This strawberry ice cream is made by blending fresh strawberries and frozen bananas. That's it. If you haven't tried banana ice cream yet, it's about time you hopped on the bandwagon. Often referred to as "nice cream," this whole food, plant-based alternative is surprisingly delicious and can be remixed and reworked in countless ways. It's cold, creamy, and thick with just the right amount of sweetness. The swirl is made with a combination of fresh strawberries, dates, water, chia seeds, and grated beet (optional for a bolder pink hue).
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Total Time15 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast, Smoothie
Servings: 1
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Chia Swirl
¾cupsliced fresh strawberries
2dates, pitted*
2tablespoonswater
½tablespoonchia seeds
1tablespoongrated beet (for color), optional
For the Strawberry-Banana Ice Cream
2large frozen bananas
½cupfresh strawberries
Optional Topping Ideas
sliced strawberries
hemp hearts
coconut flakes
pepitas
Instructions
To Make the Strawberry Chia Swirl
Add the strawberries, dates, water, and chia seeds to a blender, and blend on high for 2-3 minutes or until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. If you want to enhance the pink hue, add the grated beet and blend for another 20-30 seconds. Let stand at room temperature or refrigerator for 10 minutes to thicken.
This makes enough for 3-4 servings, so refrigerate leftovers to use later in the week.
To Make the Strawberry-Banana Breakfast Ice Cream
Add the bananas and strawberries to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend or process until the mixture is creamy but still thick, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. If needed, add in water 1 tablespoon at a time to assist blending, but try to avoid if possible.
Transfer the "ice cream" to a bowl. To create the swirl, use a small spoon to dot the top of the ice cream with the strawberry-chia jam. Use a toothpick or the end of a chopstick to create swirl patterns in the bowl.
Sprinkle with additional toppings, if desired.
Notes
*If your dates aren't soft/wet, I recommend soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes before blending.