Strawberry Ice Cream (yummy and healthy!)

​How to make ice cream that is guilt free, healthy and yummy!

This guilt free Strawberry Ice Cream allows you to eat a healthy lifestyle, but still enjoy yummy desserts.   
 
Made from frozen strawberries and almond milk, it is dairy free, gluten free, paleo, raw, and vegan!  Yet as you savor it, you will feel as though you are treating yourself to a bowl of your favorite ice cream – it is that creamy! 
 
Only a few ingredients are needed and a blender or food processor works great.  Also included are a few flavor variations to tempt your curious taste buds.

To make the ice cream, use frozen strawberries or cut up and freeze some of your own. Toss frozen berries into the blender with a splash of almond or coconut milk, adding more as needed.  The consistency is as beautiful as ice cream or frozen yogurt.

The fruit mixture gets thick and will need to be stirred/pulsed periodically throughout the process.  If it is too thick to blend after stirring, then add a small amount of liquid to get the mixture stirring one again. Adding the almond milk sparingly and with caution keeps the texture like ice cream, and will prevent it from getting to runny.

The strawberry ice cream is scrumptious as is, or for variation, you can add a teaspoon of dark chocolate cocoa powder for a sensuous chocolate/strawberry sweet treat. 

Adding bananas to the strawberry base awards you the flavor of strawberry/banana ice cream.  

Throw in a scoop of protein powder, flax seeds or chia seeds and you have a tasty, power packed energizer post workout or anytime of the day.
 
Bananas make another a wonderful base for your homemade ice cream dishes.  Slice very ripe bananas for great flavor and freeze overnight to ensure a frozen texture.  Add the frozen bananas to the almond milk slowly until you get the right consistency of ice cream, just as you did with the strawberry mixture. 

Be experimental and creative with your flavors! Add nut butters, cocoa powder or various nuts to your banana base.  Most of all?  Savor and enjoy!

Strawberry Ice Cream – (Serves 4)

1.  Toss 16 oz. bag of frozen strawberries and into a blender or food processor.
2. Add ½ cup almond or coconut milk (at intervals)
3. Blend until mixture has the consistency of soft scoop ice cream. (May need to pulse a few times and scrape the mixture off the sides. If too thick, add a little more almond milk.)
4. Pour the ice cream into a bowl or container
5. If adding dark chocolate cocoa powder, add 1 tsp. stir in, then blend (add more or less for flavor)
6. Serve with a fresh strawberry garnish

 
Recipe Notes

• Serve strawberry ice cream plain or...
• Add a teaspoon of dark chocolate cocoa powder for a chocolate/strawberry ice cream treat. 
• Add a scoop of protein powder and it is a great snack for anytime of the day.
• Adding bananas to the strawberry base creates strawberry/banana flavored ice cream.
• Bananas alone makes another alternative base to strawberries for homemade ice cream dishes. 
• To use bananas, slice very ripe bananas for great flavor and freeze overnight to ensure a frozen texture.  Add frozen bananas to the almond milk slowly until you get the right consistency of ice cream.
  
• Add various nut butters, cocoa powder, nuts, vanilla extract or fresh mint leaves.
• For alternative flavor ideas, try using mangos or other berries.
• Ice cream can be served immediately.  If it gets too soft, freeze in airtight container for 20-30 minutes to stop it from melting too quickly.
• Ice cream can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 weeks (if it lasts that long!)
• Enjoy!