Does anyone else get super tempted by all of the specialty frozen desserts in the ice cream aisle of the grocery store? I find myself just going down the aisle just because. No reason. I wasn’t intending to get ice cream (always seems to be the case) but then I walk by and am like, “Oh! SALE.” Yes!
Then I buy a stupid little pint for like $5 (on sale) and I get home and I think, “Why did you just spend $5 on like two servings??” You know those servings lie…
Well, I really ought to stop getting sucked into those sales now that I have this coconut ice cream recipe. I mean, there is really no need to buy a small pint of ice cream when you can make your own ice cream at home. And get 4x the servings too! AND not feel bad when you scoop yourself whatever serving you want because there is no label telling you what an appropriate serving size is… Right?
Of course it takes a little bit of time do the Suzy Homemaker thing, but I think we can all agree homemade is better. I know it can be this thing that you write off doing because you think it is going to be hard, or it takes too long, or you don’t have the patience. Pick your favorite excuse.
But IT IS really easy to make your own healthy ice cream. The big thing is when you buy commercial ice cream you are likely being exposed to truckloads of sugar for starters. Then you have the artificial this and the artificial that! Making your own means you can ditch all that unhealthy stuff and know exactly what goes into your special treat.
Anyone else trying to limit their intake of refined sugar but still struggling with a demanding sweet tooth? There are all kinds of theories about WHY we crave sweet food but I’m more interested in figuring out HOW to satisfy my sweet tooth without putting refined sugar in my body. The struggle is real – I’m trying hard to minimize the amount of sugar that I consume and today I’m sharing my simple secret to satisfying my own sweet cravings – dates. Natures natural sweetener and I do love the sweetness that they add to almost any recipe.
This coconut date ice cream recipe starts with a rich and creamy coconut milk or cream, a hit or protein powder, a smidgen of nut butter, a hint of vanilla all sweetened with dates. An ice cream made with wholefoods – perfect for a guilt-free treat! Better than anything you can ever buy in a store too!
Dates are a super fruit! They are a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
Now-a-days, I love to use dates as a base in most of my snack balls, no-bake bars, or if I need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet!
They are just one of those snack cabinet staples I can’t live without as I explore ways to sweeten things with the dreaded refined sugar. In my quest to find healthier snacks, I have started buying more dates, to use as a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting or in a smoothie or smoothie bowl.
Dates are a great snack on their own and they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, great for heart health and they provide a little energy boost thanks to the natural sugars. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. There are lots of date-focused recipes on social media these days, but when I came across viral date ice cream I knew I had to try it. And it did not disappoint! It makes good sense and such a great way to sweeten things. In this recipe it provides little pops of caramel in the creamy coconut ice cream base.
Just a handful of simple pantry ingredients is all you need for this dairy free, egg free, gluten free ice cream recipe! I like to use simple canned coconut milk. And don’t skimp on the fat – get the full fat version of whatever can of coconut milk you can find. The kind of fat in coconut milk is so good for your brain and ever changing hormones!
And of course the star of the show – dates! These dried fruits are packed with natural sweetness and once you soak them a little bit in some water, they blend up easy into your ice cream mixture. No extra sugar or honey needed whatsoever here. Dates are serious magic.
What’s with the nut/seed butter ingredient?
I have made…over the years, lots of homemade ice cream. Some batches have been great, and others…well let’s just say a rock hard block of coconut ice is no fun to scoop, and doesn’t really feel like real ice cream.
A number of years ago I read about how adding a spoonful or two of nut butter to ice cream mixtures helps with texture, keeping the icy crystals at bay, and making the ice cream really scoop-able. If you are a nut free house, seed butters like sun butter work great too! And if you are completely nut and seed free, simply leave this ingredient out – the dates and thick, full fat coconut milk do make a great texture too.
As well as being really easy to make, this ice cream recipe is healthier than your average treat as it is made with wholesome REAL food ingredients. With the added protein powder it makes it more balanced. Old fashioned baked recipes always had tons of sugar, carbs and fats. The new modern way is to cut out or reduce the sugar and add protein making the recipe more balanced and healthy.
A well-balanced diet with proper ratios of macro nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats) provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness.
When you find your optimal balance and amounts of macro nutrients, you take a major step toward reaching your health goals and this balance has been improved in this recipe by the addition of healthy protein.
Your body can only absorb around 25-30 grams of protein at one time and you likely need 80-100 plus grams a day so its important to spread it over all meals and snacks throughout the day so you can meet your required amount.
Now…let’s make some {date sweetened} yummy ice cream!
Coconut Date Protein Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 13.5 oz can full-fat coconut milk or cream
- 1 cup dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 1 tablespoon nut or seed butter of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add Ins Or Optional Toppings
- Chopped nuts
- Fresh, dried or freeze-dried fruit
- Drizzle of nut butter
- Shredded coconut
- Chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the coconut milk or cream, protein powder, nut butter and vanilla and blend until completely smooth.Add the dates last and pulse a few times to keep lots of chunks rather than blending smooth. These little pops of caramel sweetness add a wonderful touch.Pour the mixture into a container and freeze, stirring every 30 minutes for 3-4 hours to breakup ice crystals.Freeze until solid, then let sit at room temperature for a few minutes before scooping.
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
