Paleo & Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream |

It is HIGH TIME this dish came to be.
One of the best things that came from writing my cookbook was discovering the perfect template recipe for dairy-free ice cream. The magic comes from a combination of soaked cashews, coconut milk and maple syrup. I find that this trifecta of awesomeness results in the creamiest texture, without any unpleasant ice crystals.
And once you have that down, the ice cream world is your oyster! Have fun with flavorings and mix-ins (remember to add anything textured AFTER churning, like nuts or coconut flakes or chocolate chips). Making homemade ice cream deserves some serious demystification, because 1) ice cream makers are not particularly expensive (I use THIS one) and 2) The process is eassyyy peassyyy. I promise!
As I brainstormed recipes to help y'all get in the St. Patty's Day spirit, enjoying the unseasonably warm Nashville weather (p.s. it's snowing as I type this), nothing sounded better than a bowl of ice cream in that ephemeral perfect state—when it has just melted enough so that your spoon glides effortlessly through, and there's a puddle at base of bowl to scoop between bites, making it all last longer.
Or maybe it's just me that waxes poetic about ice cream...
Anyway, I had a serious craving for some ice cream, and with the luckiest holiday approaching, Mint Chocolate Chip was a shoe-in! Plus, it's my favorite flavor :).
This Mint Chocolate Chip couldn't be more simple to make, and it is mind-blowingly delicious. I'd wager that you enjoy it even more than the classic Baskin Robbins variety, because you can truly feel great about eating it! My version is full of healthy fats from nuts and coconut, as well as vitamins and mineral from spinach (added for color and nutrition!). And, obvi, it's completely free from refined sugar, hydrogenated fats and poor quality dairy. I tested the ice cream first with mint leaves, but the truth is—you gotta have that sharp peppermint flavor only possible with extract. I also chop the chocolate chips, to ensure that each bite is full of goodness.
If you love ice cream, I highly recommend investing in a homemade ice cream maker and giving it a try! Please tag me on social media if you do 🙂 @lauralealbalanced (Instagram).
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
|