IN THE KITCHEN: Raw Strawberry Banana "Ice Cream" Cake

So easy to make, so pure, so perfect on a hot day! For a strong sweet tooth, you may want to add some sweetener to the "cream" layer.

RAW VEGAN STRAWBERRY BANANA ICE CREAM CAKE

From: willfrolicforfood.com

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups almond meal (not packed)

1 cup coconut flakes

2 tablespoons melted virgin coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

teaspoon vanilla (or 1/2 vanilla bean pod)

1/8 teaspoon cardamom (optional)

pinch sea salt

1 cup cashews, soaked overnight or in hot water for 1 hour

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen banana

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or 1/2 vanilla bean pod)

up to 1/4 cup water

1/2 cup fresh strawberries, cored and sliced thinly

garnish: chocolate drizzle (1 oz chopped chocolate melted with 1/2 teaspoon virgin coconut oil)

INSTRUCTIONS

-Line a loaf pan or small brownie pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

-In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the almond meal, coconut flakes and sea salt. Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla (if using vanilla bean, split + scrape out the seeds and discard the pod). Stir everything together for a minute or so, until the mix looks like wet sand and can be pinched together between your fingers.

-Press the raw cake base firmly into the bottom of your pan and smooth out the top.

-Drain your soaked cashews and discard the soak-water. To the bowl of a high powered blender, add the cashews, frozen strawberries, frozen banana, lemon juice, vanilla (if using vanilla bean, split and scrape out the seeds and discard the pod) and 1 tablespoon water. Blend, scrape down the sides of your blender and add more water as you need (up to 1/4 cup) to grease the wheels of your blender and get everything smooth and creamy.

-Scrape the thick ice cream base into the pan over top of the cake base, spreading out the top smoothly.

-Arrange your thinly sliced strawberries overtop in a pattern that appeals to you.

-Freeze for 6 hours, up to overnight.

-To serve, let thaw at room temp for 10 minutes before slicing + drizzling chocolate lightly overtop. While it's still cold it can be eaten with your hands, but if you prefer it softer serve it plated with more strawberries and eat with a sharp-edged spoon.