Ice cream might seem like one of those foods that is impossible to make — especially if you don’t own an ice cream machine. However, even if you don’t have a machine or any way to churn your creation, ice cream is in fact easier to make at home than you think. There are no-churn recipes that make it easy to freeze and scoop your ice cream, and there are even recipes that have you making frozen desserts with bases that aren’t made of cream or sugar; like using bananas, cashews, coconut milk, or yes, even Medjool dates.
Why use cane sugar when Medjool dates can naturally sweeten your ice cream and give it an even thicker and caramel-like texture? Two Medjool dates contain 30 grams of sugar. Despite what you may think from their texture, Medjool dates are actually fresh and contain glucose as well as fructose, a type of natural sugar found in fruits. This means that Medjool dates also add fiber to your sweet treat; about 2 grams of fiber per date.
With so much sweet goodness in each Medjool date, no wonder they make for the perfect sweet base for a homemade ice cream. Here are some of our favorite Medjool date ice cream recipes to make at home, whether you have an ice cream machine or not. Don’t forget to grab a green clamshell of your Natural Delights Fresh Pitted Medjool Dates when you’re at the store; you’re going to need them to make your ice cream oh so sweet!
No need for an ice cream machine here! This creamy banana “nice” cream is made with bananas, coconut or almond milk, vanilla bean paste, salt, and of course, sweetened with Medjool dates. Freeze in an airtight container, then scoop and top with a homemade Medjool date chocolate sauce. The ideal tasty (and healthy!) treat.
This dairy-free ice cream uses soaked cashews and coconut milk as the base, then is mixed with a sweet agave (or date!) syrup, honey, and blended with Medjool dates instead of adding in cane sugar. It’s the perfect ice cream for scooping into cones when you have a crowd over for dessert!
Looking for a popsicle to cool down during a hot day by the pool? These popsicles are made with a vanilla full-fat yogurt and heavy cream for flavor and texture, blended with Medjool dates, and seasoned with nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Be sure to have some popsicle molds and sticks ready to go!
Already have an ice cream on hand? Medjool dates make for a great sweet topping on your next scoop! We love to caramelize bananas and dates with cinnamon and brown sugar and top them on a scoop of vanilla. No matter the weather outside, the warming fruit with the cold ice cream is the perfect dessert for any time of year.
This rich custard-like ice cream by Heartbeet Kitchen is whisked together with eggs, cream, and a date puree made in the food processor with Medjool dates. The mixture is cooked down and then frozen in a bowl or freezer-safe pan for at least six hours. It’s best served with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!
This cherry chocolate chunk ice cream by Little House on Laurel is made with date syrup, which you can easily make yourself using water and Natural Delights Medjool Dates! This ice cream is made with a mixture of heavy cream and half-in-half and needs to freeze for at least 24 hours before scooping and serving. We have a feeling it’s even better with a drizzle of our Medjool date chocolate sauce on top!
Another custard-like date ice cream, but with a fun twist! Brooklyn Supper creates the base of the ice cream by soaking chopped dates in cognac to elevate the flavor of this dessert. Feel free to top your ice cream with even more chopped dates to finish it off. Or perhaps topping with one of these Snickers Stuffed Dates for a decadent finish to this dessert?
This date-sweetened chocolate peanut butter ice cream by What Great Grandma Ate may be vegan, but you would never be able to tell based on how creamy it is. The Medjool dates mixed with the peanut butter and coconut milk, blended together, and then added to an ice cream maker to churn and thicken, is the perfect vegan dessert that will satisfy a crowd. No one would ever be able to tell that it doesn’t contain any dairy or cane sugar!
If you’re a fan of the high-protein cottage cheese ice cream trend, then you’re going to fall in love with this salted caramel ice cream with dates, developed by Avocado Skillet. This no-churn ice cream is made with cottage cheese, dates, honey, vanilla, and salt, relying on the caramel-like taste and texture of the dates to give you that taste you know and love. Blend up the mixture and freeze for 3 to 4 hours, and you’ll have a decadent ice cream treat ready to go. Plus, thanks to the cottage cheese, it’s super high in protein!
The nutty and salty flavor of tahini pairs nicely with sweet Medjool dates in this tasty homemade ice cream by The Flavor Bender. Although this particular recipe does recommend churning the ice cream with a machine, it can be made vegan with a simple swap of either cashew milk or coconut milk. This ice cream is ideal for anyone who enjoys a dessert that is salty and sweet.
Please note that these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Kiersten Hickman is a freelance journalist and content strategist, covering a variety of topics in the food, health, and lifestyle categories. Her work has been published by The Kitchn, Taste of Home, Reader's Digest, EatingWell, INSIDER, Eat This, Not That!, Clean Plates, Bustle, Stacker, The Everygirl, and more. She also writes Forkful, a weekly essay on Substack debunking diet culture myths, and publishes novels under the pen name K. Sinko.
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