In this blog I'm talking all things ice-cream – a big favourite in my house. Sadly, most shop-bought ice-creams are full of preservatives, colours, stabilisers and emulsifiers... and are of course loaded with sugar. My solution? Read on...
It’s actually really easy to make any kind of healthy sorbet or ice-cream at home in no time at all! All you need is a food processor (or handheld blender), a few lolly moulds and/or wooden sticks. I’ve shared all my tips below so that you are all prepared in time for the next heatwave.
1. For easy instant sorbet or ice-cream, all you need to do is blitz frozen chopped up fruit. Cut the fruit into tiny pieces, freeze overnight in a bag or Tupperware, then when ready to eat, blend (add a drizzle of honey and vanilla paste for extra flavour) and serve immediately in a bowl or cone.
For a creamier option just add a dash of cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free). I've made great ice-creams with peaches, raspberries & tinned lychees.
2. For extra ‘wow’ serve your homemade ice-cream or sorbet in the fruit itself! For example, scoop out the flesh of a pineapple, melon, watermelon or lemon, freeze the fruit, blitz it up and then serve it in the leftover rind. Kids adore this retro 1980s look! For more frozen watermelon ideas see here.
3. To really appeal to kids, buy fun lolly moulds - there are endless shapes and sizes available. Just pour in any blitzed fruit and freeze. For other options use yoghurt, cream, gut-healthy kombucha and kefir. See more recipe examples here and here.
With the same method, I also use silicone jelly moulds to make frozen sweets (and the yoghurt bears and unicorns seen below). You'll find the recipe for the rabbit lollies here and more homemade ice-cream ideas on the recipe page of my website.
4. To look super professional without much effort, coat any homemade lolly in melted chocolate or fruit purée. I freeze custard (homemade or bought) in moulds with a wooden stick, then remove them, dip into melted chocolate (for magnum style) or fruit purée (for solero style) and then refreeze. For 'how to' videos and recipes, see my recent magnum and solero reels on Instagram.
5. For hassle-free lollies, place a wooden stick into small bought yoghurt pots, sugar-free fromage frais or fruit compotes and freeze. The containers work brilliantly if you don't have lolly moulds because you can use the pots afterwards to combine compotes and yoghurts and make more. Kids of whatever age can help you 'make' these, as it literally couldn’t be easier.
6. Make delicious frozen yoghurt bark. Spread thick yoghurt onto a parchment-lined tray and sprinkle with healthy toppings such as bee pollen, freeze dried raspberry, chopped pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes. Put in the freezer until set, then break up and serve as the perfect healthy snack. For another easy healthy frozen snack recipe click here.
7. Serve up fruit in an ice-cream cone. Cut the fruit into long strips and then decorate with passion fruit pulp, berries and mint leaves. See the recipe here. Kids seem to love anything in a cone which makes this a great option for parties. You can read more about my kid's party ideas here and here.
8. When making homemade ice-cream it's all about flavour combinations. Some successful blends we love include:
3) mango (purée from a tin) with lime or coconut milk
I find avocado is a great tasty, nutritious and filling alternative for those after creamy dairy-free ice-creams and lollies.
9. Buy healthy shop-bought ice-creams like kefir and no-sugar options. For some colourful and healthy homemade toppings try goji berries (chopped), pumpkin seeds, green pistachios and freeze-dried fruit.
