Cinnamon Apples and Vanilla Nice Cream

My kids are HUGE ice cream fans and while we treat ourselves to ice cream once in a while I wanted to make an ice cream that they could have for dessert that was not full of sugar and preservatives.  These cinnamon apples and vanilla nice cream taste just like apple pie and ice cream but have no added sugar and are super easy to make!

I usually make a big batch of the cinnamon apples as they can be used as a snack, for dessert, or added to your oatmeal for breakfast.  It really is amazing how good apples taste when they are cooked without anything added except for water and cinnamon.

The nice cream is also my new favourite now that I am trying to cut refined sugar.  It’s super versatile and can be made into any nice cream flavour you like without the need for a fancy ice cream maker!

Add peanut butter, your favourite fruit, or chocolate and you can make any flavour of this knock off ice cream in minutes.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how good nice cream is.  My kids have no idea it’s not the real thing!!

Cinnamon apples

Ingredients:

• 6 apples   (I used 3 granny smith and 3 gala apples. Granny smith apples have the lowest sugar content compared to other apples so you can use all granny smith apples if you are looking to cut back on the natural sugar amount)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp cinnamon (add more if you love cinnamon or just a dash if you prefer less cinnamon)

Instructions:

1. Peel, core, and slice your apples into thin pieces.

2. Place your apples, water, and cinnamon in a pot and simmer on low for 10-15 mins until apples are tender.  Add more water if the water disappears before the apples are cooked.

3. Blend your apples if you want an applesauce texture or leave as is if you prefer them in slices.

Vanilla Nice Cream

Ingredients:

• 3 frozen ripe bananas cut into pieces

*I peel, cut, and then freeze my bananas when they go ripe and leave them in the freezer in case I have a late night nice cream craving or want to add them to a shake.  You will want to use ripe bananas for the added sweetness.  Green bananas won’t give you the same sweet flavour.

• 1/4 cup coconut milk

*I find it makes the nice cream nice and creamy adding coconut milk but you can leave it out if you don’t want the added creaminess or fat.

• 1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

1.Place your frozen bananas, coconut milk, and vanilla in a high-speed blender or food processor and blend.

2. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if you find the bananas are sticking as you go.  Continue to blend until smooth, approximately 3 mins. If your bananas are really frozen it sometimes helps to let them sit at room temperature for 5 mins so they thaw slightly before processing.

3. Serve immediately if you like soft serve or place the nice cream in an airtight container and place it in the freezer for 30 mins.  This will allow it to set and firm up.  I tend to double the batch and place the leftovers in the freezer so that I have a healthy treat on hand anytime I’m craving something sweet.

I hope you enjoy!!

xo Chelsea