Cacao-Peppermint Nice Crème

When blending to a creamy “soft serve” consistency, frozen bananas make a healthy, beautifully delicious ice cream alternative, not unlike vanilla soft serve you had as a kid, only much better for you. Dairy-based commercial ice cream is loaded with saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, plus many other dubious additives, so creating luscious, imaginative alternatives is a brilliant wellness choice. Once you get the basics down here, you will be amazed at the many stunning flavors you can create, such as this one. Enjoy it in good health!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups frozen banana chunks
• 1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked 30-60 minutes (See Why Soak Nuts & Seeds?)
• 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder, or more to taste
• 2-4 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or other plant-based options.
• 1 teaspoon organic peppermint extract

Directions:

Place frozen banana slices, cashews, cacao powder, and peppermint extract to a high-speed food processor or blender. Start adding the almond or coconut milk, using as little as necessary to create a thick ice crème. Blend on high until creamy, stopping to scrape the sides every so often. You might wish to let the bananas thaw slightly for easier blending, then freeze your mixture for 1-2 hours to attain an ice crème consistency.