Did everyone have a great holiday weekend? Ours was totally relaxed and just right. Lots of vegetables and watermelon in the mix, and just a little bit of outside work. We generally have to stay home on “fireworks holiday” nights because our dog is terrified of them, so this comic rings especially true. I know that this is an issue for a lot of families, and seeing “Lost Dog” signs in my neighbourhood after a holiday weekend always makes me so sad. I know for sure that my girl just isn’t herself when she hears those booms, so we do everything we can to make her comfortable.
Aside from the regular snuggles, treats, toys, playtime, and walks (our girl is spoiled–I think a few of you can relate haha), I like to give her something with peanut butter when she’s been really good or when I know she’s about to have a tough day. As soon as I slide the lid off of a jar of PB (which is often), she comes prancing into the kitchen, making her silly little grunt noises.
When I was flipping through my copy of N’ICE CREAM: 80+ Recipes for Healthy Homemade Vegan Ice Creams, my eye went right to this sundae for two reasons: 1) PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL! and 2) No ice cream maker required. I have a lot of childhood nostalgia surrounding sundaes and the thought of this minimal ingredient, super quick treat got me to work so fast.
I also had to go all the way and make some cake crumble from the toppings section of the book. But the best part is that I could give my little furry pal a few mouthfuls on the side (minus the cacao nibs you can see in a couple photos)–anything to make her happy ;)
I really love this book by Tuulia and Virpi though (amazing Instagram page with great quotes about ice cream if you’re interested in seeing more). As if a book of all vegan ice cream wasn’t enough temptation for me, the photos are so enticing. They’re all dreamy light, just-right ice cream drips, and perfect styling to a tee. Some other recipes from the book that I’ve been eyeing up: the choco-vanilla bomb, the $5 milkshake (anything with a Pulp Fiction reference is thumbs up), strawberry basil creamsicles, white chocolate sauce, raw chocolate-covered cashew ice cream, and the dreamy blackberry ice cream cake.
All of their treats are made with beautiful whole foods like bananas, avocados, coconut cream, whole nuts, vanilla, dates, maple syrup, spices, and herbs. I think my favourite aspect is just how simple the recipes really are. I have a tendency to over-complicate things, especially with dessert. So the beautiful simplicity here is really striking. And! There’s instructions for those of us without an ice cream maker throughout. Sweet summer bliss!
Vegan Peanut Butter Caramel Sundaes
Ingredients
Vanilla Cake Crumble (makes extra):
- 1 cup raw nuts of your choice
- 2-3 Medjool dates, pitted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tablespoon coconut nectar or maple syrup (optional)
Peanut Butter Caramel
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons plant-based milk
- sea salt (optional)
- tiny squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
Ice Cream
- 1 14-ounce can full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
- tiny pinch sea salt
- tiny squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
Equipment
Notes
- Reprinted by arrangement with Avery Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Virpi Mikkonen and Tuulia Talvio, 2016
- I added a tiny squeeze of fresh lemon juice to both the ice cream and the caramel sauce. Just personal preference really.
- In the book, the recommendation for the cake crumble is ground cardamom, but I went full-on vanilla with ground vanilla beans AND extract.
- Also note that you will have to refrigerate a can of coconut milk overnight for this recipe.
Instructions
- Make the crumble: Combine the nuts, dates, ground vanilla, vanilla extract, sea salt, and maple syrup in a blender. Blend on high until you have a moist, crumbly mixture. Set aside.
- Make the caramel: In a small bowl, vigorously whisk together the peanut butter, maple syrup, plant-based milk, sea salt, and lemon juice. Once you have a smooth sauce, set aside.
- Make the ice cream: Rinse out the blender pitcher. Open the can of coconut milk and scoop the top layer of cream, being careful to avoid the water at the bottom of the can. Transfer the coconut cream to the blender. Add the frozen bananas, vanilla, maple syrup, sea salt, and lemon juice to the blender as well. Blend the mixture on high, using a tamper to push the mixture down into the blades. Once you have a smooth mixture, stop the motor.
- At this point, I had to freeze my ice cream for a good 45 minutes, stirring it up every 15 minutes. Once you have that slightly firm/soft-serve like texture, serve the ice cream with the peanut butter caramel and vanilla cake crumble.
wow looks so incredible, I have a friend who would fall in love with this.
