Deliciously Simple: Vegan Ice Cream and Sorbet for Healthier Sweet Cravings

Who is this Gemma, the British woman whose simple two-ingredient ice cream recipe video went viral on YouTube and gathered an astounding 10 million views?
I tried it, and it's fantastic!

Two-Ingredient Dairy Ice Cream
Whip 450 ml of cold heavy cream in a mixer.
Once it thickens, add a can (400 ml) of sweetened condensed milk.
I’m taking a quick trip down memory lane to our previous article in this series, where we talked about checking the ingredients to ensure the condensed milk is free of unnecessary additives. Read it here.
Continue whipping until you get a stiff cream.
That's it.
Your ice cream base is ready.
So simple, like all the truly good things in life.

How to choose the best condensed milk

Now, you can customize this base with whatever you like:
Chocolate chips, cookie crumbles, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, caramelized walnuts (homemade, of course), a mixed nut and honey or maple syrup blend, fruits, homemade jams – it all works.

After being creative, freeze the ice cream overnight.
Delightful!

Two-ingredient dairy ice cream

Kudos to Gemma.
But, with all respect to Gemma, unfortunately, I haven't found any heavy cream in Israel without stabilizers and preservatives.
I’ve reached out to customer service at Yotvata (Strauss) and Tara, but it doesn’t seem like anyone on their side is picking up the gauntlet anytime soon.
The second ingredient, condensed milk, has a lot of sugar.
It's a better alternative to store-bought ice cream, but I also have my own two-ingredient ice cream recipe.
A parve/vegan ice cream base with more natural and healthy ingredients.
At the end of this article, I’ll share my two-ingredient version for you to try.

But before that, another recipe, this time for sorbet.
Fruit sorbet: sweet and colorful, like flavored snow.

Fruit sorbet

When you have just-ripe fruits in your fruit basket that are about to spoil, cut them into cubes and freeze them.
(Yes, banana – we're mainly talking to you, those brown spots aren’t really honey).

In summer, melon or watermelon sorbet is a favorite.

Frozen fruits from the store are also an option. Wonderful fruits like frozen pineapple – discussed before for its health benefits.
Even frozen strawberries – from pest-free special cultivation, of course.
A real treat.

For a soft and quality sorbet, you need a good food processor. One that doesn’t embarrass you when you throw in the frozen fruits, transforming them into a refreshing sorbet that melts on the tongue and in your soul.
For those with a simpler food processor, you can grind the fruits at room temperature and then freeze the mixture. The texture might be less airy but absolutely delicious and healthy nonetheless.

Ice Creams

Fruit Sorbet
Blend together 100 grams of powdered sugar with 500 grams of frozen fruits and a quarter cup of lemon juice.
You can substitute the sugar with half a cup of honey or maple syrup.
Lemon juice is essential – it prevents the sugar/honey from freezing into a hard block.
After blending, transfer to a bowl and whisk – this process incorporates air bubbles, making the sorbet fluffy.
Pour into cups and serve immediately.
You can freeze leftovers – they’ll still be tasty, though not quite the same.
A small tip for adults only, especially before Purim - a touch of "m’chayeh" (Moroccan arak from fruit extract) adds an interesting twist to taste and texture.

Returned now to the banana – the yellow energy bomb
Bananas are rich in potassium, known for its importance to heart health, but that’s not all.
Bananas also contain magnesium, beneficial for muscles, and vitamins B and C.
Bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid essential for producing serotonin.
Serotonin – we’ve talked before about this important hormone responsible for calming, relaxation, mood enhancement, and concentration.
Our bodies are inhabited by billions of friendly bacteria crucial for body function. They are part of who we are. I hope to dedicate a special article to these tiny fellows in the future, baruch Hashem.
Meanwhile, I’ll just add that bananas are an excellent food for them.
And when those bacteria are happy – naturally, so are we.

By the way, if a family member suffers from a wound, bite, or even a wart, rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the affected area can provide relief.
Maybe that's why monkeys are so cheerful and lively?

Vegan two-ingredient ice cream

Vegan Two-Ingredient Ice Cream
Freeze 4 ripe bananas cut into pieces.
Grind the frozen bananas with a quarter cup of coconut milk in a strong food processor.
That's it.
You've got ice cream.
Or rather, an ice cream base.
If you're watching your weight, eat it as is or add cocoa powder for chocolate ice cream.
But it's better to sweeten it with honey, maple syrup, or even coconut sugar, and, of course, get creative with toppings – then freeze.

What pairs well with ice cream?
Marshmallow.
Soft and airy marshmallow clouds.
More on that, with Hashem’s help, in the next article.
Until then, wishing you much health,
Chen Tovi