Vegan Fat Elvis Ice Cream

This Vegan Fat Elvis Ice Cream recipe features rich banana ice cream swirled with ribbons of fudge and peanut butter and peanut butter cup pieces.

Buying an Ice Cream Maker

I’ve been wanting an ice cream maker for a while. My husband, however, wasn’t convinced that it was a necessity. When the Steamy Kitchen store had a deal for $50 off of a $100 purchase, I figured it was a sign. It was the cosmos saying, “Kieeeeersten, buy yourself an ice cream maaaaker. Make delicious thiiiiiings.” Not being one to say no to the cosmos, I immediately bought myself a 1 1/2 quart Cuisinart ice cream maker. (I also bought a neon orange hand mixer, but that’s neither here nor there.)

So! The ice cream maker was bought. Then what? Well, I figured I would break it in by making Fat Elvis Ice Cream. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that my husband and I moved from Wisconsin to North Carolina a few months ago. One of the things we desperately miss about living in Madison is Chocolate Shoppe. Don’t let the name confuse you—Chocolate Shoppe is all about ice cream. Super rich, indulgent, once-in-a-while-special-treat ice cream. And, in my humble opinion (and my husband’s too), their best flavor is Fat Elvis.

Ice Cream Inspiration

Yes, this is the same Fat Elvis ice cream that was the inspiration for my Fat Elvis Pudding Pops. Chocolate Shoppe’s Fat Elvis ice cream has a banana ice cream base, a ribbon of peanut butter, and chocolate chips. My version has the first two, but also has a melt-in-your-mouth fudge swirl and pieces of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Yes, it is super rich! No, it is not an everyday ice cream! But it’s a pretty good recipe for breaking in an ice cream maker and convincing your husband it was a worthwhile purchase. (I think he’s convinced.)

Fat Elvis Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Cups

Vegan Fat Elvis Ice Cream

Rich banana ice cream swirled with peanut butter and fudge ribbons and peanut butter cups. Inspired by Chocolate Shoppe's Fat Elvis Ice Cream and adapted from Taste of Home's Banana Ice Cream.

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Servings: 1/2 quarts (12 servings)

Author: Oh My Veggies

Ingredients

2 cups half-and-half
1 pinch salt
1 1/4 cups + 2 tbsp sugar divided
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups heavy whipping cream
6 oz evaporated milk divided
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
3.5 oz dark chocolate chopped
1 cup ripe bananas pureed (about 2 bananas)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup peanut butter cups chopped

Instructions

Heat half-and-half to 175°F in a large, heavy saucepan. Stir in the salt and 1 1/4 cups of the sugar and whisk until dissolved.
Ladle a small amount of the half-and-half mixture into the eggs. Pour egg mixture into the pan, whisking constantly. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 160°F and coats the back of a metal spoon.
Remove from heat. Place pan in a bowl of ice water; stir for 2 minutes. (Alternately, you can fill your sink with an inch of cold water & ice cubes and use that instead of a bowl.) Stir in whipping cream, 2.5 oz of the evaporated milk, and vanilla. Press plastic wrap onto surface of custard and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
After making the custard and at least 3 hours before starting the ice cream maker, make the fudge ribbon; heat remaining evaporated milk and sugar over low heat, whisking constantly. When mixture is heated, add chopped chocolate and heat until melted, whisking constantly. Remove from heat and allow mixture to come to room temperature.
Remove custard from refrigerator and stir in the banana puree. Fill cylinder of ice cream maker with the banana custard mixture and freeze according to manufacturer's directions. (Depending on the size of your ice cream maker, you might need to make two batches.)
When ice cream is frozen, transfer it to an airtight freezer container. Fold in fudge ribbon, peanut butter, and peanut butter cup pieces, careful not to overmix. Freeze for 2–4 hours before serving.