Ok, guys, I try not to talk about my wacky diets too much on here, unless I am testing one, but right now I’m doing a 30-day paleo diet challenge wherein my husband and I try to keep strictly paleo for 30 days. He cheats a lot. I cheated once. With Jack Daniels. The walk of shame was not one I’d like to repeat. But anyways. This relates to today’s post, I promise.
Today I am testing paleo ice cream. Yup.
Image from In the Pink & Green
Now imma be straight with you here. Paleo ice cream sort of flies in the face of all that is paleo. The idea is not to create delicious treats and baked goods off a list of approved foods. The idea is to eat a “clean” diet of unprocessed foods. But, dude, I have been eating chicken breasts, spinach, and apples for 15 fucking days and if there was ever a good time for chocolate ice cream (even if it’s not really ice cream), the time is now.
All of these things are technically allowed on a paleo diet:
Of course, I’m using a shit-ton of honey in this recipe, so, yah know. Also a shit-ton of cocoa, but turns out cocoa doesn’t have sugar in it, which I didn’t know. (Shut up.)
I started by mixing together my coconut milks.
Little did I know that the full-fat coconut milk would have a giant glob of solidified something on the top and would plop impressively into my mixing bowl, creating an explosion of coconut milk fat on my counter. (That’s what she said?)
Once mixed with the honey, the consistency evened out some.
Then I added 1/3 of a cup of cocoa, which seemed like a whole lot to me, especially since it took like a full minute to get it mixed in.
But, lo, I consulted my recipe again and it was time to add another third of a cup of cocoa. This shit gon’ be good, y’all.
I then assembled my ice cream maker (which for some reason had an extra part thingie and I don’t know what it was for, oh well)…
Then I poured in my mix and let it spin.
The recipe suggested keeping it in the ice cream maker for 20 minutes, but mine was still soup at 20 minutes, so I left it a while longer… like a lot longer. After an hour or so, it was still soup. Hrm.
Delicious chocolate soup, to be sure, but still soup. Not frozen in the least. So I did what the Pintester do, and I decided to just stick it in the freezer to see if anything would happen.
Time passes.
Hours later, I went back to check and I thought it was frozen until I stuck my spoon in and the chocolate soup erupted from the now-punctured frozen soup crust. Perhaps I just didn’t let it freeze long enough. Perhaps it will never freeze completely. I do not know.
I do know that it’s pretty damn delicious and rivals any for-real ice cream I’ve ever had, even in its soupy state.
That could be extreme deprivation talking, though. It’s been 15 days since I’ve had anything remotely sweet (besides that Manhattan, and it was only sweet for like an hour, and then it was evil). Still, I give it two caveman thumbs up.
32 Comments
You gotta chill the mixture before putting it in the ice cream maker. I learned from Alton Brown that you want the ice cream maker and ice cream mixture to be as close to frozen as possible to reduce freezing time. The quicker the ice cream freezes the smoother it will be because the ice crystals in the mixture will be smaller THAT’S SCIENCE, GIRL
Welp, as a lactose-intolerant ice cream addict, I can tell you that ice cream made with coconut milk is more like a gelato, and does not freeze in the same way as regular ice cream. But it’s still delicious 🙂
um, was the extra bit in the ice cream maker the stirry thing that sits in the middle and mixes up the ice cream? Coz yours looks kind of … flat … y’know? We’re not paleo but I’m happy to eat any icecream if it’s delicious, so perhaps I might try this myself… 🙂
No, it definitely had the stirry thing.
I hope you’re eating more than chicken, spinach and apples! I’ve been paleo for almost two years now and I got stuck in that trap at the beginning– you need plenty of good fats to keep you satiated and not feeling rage-y (ask me how I know). Bring on the avocados and bacon, girl! (ps. I love to talk about this shit if you ever need recommendations!)
Oh I’ve been eating a lot of bacon, too, but sometimes not enough. Got a little toward the rage end of the spectrum today. 😉
Glad to hear it! Hope the rest of the experiment goes well 🙂
The paleo diet scares me a bit. I love my processed food a LITTLE too much to give it up completely, but good on you for trying. I’ve never had any success with DIY ice cream. I always end up craving some good old Ben & Jerry’s, or if I’m trying to be good – Skinny Cow. I hope you enjoy your ice cream soup though!
Cara
http://www.knockoffcrafts.wordpress.com
Did you freeze the ice cream drum first? I always keep my ice cream drum in the freezer, so it’s ready to go. If not, at least freeze it for 24 hours. This will make a huge difference. Sometimes I put the mixed ingredients in the fridge for an hour or two to chill and this will help speed up the ice crem part.
That weird piece mixes up the ice cream (just put the knobby bit down in the little crater shaped like the knobby bit at the bottom of the container) and yup, you have to freeze the container for at least 12 hours before you use it. I made a really yummy strawberry basil sorbet in the same machine and it was sooooo good. Strawberry puree + honey + butt load of basil = yummmmmo. Would have been a bit better with rum. Rum you ask? Why yes! Or even tequila! You can use your ice cream maker to make frozen alcoholic drinks! Now go! Go and flourish with your new found knowledge! *Cheers*!
