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Easy soft-serve ice cream

Looking for a simple frozen dessert recipe? One that will please vegans, the gluten-free crowd, the lactose intolerant, diabetics and kids big or small? Try this one-ingredient frozen dessert that doesn’t even require an ice cream maker – banana soft serve.

It’s a tasty and frugal dessert that can be whipped up in just a few hours. Purchase over-ripe bananas from a local Atlanta supermarket, peel and slice them, freeze for a couple of hours and blitz in the food processor for a minute or two, until it’s fluffy and smooth. The soft serve dessert may be eaten right away or frozen for a scoopable texture.

In its purest state, this is an easy dessert to please guests with dietary challenges, but it’s also a blank canvas for culinary upgrades. A bit of honey or agave nectar and lemon can perk up the flavors, and mix-ins such as chocolate chips dress up the dessert.

Banana Soft Serve “Ice Cream”

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Serves 4 to 6

6 medium ripe bananas

Optional: Juice of ½ lemon, 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar

Mix-ins such as chocolate chips, chopped peanuts or almonds, fresh berries.

1.       Peel bananas and slice into 1-inch chunks. Place in a zipper lock bag and freeze for at least two hours.

2.       Remove bag from freezer and place banana chunks into bowl of food processor. Add lemon and honey or agave nectar, if using.

3.       Process for one minute, then check consistency of frozen banana puree. If mixture still has chunks, continue processing in 10 second intervals until it reaches the desired texture.

4.       Serve immediately, with mix-ins. The banana soft serve may be stored in airtight container in the freezer.

Atlanta grocery shopping hint: check the produce displays for mark-downs on over-ripe bananas.

Buy some extra over-ripe bananas and try this best-ever banana bread recipe.

, Atlanta American Food Examiner

Lucy Mercer is a writer, foodie and photographer. She is also the Atlanta Restaurant Examiner. Please contact her at acookandherbooks@gmail.com

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