Chocolate Banana Ice

July 12, 2017
Chocolate Banana Ice

This post is sponsored by Barlean's.  In exchange for writing this post, I received compensation and the products used to develop my recipe.  As always, all content and opinions are my own. 

One of my favorite things about summer is dessert: dishes of ice cream, gourmet ice pops, blended coffee drinks with plenty of chocolate.  But since I try to moderate my sugar consumption, my favorite frozen desserts are more of an occasional indulgence than a nightly treat.  What do I do when there's a weeks-long heat wave?  Make banana ice!

I first learned about banana ice from the Kitchn--thanks to bananas' high pectin content, you can use a food processor to transform frozen bananas into a creamy dessert similar in texture to frozen yogurt.  When Barlean's asked me to develop a recipe using their Chocolate Silk Greens, banana ice seemed like the perfect starting point for a healthy summer snack.

Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens is made with fair-trade cocoa and powdered fruits and vegetables.  It's sweetened with stevia and is non-GMO and soy, dairy, and gluten-free.  Despite the moniker and the ingredient list, the powder has a delicious, light chocolate taste--you wouldn't guess that you're eating vegetables.  Barlean's recommends mixing a scoop of Chocolate Silk Greens with a cup of dairy or non-dairy milk as a healthy alternative to chocolate milk or hot chocolate.  There's also a great recipe booklet that includes smoothies, energy bites, and even gluten-free brownies made with Chocolate Silk Greens. 

Chocolate Banana Ice

My chocolate banana ice is perfect for those with dietary restrictions, since it's dairy-free, vegan, and contains no added sugar.  You'll get a full serving of fruit in each 1/2 cup serving of chocolate banana ice, plus additional antioxidants and nutrients from the Chocolate Silk Greens.  Cinnamon and vanilla add an extra depth of flavor.  It may take some time to process the bananas to the correct consistency--just keep processing, scraping down the bowl of the food processor as necessary, until the frozen bananas have a light, smooth texture similar to mousse.  Mix in the flavorings, and then freeze the chocolate banana ice in a covered container until solid, about 4 hours.  Scoop into a dish and enjoy--try making your chocolate banana ice into a healthy sundae by adding toppings like chopped nuts, fresh berries, or unsweetened shredded coconut.

Want to try this recipe at home?  I'm giving away a container of Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens to a randomly selected reader--enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post by midnight Central Time on July 16, 2017 (U.S. residents only).

Inspired by the Kitchn

Yield: about 2 (1/2) cup servings

Ingredients:

Chocolate Banana Ice
  • 2 bananas, cut into 1/2 inch slices and frozen (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 2 scoops Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Place frozen bananas in a food processor and process until light and smooth, scraping bowl of food processor as needed. 

Chocolate Banana Ice

Add Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens, cinnamon, and vanilla and process until completely mixed.

Chocolate Banana Ice

Transfer mixture to container with a tightly-fitting lid.  Cover and freeze until solid, about 4 hours.

Chocolate Banana Ice
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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