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This is a vegan version of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream. It's a delicious, refreshing, and guilt-free soft-serve dessert.

Find this cool dessert recipe and more kid-friendly ideas in the Forks Over Knives Recipe App.

By Somer McCowan,

Ingredients

  • 4 medium-sized bananas, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen
  • 1 cup frozen cherries
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, as needed
  • 2 tablespoons mini vegan chocolate chips

Instructions

  • In a food processor, combine the frozen banana pieces, cherries, and vanilla extract.
  • Process until creamy, adding almond milk one tablespoon at a time as necessary.
  • Pulse in the chocolate chips. Serve immediately.

Comments (39)

(5 from 6 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Rachel Methot

what could I sub the bananas with? I can't eat bananas...

laura

look at https://chat.openai.com/chat he answer Frozen mango: Mango is a sweet, juicy fruit that, like bananas, creates a creamy consistency when frozen and blended. Use 4 medium-sized mangoes, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen, instead of the bananas. Frozen papaya: Papaya has a similar texture to bananas and is also sweet and delicious. Use 4 medium-sized papayas, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen, instead of the bananas. Frozen peaches: Peaches are a delicious option for a refreshing fruit smoothie. Use 4 medium-sized peaches, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen, instead of the bananas. Frozen avocado: Avocado is rich in healthy fats and gives your drink a creamy consistency. Use 2 medium-sized avocados, cut into 1-inch pieces and frozen, instead of the bananas. Regardless of your choice, you can keep the other ingredients in the recipe, including the frozen cherries, vanilla extract, almond milk, and mini chocolate chips. Just make sure to adjust the amount of almond milk as needed to achieve the desired consistency.

Jennifer

Made it tonight for dessert. Absolutely wonderful!

Mindy

Just made this and it really hit the spot. I used soy milk because I didn’t have almond milk and it is delicious and refreshing.

Robin Brown

Delicious

Jen

I'm going to try this in my new Ninja Creami ice cream maker. So far everything I've made in it has been wonderful. For those who are avoiding sweetened chocolate chips, Trader Joe's sells chocolate chips that are unsweetened.

Lyn

Will this work in a blender? Looks delish and it’s cherry season

Megan Edwards

If you have a high-speed blender it should work just fine! Sometimes standard blenders have a tough time with frozen fruit because they need liquid to create the blending vortex, but if that happens you can just add a little extra plant-based milk to help :)

Amanda

What I'd really love are some frozen desserts that don't use bananas, as I am allergic.

Priscilla

Try substituting yogurt for the bananas. There's a plethora of flavors and styles to choose from.

Mrs Sarah taylor

Can I use this recipe in the soft serve ice cream maker

Fran

Where can we buy frozen pitted cherries?

Leilani

Costco has big bags!

Therese McMahan

I get mine at Walmart.

Susan

Costco

lilly

Sprouts

Susan

Trader Joe's

Marian Erickson

4 votes

Brianne Fracassi

Good lord people, it’s 2 tablespoons of vegan chips per 4 servings. If you don’t want then don’t use them. Many aren’t that bad for you. Use cocoa nibs. No need to whine

Ellen

Hahaha, thanks for keepin it real. Love it!

Nina

I use 1-2 tablespoons baking cocoa powder because I don't want chocolate chips hanging around. Too tempting. Recipe looks yummy.

Rochelle Wilder

Good idea

Amy Fried

How can chocolate chips be Forks Over Knives compliant?

Canaan

Vegan chocolate chips…cocoa beans are a plant

AMY FRIED

I don't understand how chocolate chips can be Forks & Knives friendly.

Marlene

How can I make it with out bananas or avocados. I’m allergic to them

joyce

Did you get to see the reply about freezing sliced zucchini in place of banana? Sounds crazy enough that I wanna try it...and I happen to have some to freeze!

Amy

I would think even vegan chocolate chips would be too high in saturated fat.

Brianne Fracassi

Frozen cauliflower works too

Lila

Can you do tofu? I use that for my cacao pudding base. Would probably work here with extra cherries.

Kris

Try using more cherries in place of the banana. They get really creamy like bananas, especially in a good blender.

Kelly

So easy to make - and DELISH! Crowd pleaser, for sure!

Susan Hildreth

This sounds great. Cherry Garcia is my favorite

eliz Butterfield

What could substitute for the bananas? I dont eat what is not grown in my hemisphere plus I really dislike banana anything.

Magy

This sounds weird but trust me...freeze a sliced zucchini (with peel on or off) and use it in place of banana. You can't taste it at ALL!

Stacey

Sliced zucchini cooked or raw?

Michelle

Sounds like a good recipe when cherries are ripe.

Judy

Yes and I worked hard this summer to pit and freeze a bunch of cherries n and now we’re enjoying them in smoothies and nice cream. I was very careful to make sure not one pit was left in as I don’t want to mess up my Ninja blender! Next summer I hope to freeze even more when they’re at their cheapest. I’ve also bought frozen cherries at Publix (pricey).

Kelly

Or your teeth!! Been there with frozen cherries bought commercially. Won't do that again!!

About the Author

Headshot of Somer McCowan

About the Author

Somer McCowan

Somer McCowan is a self-taught chef who has a passion for health and inventing delicious recipes. She has worked creating food in bakeries and restaurants in the U.S. and Australia. She blossomed in her own kitchen when she became vegan. Several years ago, she was diagnosed with a severe autoimmune disease called ulcerative colitis, and completely reversed her condition through a whole-food, plant-based diet. Her cookbook The Abundance Diet is designed to help others improve their health through eating the right kinds of food. She lives in Utah where she publishes her popular blog, vedgedout.com. Find her on Facebook and Instagram.
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