As the weather heats up, the hunt is on for refreshing, cold snacks that are also good for you. A lot of ice cream contains emulsifiers and other preservatives which have been linked to colitis and metabolic syndrome(1) – meaning that while they’re undeniably delicious, they’re not the best for your gut.
Fortunately, dairy-free, preservative-free ice cream is relatively cheap and easy to make, so you don’t have to give up frozen treats entirely. This recipe yields a product that is creamy and about the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. Made with bananas and almond butter, it is sweet and perfect for those hot summer days.
Banana-Almond Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 5-7 bananas
- 1-2 cups raw almonds, or premade almond butter to taste
Instructions
Peel the bananas and break them into small parts first before freezing. Leave in freezer for a few hours, or overnight.
Use a food processor to blend your raw almonds until they have a smooth, creamy texture, like store-bought nut butter – this could take up to ten minutes depending on how powerful your food processor is. If you’re impatient, you can also use pre-made, store-bought nut butter and skip this step entirely.
Remove most of the nut butter from the food processor, leaving a bit in there for the next step. Add the frozen bananas to the food processor. Use the food processor’s pulse function to blend the bananas with the almond butter until it’s completely smooth.
Now add the rest of the nut butter to taste. You can also include any of the following ingredients for an extra tasty treat:
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Raisins or other dried fruit
- Frozen cherries, vanilla extract and cacao nibs
- Peppermint extract
- Strawberries
Health Benefits Of Bananas
Everyone knows bananas are a good source of potassium, a vital nutrient that we all need to get plenty of. According to the World Health Organization, many individuals worldwide are actually potassium-deficient(2), so if you’re looking to give your potassium levels a boost, this recipe is a great option.
You Can Use Unripe Green Bananas
Unripe green bananas are a good source of resistant starch, a starch which behaves like dietary fiber and has been shown to have beneficial effects in disease prevention, diabetes prevention and weight management. In a 2010 study, researchers looking at the role of bananas in the diets of people in the Federated States of Micronesia wrote that:
“Green banana… should be promoted in Micronesia and other places for their rich (resistant starch) content and related health benefits including diabetes control.”(3)
So for a simple treat that’s easily modified to fit your dietary preferences and is loaded with healthy ingredients, try this ice cream recipe – you won’t be disappointed.