a simple {real food} recipe :: homemade chocolate ice cream {dairy free option}

Here is a very easy summer treat you can whip up for your family this weekend! You can feel good about what you will be serving for desert when you know what it’s made up of.  Have you ever looked at the mile long list of ingredients on the back of that store bought ice cream? Even some “healthy” brands are full of toxic preservatives and MSG – not to mention very processed milk to the point of being un-digestable.

Ice cream needs only a few simple ingredients to be delicious – and with the right ingredients can be actually super nutritious.

(If you are on a dairy break, have no access to good trustworthy dairy, or are allergic to dairy – have no fear! Check out this incredible coconut milk ice cream recipe by Mommypotomus! I honestly have never tried it since we are swimming in fresh, raw milk here in the summers, but I completely trust this source 🙂 )

(If you don’t have an ice cream maker here is a super simple “ice cream in a bag” recipe by Nourishing Treasures!)

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 ½ cups whole milk (preferably raw, or organic non homogenized and low pasteurized – never ultra pasteurized – even organic ones)

1 ½ cups real cream (preferably raw, or organic non homogenized and low pasteurized – never ultra pasteurized – even organic ones)

3-4 pastured egg yolks (if you do not have access to pastured eggs I would recommend omitting this ingredient)

½ cup raw honey (support local if possible – otherwise try this or this!)

2 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp sea salt

1-2 TB vodka (optional but this really helps homemade ice cream from getting too hard in the freezer)

¾ cup 100% cocoa (I get a bulk organic cocoa at my local health food store. If you cannot find it local – here is a good option)

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and whisk together with a hand mixer or whisk.
2. Let the bowl sit in the refrigerator for 20 minutes for the ingredients to combine well. I do this instead of heating since I like to maintain the health benefits of the raw milk, raw honey, and yolks.
3. Stir the ingredients again.
4. Pour into your ice cream maker and process according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Mine takes about 30 minutes. It comes out like custard (which I LOVE!) but will freeze more once in the freezer.
5. Scoop the ice cream out and freeze in a container of choice – I like using empty coconut oil jugs! It can take a good half day to freeze up like store bought ice cream.

Kitchen Tips:

1. You can play around with the sweetner. When I’m not heating sweet recipes I love using raw honey because there are so many nutritious benefits to it. But if I’m running low, I have used ¼ cup raw honey and ¼ maple syrup or all maple syrup, and it is still very yummy 🙂 If you only have raw cane sugar or sunacat on hand you may use that too. Play around with some real stevia if you are on a sugar break.
2. I have made the ice cream without the yolks as well if I’m running low on eggs for the week – it is still very creamy – I usually use more cream versus the whole milk if I’m not using yolks.
3. Add a couple TB of brewed coffee to the ice cream mixture to bring out the chocolate flavor! It is certainly optional but I can tell a difference!
4. If you leave out the cocoa you will have just plain vanilla ice cream (my favorite!).
5. If you leave out the cocoa and add a pint of pureed strawberries you will have the most delicious strawberry ice cream.
6. Read here, here, and here about the benefits of fresh raw milk.
7. Here is where you can find fresh raw milk near you. From my experience most areas at the least have a farmer supplier to health food stores that provides a non homogenized, low pasteurized option. Post me questions if you have any! I love talking fresh dairy!
8. Here is a great post by Cheeseslave about how to buy/find pastured eggs and what the difference is.

YOUR TURN!

Let me know how you like the recipe if you try it for the first time!  Do you have any other fun ice cream concoctions you enjoy making?

Hey! I’m coming back for an extra post on Saturday to get you prepped for our back to school week event on SIMPLE! I have a fantastic veggie wash I’m going to share with you, and then next week I will share a fun veggie lunch idea, and a great quick breakfast idea!