I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
If you’re trying to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight or just follow a clean diet that enhances your health and well-being, the ice creams sold in supermarkets or at those cute little ice cream shops will leave you screaming for sure! Why?
Because they are loaded with refined sugar, unhealthy fat and a laundry list of processed ingredients you can barely pronounce.
And what about those of us who are lactose intolerant or vegan? We couldn’t eat those ice creams even if we wanted to.
So what to do?
Never fear, your Fit Life Ninja is here with an ice cream recipe that’s totally natural, amazingly delicious, dairy free and good for your health!
Better yet, it’s super easy to make and the ingredients consist of items you’ll want to have in your kitchen anyway. SCORE!
THE BASE RECIPE
Base Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 ripe avocados
- 1 can of coconut milk (like this)
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- 1/3 cup of pure maple syrup (like this)
RECIPE NOTES:
~The only ingredients in the coconut milk should be organic coconut meant / extract and water, nothing else!
~If you don’t have fresh lemons on-hand or like to have a stock of lemon juice at your disposal like I do, invest in a jug of pure organic lemon juice like this one. The only ingredient in the bottle should be the juice of organic lemons – no preservatives or other ingredients – and the juice should NOT be from concentrate. If you prefer using fresh lemons (they are a staple in my kitchen), this stainless steel lemon squeezer makes getting the juice out of your lemons a snap!
~The maple syrup should be 100% pure, organic and unprocessed with no added ingredients.
Directions
- Blend all the ingredients together in a food processor or high-speed blender until they are smooth and creamy. (Check out the Kitchen / Meal Prep Tools section of my shop to see the blender and food processors I recommend.)
- Pour the ice cream batter into a freezer-friendly dish and cover it. (This glass dish with cover works great and you can use it for loads of other things like this mind-blowing brownie recipe!)
- Place the dish in the freezer. Allow it to freeze for a minimum of 4 hours and enjoy!
NOTE: You can also refrigerate this delicious mixture and eat it like pudding / mousse instead of freezing it for ice cream. It will keep in the fridge for around 5 days.
Here’s what the finished product looks like using just the base ingredients:
FLAVOR VARIATIONS
You can easily turn your avocado ice cream into different flavors by adding one or more of the following items to the base ingredients:
- For a fruity flavor: Add 1-2 cups of frozen organic berries (strawberries, blueberries or raspberries) or cherries.
- For chocolate ice cream: Add 1/4 cup of raw cacao powder (like this).
- For vanilla ice cream: Add 1-2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract (like this).
- For a healthy chocolate chip experience: Add 1-2 tablespoons of raw cacao nibs (like this). I love making cherry chocolate chip ice cream by adding a combo of frozen cherries and cacao nibs!
- For a minty flare: Add pure peppermint extract (like this) or use fresh mint leaves. If you like mint chocolate chip ice cream, adding mint and cacao nibs to the base ingredients will blow your mind!
- For a healthful crunch and texture: Add 2 tablespoons of raw pumpkin seeds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and/or unsweetened coconut flakes. (NOTE: Stir these items in with the base ingredients after the ice cream is already blended and smooth. If you blend nuts, seeds or coconut flakes on high speed, they will lose their crunch / texture.)
- For a richer green color with amazing detox action: Add a tablespoon of matcha green tea powder (like this).
ICE CREAM THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH…SAY WHAT?!
Yep, you heard me right. Not only is this ice cream awesomely delicious, it’s actually good for you! Here’s why:
Avocado. This amazing fruit (yes it’s a fruit) contains more then 20 vitamins and minerals and is loaded with fiber, making it highly nutritious. It is notably high in potassium which supports healthy blood pressure.
It is also high in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid), which promotes heart health and reduces inflammation in the body that can lead to diseases like cancer.
And when it comes to cholesterol, this powerful little superfood can increase your good cholesterol (HDL) and lower your bad cholesterol (LDL). SCORE!
SIDE NOTE: The healthy fat in avocados is quite resistant to heat induced-oxidation (meaning it has a higher smoke point than other healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil). This makes avocado oil a safe and ultra-healthy option for cooking at higher heats.
Coconut milk. This dairy-free milk is often considered a “miracle liquid” due to its ability to build up the body’s immune defenses and help prevent disease.
Coconut milk is loaded with nutrients and a beneficial fat called lauric acid, which is a medium-chain fatty acid that’s easily absorbed and used by the body for energy. Plus, it helps deliver nutrients to the cells in your body more quickly.
The fatty acids found in coconuts are primarily saturated fats, but don’t worry about them raising your cholesterol or causing heart damage like other food sources of saturated fats. They’ve been shown to do quite the opposite…
Coconut milk can help lower cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure and prevent heart attacks or a stroke.
Lemon juice. Lemons are an outstanding source of vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system by stimulating white blood cell production. The vitamin C found in lemons also works as a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage that can lead to diseases like cancer.
Lemon juice boosts the enzyme functions in your body, stimulating your liver and flushing out toxins. It also helps with digestion by tricking the liver to produce bile, which helps keep food moving through your gastrointestinal tract smoothly.
Lemon juice is also amazing for your skin, as it fights free radicals that cause skin damage and helps the body produce collagen. (I love getting an anti-aging boost compliments of nature!)
Maple syrup. This all-natural sweetener has a much lower glycemic index score than cane sugar, meaning it won’t make your blood sugar spike like “regular” sugar.
As long as you buy 100% pure maple syrup (preferably organic like this), it is taken directly from maple trees and doesn’t go through complex processing to make it crystalize like sugar.
Maple syrup contains numerous antioxidants that reduce free radical damage that can lead to inflammation in the body. By fighting inflammation, maple syrup can help prevent inflammatory diseases like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, skin issues and cancer.
Last but definitely not least, maple syrup supplies important vitamins and minerals like zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium.
NOTE: AS with any healthy treat, it’s important to enjoy this ice cream in moderation. Just one or two scoops is a nice serving that will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping your healthy diet in-check.
Plus, staying on track with your portion control will make the ice cream last longer meaning you’ll have more days to enjoy it. YUM!
Did you know…
You can also make delicious ice cream that’s free of dairy and refined sugar using bananas instead of avocados! Click HERE for the simple and delicious recipe.
EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET
When you’re on a tight budget, filling your kitchen with healthy foods can be tough. Click HERE to see the websites I recommend for stocking your pantry without breaking the bank!
Cheers to enjoying healthy and delicious ice cream that will rock your tastebuds and benefit your health at the same time!
With love and gratitude,
Kandi
DISCLOSURE: Many of the links above are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you – if you purchase a product through them. (Click here to view my full Disclaimer & Disclosure statement.) This helps me continue providing FREE information to help you live a fit and fabulous life without busting your bank account. Thanks for your support!