DIY Vegan Icecream: No Machine Needed!

In Belgium, when you find out you are pregnant, you apply for a 1000 euro ‘gift’ from the government. I suppose that these euros should have been used to buy a crib, some disposable diapers, a fancy-dancy stroller and all the other accoutrements that tend to be suggested to new parents as ‘essentials’.

We used our euros in a slightly different manner, one that I feel certain supported the growth and development of our wee fetus – we bought the LandRoover model of icecream makers. I mean, this thing weighed more than all the weight I gained during my pregnancy – this thing was HUGE. HUGE! (see, another reason to be a crunchy granola mama – you can buy icecream makers instead of strollers!)

We spent many of those weekends before Aodhan’s birth making and eating piles and piles of homemade vegan icecream. My favs were Chocolate Coconut Milk Icecream and Coconut-Cardamon Mango Icecream. Both recipes you are welcome to rip off from my old vegan food blog. Just make sure to thank me while you are enjoying their decadent tastiness.

We ended up bringing our massive machine with us when we moved, but used it so rarely because of the rigmarole that ensued anytime we wanted to you know – plug it in. (Seriously, can the EU and Canada NOT get it together when it comes to electrical volts? How hard can it be?) It has since been left behind during a subsequent move

(me: Kevin I am going to bring down the icecream maker. Kevin: no, no, I will get it. Just leave it till morning. me: Kevin where the hell is the icecream maker? Kevin: silence).

So, until Kevin coughs up and replaces my icecream maker, we are flying old school. Here is an easy vegan icecream recipe that you can make without any fancy million euro icecream maker.

First thing, I will be straight up and say that you need to plan ahead and have some bananas in your freezer, but we all have bananas in the freezer, right? Right?

Ingredients: 
2 Frozen bananas
2 teaspoons of maple syrup
2 teaspoons of cocoa powder

Tools:
I used my ancient food processor and a rubber spatula
Also needed a ratchet to cut the bananas because someone didn’t peel them before putting them in the freezer

Get down on it:
All you do is slice your fruit, add it to your food processor, add your cocoa, your maple syrup and turn it on.
Here is where I get all Master Chef – scrap the sides down and then turn your machine on again.

After the icecream is a smooth consistency, you can now use your rubber spatula to transfer your chocolate supreme treat into a plastic sandwich bag and snip the bottom off (don’t panic, my bag has been reused at least 6 times and was now in the ‘craft’ pile). I now used some mad skills and pipped this icecream into our little Beatrix Potter bowl and voila! Happy Kiddo.

So yummy. So fun. Do it.