Your recipe this season: by Anita Davis, ND

Guilt-Free Frozen Treats!

Keeping cool this summer doesn’t mean having to venture out to your local ice cream shop.  Whether dairy or sugar seem to bother your digestion, or you are just trying to cut calories and feel healthier, these tips to making your own tasty treats are essential!

1. Any type of smoothie can be frozen into a popsicle – try fruit-heavy smoothies with a non-dairy base. Use chocolate or vanilla nut milks to make them creamy. Coconut milk with frozen mango or pineapple and lime is a favourite so far! Add honey, and throw into a blender and freeze in a popsicle mold!

2. Freeze bananas that are over-ripe. Break them into halves or thirds, and throw into a freezer bag for when company is over or you’re craving ice cream. Throw in a blender or food processor with remaining ingredients. Frozen bananas add the creaminess that some ‘healthy’ non-dairy frozen treats lack.

3. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup, if necessary. The more ripe your bananas and the sweeter your fruit, the less extra sweetener you may need.

4. You may need to stop the blender and scrape the sides. If your mixture is too thick, you’ll have to add some liquid (juice if you’re making more of a sorbet, and non-dairy milk if not). If your blender or processor is not doing the job, cut your bananas into smaller pieces before you freeze them.

5. Experiment with cinnamon, nutmeg, and chai spice with your blender ice creams! Chocolate goes with nut butters, nut milks, and nutmeg. Chai spice goes with mango, banana, and coconut milk.  Add a pinch of salt or espresso to any chocolate “ice cream” to boost the flavour.

Here are my favourites so far:

EASY MANGO SORBET

3 cups frozen mango chunks
1/2 cup pineapple or orange juice

For MANGO CHAI DELIGHT, add:

1/4 cup almond or coconut milk
1/2 tsp chai spices (OR 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground cardamom, a pinch of salt and a pinch of ground cloves)

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately for softer serve, or place in the freezer for at least an hour to harden.  Remove and let it sit about 15-20 minutes to soften before serving.

CHOCO-BANANA FAUX ICE CREAM

2 frozen bananas
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/4 almond milk (try dark chocolate for double flavour)  – optional

Blend frozen bananas and liquid, if using, first – pulse or blend until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and blend until incorporated.  Serve immediately for soft serve!

CHERRY VANILLA ICE CREAM

2-3 frozen bananas
1/4 cup frozen cherries
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
non-dairy milk to achieve desired consistency

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately!