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Cherry season is in full swing and the weather is (sometimes) warm here in Toronto! That means nice cream! Admittedly, I don’t have a sweet tooth. I think the last time I posted a dessert recipe was in 2016 and it was only because I had friends coming over for dinner. My wife, on the other hand, is a sugar-fiend! In an attempt to satisfy her cravings, I made this Cherry Nice Cream.

Cherry Nice Cream Paleo Primal Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe Easy Summer

A Very Cherry Childhood

Cherries hold a special place in my heart. My childhood home had a cherry tree in the back yard. It’s actually still there except my father had to chop it down! All that’s left is the stump, which he somehow managed to transform into the support for a water fountain. I know, it sounds whacky but it’s pretty cool! When the tree wasn’t a fountain it had a lot, and I mean a lot, of cherries. Every summer my brother and I would see which of us could climb higher and harvest the most fruit. If we waited too long into the season, the crows would swoop in and peck away at them all. That, or they would fall to the ground and become squirrel food. As the years passed the tree grew larger and began to pose a threat to our home, which was only 10 feet away at the base. The branches spread outwards and came into contact with the masonry of the house. The top of the tree soared well above the roof line and when there was a bad storm or strong wind you could hear the branches crack against the bricks. I remember many a sleepless night as the leaves would brush against my bedroom window.

Cherry Nice Cream Paleo Primal Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe Easy Summer

One fateful day, unbeknown to my brother, mother or I, my father woke up bright and early. With nothing more than a hacksaw in one hand and sheer determination in the other, he climbed the tree and branch by branch cut the beauty down. It was a sad day but it was necessary. I later learned that racoons were climbing the tree and making their way onto our roof where they would burrow through the eavestroughs and nest in the attic! To this day I still use the wood for BBQ’ing and grilling in my Weber Kettle Grill (which for 100 bucks is an amazing grill – just saying).

Cherry Nice Cream Paleo Primal Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe Easy Summer

These days we get our cherries from the market. They’re not nearly as sweet or delicious. Sometimes, though, I get a lucky batch during peak season and am instantly transported to my childhood. Memories flood my brain and for a few moments I’m a happy kid all over again! Maybe that’s why I decided to load this nice cream with a layer of extra cherries. Partly as a surprise for my unsuspecting wife, but mostly as a way of packing in some extra memories for me!

Cherry Nice Cream Paleo Primal Gourmet Vegan Vegetarian Dairy Free Ice Cream Recipe Easy Summer

I hope you like this recipe and be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!

Cheers,

Ronny

INGREDIENTS: (serves 2)

4 bananas – peeled and sliced into discs

2 cups ripe cherries, plus extra for layering – pits and stems removed

METHOD:

  1. Lay sliced bananas and pitted cherries flat in freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze overnight.
  2. Add the frozen fruit to a high-powered blender or food processor and pulse until crumbly. Set the speed of the blender to low and blend until smooth. Note: you may need to intermittently scrape the sides with a spatula or use a tamper if your blender comes with one.
  3. Transfer half the nice cream to a loaf pan and spread evenly. Layer in some sliced cherries and spoon the rest of the nice cream overtop. Smooth out the top layer with a spatula. Be sure to give the bottom of the loaf pan a few taps with your fist to release any air bubbles.
  4. Transfer the loaf pan to a freezer for 1-2 hours or until nice cream is slightly firm.
  5. Serve with roasted nuts of choice, hemp seeds and high-quality chocolate.

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