Healthy ice cream might sound like an oxymoron, and in most cases, it probably is.  But the good news is, “healthy” and “ice cream” CAN go together, and there are plenty of amazing recipes to satisfy your ice cream cravings without sabotaging your health.

Do you ever crave something that you know is bad for your health, but it just tastes so good?!  One of my “guilty pleasures” is an ice cream creation from Cold Stone Creamery called “Birthday Cake Remix”.  This delectable yet destructive dessert is made by combining Cake Batter-flavored ice cream, a brownie, chocolate sauce, and rainbow sprinkles (and I like to add peanut butter & cookie dough, too!) — all mixed and swirled together into one of the most delightful things I’ve ever tasted.

The problem is, Cold Stone loads their ice cream creations with tons of refined sugars & grains, unhealthy fats, conventional dairy, and other toxins — NOT something I really want to be putting into my body!  Even though I satisfy my sweet tooth with several amazing, healthy desserts on a regular basis, nothing could take the place of Birthday Cake Remix from Cold Stone.  So…I finally decided to attempt to create my own healthified version of it!  Here it goes!:

P.S. I’ve got a special surprise for you beneath the ingredients & directions below — don’t miss it! ☺️

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Ingredients: “Cake Batter” Ice Cream 

(makes 1 large serving or 2 smaller servings)

• 1 large, ripe banana
• 1/2 cup of coconut milk (or you could try using almond milk or plain Amasai)
• 2 tbsp. melted coconut butter
• 1 tbsp. raw nut butter (almond butter, cashew butter, etc.)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 3 tbsp. almond flour

Directions:  Blend everything together until smooth.  Pour mixture into ice cream maker and allow ice cream to form.

Ingredients: Black Bean Brownies 

(makes several servings — fills an 8×8 pan)

•  1 can black beans (rinsed well!)
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
• 4 tbsp. extra-virgin coconut oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 organic, free-range eggs
• 1/2 cup almond flour (or could use a mixture of almond/coconut flour)
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/4 cup water
• ~1/2 cup sweetening power… Some options include: Swerve, xylitol, erythritol, raw honey, coconut nectar, Stevia to taste, or a mixture of the above.

Directions:  Blend all the ingredients together (I use a Vitamix).  Grease an 8×8 pan with coconut oil and pour batter into the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-35 minutes.  Let brownies cool to desired temperature.

Ingredients: Chocolate Sauce

• 2-3 squares of unsweetened chocolate (100% cacao)
• ~2 tbsp. of organic, unrefined coconut oil
• ~2 tbsp. of organic, grass-fed butter
• Stevia to taste (or sweetener of choice)

Directions:  Melt the chocolate, coconut oil, and butter in a small pan on low heat.  Once melted, add sweetener to taste.  This chocolate recipe is not exact, and can be played around with to your personal preference.  Feel free to use just coconut oil or just butter with the chocolate, or you may not want to add either one if you prefer just straight melted chocolate.  I never measure exact amounts when making this sugar-free chocolate sauce — just make sure it tastes good!

Directions: Putting it all together!

Once the ice cream is done and the brownies are cooked, it’s time to assemble the Birthday Cake Remix!  Put the ice cream in a bowl, add a brownie (or two!) to the bowl — chopped and mixed into the ice cream.  Then drizzle it with chocolate sauce, and mix in 1-2 tbsp. of natural peanut butter (no added sugars, oils, preservatives, etc. — just peanuts).  Or for a healthier option, you could use raw almond butter instead of peanut butter.

And there you have it!!  My healthy version of Birthday Cake Remix — complete with lots of healthy fats, some protein and fiber, and no refined sugars, grains, or toxins!!  ENJOY! 🙂

Notes:

The ice cream didn’t end up resembling cake batter ice cream as much as I hoped, and the final creation mixed together doesn’t taste exactly like Cold Stone’s version.  HOWEVER, that being said, this version still tastes absolutely amazing in my opinion, and it’s a million times healthier than Cold Stone!  (I will have to play around and try to come up with an ice cream that tastes more like cake batter.  If anyone discovers the “secret”, let me know! 🙂 )

I chose to skip the sprinkles.  As much as I love the vibrant colors they add to Birthday Cake Remix, sprinkles in general don’t do much for me, and most importantly, they are unhealthy.  If you really want some sprinkles in yours, there may be some organic or “less toxic” sprinkles out there somewhere — without a ton of artificial ingredients.

A Special Surprise For You

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely into delicious, healthy recipes.  And if that’s the case, I’ve got a special freebie download for you that’ll help you take your nutrition & recipes to the next level: Dr. Christi’s Must-Have Ingredients List.

This practical guide highlights 40 of my favorite go-to foods that are frequently found in my household & that I can’t live without (and you won’t want to either!).  These foods are fat-burning, health-boosting, nutrient-dense, & sure to become staples in your kitchen! Click below to get instant access to the list! 😄

Want more ammo to satisfy your sweet tooth?  Try these Black Bean Brownies smothered in Cream Cheese Frosting, or these picture-perfect Almond Butter Cups!

What’s you’re favorite healthy ice cream recipe?  I’d love to know — just leave a comment below!

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