National Ice Cream Day is almost here! And what better way to celebrate than with this Cherry Almond Nice Cream?! No ice cream machine needed!

Think back to you childhood for a minute. Remember those hot summer days, when you spent all day roaming the neighborhood with your friends, swimming in the crick (if you’re from Pittsburgh haha), and pushing each other round and round on the merry-go-round at the park until you were too dizzy to stand up. Then you all pooled your change and went down to the Tasty Freeze for ice cream. How good that tasted!

Well, this is the grown up version of that!

If you haven’t yet tried or made nice cream, now’s the time. It’s unbelievably easy, and it’s a healthier (and dare I say more delicious!!?) way to use up your overripe bananas than banana bread. This will have you ditching the regular calorie-, sugar-, and fat- laden frozen treats for good.

It’s also incredibly customizable! Start with frozen bananas and add literally anything else you want! Blend until creamy. Easy peasy!

I went with cherries and almonds in my version. A classic combo! Plus, last Tuesday was National Cherry Day in Britain, and since they’re also in season here, I was feeling particularly inspired.

If you are interested in making this a chocolate covered cherry almond nice cream, I recommend this Heart Healthy Chocolate Date Sauce!

Nutrition in Cherry Almond Nice Cream

Let’s talk nutrition for a minute. I won’t be offended if you scroll past this, but I know some of you want to know how awesome this is for your heart!

Our recipe base is bananas. Bananas sometimes get a bad rap because of their sugar content. Not to worry, though. The sugar in bananas, and all fruit, is naturally occurring sugar, and not the kind of sugar we need to be very worried about. Added sugar is the problem when we eat too much of it (most of us are). Check out my video explaining:

The amount of added sugar the average person consumes is equivalent to only four cans of pop, by the way. It adds up so fast! But bananas (and this treat) contribute ZERO added sugar!

Bananas are a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins B6 and C. They are an excellent snack, and a their creamy texture makes this recipe seem like soft serve.

Cherries on the other hand are light on calories, but deliver big on flavor! Their dark color indicates a heavy antioxidant load, as is true for all berries. They also are good sources of fiber and vitamin C.

You’ve no doubt heard how great almonds are for your heart! This is owed mainly to their high vitamin E content, which is a potent antioxidant. It also plays a role in immune function, as well as helping to inhibit platelet aggregation in blood vessels (reducing your risk of atherosclerosis and blood clots). Almonds are also good sources of magnesium, copper, and manganese. But you only need a little bit of these babies! Just a small handful will run you about 200 calories.

Now that you know how amazing Cherry Almond Nice Cream is, pull out your food processor and make yourself some right now! Your heart – and taste buds – will thank you!