![Can you eat ice cream anywhere, anytime? Make your guts happy with this homemade, no-churn, probiotic kefir ice cream with fermented blueberry sauce! No ice cream maker required -- the kids can do all the "churning" for you! [by Dawn Yoder]](https://traditionalcookingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Off-Grid-Lime-Kefir-Ice-Cream-Traditional-Cooking-School-GNOWFGLINS-main-new.jpg "Can you eat ice cream anywhere, anytime? Make your guts happy with this homemade, no-churn, probiotic kefir ice cream with fermented blueberry sauce! No ice cream maker required -- the kids can do all the \"churning\" for you! [by Dawn Yoder]")
I can eat ice cream… anytime, anywhere, and in any weather!
Who’s with me?!
And yet, what if the craving strikes when you’re out enjoying nature this summer, completely off-grid? Are you out of luck?
Not with this simple method! You can make your own ice cream that will do more than refresh you on a hot day. It will make your gut happy with probiotics, too!
I knew there was a reason I love ice cream so much — especially this Lime Kefir Ice Cream with Fermented Blueberry Sauce. 😉
If you have kiddoes, enlist their help, because they’ll have a blast making this ice cream. In other words, no machine needed — they’ll do all the churning!
Plan Ahead For The Fermented Blueberry Sauce
While fermenting blueberries is simple, it does take time. In very warm weather, plan on 12 hours. If you’re going on a camping trip and want to take this along for topping ice cream, mixing into yogurt, or spreading as the J in your PB&J, make it before you go.
If you have a long drive, simply ferment it on the way (be sure to secure the jar for the ride). When you arrive, use a mortar and pestle to puree the berries without a blender. The juice will settle eventually so give it a good shake or stir before serving.
How To Make Probiotic Kefir Ice Cream In Under 10 Minutes
Off-Grid Lime Kefir Ice Cream With Fermented Blueberry Syrup
Ingredients
For the Fermented Blueberry Sauce:
- 2 pints blueberries fresh, washed and mashed well
- 1/4 cup coconut syrup or maple syrup
- 4 tablespoons whey
For the Lime Kefir Ice Cream:
- 2 cups milk kefir
- 3 to 4 tablespoons coconut syrup or maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons MCT oil
- limes juice of 1 to 2
- lime zest, finely minced OR juice from 1 more lime*
- pinch sea salt
- crushed ice
- 1 cup iodized salt
Instructions
To make the Fermented Blueberry Sauce:
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To a sterilized quart jar, add blueberries, coconut syrup, and whey. Mix well.
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Tightly cover and leave at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours.
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When berries are fermented to taste, puree in a blender. Or, use a mortar and pestle.
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Stir or shake before serving as the juice will separate over time.
To make the Lime Kefir Ice Cream:
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In a quart-sized freezer bag, combine kefir, coconut syrup, vanilla, MCT oil, lime juice, lime zest, and sea salt.
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Seal the bag -- well!
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In a gallon-sized freezer bag, add a layer of crushed ice and 1/2 cup iodized salt.
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Put the quart bag with the ice cream mixture into the gallon bag.
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Add another layer of ice and the remaining salt on top.
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Seal the bag well and shake, shake, shake for 7 to 10 minutes until you achieve your desired texture. (Get your kids to help!) You may want to use oven mitts or wrap the bag in a towel.
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Top with fermented blueberry sauce and enjoy! It's best eaten right away as it will freeze pretty hard in the freezer.
Recipe Notes
- *Use juice instead of zest if you don't like bits in your creamy ice cream.
- While fermenting blueberries is simple, it does take time. In very warm weather, plan on 12 hours. If you're going on a camping trip and want to take this along for topping ice cream, mixing into yogurt, or spreading as the J in your PB&J, make it before you go.
Looking for more probiotic rich treats?
- Healthy Probiotic Pomegranate Mousse
- Probiotic Mint Chocolate Chip Popsicles (dairy-free option!)
- Roasted Cinnamon Peach Probiotic Gelato (Honey-Sweetened)
- 3-Ingredient Mixed Berry Kefir Popsicles (probiotic & kid-friendly!)
- Probiotic Chocolate Ice Cream
- Probiotic Watermelon Strawberry Fruit Sorbet
Have you ever made kefir ice cream? How about ice cream without electricity?
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![Can you eat ice cream anywhere, anytime? Make your guts happy with this homemade, no-churn, probiotic kefir ice cream with fermented blueberry sauce! No ice cream maker required -- the kids can do all the "churning" for you! [by Dawn Yoder]](https://traditionalcookingschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Off-Grid-Lime-Kefir-Ice-Cream-Traditional-Cooking-School-GNOWFGLINS-main-800x1650.jpg)
I clicked on the link, but I’m still not sure what MCT oil is. Is it necessary?
Looks like it is just coconut oil, but they are suggesting a certain brand. MCT is the name of the fat chain.It stands for medium chain triglycerides. Hope this helps.
It’s not absolutely necessary and you could try adding some heavy cream instead. I like using MCT oil instead of straight coconut oil because it doesn’t solidify at cold temps like coconut oil does and you still get the benefits of the medium chain triglycerides that are naturally present in coconut oil.
Megan Stevens wrote a great article here on TCS about MCT oils and how to use them (and why!). You can read it here: https://traditionalcookingschool.com/2017/02/20/use-mcts-reduce-belly-fat-improve-thyroid-function/
i was wondering if there is a substitute for MCT oil… can i just use coconut oil?
You could try it, but since coconut oil solidifies in cold temps you might end up with clumps of coconut oil in your ice cream. Not harmful, but probably not the most pleasant texture. You could try leaving it out and adding some heavy cream instead.
Great Recipe-Thanks!
Hi there I Googled MCT OIL and it also has side effects?
Frances from South Africa
Jennifer and Frances, MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides. This is an example of a good MCT product:
https://www.amazon.com/Premium-derived-only-Organic-Coconuts/dp/B00XM0Y9SE (NOT an affiliate link)
There’s a good article about MCTs on the Wellness Mama’s website here:
https://wellnessmama.com/98671/mct-oil-benefits/
MCT oil. What kind of oil is it?
Healhly?
MCT stands for medium chain triglycerides and it is a healthy oil MCTs are found in coconut oil, and are part of what makes coconut oil so healthy for you!
Megan Stevens wrote a great article here on TCS about MCT oils and how to use them (and why!). You can read it here: https://traditionalcookingschool.com/2017/02/20/use-mcts-reduce-belly-fat-improve-thyroid-function/
Could an ice cream maker be used instead of the “shake” method?
I have not tried this in an ice cream maker because I don’t own one, but you could try it. I’m assuming it would work, as it’s essentially doing the same thing as the shake method but with electricity and no manual effort 😉
Can the MCT oil be left out with good results?
You could leave it out but might want to add a bit of heavy cream to make up for less fat.
I don’t eat coconut syrup or maple syrup. Do you think honey would work for the fermented blueberry sauce? I use honey in ice cream and it works there…
Hi, Staci,
Yes, honey will work. 🙂
~Peggy, TCS Customer Success Team