Cook with Us #18: {Vegan Black Forest Nice Cream w/ Chocolate Cherry Spiced Balsamic Reduction}

Hey there everyone!  I was going to hold off and post my entry for the 18th week of the @cookwithus competition later on in the week, but it was just too friggin' good not to share right away!  I just devoured my part of the recipe while @dksart slowly enjoyed his.  This week the theme is ice cream (check out the contest post here)!

I have only recently jumped into the world of "nice" cream.  I never would have thought blending up frozen bananas with a few simple add-ins is actually amazing delicious.  Since I have not been vegan all of my life, I have actually tasted traditional dairy ice cream.  I have also indulged in the occasional pint of vegan ice cream from the store since I have transitioned to a plant-based diet.  The best ice cream (in my opinion) is creamy, just sweet enough without being cloying and not too complicated with a laundry list of flavors.  I don't mind a simple sundae, but tend to prefer either plain or with just a rich, gooey sauce on top.

Since this is a competition, however friendly ;) , I figured I would up the ante just a bit and go past the simple concoctions I have explored so far.  Since this is mostly fruit, it is still pretty healthy but perhaps a bit more decadent than I would make every day.  My new trusty pal the Vitamix was definitely up to the task, though I think what actually brought it over the top was the syrupy balsamic reduction that I cooked down to drizzle on the final product.  That sauce was finger-licking good I tell you.  I do love my flavored balsamic as-is, but my goodness it was delicious reduced down with some aromatic spices.

My frozen treat itself only had four ingredients--frozen bananas, frozen cherries, coconut milk and a dark chocolate bar.  A tasty combination on its own, chocolate and cherries are a classic pairing for a reason.  Besides just tasting delicious, it always makes me think of my late grandfather who loved those little chocolate cordials with cherry filling.  My dad is also a big fan of cherries, so this is a bit of an homage to some of the wonderful men I have had in my life.

Black Forest Nice Cream

Makes 4 Servings (or maybe just 2...)

• 4 squares vegan dark chocolate, chopped finely
• 3 frozen bananas, chopped
• 1 cup frozen pitted cherries
• 1/3 cup full fat coconut milk from a can

Pull out your fruit from the freezer to sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before placing in a high speed blender with the coconut milk.  Blend on high speed, using a tamper or stopping to scrape the sides as needed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Then pour in your chopped chocolate and blend until just combined.  You don't want the blender to heat up and start melting your mixture.

Scoop out into individual bowls or one big bowl to place in the freezer until you finish your balsamic reduction.  I prefer not to leave in the freezer for too long to keep the creamy texture, so in my opinion it is best when made fresh though you could very well freeze for later and then let thaw a bit before trying to scoop and serve.

The reduction was made using some of my favorite fruity balsamic vinegar.  You could do the same thing with plain dark balsamic, but if you can get your hands on at least some chocolate dark balsamic you will not regret it!  I think @chefsteve was intrigued by my use of the lemongrass mint variety in an earlier challenge, so hopefully he will be just as excited to see this one. :)

Chocolate Cherry Spiced Balsamic Reduction

Makes about 1/4 cup

• 3 tablespoons dark chocolate balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon black cherry balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
• a generous pinch each of ground cinnamon, allspice & cardamom

Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and cook for about 15 minutes.  Stir frequently to prevent sticking.  When done the mixture should be reduced by about half and have a syrupy texture.  Use the vent fan so you don't burn your eyes with vinegar fumes. ;)  

Once your sauce is done, pull your nice cream from the freezer to serve.  Drizzle the sauce over the top and enjoy!

Sticky goodness...

...and that first marvelous bite!

Thank you once again to @chefsteve, @pandamama and @offoodandart for another round of absolute joy!  I know I have definitely pushed my own creativity to try to do the contest justice, and neither @dksart nor I are complaining with the result.  Can't wait to see all of the other awesome entries for this decadent week!