-Elizabeth Gonzalez

We’ve finally reached that time of the year when sweater weather is in full swing.  That means it’s also time to head to your cupboard (closet or plastic bin for my fellow dorm-dwellers) and pull out some autumnal flavors! I’m talking cinnamon, apple, nutmeg, maple galore.

But what should your first seasonal dish be?

Nice cream.

No, I didn’t just misspell the answer to pretty much anything from a bad break-up to Friday nights at home. Nice cream is the heavenly, vegan, one ingredient, nice (for animals, the environment, and your health) version of ice cream. It’s made by simply cutting up and freezing very ripe bananas before blending them with whatever ingredients you want your magical bowl to taste like!

Here are some recipes for nice cream that will get you in the spirit of pumpkin, plaid and apple picking.

Basic Nice Cream Recipe

Ingredients

• At least Two very ripe bananas

Directions

1. Peel and slice bananas into two inch pieces.
2. Freeze five hours.
3. Blend bananas in food processor, or high speed blender or (NutriBullet)

 

Here are some ingredients you can add to the basic recipe to  make your nice cream super seasonal!

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Add:

• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tbsp caramel syrup (I used vegan honey and molasses)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1/8 cup coffee
• top with any crushed nuts

 

Apple Cider Doughnut

Add:

• 2 apples (1/2 of one for topping)
• 2 medjool dates
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1/4 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp honey (I used BeeFree Original because it tastes like apples)
• 1 tsp raw sugar

 

Chocolate Coconut Pear Crumble

Add:

• 1 pear (1/2 for topping)
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp coconut flakes
• 1 tbsp chocolate spread (for topping)

 

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Add:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• handful of raisins
• 3 medjool dates
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon