The weather is getting warmer here and my taste buds are craving for some Ice Creams. But if you are lactose intolerant, Vegan or just trying to eat healthier, then all that dairy, cream and sugary store bought ice creams can really get in the way of reaching your health goals. Why fear? with just some simple alternatives we can make several ice creams that are not only healthy, low calorie, dairy free, gluten-free, sugar-free but also satisfying, guilt-free and delicious.

Below are my four (yes you heard it right four !!) varieties of ice cream alternatives that are made with fresh fruits ,natural sugars and ‘NO’ cream, gelatin, eggs, nasty sugars. Ice creams made at home add in a long list of nutritional benefits. All you require is a blender, fresh frozen fruits and a dairy-free liquid base. Lets get started !!

Banana Cinnamon Nut Delight

2 Ripe Bananas
½ cup unsweetened Coconut Milk
Chopped Nuts (Brazil Nuts & Walnuts) – 2 tablespoon
Cinnamon powder – ½ teaspoon

Peel the bananas, cut them in small dices and put them in a freezer bag and freeze them for 5 hours. For making the ice cream, in a blender add the chopped bananas, cinnamon powder and coconut milk and blend till smooth. Mix in the nuts. Freeze the mixture for 6 to 8 hours in a container. Just before serving top it up with some roasted nuts.

Strawberry-Raspberry Dreams

1 cup Strawberries
½ cup Raspberries
3/4^th cup unsweetened Coconut Milk
Maple syrup for sweetening

Freeze the strawberries and raspberries in freezer bag for 5 hours. For making the ice cream, in a blender add the frozen berries, coconut milk and maple syrup (some berries can be less sweet) as per your sweet preference and blend until smooth. Freeze the mixture for 6 to 8 hours in a container. Just before serving garnish it with some fresh berries.

Mango-Almond Joy

2 cups chopped sweet ripe Mangoes
½ cup unsweetened Coconut Milk
2 tablespoon roasted chopped Almonds
½ teaspoon Cardamom powder

Freeze the chopped mangoes in a freezer bag for 5 hours. For making the ice cream, blend the chopped magoes, coconut milk, cardamom powder until smooth. Mix in the chopped roasted almond. Just before serving garnish with fresh mango and chopped nuts.

Very-Berry Protein Cups

1 cup Blackberries
1 cup Blueberries
½ cup unsweetened Soy/ Almond Milk
1 scoop Nutrilie All Plant Protein Powder (flavorless) – optional
Maple Syrup for sweetening

Freeze the blackberries and blueberries (I hand picked these berries from a local farm) in freezer bag for 5 hours. For making the ice cream, in a blender add the frozen berries, soy milk, Nutrilte All Plant Protein Powder and maple syrup (some berries can be less sweet) as per your sweet preference and blend until smooth. Freeze the mixture for 6 to 8 hours in a container. Just before serving garnish it with some fresh berries.

Note:

1. If the mixture gets too thick then a tablespoon or more of the liquid base can be added.
2. If needed the liquid base can be altered as per your preference with Almond, Soy, Coconut Milk. Personally, I feel the coconut milk give the ice cream a creamier texture.
3. Choices of fruits totally depends on personal preferences.
4. Sugar can be substituted instead of maple syrup.
5. If needed, cacao powder can be added to give the ice cream a chocolaty taste.
6. One 12.5 g serving of NUTRILITE All-Plant Protein Powder provides 10 grams of heart healthy protein. It’s 100% vegetarian, dairy free and thus is vegan friendly. It has low fat ( The highlight of this product is its’ flavorless and can be a healthy addition to any type of sweet or savory culinary preparation: omelets, crèches, home baked bagels, corn breads, muffins, stews, soup, healthy juices, shakes and smoothies. If you would like to give this amazing product a try click on the photo below.

This recipe is healthy, wholesome and nutritious, as it combines the goodness of my favorite superfood ORGANIFI and seasonal fruits like strawberries, blackberries, apples, mother nature’s natural sweetener honey and crunchy walnuts – chia seeds (omega 3s). Greek yogurt is packed with protein, calcium &  probiotics which are good for your digestive system. This recipe makes a great refreshing guilt free summertime dessert which instantly cools you down.

