Strawberry-Chocolate Dairy-Free Ice Cream

You don't have to be dairy-free to appreciate this simple and delicious dessert.  "Nice cream", ice cream made with a frozen banana base, is an absolute favorite in our household.  We make vanilla bean, chocolate, and peanut butter cup versions as well as this classic combination.

You need to have a powerful food processor or blender in order to make this.  Otherwise it will struggle and you'll end up needing to add to much milk, resulting in a rather thin milk shake.  Not a bad result, but it's not ice cream.

5 Ingredients + A Blender Is All You Need!
Frozen Bananas - if you don't currently have any in the freezer, once you have a few ripe bananas (they are the most creamy and flavorful if you wait until they are fully ripened), peel them and lay them on a parchment or freezer paper-lined cookie sheet and pop that in the freezer for a couple hours.  You can store them in any freezer-safe container or bag in the freezer until you need them.

Frozen Strawberries - sliced frozen strawberries are easiest on your blender, but whole will work.  Again, if you don't have any currently in the freezer, you can wash and dry a handful, place them on a parchment or freezer paper-lined cookie sheet and pop that in the freezer for a few hours.  Transfer them to any freezer-safe container or bag and store in the freezer until needed.

Milk - use non-dairy if you would like to keep this non-dairy, any milk will work (dairy, nut, oat, etc.).

Sweetener - this is optional, but a little bit does add the perfect sweetness.  You can use honey, maple syrup or date syrup.  If you only have granulated sugar, you would want to make a simple syrup and add it after completely cooled. (simple syrup = equal parts hot water and sugar, stirred until granulated sugar is completely dissolved)

Chocolate - chunks, chips, broken up chocolate bars, whatever you've got or prefer will work here.  Use non-dairy if you'd like to keep this non-dairy.

Strawberry-Chocolate Dairy-Free Ice Cream
makes 2 cups

2 frozen bananas, cut into chunks
2 1/4 cups frozen strawberries slices
1-3 tablespoons milk (any non-dairy or dairy will work)
1 tablespoon liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or date syrup), optional
1/4 cup chopped chocolate (chunks or chips will work)

Add bananas, strawberries, 1 tablespoon of the milk and liquid sweetener (if using) to either a food processor bowl or to a high-power blender.  Mix.  Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons milk if necessary to get the fruit to blend.  Stir in the chocolate.

Serve or store in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 1 hour.