One of my favorite memories of summer as a kid is eating ice cream on my front steps. Our neighborhood was jam-packed with kids of all ages, running around all day. We’d be covered in the sticky sweetness, and run through sprinklers or down to the creek by the university to rinse off.
Now, as an adult who has a grocery budget, I’m trying to find ways to give my kids those same fun memories – but healthier AND more wallet-friendly. The recipe below is both. Coconut milk* is pretty inexpensive (about $1.59/can at major chain grocers) and bananas at Trader Joe’s are $.19/each. Berries and other fruit vary in price by location and season – but for this, you could even buy frozen fruit. I like this recipe because it’s a really easy way to use up fruit that’s starting to get a bit soft …. peaches can still be good even if they’re a bit soft, bananas can start to turn brown on the outside (and God forbid I give my 3 year old a banana that has a single brown spot on the peel!), and berries can start to lose their shape. For my first batch this summer, I used the coconut milk and strawberries we picked at Bauer Berry Farm. I’ll include some other flavor options below as well. Give it a try! Another perk for those on specialty diets is that this recipe is vegan/vegetarian-friendly, and it’s also gluten & dairy-free!
*If you hate the flavor of coconut, don’t fret. I can promise that coconut milk cream has a very, very mild coconut flavor. Combine it with stronger-flavored fruit, and you barely even know it’s there.
Homemade Ice Cream
– The cream (the thick white stuff) of 1 can of full-fat coconut milk, chilled in fridge for at least 24 hours
– Your choice of frozen or chilled fruit (about 1 1/2 cups)
– 1 Tblsp of honey or agave (optional)
Place it all in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a freezer-safe container, and freeze for at least 1 hour. This makes 4 good-sized servings. If you make it and freeze it overnight, you may want to take it out of the freezer for a little while before eating (or use an ice cream scooper run under hot water).
Some delicious combinations:
Banana & 3 (peeled) clementine oranges, banana & strawberries, strawberries & blueberries, lemon juice & pineapple chunks, 3 Tblsp unsweetened cocoa powder & banana (or strawberries), raspberries & peeled peach slices, and the list goes on! I’d love to hear if you try this out and what combination you used!
