Let’s be honest – who doesn’t want to tuck into sweets and ice creams every day if we could get away with it? Store bought ice cream bars are a popular confectionary of ice cream. Sure they are tasty, but most of the time are NOT healthy. Unfortunately. So, guess what?! We are making them ourselves and making a healthier version of an ice cream bar.

The last time I bought a store bought ice cream I was looking forward to eating it after dinner at ice cream time! Unfortunately, it was pretty disappointing. It was overly sweet and all I could taste was sugar. So I took matters into my own hands and made a much healthier, dairy and refined sugar-free version, which I think is way more delicious!

Next time you buy ice cream at the supermarket you can check the ingredients. You will be surprised by how many ingredients are used. Besides lots of chemicals and flavour extracts (or natural flavours!!) Yeah right! You will find a ton of sugar in them. This quickly loads up to about 20 g of sugar per serving.

Of course, not all ice cream you can buy has this nutritional value, but there are simple and easy ways to choose a healthier ice cream, simply make it yourself.

As an example here is a list of the ingredients in a popular ice cream bar:

Sugar, Skimmed MILK (15%), Glucose Syrup, Cream (from MILK), Water, Sweetened Condensed Skimmed MILK, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Fat, Cocoa Mass, Palm Fat, Skimmed MILK Powder, BARLEY Malt Extract, MILK Fat, LACTOSE, Whey Powder (from MILK), Fat Reduced Cocoa, Emulsifiers (SOYA Lecithin, E471, E477), Stabilisers (E407, 410, E412), Salt, Natural Vanilla Extract, Natural Flavour.

Ingredients after I have ‘healthified’ the recipe:

Cashews, Coconut Cream, Honey, Protein Powder, Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Dates, Cashew Butter, Chocolate Chips

I think you will agree with me, the new ‘healthfied’ recipe looks a whole lot healthier than the store bought version and with NO compromise on taste. Just simple wholefoods done well.

Now that I have a healthy recipe I literally can’t stop making ice cream bars, they are all I want to make (and possibly eat). I just LOVE making them, who’s with me? These ice cream bars taste every bit as good as the ones you can buy at the store.

Why I love this recipe:

Made with healthy ingredients. Unlike the store-bought bars as shown above, my recipe is made with ingredients that are good for you and you can actually pronounce.

The perfect texture. Creamy delicious ice cream topped with soft, rich caramel, all covered in a layer of snappy milk chocolate. Perfection, isn’t it? This is a dessert or treat that is full of creamy deliciousness in each bite.

No baking needed. Like all homemade ice cream bars, the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for all the layers to set! These ice cream bars may take a few hours to make, but the freezer is doing all the work in this simple recipe.

No ice cream maker required. Just blend, freeze, dip, and enjoy!

The good news is, they are super easy to make and require very minimal ingredients proving that healthy can also be delicious. It’s shocking how good these are! If you let them thaw a little bit before snacking, they become the perfect texture. These babies are the perfect healthy sweet treat as the protein content will leave you feeling full while also satisfying and helping to curb sugar cravings while still being healthy!

That’s really the trick with eating healthier, its not limiting or denying yourself yummy things, its about ADDING good stuff so you don’t crave the not-so-good high sugar things that can wreck health.

Experience the delight of guilt-free indulgence with this frozen and healthy ice cream bar recipe – a creamy blend of deliciousness to keep in your freezer for an any time treat, dessert or snack. Sometimes I utter the words ‘holy yum’ when sinking my teeth into one!

This recipe is a rich, indulgent dessert or treat. Its in your personal interests to learn how to make these frozen delights and enjoy the chocolaty bliss guilt-free. Store them in the freezer for months of frosty indulgence. Treat yourself to a dessert that’s easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious. Get ready to nourish your taste buds with every bite.

If you love ice cream, but not all the sugar, this is the healthy dessert recipe for you! The entire family is sure to love this easy ice cream bar recipe and no one will guess they are healthy! Its time to elevate your frozen treat game with a fusion of taste and wellness in every decadent bite.✨

Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Protein Bars

My healthy ice cream bars have a cashew and coconut protein-rich ice cream filling, a sweet date caramel layer, and a chocolate shell coating. This is a ‘healthified’ recipe that is creamy and decadent, made with healthy good for you ingredients and lower in sugar and carbs. Paleo and keto friendly. 🍦🤎

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword chocolate caramel ice cream protein bars, chocolate protein ice cream bars, healthy protein ice cream bars, protein ice cream bar recipe, protein ice cream bars

Servings 8

Ingredients

Ice Cream Filling

• 1 cup cashews, soaked 3+hours and drained
• 1 13,5 oz can coconut cream, full fat (solid part only) *see note below
• 1/2 cup cashew or almond butter
• 1/4 cup vanilla or chocolate protein powder
• 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Date Caramel Layer

• 2 cups soft dates, if dry soak 30 minutes and drain
• 1 cup coconut milk or cream (canned)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Chocolate Coating

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

• Line a 7 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, making sure all sides are covered so that the liquid can't run underneath the paper. Or use a silicon bar or popsicle mold.

Ice Cream Filling

• Open chilled can and scoop out the cream that has separated and set hard on the top. Save the remaining coconut water to use in a smoothie, drink, or discard.

  Add all of the ice-cream ingredients to a food processor and process smooth and creamy.

  Depending on the power of your blender this might take a few minutes. Stop blending to scrape the sides and continue to blend until very smooth. Taste test add more honey or vanilla if you think it needs it.

  Pour the ice cream mixture into the lined baking pan or popsicle mold (adding popsicle sticks if desired) and freeze for 2-4 hours to set.

Caramel Layer

• Place all the caramel layer ingredients into the food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Stop to scrape the sides if necessary and continue to blend until smooth.  Its ok to have some bits of dates remaining.

  You can adjust the consistency by adding more coconut milk if it is too thick to pour easily.

  Take the baking pan out of the freezer and spoon the caramel on top. Use a spatula to spread the caramel out in an even layer. Place back in the freezer until completely set (6 hours or overnight if possible).

Chocolate Coating

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Remove pan from freezer and cut into 8-10 bars or more smaller squares. Or pop out of popsicle molds.

  Carefully coat the bars with melted chocolate by holding one bar at a time with a fork underneath it and spooning the chocolate on top and over all of the sides.

  Repeat this for all the bars and place them back in the freezer for another 15 minutes to set the chocolate.

  Alternatively, transfer the melted chocolate to a tall slim glass and place 2 wooden cocktail sticks into each bar and dip them in the chocolate.

  Freeze for 2 hours, or until firm.

  Store in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freezer for up to 3 months.  

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites