Black Forest Chia Pudding Nice Cream Recipe (Healthy Banana Ice Cream)
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Yield: 2 generous-sized servings
 
Smooth and creamy like ice cream, this nice cream is fruit-based, contains healthy fat, and is equally satisfying for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Chocolate Chia Pudding Layer:
  • 1 cup (240 ml) plain unsweetened almond milk (or any kind of milk you like)
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 packet (1g) stevia
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch sea salt
Cherry Jam Layer:
  • 1 cup (140 g) frozen cherries
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 packet (1g) stevia
  • ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract (or vanilla extract)
  • 1 pinch sea salt
Cherry Banana Nice Cream Layer:
  • 1 large banana, peeled, cut into 1 to 2-inch chunks, and frozen
  • 1 cup (140 g) frozen cherries
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
  • 1 packet (1g) stevia
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk (or heavy cream)
Other:
  • 2 cherries, for topping
  • 2 teaspoons chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
  1. For the Chocolate Chia Pudding Layer, stir together the milk, chia seeds, cocoa powder, stevia, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Once the pudding has “gelled”, divide it between two glass jars.
  2. For the Cherry Jam Layer, add the cherries and water to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cover the saucepan and cook until the cherries are soft, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding a splash more water if needed. Mash up the cherries a bit with a fork, and stir in the stevia, almond extract, and salt. Cool to room temperature, and then store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. (Alternatively, you can make this in the microwave instead of on the stovetop.) Once cooled, spoon the Cherry Jam on top of the 2 chia puddings.
  3. For the Cherry Banana Nice Cream Layer, add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and process until smooth and creamy (adding only enough liquid so it reaches the right consistency), tamping down the ingredients as necessary. Spoon the nice cream on top of the Cherry Jam Layer. Top each with a cherry and 1 teaspoon chopped chocolate.
  4. Once the nice cream layer is added to the pudding, serve immediately.
Notes
Variations:

Vanilla Bean Banana Nice Cream with Berry Sauce:

1. For the nice cream, use 2 large bananas, omit the cherries and cocoa powder, and add ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
2. Omit the chia pudding layer.
3. For the jam layer, use frozen mixed berries and make a double batch using the same method as the cherry jam recipe above (2 cups mixed frozen berries, 2 tablespoons water, 2 (1g) packets stevia, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 pinch sea salt).
4. Top with chopped chocolate and frozen raspberries.

Peanut Butter Cup Nice Cream:

1. For the nice cream, use 2 large bananas, and omit the cherries and cocoa powder.
2. Once you make the nice cream, remove half (to keep it vanilla), and add 1½ tablespoons to the nice cream still in the blender and blend it (to make it chocolate).
3. Layer the two with melted peanut butter in the middle.
4. Top with chopped chocolate and salted peanuts.
Recipe by An Edible Mosaic™ at https://www.anediblemosaic.com/black-forest-chia-pudding-nice-cream/