Filled with fresh cantaloupe flavor, this berry nice cream has tropical vibes! It’s a healthy and light dessert that has no added sugar or dairy and tastes great! And it is vegan. It has a creamy consistency without bananas: just right if you don’t like bananas or don’t have any at home (my chocolate mocha nice cream is made mainly with bananas). Pineapple provides a great consistency for this nice cream.
This dessert has a strong cantaloupe flavor. The berries take over the color, though! Cantaloupe is a great source of beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, and potassium. This article from the Maine Cooperative Extension explains more about how to select a cantaloupe. I can have trouble waiting a few days for them to get juicier.
You don’t need an ice cream maker to make delicious homemade frozen desserts like cantaloupe berry nice cream and sorbet. Just blend your fruit and other ingredients in a food processor: see the details below,
What is Nice Cream?
Nice cream is a fruit-based pureed frozen dessert, made without cream – and with no or very little sugar. For this recipe, I used a little light coconut milk. This adds creaminess and flavor, without too much saturated fat – just a little with 0.8gm. per serving. In the can of coconut milk, the cream floats on the surface. I mixed it all together with a whisk before measuring. And as I used very ripe fruit, there was no need for added sugar. You could add a little agave nectar or maple syrup if you feel the fruit mixture isn’t sweet enough.
Ingredients Needed
- Cantaloupe
- Pineapple – I used fresh pineapple. Canned pineapple in water juice should work as well.
- Blackberries – fresh or frozen
- Blueberries – fresh or frozen
- Light coconut milk
- Lime juice – I prefer fresh for the flavor, but you could use bottled lime juice instead
How to Make Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
Choose ripe fruit. Cut the cantaloupe and pineapple into small chunks of about 3/4 to 1 inch each.
Freeze the fruit on a piece of parchment paper on a baking tray for about a half hour. Make sure the pieces are separated.
Puree fruit in a food processor until smooth. This took about 30 seconds. You may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl and process a little more. I actually tried it in a blender at first this time, BUT, there was no way this was blending: there is just not enough liquid.
Then, transfer the mixture into a loaf pan. You can line it with parchment paper. I use a nonstick loaf pan and skip this step. Freeze the nice cream for at least an hour, unless you plan on eating it very soon.
Defrost it before you serve it. Depending on the temperature of your kitchen, it may need to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour until it is scoopable.
Storage
Store your cantaloupe berry nice cream in the freezer in a covered container so it doesn’t take on any off-flavors. Since this is fresh fruit, use it within a week for the best quality.
Flavor Variations
You could make this with ripe mango, peaches, bananas, or strawberries, too.
The blackberries do have a few little seeds in them. If that bothers you, just smush them through a sieve before freezing to strain them out.
I think this would be great with crumbled gingersnaps or graham crackers in it!
More Recipes You May Enjoy
- Scrumptious Strawberry Sorbet
- Kiwi Pineapple Sorbet (only 4 ingredients)
- Healthy Blueberry Smoothie with Almond Butter
- Rich and Fudgy Tahini Brownies
Fresh Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
Equipment
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper
- Freezer
- Food Processor
- Loaf pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped cantaloupe
- 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup blackberries
- 2 tablespoons light coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
Instructions
- Place the fruit spread out on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- Place the fruit into the food processor with the blade. Add light coconut milk and lime juice. Process on high until smooth, about 30 seconds.
- Place the mixture into a loaf pan and freeze for at least an hour.
- Defrost at room temperature for 30 – 45 minutes or until scoopable before eating.
- Transfer to a covered plastic container for storage in the freezer for up to one week
Notes
Nutrition
Check this post about Vegetarian Meals for Beginners for ideas from around the globe.
Join my Facebook Group for cooking tips, questions, conversations, and recipes: Plant-Based, Vegan, and Vegetarian Cooking Community.
How did you like this cantaloupe berry nice cream recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating in the comments below:
Just started a diet and I have a problem with a sweet tooth. This is easy, delicious and will satisify me.
Thank you Nadine
These sounds so refreshing and tasty.
Thank you, Cat!
What a fantastic and refreshing summer treat!
What a fab idea! This looks so refreshing, I’ll definitely be trying it this summer. Thanks so much for posting.
Loving the colour Melissa. The recipe sounds perfect for the summer heat… When we eventually get some xx
This looks so refreshing and fruity! Perfect for the summer 🙂
This looks absolutely gorgeous Melissa – what a lovely thing to give the kids when they are pestering me for ice cream ALL summer long!
LOL! Maybe they can choose some of their favorite ripe fruits to include. Good luck!
So tasty and refreshing! Great to find a nice cream recipe without banana too!
Your nice cream sounds so delicious. I think this is the first recipe I’ve seen that isn’t made from bananas.
Thank you, Choclette. I hear that mangoes are good for nice cream too.
This sounds so refreshing…perfect for warm sunny days.
This looks so yummy! I love all the fruit in it and the fact that it’s so healthy. I’ve made a frozen yogurt in the past with cantaloupe and really would love to try it in a nice cream now as well.
This is a great way of making an ice-cream – a healthy variation on a traditional ice-cream – so much easier to make!
Such a quick and easy way to make a delicious frozen dessert.
This looks beautiful and sounds so refreshing
Thank you, Freya. I hope you can give it a try.