Chocolate & Berry Nice Cream Sandwich

This healthy version of an ice cream sandwich contains only whole food ingredients without added sweetener or oil. Sweet gooey chocolate cookie sandwich is filled with blueberry, raspberry and banana nice cream.

Prep time: 20 minutes

Freezing time: 4-5 hours 3 hours (+12 hours for freezing bananas and berries if you don't have them in your freezer)

Total time: 3 hours 20 min

4 Portions

Ingredients

For the cookies:

100g dates
130g oats (use gluten free, raw or jumbo oats)
50g cashew or macadamia butter
10g cacao powder
Big pinch of salt
20g water or milk alternative

For the nice cream filling:

400g very ripe frozen banana
100g frozen raspberries
150g frozen blueberries
40g cashew butter
30g soft dates (I use mazafati or medjool)
pinch of vanilla powder or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

You will need a square cake tin or box to freeze the nice cream and 6-8cm cookie cutter

I always keep frozen bananas and berries in my freezer but if you don't have them start by freezing fruits. Wash and dry the berries then place them on the large tray and freeze. Choose the bananas with skin covered with black spots but without any bruises. Peel the bananas and cut them into 1-2 cm slices. Place them on the tray and freeze overnight.
To make the cookies start by blending the oats in a food processor for 30-40 seconds. Add salt, cacao powder and dates and process until well combined. Add water (milk) and cashew butter and blend again until the mixture is sticky and form a dough ball.
Roll the chocolate dough between 2 dehydrator sheets or baking parchment sheets and cut off 8 circles using a round cookie cutter. Place the cookies in the freezer.
To make the nice cream blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy. You can save a handful of berries and add them at the end to add more texture to your nice cream.
Transfer blended fruits into a tray or cake tin. Spread the mixture evenly and smooth the surface. Freeze for 3 hours or until set but still soft enough to cut.
Using the same cookie cutter cut 4 nice cream discs. Place each disc between 2 chocolate cookies and press well. It is best to eat them when they are freshly made. If you keep them in the freezer for longer the nice cream will be hard.

Nutrition

Berries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants from all fruits and vegetables. They also contain plenty of fibre, vitamin C and K.
Banana (which botanically is also a berry!) contains B vitamins, especially B6, potassium, magnesium, manganese. Bananas are a great source of soluble and insoluble fibres.
Oats and cashews contain a significant amount of zinc, iron, magnesium, folate, copper.