One more bon bon recipe! I’m a fan a berry flavored ice cream when it’s paired with chocolate, but many of you on Facebook clearly told me you weren’t, so I wanted to make sure you weren’t left out of the bon bon party. 😉

These Chocolate Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bon Bons are begging for your attention… and begging to be eaten. Creamy vanilla ice cream paired with chocolate is most definitely a winner, but if you want to change the flavor, this basic bon bon recipe will allow you to do just that. Make sure you check out the “Megan’s Recipe Notes” section of the recipe for a list of possible flavor adaptations. And if you have any questions at all, just let me know. 🙂

All my love,
Megan

Chocolate Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bon Bons

Yield: 3-5 dozen

Ingredients

For the vanilla ice cream filling:

½ cup chopped dates, packed
½ cup almond milk or coconut milk beverage
2 ¼ cups canned coconut milk (make sure you use full fat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3-5 drops NuNatural's Liquid Stevia or 1-3 teaspoons maple syrup

For the outer chocolate shell:

1 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Mini Chips
3 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions

To make the vanilla ice cream filling:

In a small heavy bottomed sauce pan, heat the dates and the almond milk over medium heat. Once it starts to boil, removed from heat and set aside for 5 minutes (this will help further soften the dates).
Place the mixture in a high powered blender (be careful, it will be hot!) and blend on high for 1 minute.
Add the coconut milk, vanilla extract, and stevia or maple syrup. Blend until smooth.
Place the vanilla ice cream mixture in an ice cream maker, and process according to your machine’s directions. Freeze in an airtight container for at least 2 hours.
Use the smallest kitchen scoop you have (like the smallest scoop in this picture) to scoop the vanilla ice cream into little balls and place them on a chilled and parchment lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

To make the outer chocolate shell:

Melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil over a double broiler or in a microwave (If you use a microwave be very careful not to burn the chocolate).
Dip the vanilla ice cream balls, one by one, into the chocolate (I like to use a fork for this, because the excess chocolate will drip right through the slots), completely coating them. Place back onto the chilled baking sheet and freeze for another 30 minutes.
Store in the freezer in an airtight container and consume within 2 weeks.

Notes

If you run out of chocolate for the outer shell, simply melt together an additional ⅓ cup of chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.

How can I make this recipe without an ice cream maker?

You can try one of the methods listed HERE, or you can skip the bon bon idea altogether and pour the vanilla filling into popsicle molds, freeze them, and then dip the frozen popsicles into the chocolate to form chocolate covered popsicles. The popsicle method won’t be nearly as creamy, but it still might satisfy the craving (with less work involved).

This recipe has a lot of potential for you to turn these beautiful bon bons into whatever flavor combination you like. Here are some additional flavor ideas for you:

Mint – To the blender, add a handful of baby spinach (for color) and ½-1 teaspoon of peppermint extract

Toasted Coconut – To the blender add ½-1 teaspoon of coconut extract and then stir in (by hand) ¼-1/2 cup of toasted coconut

Cherry Chip – stir in (by hand) bits of cherry (fresh or frozen) and chocolate shavings

Peanut Butter – replace maybe ½ cup of the canned coconut milk with creamy peanut butter

You can view my Chocolate Covered Raspberry Bon Bon recipe by clicking HERE:

This recipe is linked to Mostly Homemade Monday, Natural Living Monday, Teach Me Tuesday, Healthy Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Frugal Day Sustainable Ways, Thank Your Body Thursday, Tasty Traditions, Full Plate Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Healing with Food Friday, Wellness Weekend, The Paleo Rodeo and Gluten Free Fridays.

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Comments

Heather @ Something Sew Beautiful says

January 28, 2014 at 12:09 pm

YUMMY!!! Can’t wait to try these!!

- Megan says
  
  January 28, 2014 at 12:16 pm
  
  Hi Heather- I have no doubt you’ll enjoy them! 😉 They are addicting!
  
Shirley @ gfe & All Gluten-Free Desserts says

January 28, 2014 at 12:40 pm

You are so sweet to accommodate everyone! I’d have to have one of each, of course. 😉

xo,
Shirley

Laura @ Gluten Free Pantry says

January 29, 2014 at 8:18 am

Well now I know what I am making my sweetie for Valentine’s Day next week-both of your amazing bon bons!

- Megan says
  
  January 29, 2014 at 4:36 pm
  
  I hope you enjoy them, Laura!!
  xoxo
  
Joanne Peterson says

January 29, 2014 at 11:37 am

Hi Megan,

I really appreciate the links for methods to make ice cream without an ice cream maker. My little boy’s birthday is next Wednesday and either flavor would make a very good “go-with” with his birthday cake. This will also be fun to make the bon-bons for Valentines Day.

Joanne

- Megan says
  
  January 29, 2014 at 9:44 pm
  
  Hi Joanne,
  I was so glad to stumble upon that article including all of those methods! If you try any of them, will you let me know your results? It would be wonderful to be able to recommend something more specific in the future!
  
  And a very BIG Happy Birthday to your little man!
  xoxo,
  Megan
  
  - Joanne Peterson says
    
    January 31, 2014 at 6:18 am
    
    Thank you Megan! He’ll be three and SO excited to have his birthday!
    
    I will try all of the methods (because that is my personality), and of course I have a willing taste panel 🙂 and I’ll let you know which method I find works best for flavor and texture.
    I’ll contact you as soon as I’ve had a chance to try all the methods.
    
    Hugs,
    
    Joanne
    
Amber says

February 05, 2014 at 4:34 pm

I can’t have dates 🙁

Tess says

February 12, 2014 at 5:37 pm

These look really great! Ice cream is my biggest weakness. I could pass on most desserts any day, but ice cream always gets me!

I just came across your blog and your story. Your outlook on life while facing illness is inspirational. Thanks for sharing your story and recipes (:

kelley says

March 18, 2014 at 10:22 am

Can I substitute something else for the dates? I am allergic. 🙁

- Megan says
  
  March 18, 2014 at 4:44 pm
  
  Hi Kelley,
  The dates are used for sweetness, but also add to the creaminess factor. You can substitute an equal amount of mashed ripe banana or cooked sweet potato, just know the taste will be a bit different.
  Megan

Chocolate Covered Vanilla Ice Cream Bon Bons