago, I made a batch of my very own date caramel and while I was tempted to just go at it with a spoon, I was even more inspired to pair it with some ice cream.
You can either fold in the date caramel or you can do what I did which is blend it right in. I wanted that date caramel flavour in every bite.
Let’s not forget about the chocolate because chocolate makes everything better (at least for me). As your dessert-loving dietitian, I am here to tell you that you can enjoy your chocolate without the guilt. In fact, there are even some nutrition benefits to eating chocolate!
To get the most health benefit from eating chocolate, the darker the better. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are less processed and contain antioxidants. Antioxidants help repair damaged cells in your body. Unfortunately milk and white chocolate don’t have that same nutritional benefit and have added sugars. So the next time you are craving chocolate, enjoy some dark chocolate while your body enjoys the health benefits.
Are you sold on making this ice cream yet? This recipe is:
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Packed with potassium
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Full of fibre
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Refined sugar-free
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Gluten-free
Potassium is one of those nutrients your body needs to keep everything running smoothly, including your bones and muscles. One serving of this Caramel Chocolate Chip Ice Cream provides approximately 3.5g of fibre! When was the last time your ice cream cone satisfied your cravings AND helped your digestion?
To make your own healthy ice cream all summer long, here are a few quick tips:
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Use ripe bananas. Since there are no added refined sugars in this ice cream, the sweetness will be coming from the bananas.
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Slice your bananas and place them in a resealable plastic bag. You want the bananas to be very frozen so it is best to do this at least the night before.
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If you prefer your “soft serve” style ice cream, you can eat the ice cream right away. For an ice cream that “scoops” (like in the picture), freeze for several hours before serving.
Caramel Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 medium sized bananas
- 4 Tbsp of date caramel Instructions on how to make here: http://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-date-caramel/
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Peel 2 ripe bananas and slice them. Place in a resealable plastic bag and freeze overnight.
- Using a food processor, blend frozen bananas until smooth and creamy. This may take a few minutes as it will start off as chunks and then start to become smooth.
- Once the bananas are smooth, add the date caramel and blend until combined. Transfer to a freezer-safe bowl. Fold in dark chocolate chips. Freeze for 1-3 hours or until hardened slightly. Remove from freezer and scoop into bowls or cones. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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