Chocolate Almond Banana Ice Cream

This is the evening treat to have in our house.  This variety, using almond butter is particularly awesome.  However, if you're not into buying the insanely expensive almond butter or perhaps there's a nut allergy nearby, you can omit any of the ingredients except the bananas, they are kind of essential. All other ingredients can be swapped, left out, adjusted, whatever!  And you don't really have to measure, we never do, just kind of go for it.  Take the risk. You can do it. 

And another  fantastic use for ripe bananas!  Just be sure you peel and chop them BEFORE you put them in the freezer.  You'll thank yourself later.  

Chocolate Almond Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas, peeled, chopped, and frozen (overnight)
1 tbsp almond butter (or any nut/seed butter, or omit completely and it still tastes great)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup or a bit more almond milk, or another milk/milk alternative

What to do:
1) Take frozen bananas out of freezer and let sit for about 5 minutes if they are rock hard frozen.  Then, empty into food processor or high speed blender ensuring they are broken up/separated and not stuck together into large banana chunks)

2) Add in all other ingredients and blend!  Blend, blend, blend.  Take off top, using a spatula scoop down the sides and smash it down bit to even it out, easier on the blender.  Then blend some more.  Blend, blend, blend, smash down, scoop, down, blend some more.  Repeat until it forms a nice, smooth soft serve ice cream consistency.  

3) Work quickly so it doesn't melt much more.  Scoop ice cream out into a large bowl, or individual bowls, and place bowls into freezer to firm up a bit more.  Lick food processor dishes before washing.  A must in our house. 

4) After about 30 minutes in the freezer, it should have started to harden back up into a scoop-able ice cream.  Serve as is, with an easy dairy-free chocolate sauce, sprinkled with hemp and chia seeds, or chopped strawberry, or all of the above as I like it.  

Enjoy guys!  This is a common dessert in our house!  We hope you love it, too!