Whole 30?? I keep trying and failing and giving up and my butt remains stubbornly unable to fit into last year’s pants. URGH.
My blog currently has a paleo ice cream recipe (and it totally worked!) and I agree with the others–chill the mixture as long as you can. Also, next time just use the cream from the coconut milk. Less water = better freezing situation. Just put the cans upside down in the fridge overnight, then scoop out the “glob of solidified something” on top, which is just the coconut cream, and continue with the recipe. It’ll be thicker and creamier and probably won’t freeze solid. Yay!
Also don’t freeze IN the bowl, it can misshape it. Cool Whip containers work excellent for this.
My husband and I did the Whole30 – we did it for 54 days. We both experienced great results – I no longer experience debilitating ladytimes cramps and my husband no longer has allergies. While we aren’t strictly Whole30 now (I need a piece of cake at least once a week, preferably every day), but we do follow the paleo diet when we are in our home. Anyway, I’m sure the intent of your post was not to get unasked-for advice, but I wanted to pass along a recommendation for recipes. The cookbook, Well Fed (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/well-fed-melissa-joulwan/1111798029?ean=9780615572260) has never disappointed me… I have absolutely loved everything I’ve cooked from there.
I’m just curious, did you freeze the bowl of the ice cream maker first? 🙂
I love eating paleo. I’m a huge fan of Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Appe, Diane of Balanced Bites and Liz of Cave Girl Eats. You should check out the Balanced Bites podcast. (It’s free!) Liz and Diane are super funny and relaxed. I hope you’re eating more than chicken and apples though! I’d get super bored and want to quit. I eat a lot of bacon, eggs, beef, canned salmon, sardines, and pork. Good Luck!
There have been many times some over-ambitious person has said to me, “Lets make ice cream! It’ll be so much fun!” So basically I have spent a lot of time eating chocolate soup. Usually the same person then later tries to convince me that the liquid, “Tastes just the same.” I think you only liked it so much because you are eating too healthy!
I have that same ice cream maker, and I eat a paleoish diet, have for years for celiac/ dairy/ soy issues. The mixer bit is crucial and of course others have already mentioned freezing the drum and chilling the liquid first. One further thing to add: depending on the recipe and your tolerance for eggs, making a custard with eggs or egg yolks can help thicken it. Sometimes I’ve even added pure gelatin as well to make a better consistency, but a little goes a long way. Do try this one again!
Try the “make without an ice cream machine” method. I tried this last night and the ice cream was very creamy! But I also used two cans of coconut milk with all the fat in it so maybe that was a factor.
I dont know about your ice cream maker, but with mine, there’s an empty section right outside where you pour the ice cream that you have to add ice and salt to, otherwise it won’t freeze.
I made whipped cream with coconut canned milk. First time I used whole can and it was soupy and that was after it was refrigerated for a day. After trial and error turns out you do not use the whole can, only the hard stuff that forms after refrigeration and get rid of the liquid milk. Takes a lot of cans to make something substantial though is the only downfall. Maybe try that and see if you no longer have soup?
Thank you for trying this for me- I’ve been nervous about making the paleo ice cream. Very glad to know that it tastes good!
Don’t know how no one else has commented on this, but the ice cream balls in the original photo have a very wrinkly real life ball appearance to them. Just add some coconut shavings for pubes.
Where’s the paddle?
I think it’s hilarious that everyone feels the need to question whether you used your ice cream machine properly. Give a girl some credit people!
First time commenting, but have been a follower for a while. Thanks for bringing so much awesomeness and laughter to the world!
Want something sweet but don’t want to rock the Paleo boat? Make a Paleo mug cake. One banana, one egg, 1.5 tablespoons of almond butter, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and 1 teaspoon honey. Mix well in a mug and microwave on high for 2.5-3 minutes. Let it cool and eat. That shit saves the day when I really want to eat a cupcake and don’t want to wreck all of the Paleo-izing I have done!
That sounds really good. I’m going to have to try it!
Ok, after all the comments, I am now dying to see a picture of the ice cream maker’s “pocket piece” (as my dad calls all the extra pieces that are left over after he takes something apart and puts it back together).
[…] the quest for paleo desserts, if you’re not into chocolate ice cream, you might want to try fried honey bananas. I wanted to try them, in fact, because they looked […]
your suppose to freeze the machine base before adding the ice cream in. the machine only turns it.
I have that ice cream maker. It never works. It’s not the recipe, it’s the machine.
Now I desperately want cold fruit soup (don’t laugh, it’s *amazing*, but I’ve only ever had it in Hungary). It’s chilled, not frozen, but mmmmmmmmmmmm — when I go there for summers, I get it every day (thank you, incredibly patient and loving Grandma who detests cooking but adores me!)
The reason it turned out like soup is that extra “part thingy” needs to be inserted. It’s what makes the mixture churn to mix in the cold part and turn it into ice cream. It’s important to put that in the frozen bowl before you add ingredients, because once the ingredients start to freeze you won’t be able to fit the part in. So, next time will be better.
[…] It was chocolate soup-y. This does not necessarily equal a fail. Chocolate soup at least still tastes good. […]