Easy Chocolate Coconut Pistachio Raw Vegan Ice Cream
Easy Chocolate Coconut Pistachio Raw Vegan Ice Cream
Highlights:
- No, all raw vegan ice cream doesn’t taste like bananas
- Yes, you can satisfy even the most intense chocolate cravings on a raw vegan diet
- Ice cream can be good for you
- Raw vegan ice cream is easy to make and doesn’t require an ice cream maker
- You can make simple raw food desserts without complicated ingredients
There are several ways to make raw vegan ice cream. The base of a vegan ice cream needs to provide a creamy texture. Accomplishing that creamy base can be achieved by using overtly fatty plant foods like nuts or nut milks, then freezing and churning the mixture through an ice cream maker. That method is OK if you’re feeling particularly Martha Stewart-ish that day.
But if you’re like me, you’re on the go and have about five minutes to get most kitchen tasks done, including feeding yourself or your kids. Sorry, Martha. You’re an amazing mogul but I need to eat. I want chocolate. NOW.
Thank goodness there’s an easy vegan ice cream alternative that is even more delicious and nutritious! Raw vegan ice cream can be created by simply blending frozen fruit. (Wait wait, keep reading, I promise it’s insanely good.) I actually prefer blending fruit because it’s faster, easier, and lighter to digest. Plus, fruit provides a broader spectrum of plant-based nutrition than most overtly fatty foods.
Of all the blended fruits one can use to make a raw food ice cream or sorbet dessert, banana provides the creamiest texture that is most like soft-serve ice cream. It is also very simple to create a wide variety of flavors using banana as your base.
You might find some dissenters on the Internet disparaging banana ice creams due to the banana flavor, but they’re missing something critical: With the right recipe, the banana flavor can be minimized if not eliminated.
I personally love the flavor of banana, so it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. But I am also a raw vegan chef and educator, plus I love getting creative with my raw food recipes and crafting dishes that are sure to please even the fussiest palate. So I’ve developed many ice creams where the balance of ingredients suppresses or overcomes the banana.
This vegan ice cream recipe is a great example of how a simple banana ice cream can be totally transformed with the right ingredients. The combination of coconut, vanilla, and chocolate turn it into a rich chocolate dessert that is truly out of this world.
Best of all, this ice cream is packed with fiber and phytonutrients that help power your body without weighing you down or leaving you feeling bloated. And of course, it meets my gold standard of being exceedingly easy to make. That’s a win in my book!
I hope you enjoy this recipe and subscribe to my newsletter so that you won’t miss more recipes, support, and lifestyle inspiration. Sign up today and drop me a line to let me know what you think of the recipe!
Yours in delicious heath,
Easy Chocolate Coconut Pistachio Raw Vegan Ice Cream
Ingredients:
Ice cream base:
4 large ripe frozen bananas broken into 1-2" chunks
3 tsp raw cacao powder
2 tsp vanilla powder (or use the best liquid vanilla you have available)
3/4 cup dried finely shredded coconut flakes
After you create the ice cream base, you'll pulse in these ingredients to create the chunky texture:
1/4 cup raw pistachio nuts
1/4 cup large coconut flakes (or use finely shredded if you only have one kind)
1/3 cup raw cacao nibs
Topping:
2-3 tbsp raw cacao nibs
2-3 tbsp coconut flakes
Directions:
In a high-speed blender or food processor fitted with "S" blade, blend the ice cream base ingredients until smooth.
Warning: DO NOT OVER-BLEND. Frozen banana melts quickly and I don't want you winding up with a totally melted mess.
Stop blending as soon as it's barely creamy, then add the chunk ingredients and pulse until incorporated but the mixture is still, well, chunky. This is what gives this ice cream the delightful contrast of smooth and crunchy textures.
Spoon your ice cream into serving dishes of your choosing.
Sprinkle cacao nibs and coconut on top for a decadent finish.
Enjoy immediately!
EASY RAW FOOD LIFESTYLE TIP: Always try to keep banana chunks in a sealed container in your freezer ready to go for green smoothies, pie fillings, or raw vegan ice creams.
