Calling Vitamix users

[Arduinna]

What can I freeze for making chocolate ice cream? I've been making fruit "ice creams" with whole milk, yogurt and frozen fruit. I don't want to use ice but I want to try making chocolate flavor. I'm totally sick of frozen bananas from when I was on a smoothie kick years ago. Anyone have any ideas of what I can freeze for chocolate ice cream? I suppose I could try freezing coconut milk but I was hoping someone had the perfect suggestion.

[425lisamarie]

I use  a couple different things depending on who it's for.  The kids want it in a bowl, to literally eat like ice cream, I just sometimes want a thicker shake type. 

For a thick ice cream type for the kids,I use frozen coconut milk in ice cube trays.  I fill up a bunch and keep in a ziplock.  I do the same with avacados and usually use a couple cubes of that and they don't really care.  They know I use them and can't tell, they do NOT like eating them plain but they make ice cream so creamy.  Bananas are a big fat no no for them LOL.

They tend to NOT lilke honey in chocolate things, so i just use  a little sugar.   I grate a good chocolate baking bar, maybe 15 grams(lilke half an ounce) in to the vitamix, followed by tblsp of cocoa powder and sugar to taste. I use a splash of vanilla soymilk because that's what I have for my coffee, but any "milk" is good.  I probably use a 1/4 cup, and a few ice cubes of coconut milk to start.  Once that is blended well add a few more cubes and use the tamper.  I don't care for yogurt in chocolate and I hear you on the bananas.  I don't know how "healthy" you are trying to make it but this is often a mid day snack/treat for the kids or on the go as a thick shake and without bananas a little sugar is needed and I figure it's far better than many alternatives.  I like to use those fat straws to make it like a thick shake. 

Usually after I make a really thick one for them i leave what is left and add some spinach, a little soymilk, and whatever else and make a smoothie for myself.

[Arduinna]

Thanks, I've been alternating between the thick shake and scoopable ice cream depending on mood. I am mainly adding plain whole milk yogurt because it makes it a little creamier than just milk alone and I like the taste with fruit anyway. I use mostly milk and maybe 2-3 T yogurt and a little homemade simple syrup to bring out the fruit flavor.

I do something similar with fruit and ice cube trays, since it's not peach season I've been buying canned and pureeing it and then freezing in ice cube trays. I also tried it with fresh strawberries so I could pre puree the seeds. I'll try freezing the coconut milk.

Thanks for the chocolate idea, I wanted to try using cocoa powder but obviously that is unsweetened and would need sweetener added.

[425lisamarie]

Oh duh moment....I forgot to add that while my kids are not AS crazy about it,  I LOVE dates in mine.  I do cocoa powder, dates, banana and or avacado, almonds, and vanilla soymilk.  I'm not a big sweet eater so dates and roasted almonds do it for me.  Soymilk is sweeter but it has  alittle sugar.  If I could eat yogurt or any dairy I would use mild whole milk yogurt.