Not quite ready to trade in your frozen custard treat for a hot pumpkin spice latte? We understand the struggle.
After all, ice cream is a beloved staple of summer vacation, and though you can enjoy it year round, there's nothing more satisfying than a scoop of your favorite flavor on a waffle cone during a hot summer's day.
With summer winding down, and local ice cream parlors getting ready to pack it up and head south for the winter, you might feel a slight urgency to indulge in a couple extra scoops before the season officially ends.
But have no fear! Because we have a few simple, yet oh-so satisfying dessert hacks that will allow you to still enjoy your favorite treats, like ice cream, with some nutrient dense-ingredients added into the mix
3 Ice Cream Hacks
You scream. I scream. We all can't get enough of the delicious taste of ice cream. But this traditional summer treat also happens to be more calorie dense vs. nutrient dense. In fact, ice cream offers very little nutritional value.
Though it may contain calcium, Vitamin D, potassium, and protein, the amount of these key nutrients is low, especially when you compare it to the amount of saturated fat and added sugars.
How much sugar is in ice cream?
It's no secret that regular ice cream, even basic flavors like vanilla, contains sugar (approximately 14 grams per ½ cup). To make ice cream fluffy and creamier, air can be mixed into the ice cream during a process called ‘overrun'. And depending on the overrun of the ice cream, the amount of sugar per serving could be even higher due to a higher density of ingredients (including sugar).
If you're trying to pursue a nutrient-dense lifestyle, you might think ice cream is off the menu. Not quite! There are tons of ice cream hack ideas that offer the same great taste of this popular frozen treat.
Here are three you can try at home.
Nice Cream
What started as a vegan alternative to dairy-free ice cream quickly picked up momentum, thanks to its rich, creamy taste and texture that mimics the real thing.
The base of this concoction is frozen bananas, which then goes into a food processor with a hint of plant-based milk. The original recipe is delicious on its own, but here's where it gets a little more fun!
Using nutrient-dense ingredients, such as strawberries, blueberries, mangos, or even nut butters, you can create your own Nice Cream flavors at home in less than a minute.
For a quick tutorial on making Nice Cream, check out this helpful guide for beginners.
Greek Yogurt Pops
This recipe is pretty easy. After combining Greek yogurt with your favorite fruits and nuts, you quickly blend them until smooth, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds, and finally, put them in the freezer for a refreshing after-dinner treat.
As with Nice Cream, the combinations of nutrient-dense ingredients and flavors are endless, but the satisfying taste is always the same.
Keto Ice Cream
If you're after the real-deal, you can always substitute ingredients, like sugar, with alternative sweeteners, like allulose.
In this quick and easy recipe from The Spruce Eats, you'll learn how to make the ultimate vanilla ice cream, using heavy cream (or coconut milk), allulose, vanilla extract, and salt.
If you follow our blog, you know that allulose looks, tastes, and bakes like real sugar. Similar to fructose and glucose, allulose is a simple carbohydrate but similar to fiber, our body cannot digest or “use” it. Therefore, allulose won't impact your blood sugar.
To learn more about the benefits of this popular sugar alternative, check out this article!
3 Dessert Hacks for Chocolate Lovers
We've given you a lot to think about and try at home, but for those who prefer chocolate dessert hacks, we have that covered, too!
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
This decadent, rich pudding recipe combines ripe avocados with cocoa powder, vanilla extract, non-dairy milk, and a sweetener of your choosing.
The main ingredient, avocado, is also rich in many essential macro and micronutrients like fiber, Vitamin C, and magnesium—just to name a few.
And with less than 5 minutes to prepare this recipe, and only 30 minutes needed to chill it, you'll be dining on this sweet, nutrient-dense treat in no time at all.
Dark Chocolate Chip Stuffed Strawberries
If you read our article on dark chocolate chips, you know these little guys are both nutritious and delicious! Stuffing dark chocolate chips into strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries will give you that rich, bitter sweetness you're after!
Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies
We mentioned how allulose bakes like real sugar, right? Well imagine achieving the same rich caramelizing effect of real sugar to make your favorite cookies?
In this recipe, you'll learn how to prepare and bake the perfect batch of low-carb chocolate chip cookies to bring to those end-of-summer BBQs or share with the family after dinner.
Stay Connected
By now, you know that sticking to a nutrient-dense lifestyle never means sacrificing flavor. Want more inspiration? Remember to visit our blog page often for new articles, resources, and nutritional information!