I cannot wait to try this peanut butter caramel! It sounds delish!
Whaaaat this is the cutest and the sweetest! Definitely gotta make this, looks like a dream <3
oh my god this looks SOOOOOOOO good?!!!!?
This literally made me drool.
xx, R
Ohhh goodness, this looks amazing. Also, my brother got the Thundershirt for his doggie and it’s worked wonders!
THANK YOU Laura so much for your kind words! This by far the best post ever, I can’t get over of your dog enjoying the ice cream too, so cute! You really made my day, thank you again!! xo ❤️❤️
Lovely as always, Laura! I’ve been seeing the new-ish N’Ice Cream book cropping up around the interwebs too … it’s great to get your take on it! Thank you.
How would you say the texture of this banana-coconut milk blend compares to the banana-cashew blend used for Sarah B’s Chunky Monkey ice cream that you made a while ago? (I keep meaning to try that one, but haven’t gotten to it yet!) I notice it had a tiny touch of lemon too, presumably to help brighten those fatty flavours just a wee bit …
I can’t wait to put my hands on their book! Your shots are stunning as usual <3
Isn’t this book the bees knees!? Drooling like a fool over here while looking at your mega dreamy photos Laura! This combo of the crumble + pb is magic. Glad you two had a chill weekend and that your pup was okay! What a cutie. Thanks for the little link to my n’ice cream bomb :) reminded me I need to make it again stat! After I try this rendition too. Happy instant ice cream making girl! It really is life. xx
The sundae looks freaking phenomenal! I’ve also heard of the N’ice Cream book and it looks beautiful!
Oh my gad, peanut butter caramel ice cream AND cute doggies? I must be dreaming because that’s too perfect a post! <3
HOLY MOLY!! Is there anything better than being able to eat ice cream and have it actually be GOOD for you!
Love that this recipe doesn’t require a ice cream maker (I think buying one would be like opening pandoras box), and it’s pretty much all the ingredients I can put into a smoothie, which means that it’s healthy. I am sure of it! Thank you for sharing… making tonight.
xx
Lauren
This sounds amazing. And yes, peanut butter IS life! I eat it at least twice a day! :)
This is such a great idea and combination. I Need to try out the crumble soon. And I really love your Pictures with your dog. xoxo Janine
Would you believe that I came here half for the recipe, half for the shots of the pup? ;) Cleo is just the cutest!! I bet she loved this ice cream, it looks delicious for doggies and humans ;)
I saw you teasing this on Twitter and I’m SO happy you posted it, YEASSSS!! This is my dream sundae and I would just plop extra of that topping on there, plz and thank you. Also, Cleo is the cutest! Our cat hates the fireworks so I totally understand, fur babies are the best :)
This looks so amazing! I also have a nice cream recipe in the pipeline and I realize just now how amazing that recipe would be with this peanut butter caramel! Gonna try it out tonight when I eat the leftovers <3
I HAVE to get my hands on this book asap. Have seen some many incredible recipes from it around the blogosphere already, and it really feels like a must-have this summer.
So nice to have a little pal in the kitchen licking the spoons as well ;-) <3 I have to show these photos to my dog crazy girlfriend, she's gonna die :'D (and make us get a dog asap).
Sounds like you're having a super relaxed summer so far! I hope it continues in that vibe.
xo Agnes
I do love her nice cream and I love your twist on it. That picture of your dog licking the spoon just kills me. What a cutie. Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m always on the prowl for healthy alternatives of classic faves. Have a good one!
Love everything about this post :) Yummy looking nicecream sunday, the sweetest puppy and a book I’ve never heard of! (Just checked the Instagram page <3 )
She is the sweetest pup ever and I love my mental picture of the three of you all snuggled up during the fireworks! The book is bomb and I have my eyes on the white chocolate sauce for the weekend! Ah, gorgeous as ever, Laura!
This looks insanely delicious and I will definitely be making it. That (slightly) healthier peanut butter caramel sounds to die for – peanut butter is my absolute favourite breakfast topping! Love the photos of the dog too. Super cute!
It doesn’t make any logical sense to me, but those thundershirts really work for my dog!
I’m going to bed now but I’ll be dreaming about this! Sweet dreams!