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Cherry Garcia Nice Cream

A guilt-free vegan dessert made with frozen bananas and cherries, offering a creamy, chocolatey delight without sugar overload.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Vegan
Calories: 185
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Nice Cream Base
  • 4 large ripe bananas, peeled, sliced, and frozen Use very ripe bananas for best sweetness.
  • 1.5 cups frozen sweet cherries, pitted Fresh cherries can be frozen ahead if in season.
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder For subtle chocolate depth.
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Quality vanilla improves flavor.
For Texture and Smoothness
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk or other plant milk as needed Add slowly to reach desired creaminess.
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Brightens the fruit flavors.
For the Cherry Garcia Crunch
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate (70% cacao recommended) Use dairy-free chips to keep it vegan.
  • 2 tablespoons cacao nibs or crushed dark chocolate Optional but classic for extra crunch.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Slice ripe bananas and freeze them on a baking sheet for at least 2 hours or overnight until solid.
  2. Pit and freeze cherries if not already frozen.
Blending
  1. Add frozen banana slices to a high-speed blender or food processor and pulse until the bananas break down into coarse crumbs.
  2. Add frozen cherries, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and lemon juice, then blend continuously, adding plant milk until the mixture becomes smooth and scoopable.
  3. Taste the mixture. If you prefer it sweeter, add up to 1 teaspoon of maple syrup.
  4. Transfer the nice cream to a bowl and fold in chocolate chips and cacao nibs.
Serving
  1. For soft-serve, serve immediately. For firmer texture, freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  2. Let sit at room temperature for 3 to 5 minutes before scooping.

Notes

Use very ripe bananas for natural sweetness. To avoid icy texture, add enough milk to move the blades without excess.