Stay Cool This Summer with 4 Cooling Berry Herbal Nice Cream Recipes
As the weather turns warm and fresh spring days transform into long, hot summer afternoons, the desire for cooling foods, beverages, and herbs increases as temperatures peak. When it’s too hot to cook and you crave cool treats, it’s natural to turn to frozen goodies like ice cream and popsicles. Nice cream, made with a base of whole, frozen fruit, is a nutritive option when you are looking for something tasty, refreshing, and healthy. These vegan recipes are made with frozen bananas to produce a creamy texture similar to ice cream. Each of these four recipes features a different fruit (in addition to bananas) as well as an herb fit for hot weather consumption. If you are looking for a cool treat that is full of whole foods ingredients, check out these delicious berry nice cream recipes—easy to make and a great way to enjoy the whole fruit and the benefits of some of our favorite summertime herbs, one spoonful at a time!
Cherry-Vanilla-Rose Nice Cream
A Summer Bouquet of Roses (Rosa spp.)
Not only is it a symbol of romance and beauty, with a cooling energy and gentle astringency, the lovely rose has much to offer, especially during hot summer months. When used externally, as in the case of rose hydrosol, rose petals calm red, irritated skin and balance out both dryness and excess oil. Internally, rose petals have a similar calming and anti-inflammatory effect. Roses also gently remind us to reconnect with our heart center, and are said to gladden the emotional heart (Groves, 2016). Ayurveda teaches that roses build ojas, our vital energy and sense of contentment and resilience.
Cherry-Vanilla-Rose Nice Cream Recipe
Nothing says summer like cherries and roses! This recipe makes use of the classic flavors of cherry, vanilla, and rose, producing a cold and creamy nice cream that is tart and just sweet enough. Also, who can deny the beauty of this perfectly pink cherry and rose petal duo?! Yield: 1-2 servings.
½ cup milk of choice (almond or oat works well) Using a food processor (my preferred method) or blender, pour in the milk and then all other ingredients. Blend until creamy, adding milk if needed to achieve the desired texture.
To Use:
While nice cream recipes can be kept in the fridge or freezer, it is best eaten cold and right away!
1 cup frozen organic pitted cherries
½ cup frozen banana chunks
½ teaspoon vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) pod extract
¼ teaspoon cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) bark, ground
2 tablespoons rose (Rosa spp.) petals, dried
Raspberry-Mint Nice Cream
Refresh with Mint (Mentha spp.)
Versatile and prolific, the uses and benefits of mint are many. With a cooling energy and revitalizing taste and aroma, mint is easily one of our number one herbs of summer. The menthol in mint is an antispasmodic, so it calms unwanted spasms in the gut (Groves, 2016). This is why a cup of mint tea after dinner soothes digestion and is a time-tested support for mild tummy issues. Peppermint oil specifically boosts cognitive function (Groves, 2016), and we can all attest to the gently uplifting quality that the taste and aroma of mint has on our senses and perhaps even state of mind!
Raspberry-Mint Nice Cream Recipe
This ultra refreshing nice cream recipe combines the smooth texture and sweet tartness of raspberries with the refreshing taste of mint. Super minty, eat a few spoonfuls, and you will be sure to regain the bounce in your step! Yield: 1-2 servings.
½ cup milk of choice (almond or oat works well) Using a food processor (my preferred method) or blender, pour in the milk and then all other ingredients. Blend until creamy, adding milk if needed to achieve the desired texture.
To Use:
While nice cream recipes can be kept in the fridge or freezer, it is best eaten cold and right away!
1 cup frozen organic raspberries
3/4 cup frozen banana chunks
½ teaspoon vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) pod extract
3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
Lavender-Strawberry Nice Cream
Chill Out With Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
If it is calm you are after, look no further than the soothing power of lavender. According to Ayurveda, lavender possesses cooling energetics and a purifying effect on the body and mind (Frawley & Lad, 2001). Lavender is much cherished for its ability to ease stress and anxiety, smoothing out the nervous system and promoting restful sleep. The herb’s pacifying effects extend to its use as a topical, as lavender essential oil can be used on the skin in cases of bug bites and minor skin irritations. Herbalist and author Maria Noel Groves (2016) states that lavender “brings spiritual and emotional calm” (p. 56). So, if the summer heat has you feeling agitated, lavender may be a key ally.
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon, to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language” – Henry James
Lavender-Strawberry Nice Cream Recipe
And what else says summer afternoon better than strawberries and lavender? This aromatic combination of strawberries and lavender is calming, cooling, flavorful, and may evoke a nostalgic sense of luxurious summer afternoons spent picnicking by a river or lake or lazing on a hammock under a tree. Yield: 1-2 servings.
½ cup milk of choice (almond or oat works well) Using a food processor (my preferred method) or blender, pour in the milk and then all other ingredients. Blend until creamy, adding milk if needed to achieve the desired texture.
To Use:
While nice cream recipes can be kept in the fridge or freezer, it is best eaten cold and right away!
1 cup frozen organic strawberries
½ cup frozen banana chunks
½ teaspoon vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) pod extract
1 tablespoon lavender (Lavandula spp.) flower buds
Blueberry-Basil Nice Cream
An Abundance of Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Though holy basil/tulsi is much revered in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions, many herbalists teach that common garden basil offers many of the same benefits. Basil is a rich source of antioxidants, which may be one reason why it is studied for its benefits to cancer patients (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). It is also helpful in balancing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and has been touted by both herbalists and researchers as a beneficial plant for supporting mood and cognitive health—basil is known to be both calming and uplifting (Altman, 2014; Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Basil is of benefit when enjoyed any time of the year, and it is said to have a dual warming and cooling action. It is a delightful herb to incorporate into summer recipes because it is refreshing, tasty, and healthful when eaten raw—and can be enjoyed in abundance! Sprinkle fresh basil into your salads, make pesto at home, or add it to your frozen treats and smoothies as we have done here!
Blueberry-Basil Nice Cream Recipe
This recipe is seasoned with fresh basil, along with vanilla and cardamom, and makes generous use of blueberries, which, depending on where you live, can be found in abundance in summer. Blueberry-basil nice cream has a bold and tasty flavor, and both blueberries and basil are rich in antioxidants. Yield: 1-2 servings.
½ cup milk of choice (almond or oat works well) Using a food processor (my preferred method) or blender, pour in the milk and then all other ingredients. Blend until creamy, adding milk if needed to achieve the desired texture.
To Use:
While nice cream recipes can be kept in the fridge or freezer, it is best eaten cold and right away!
1 cup frozen organic blueberries
½ cup frozen banana chunks
½ teaspoon vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) pod extract
¼ teaspoon cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) seeds, ground
3 packed tablespoons fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaves, finely chopped
In Closing,
Whip up one (or more!) of these cooling berry nice creams on a hot summer afternoon, and chill out while enjoying a nourishing and delicious treat full of vitamin and antioxidant-rich berries and supportive herbs. These nice creams also make a good light breakfast on hot summer days. Invite a few friends over and make it a nice cream party!
REFERENCES
Altman, R. (2014). Basil: Ocimum spp. King’s Road Apothecary. https://web.archive.org/web/20150206060117/http://www.kingsroadapothecary.com/pages/basil
Cleveland Clinic, 2023. 5 Health Benefits of Basil. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-basil
Frawley, D., & Lad, V. (2001). The yoga of herbs (2nd edition). Lotus Press.
Groves, M.N. (2016). Body into balance: An herbal guide to holistic self-care. Storey Publishing.
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