Oh Melbourne, glorious sun one day and thrashing winds the next. You never know what weather to expect in this lovely city I reside in, however whatever the temperature I can be sure of one thing: it is never EVER too cold for ice cream. Hence my latest creation made with a fresh peppermint twist.
Last July in Santa Monica my brother and I stumbled across an amazing food truck festival on Main St. After devouring a true American burger (as you do when in LA) I ordered a mint chocolate ice cream sandwich and was blown away! The peppermint ice cream melted in my mouth against the warm chewy chocolate cookie. For months I have been reminiscing about the glorious treat from Main St and am proud to have recreated a healthier guilt-free chocolate mint sandwich. And it is super delicious!
PS. Be sure to freeze bananas for at least 5-6 hours prior to baking.
INGREDIENTS
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies:
2 cups whole-wheat or wholemeal flour
½ cup coconut oil
3/4 cup rice malt syrup
¼ cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 tbls cacao
*You may also add cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips to mixture if you wish
Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream:
2 frozen bananas
1 tsp peppermint oil
2 tbls almond milk
1 drop of green food colouring
A small handful of dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs
For cookies:
- Preheat oven to 190°C and line baking tray.
- In a mixer or large bowl, combine coconut oil and rice malt syrup, and then add almond milk and vanilla.
- In a separate large bowl mix flour, cacao, baking powder, baking soda and salt together lightly and pour into mixer with peppermint oil and mix well.
- Using your fingers, roll and flatten mixture into medium sized circles and place onto baking tray.
- Bake for 13 minutes and let cool while you prepare ice cream.
For ice cream:
- Blend bananas with all ingredients until a creamy ice cream texture. If it is a little runny pop back in freezer for an hour or two.
- Place one cookie with flat side facing up on a plate and smear ice cream evenly on the cookie.
- Grab another cookie and pop over the ice cream cookie and you have yourself a sandwich! Mmmm
