Ice cream is loved the world over for its sweetness and creamy, cool taste.  Vanilla ice cream is a favorite dessert in our home. We enjoy it alone or occasionally combined with other sweets like warmed home made apple pie or gluten free brownies for an extra decadent treat. If I am in the mood for chocolate, I may add raw organic chocolate syrup to my ice cream. (Wilderness Family Naturals has a chocolate syrup with the cacao left intact.) Raw cacao is extremely high in anti-oxidants. Occasional desserts as part of a well balanced diet are acceptable and can be enjoyed on special occasions.

Ice cream made with real, nutrient dense ingredients is probably one of the healthiest sweets around. The high fat content of the cream helps balance out the sweetness of the honey/maple syrup lowering the glycemic index, so that the body isn’t overloaded with sugar. The raw cream and milk used in this recipe contain important vitamins and healthy fats, including fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K2, B12, B6, C, calcium, iron, iodine and minerals. Egg yolks are another super food, rich in nutrients. Raw local honey contains many vitamins, along with anti-allergenic and anti-bacterial properties. The following recipe is much healthier than any ice cream you can buy in the store. Even the healthiest organic ice creams are usually required to first pasteurize their dairy which destroys most of the nutrients. This is one dessert you can enjoy with little guilt.

Ingredients:

1. 3-4 cups raw pastured, organic cream
2. 1.5-2 cups whole pastured, organic raw milk
3. 3/4-1 cup raw organic honey/ organic maple syrup
4. 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5. 1-2 pastured, organic egg yolks (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix above ingredients together and then add to ice cream maker. Cuisinart has an excellent electric ice cream maker which our family has enjoyed for years.
2. Blend for 25-30 minutes. Test for desired softness after 20-25 minutes.
3. Other ingredients can be added towards end if desired ie. chocolate chips, nut butter and/or chopped nuts.
4. Store in container in freezer.
5. Enjoy!

See the article High quality raw milk enhances health while pasteurized milk contributes to illness to learn more about the many health benefits of raw milk. Read Raw Cacao to discover more about raw cacao’s nutritional qualities and history. 

Written by Michelle, Holistic Health to Go