Yummy Healthy Desserts

I used to be an ice cream addict.  I haven't eaten ice cream in many years, and I don't miss it (yes your tastes can change).  But I still enjoy something sweet and cold.  Here are some easy healthy options that don't have the fat and sugar found in ice cream.  In some of these we use frozen bananas.  When your bananas start to ripen, peel them and break in half (or smaller slices), place in a zip lock back and freeze.  

Chocolate Peanut Butter “Ice Cream”

4 frozen bananas (if I am just doing this for me, i use 1-2)

1/2 cup soy or other non-dairy milk

2 Tbl peanut butter

2 Tbl cocoa powder

dash cinnamon

handful of ice cubes

Add to a high-powered blender (milk at the bottom) and blend while tamping down with a tamper.

Banana Mango Ice Cream (from DrFuhrman.com)

1 frozen banana

2 cups frozen mango

2 pitted dates (most of the time i don't even add these as it is sweet enough)

1/4-1/2 cup soy or other non-dairy milk

5-6 cubes of ice (optional)

handful of walnuts or pecans

Add to a high-powered blender and blend while tamping down with the tamper.

Chocolate Pudding Mousse

This is a rich and creamy dessert.  Kids will love it.

1 avocado

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 banana

1/3 to 1/2 cup of raw cocoa powder

1/3 cup honey or date sugar

Blend, eat and go to heaven.  

Acai Bowl

Acai berries are some of the most anti-oxidant rich fruits on the planet.  

4 packages of Sambazon unsweetened frozen acai puree

2-4 Tbl almond butter (optional)

1/2 cup soy or other non-dairy milk

1/2 cup orange juice

Optional:

soy yogurt

(don't add too much liquid)

Choices of Toppings:

Old fashioned oats or granola

unsweetened dried coconut

berries

sliced bananas

other fresh fruit

honey

Combine acai, almond butter, and milk in a high-powered blender until smooth.  Top with choice of toppings.  Drizzle with honey.  

"Nice Cream"

This is from my good friend JL Fields, an awesome cook and author of a number of cookbooks.  It is so simple and easy to make. At first glance it doesn't seem like it would be that good.  But trust me, it is very, very tasty. My husband and I sometimes have this for dinner. It's like eating dessert for dinner but without the guilt.

Blueberry "Nice Cream"

4 frozen bananas peeled and cut into chunks

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

small amount of non-dairy milk to get the right consistency (especially if using frozen blueberries)

pinch of salt (optional)

toppings of choice (nuts, sliced fruit, berries, coconut)

Puree ingredients in a food processor or good blender, tamping down or scraping down sides as needed, until smooth and creamy.

(serves 4)

This one is probably my absolute favorite.  I will servie it on top of toast with peanut butter.

Cherry "Nice Cream"

4 frozen bananas peeled and cut into chunks

2-3 cups frozen sweet cherries

small amount of non-dairy milk to get the right consistency (especially if using frozen blueberries)

toppings of choice (nuts, sliced fruit, berries, coconut)

Puree ingredients in a food processor or good blender, tamping down or scraping down sides as needed, until smooth and creamy.

(serves 4)

Raw Chocolate-Banana Pie with Coconut-Pecan Crust (serves 12)

This is a pretty rich and decadent tasting dessert, so not something I would eat every day. Great for special occasions and when you want to impress your non-plant-based friends. It is a dessert you can feel ok about eating, as long as you share.

CRUST

1 cup raw pecans

1/2 cup lightly packed dates, coarsely chopped

1 cup plus 2 TBL unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 cup raw cocoa nibs (or semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips)

Combine pecans, coconut and dates in a blender until crumbly. Add half of cocoa nibs (set aside the rest) and pulse until mixture forms. Press into pie pan to form crust.

FILLING

4 medium ripe avocados (you don't want overly ripe)

1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (slightly more if you like it sweeter)

2 TBL coconut oil (not sure if this is really needed, so optional)

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup cocoa powder, raw if possible

2 medium bananas, fairly ripe

18 pecan halves (to garnish top of pie)

Halve avocados and scoop out the flesh. Combine avocado flesh, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla, cocoa powder and bananas in food processor. Process until very smooth and creamy, occasionally scraping sides of food processor with spatula; add up to 1/3 cup warm water 1 TBL at a time if necessary, to thin. Transfer to crust, smoothing top. Scatter remaining 2 TBL of coconut and cocoa nibs on top of pie. Arrange pecan halves around outside of pie. Chill 1 hour (or until firm) before serving.