I began dreaming about date-sweetened chocolate ice cream many months ago when one of my favorite bloggers, Shannon Pulsifer of Itsy Bitsy Indulgences, shared a photo of a delicious-looking cup of date-sweetened chocolate ice cream she bought at a place in California called the Pressed Juicery. My mouth started watering immediately (my embarrassing ice cream addiction strikes again…haha), and I wanted it! I love foods that are tasty, but don’t make me feel bad. So, I quickly asked Google if there was a Pressed Juicery in my area, but unfortunately for me (maybe not for you!) they’re mostly in California, Texas, and the Northeast. That’s when I became determined to create a delicious date-sweetened chocolate ice cream at home using my Cuisinart Stainless-Steel Ice Cream Maker. I tried a few different recipes before I landed on the one I’m sharing here. It’s chocolatey, creamy, and just the right sweetness. If you end up trying it, let me know what you think. I’m always looking to tweak recipes and make them yummier. Who knows…maybe one day when the kiddos are a bit older I’ll look into opening a healthy ice cream shop in the Raleigh-area. Until then, this recipe is my new go to for date-sweetened chocolate ice cream. Cheers, friends!
Date-Sweetened Chocolate Ice Cream
Equipment
- High-Powered Blender (e.g., Vitamix) or Food Processor
- Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
Ice Cream
- 2 14 ounce cans full-fat coconut milk
- 10 large soft Medjool dates (pitted!)
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
Toppings (optional)
- chopped almonds
- dried coconut flakes (unsweetened)
- dark chocolate
- berries (raspberries, strawberries, etc.)
Instructions
- Blend all of the ice cream ingredients (not the toppings!) in a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix) or in a food processor. Make sure everything is combined really well, because you don't want to bite into chunks of date in your ice cream.
- Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow instructions for your machine.
- Scoop into a serving bowl and top with your favorite toppings.
- Enjoy!