Ingredients: Serves 2
Fat Free Greek Yogurt / Homemade Yogurt – 4 tablespoon
Organic Honey / Agave nectar – 2 tablespoon
Organic Granola – 2 tablespoon
Organifi Greens – 1 scoop (optional)
Roasted Walnut pieces – 1 tablespoon
Chia Seeds – 1 tablespoon
Homemade Strawberry puree – 2 tablespoon
Banana – 3 to 4 pieces
Blackberries/Blueberries – 4 to 6 pieces
Red Apple – 2 tablespoon (cut pieces)

Method:

1. To make the homemade Strawberry puree, take 4 to 5 strawberries in a mortar and pestle and add 1 tablespoon of honey and pound well to make puree. Keep aside.
2. To make the Organifi yogurt, divide the yogurt to 2 parts (2 tablespoon divided).Add 1 scoop of organifi to 2 tablepoon of yogurt and mix well. The reason for doing this is to get two different color layers of yogurt that is white and the other light greenish.

3. In a tall glass, add 1 tablespoon of the organic granola followed by plain greek yogurt, few pieces of each fruit, 1 tablespoon organic honey, roasted walnuts ½ tablespoon and chia seeds ½ tablespoon.

4. Repeat all the layers till the glass in fully filled up.
5. Chill the glass in the refrigerator and Enjoy with your loved ones.

Notes:

1. I made one tall glass since my husband and I shared from the same. The same recipe can also be made in 2 short glasses.
2. Any other seasonal fruits can also be added.
3. The recipe can also be made with only plain yogurt.
4. Organifi is optional but do try to add it to increase the nutrient value of the recipe.
5. Organifi is a superfood green juice powder that we have been having for the last 6 months and we are enjoying the health benefits from it. It is loaded with Spirulina, Ashwagandha, turmeric and many more superfoods. It doesn’t taste chalky like the other green drinks in the market. It mixes up well with water, almond milk, rice milk and many more. I try to add it to most of my recipes like soups, savory pancakes, smoothies. Do try to get your hand on this amazing superfood at organifi.com I am not getting paid to put these informations here. I really believe it’s an amazing product and everyone should get benefited from this superfood.

Ingredients:
Rolled Oats – 1 cup
Flax Meal – 1 cup
Almond/Peanut Butter – ½ cup
Dry roasted chopped mixed nuts  – 1 cup (almonds/walnuts/cashews/pecans)
Pitted dates puree – 1 cup (natural sweetener)
Black raisins & Goji berries mix – ½ cup
Whey / Plant protein any flavor– 2 scoops
Almond/Soy Milk – few tbsp needed only to adjust the consistency of the dough/mix

Method:
To make flax meal at home, just dry roast flax seeds and grind them to a fine powder and store in a air tight jar.Mix all ingredients in a stand mixer/food processor or in large bowl. Place a aluminum foil/parchment paper on a flattened dish and spray some olive oil and wipe it off with a kitchen paper. Now place the dough and flatten the mix by using the back of the spoon. Chill overnight or minimum 2 hrs and cut into 12 to 16 bars and pack them in cling wrap as shown in the picture. Store at room temperature or in the lower bottom in the refrigerator. Consume within 2 weeks.

Note:
For more sweetness, honey can be added too.
Flax meals can also be added to smoothies/cereals/oats to  increase the nutritive value of the dish.
These bars are a good time snack for before or after work-outs.
If using normal milk, store them in refrigerator and not at room temperature as their shelf life will reduce.

Ingredients : Serves 2

1 ripened avocado
1 small frozen banana
1 cup crumbled extra firm tofu/silken tofu
1 tbsp coconut flakes
2 tbsp agave nectar/honey
1 tbsp cacao powder (unsweetened cocoa powder)
1 tbsp flax seed powder
Almond/Soy/Coconut or any kind of milk to blend the ingredients (say about ½ cup)

Method:
Blend all the ingredients in a food processer or blender. Serve chilled.