Who said healthy can't be delicious? Treat your kids to a delightful indulgence with our Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream for Kids recipe. Packed with simple healthy ingredients, sweetened only with dates and bananas and bursting with rich chocolate flavor, this treat will become a family favorite in no time!
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Why we love this recipe
- It is a homemade chocolate ice cream recipe that is vegan (no raw egg yolks) and dairy-free
- Does not use refined sugar and is only sweetened with whole foods like bananas and dates
- Great ice cream for babies, toddlers and kids of any ages
- Great healthy treat for adults that want to nourish their body
If you like this healthy ice cream recipe you will also like Homemade Greek Yogurt Popsicles for Kids, Healthy Chocolate Popsicles, Sugar Free Banana Popsicles, Homemade Healthy Vegan Nutella Ice Cream.
Ingredients
- Ripe Bananas: These add natural sweetness, creamy texture, and a subtle banana flavor to your ice cream.
- Softened Pitted Dates: Not only do these contribute to the sweet flavor, but they also add a natural caramel undertone. Softening them ensures a smooth blend.
- Coconut Milk: The coconut milk, preferably full-fat, provides the creamy base for your ice cream, making it dairy-free and vegan.
- Peanut Butter: Introducing a family favorite - peanut butter! It not only enhances the flavor but also adds a creamy consistency to the ice cream.
- Raw Cocoa Powder: This is the real deal for achieving that deep and rich chocolate flavor. Say goodbye to processed sugars and hello to pure cocoa goodness.
How to Make this Homemade Ice Cream
- Soften dates by placing them in boiling water for 15 minutes.
- In a high-speed blender, combine ripe bananas, softened dates, coconut milk, peanut butter, and raw cocoa powder.
- Blend until you achieve a smooth mousse-like mixture.
- Freeze for a minimum of 6 hours.
- When removing from the freezer, wait 15 minutes for the ice cream to soften a bit. Enjoy your creamy chocolate delight!
Additions
- For an extra layer of goodness, swirl in some almond butter or hazelnut butter
- Toss in a handful of dark chocolate chips for a delightful surprise in every bite.
- Add a drop of vanilla extract for added flavor
Variations
- Try incorporating a cup of Greek yogurt for a tangy twist to your chocolate ice cream.
- Experiment with different nut butters like almond or cashew for unique flavor profiles.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months
- To maintain that soft serve consistency, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
FAQ
Absolutely! While a high-speed blender gives the best results, a regular blender can still do the job. You might need to blend a bit longer for a creamy texture. The only ingredient that is a little bit tougher to blend are the dates so maybe start off by blending dates and coconut milk first until smooth.
While an ice cream maker is not necessary for this recipe, it can enhance the texture. Simply follow the manufacturer's instructions for your ice cream machine.
Yes, you can. However, using full-fat coconut milk gives the ice cream a creamier consistency and a richer flavor. Almond milk is more water based than fat based so it won't give you the same consistency.
Sugar rush isn't really a term that can be used for every child. Some kids will exhibit hyperactivity symptoms with a gram of sugar consumption and some can have a ton of sweets and won't show any symptoms. And the same goes for the duration of that so-called "sugar rush".
Monitor your child and see what works for them. And you.
Babies can have ice cream from day 1 of weaning. You just need to make sure that the ice cream doesn't contain honey. Even cow's milk which is not recommended as a single food before the age of 1 is fine here since it as an ingredient of ice cream in a pretty small amount.
However, since the dates are pretty sweet I would recommend either omitting them for a baby or serving when they are close to 1 year of age and have already tried lots of other foods.
The reason for this is that once they do get accustomed to a sweet taste, you might see them refusing other new foods that are not as sweet.
As for the caffeine from the raw cocoa powder, it shouldn't really be a problem in the amount used in this recipe. But if offering for the first time in this form, make sure you offer in the morning and monitor for any hyperactivity.
More Ice Cream Recipes & Summer Snacks Like This
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Healthy Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream for Kids
EQUIPMENT
Ingredients
- 2 bananas
- ½ cup softened pitted dates see recipe on how to soften dates
- 1 can coconut milk
- 3 tablespoon peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon raw cocoa powder
Instructions
- To soften dates place them in boiling water for 15 minutes.
- Once the dates are softened place all the ingredients into a high speed blender.
- Blend until you have a smooth mousse like mixture.
- Freeze for a minimum of 6 hours.
- When removing from the freezer wait 15 minutes until the ice cream softens a little bit.
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