VEGAN CHERRY CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM, dairy-free, low-sugar, easy

This is the nicest, tastiest, healthiest ice cream; you won't believe there's no cream - just bananas...

Sensational creamy soft ice containing just cherries, banana & chocolate
'No-fat, utterly delicious AND healthy.  Unbelievable!'

This dessert is not just an excellent remedy for tummy troubles; it's also a sensational treat for all times.  It's stuffed with this year's crop of fat purple cherries and dark chocolate shards and is incredibly creamy and delightful. 

67 has been meaning for ages to test recipes for a cherry and banana soft ice cream which have been circulating on the net and this wonderful treat is the result.  

Bananas have creamy, easily digested flesh.  They're excellent at muting hunger pangs and helping to return the digestive system to order.  They're also naturally sweet so are perfect for low-sugar delights.  

If you ever thought you could't eat ice cream for health reasons, think again!

You'll be amazed how easy the recipe is BUT you do have to plan ahead.  The bananas and cherries have to be chopped frozen before you start.  

Cost: £2-£3, depending on choice of ingredients
Makes: 2-3 portions but recipe doubles easily

Ingred:

  2 small ripe but not black bananas, sliced and frozen
  1 cup pitted or chopped cherries, frozen (from fresh are best but supermarket frozen will be ok)
  splash fresh orange juice, milk or cream (opt).  OR cherry brandy/brandy/whiskey/chocolate based liquor (opt)
  1/2 tsp vanilla (opt)

  small handful fresh cherries
  50 gm dark chocolate, in shards
   
Method:

1. Peel and slice  bananas, lay them out on a ridged tray, freeze
   
2. Bag up and returned to freezer until ready to make the ice cream
3. Remove stalks from 1 cup cherries; cut off the fat sides (like prepping a mango) then chop the flesh surrounding the pits in small pieces.
   
4. Place the cherry pieces in a sealable freezer bag, making the layer as flat as you can by pressing out the bulges.
   
    
5. Freeze flat and store.
6. Making the ice cream: Prepare fresh cherries as in 3; set aside
7. Put frozen banana slices, frozen cherries  and a slosh of milk, cream or orange juice in blender; process until all is fully combined.  It should look like soft-serve ice cream. (See tips below)
8. Stir through fresh cherries and chopped chocolate distributing evenly for a rustic appearance; for something smoother, pulse until coarsely combined.  

Comments:
'This was a revelation.  I usually avoid ice cream because of the high fat and sugar content; this recipe manages to avoid all that.  I recommend this to all oldies, dieters and anyone wanting to eat healthily.  This will definitely be made again!'  Retired writer 
'It was absolutely brilliant - and totally  delicious!' Semi-retired consultant

Tips:

Tips:

• If your blender isn't very powerful , you may need to stop the machine a couple of times to push down the mixture to move it along.  The time this takes will unfortunately encourage the ice cream to melt and it will have to be re-frozen after the cherries and chocolate are added.  67 uses a smoothie maker instead of an ageing and not very efficient blender.
• the frugal can reduce the amount of 2nd stage fresh cherries and chocolate or not add them at all
• Cherries can be replaced by any other berries and the chocolate, by nuts or dried fruit. 

More fruit desserts in Recipes II on NavBar

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This recipes has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and  may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.