Yogurt Ice Cream Substitute

I often am asked about ice cream as many people cannot resist the creamy, sweet, cool taste sensation of this treat.  “What can I do to replace this treat?”  I have clients who eat it every night and know they need to end this not so health giving ice cream relationship.

This is my version of something that is a creamy & yummy treat.  If you avoid dairy products, delete this version and see the Sorbet below.

  • ½ to 1 cup of whole fat, pasture raised yogurt (available at Potsdam Coop and Nature’s Storehouse, Canton)  Buy plain yogurt as you can add your own sweetener and avoid the highly over sweetened, commercial varieties. Shopping at Price Chopper or Walmart: buy an organic, plain yogurt, full fat from pasture raised animals.
  • 1-2 tbsp. of organic peanut butter, almond butter (some yummy nut or seed butter to add to the creamy texture, I really like Nuttzo 7 Nut & Seed Butter)
  • ½ to 1 tsp. real vanilla extract.
  • ½ to 1 tsp. raw, local honey or raw, local maple syrup (the darker B & C grades of syrup are less refined & more nutritious)

Optional spices & flavors:  cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, hazelnut extract, almond extract, coffee extract, chocolate extract or cocoa powder…… use your imagination and flavor to your liking.

I also add raw, organic nuts and seeds of various types to give it crunchiness;  organic no added sweetener granola, local / seasonal berries or fruit (depending on the time of year).  Use your imagination but keep it whole foods and low sweetener.

If I am eating this as ‘breakfast’, I often will beat a local, free range, naturally fed chicken egg and add to the yogurt-nut butter base, then add flavors and fruit.  This adds healthy fats, protein, vitamin  A & D, iron, minerals, and all sorts of good nutrients! Add your favorite fruit or berries. Do not use commercially raised, factory farm raised eggs.

Fruit Sorbet Ice Cream Alternative

This works very well if you have a good blender.  I use my vita-mix.  Other high quality, bar blender type blenders, also work well.

Put all ingredients in the blender and quickly blend into a thick puree.  If you blend too long, especially in the vita-mix, it will warm up and melt things a bit.  The more frozen fruit you use with the ½ cup milk, the more “frozen” the sorbet.  Do not make more than you will eat as it freezes rock hard.