Making Raw Ice Cream – Heather Pace of Sweetly Raw presents, Ice Cream in the Raw

Heather Pace has done it again! Her latest raw recipe book, Ice Cream in the Raw is absolutely fantastic!

Although some of the basic recipes are pretty close to most of the raw recipes out there for raw ice cream, the technique she teaches is what truly makes the difference. It’s an absolute true statement that Heather makes, “All of these ice creams are really easy to throw together and only require the use of a blender.” I literally was able to create three ice creams and two sauces all within a day. It was that easy, and so much fun! And the flavors really rawk! Heather is truly an expert raw dessert chef! I’m always amazed!!!

For starters, I prepared the basic Vanilla Ice Cream and added my own twist, by making the recipe for Fudgey Chocolate Sauce and mixing them together, with a few drops of organic coffee extract, and folding in mini vegan chocolate chips, and sliced almonds. I considered it my Mocha Almond Fudge with a touch Sweetly Raw. It was such a hit at my house, the dessert was gone within a few hours.

Next, I used the Vanilla Ice Cream recipe again, but this time I exchanged the cashews for hazelnuts and macadamia nuts. I added what I had left of the Fudgey Chocolate Sauce, plus a few drops of Hazelnut flavored SweetLeaf Stevia Liquid; plus sliced hazelnuts and mini vegan chocolate chips. I considered it my Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream. I then discovered Heather had a recipe for Hazelnut Ice Cream in the book. They were similar, but different, but both versions were delish!

My Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream w/a touch of Sweetly Raw.
Ingredients:
1 batch prepared Vanilla Ice Cream (from Heather’s book Ice Cream in the Raw)
Note: Exchange cashews for ¾ cup raw hazelnuts, and ¼ cup raw macadamia nuts
1 cup prepared Fudgey Chocolate Sauce (from Heather’s book Ice Cream in the Raw)
6 drops Hazelnut flavored SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia
½ cup sliced or crushed raw hazelnuts
½ cup mini vegan chocolate chips

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well. Follow the tips for ice cream preparation in Heather’s book Ice Cream in the Raw). Store in a tightly sealed container and keep in the freezer for up to a couple of months.

I decided to venture more into the book, and prepared the Vanilla Ice Cream, the Chocolate Ice Cream, and the Strawberry Ice Cream. I created my own Neapolitan ice cream block. I made a double batch of the Fudgey Chocolate Sauce, and the recipe for Caramel Sauce. It’s so wonderful to have a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings ready and waiting to be eaten during these hot summer days in Arizona.

Heather also has a recipe for ice cream cones – which unfortunately I did not tackle well. However, I was determine to make cones, and ran out of buckwheat, so I used my recipe for Banana Pancakes – which worked out perfectly. The only thing I did differently was adding some raw cacao and a little bit of stevia and maple. Drying time was slightly different – you have to check it every few hours to see when it’s ready to roll, and when it’s truly dry. Once rolled, I added bunched-up paper towels to the centers to keep the cones from collapsing while drying.

Making raw ice cream has been so much fun; I decided to make small-sized ice cream sandwiches dipped in chocolate sauce. I used my own brownie recipe (see below), the Neapolitan ice cream block (made from the basic three ice cream recipes), plus the topping sauces, as well as Heather’s recipe for Dark Chocolate. The Dark Chocolate makes a nice hard chocolate coating – great for dipping.

Brownie Recipe (for Ice Cream Sandwiches).
Ingredients:
1 cup raw almonds
1 cup raw walnut pieces
¼ cup carob powder
3 T cacao nibs
1 ½ tsp ground Cinnamon
1 ½ vanilla powder
1 cup dates (pitted)
dash sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
1 T Coconut oil

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a food processor except for coconut oil. Blend well until crumbly and sticky. Add coconut oil and blend again. Remove from food processor and form into brownies or use a brownie mold. Cover with saran wrap and freeze for about 1-2 hours.

For Ice Cream Sandwiches dipped in Dark Chocolate.
Ingredients:
1 batch prepared brownies
Neapolitan block of ice cream (Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate)
Prepared Fudgey Sauce
Prepared Caramel Sauce
Prepared Dark Chocolate (prepare while brownie sandwiches are freezing)

Preparation:
Spread one brownie with Fudgey Sauce, and another with Caramal Sauce. Using a small scooper, scoop 1 generous helping of the Neapolitan block ice cream, and place on top of one brownie. Take other brownie and place on top. Lightly push down. Place on tray and continue freezing until ready to dip in chocolate. Repeat process with remaining brownies. Once Dark Chocolate is prepared, remove brownie sandwiches from freezer. Generously dip each sandwich into the Dark Chocolate, try covering most of it. Place back on the tray to freeze and set. Continue same process until all sandwiches are dipped in the chocolate coating. Freeze for about 30 minutes. Wrap each one in saran wrap and keep in freezer up to 1 month or longer. Yummo!!!

What I shared with you so far is just the tip of the iceberg. Heather’s Ice Cream in the Raw has so many more fun flavors to try, plus a variety of great toppers. I highly recommend this book – you won’t be disappointed. The book includes 40 incredible vegan recipes, with beautiful pictures, and easy to follow instructions and tips. To find out more about Heather’s Ice Cream in the Raw, or to purchase a copy for you, go to www.sweetlyraw.com.

For more reviews on raw recipe books published by Heather Pace of Sweetly Raw, check out my previous posts:

https://vegarifficrecipesite.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/sweets-treats-and-book-reviews/

https://vegarifficrecipesite.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/raw-chocolate-decadence-cake-5-layers/

https://vegarifficrecipesite.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/neapolitan-ice-cream-cake-extravaganza/

https://vegarifficrecipesite.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/sweetly-raws-moon-pie-challenge/

Well I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you… =)

Please check out Heather’s book, and prepare some of these recipes for yourself. They are truly delicious and enjoyable.

Until next time.

Peace! =) Debbie