Vegan Desserts
"MMMMM.... More Please!"
Did you ever make ice cream with one of these old crank type contraptions? We use to make homemade ice cream every weekend at our mountain resort cabin in Julian, California. My mother, Christine Stanley, used eggs, white sugar, whole milk, canned milk, half & half and vanilla extract to create the best vanilla ice cream! Seasonal berries or fruits were added as the summer months went by... strawberries, raspberries and fresh peaches were often added for that special taste treat.

Mom's with the Lord now and being the vegan I am, I've automated the making of ice cream and modified the recipes. Not to worry, you can still have ice cream creations, but without the dairy products and cream.

Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Ice Cream Maker
Factors that make the Cuisinart Automatic Ice Cream Maker my favorite appliance for making frozen desserts:
1 - it's quick
2 - safety feature to prevent overheating
3 - inexpensive
4 - it's small... takes up little counter and freezer space
5 - it's powerful... 500 watts
6 - makes 6 cups of frozen dessert in 20 minutes


Where To Purchase
You can purchase the Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Ice Cream Maker at Cooking.com I recommend buying an extra freezer bowl so you can make double batches for larger parties.

Freezer Work Bowl
It is important to wash the freezer bowls with a mild detergent and warm water as soon as you unpack the box. Place the aluminum freezer bowls in the freezer... I keep one in the freezer at all times so it's ready at a moments desire for something sweet and frozen.

No Metal Objects
Remember to NOT use any metal spoons or objects to scoop the frozen contents out of the aluminum work bowl. Metal will scratch the interior walls of the freezer bowl. I use silicon spatulas and plastic coated spoons to scoop the delicious contents into another container after the initial freezing.

Powerful Motor
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker has a powerful 500 watt motor base with an off and on switch. The freezer bowl sits on the motor base and the aerator blade stays stationary while the bowl twirls on the base. A clear plastic topper keeps the aerator upright and in place as the contents freeze.

It's quick to freeze ingredients, no watching necessary and clean-up is FAST! I can put my ingredients in it and have a great frozen summer dessert in 20 minutes. I love that it is very easy to clean. All you have to do is place the freezer bowl, mixing arm and lid in warm soapy water and give it a quick swish and then rinse. The base just needs a quick wipe with a damp cloth, stores away with the aerator blade and plastic top fitted together. The cord winds on the bottom of the base providing tidy storage. I put the freezer bowls back into the freezer.

Safety Feature
For motor protection, the Cuisinart Automatic Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker has a safety feature that automatically stops the unit if the motor over heats. This may occur if the dessert or drink is extremely thick, the machine has been running for an excessive period of time, or if the added ingredients are just too big. To reset the unit all you have to do is turn it off, let it cool down and turn it back on again to continue making the dessert.


Vegan Coffee Ice CreamIngredients
3 cups of strongly brewed Kona Joe "Trellis Reserve" Coffee (refrigerated till cold)
3 cups Silk Soy Milk or Silk Creamer
(pick plain or one of the flavored verions: Vanilla, Hazelnut, Plain... just remember that the flavored versions have sugar in them.)
sugar to taste

Tools
Cusininart Automatic Frozen Ice Cream Maker
French Press or Espresso Maker for Coffee Brewing
silicone Spatula
measuring cups

Preparation
Brew one French Press of Kona Coffee or three espressos.

Decant the coffee, cover and refrigerate until cold.

In a bowl, combine the creamer or milk with the cold coffee and taste... add sugar if needed and stir until combined.

Assemble the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker with frozen freezer bowl, aerator and lid and begin adding the sweet coffee mixture.

Run the machine for approximately 20 to 30 minutes and you will have soft serve coffee ice cream. If you put mixture into a plastic container and freeze for another 30 minutes, it will become more solidified.

Presentation
Scoop this delightful coffee ice cream into a bowl or serve along side my Deliriously Decadent Double Chocolate Torte and enjoy!