Remember when it was summer? Me too.
More specifically, remember that fantastic weekend with 250 vegans? Vida Vegan – the online community lives on, but why can’t we do it all over again? You know, a winter version? It was really hot when you all were here, wouldn’t you like to come back and see the Portland rain?
One of the Vida Vegan courses I was lucky enough to snag a spot for was the photography session. Taught by three highly skilled camera wielding pros – Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Susan Voisin and Hannah Kaminsky, it was an interesting and fun session I’m happy I got into. I arrived early like a (starstruck!) nerd and sat in the front row, snapping away like some bloggerazzi.
I can recap the photography discussion and hands on fun at another time if people are interested – I bring it up now because the fabric in the photo below was a photography prop of Isa’s, and she gave it to me after the session was over. It makes me think of her each time I use it, and makes me think of summer…
This ice cream also brings summer right back.
strawberry balsamic ice cream
vegan, gluten free, dairy free
1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup non dairy creamer
2 cups non dairy milk
1/4 cup agave
1 tablespoon NuNaturals More Fiber™ Baking Blend™
1 tablespoon tapioca flour
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Mix 1/4 cup creamer with tapioca flour, stir until blended and set aside. Combine remaining creamer, milk, agave and MoreFiber in saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add tapioca mixture and combine. Place in fridge to cool completely – at least one hour.
Meanwhile, bring balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan, watch closely and stir occasionally. Reduce to a simmer and continue to stir until it reaches desired thickness (less than five minutes produced a syrupy consistency I wanted). Set aside to cool.
Pour ice cream base into maker and prepare according to manufacturer directions. Add strawberries and balsamic in the last couple minutes, after ice cream has formed, continue to churn. Transfer to freezer to firm – several hours to overnight.
I think this one is Jason’s new favorite. Adding the balsamic gave it an amazing tangy sweetness – next time I will add it by hand right before it goes into the freezer.
I have visions of balsamic ribbons.
Any last parts of summer you are trying to cling to?
{ 79 comments… read them below or add one }
yummy – balsamic? something I would have NEVER thought to add, but I can imagine how the contrast would be amazing! Beautiful pics too, Kristina (as always)
thank you, Lindsay (as always!! you know how to make my morning!). have you ever had a salad with strawberries and balsamic?
not that this is like that, at all, really… but… you know. 
still clinging to smoothies/shakes..even though i’m shivering while drinking them. i love them too much to give it up! hot coffee afterwards helps
haaa – Felicia I am the same way!! sitting here this morning with my cold smoothie, under a blanket and warm dog!
hahah that is me right now!! except my weiner is outside exploring and not keeping me warm… hahaha
LOVE IT! …and here I am again, with Basil on my lap! seems every time I sit on the couch with my laptop, here he is!
Ugh! I’m gonna seem like a copy cat cause I made a similar ice cream! only with tomatoes and balsamic. So yours is actually more edible!
people will just cringe at mine.
I have thought about a tomato ice cream!! I can’t wait to see yours, I think you might be surprised? if not, I know I WILL like it!
This dessert sounds to-die-for and certainly like something I would like to remind me of summer since the weather here recently (finally!) switched over to autumn. And that photo course you took sounds like SO much fun! I’d love to take a food photo class to learn more about setting up the shots.
thank you, Erin!
it really does taste like fresh summer flavors.
the photography class was great – some new things and some things I already do (which was GOOD to know, I’m doing some things right!)
this was the first “class” of ANY kind I’ve ever taken… my first advice (until I get the post written) is really to just play with your camera. set aside a couple hours when you can, and play with different lighting sources AND settings on your camera. that is all I did, just learned by doing (which is the way I learn best, so much more than reading a book). 
Until berries are coming from far away lands, I’m still buying them in an attempt to keep some “summer” in my kitchen
And yes, would LOVE some photography recaps/ tips from that session!
I know, me too. I had the idea for this ice cream, and thought I’d have to wait until next summer for fresh strawberries. I found some, and they were still GOOD looking!
Be still my beating heart…I could go through that container in a day!
yep. so could we.
This combination looks amazing. I love balsamic and strawberries in salads, so why not ice cream?
I would also be interested in hearing about your photography session. I need to learn all I can!
right? it’s not such a crazy combination, and it makes a great ice cream!
As always, this looks amazing. I feel like I could just lick the screen and get a taste!
someone REALLY needs to invent this technology.
So pretty, and intriguing! I bet this is just as fantastically yummy as it is pretty
My grasp at summer has been in the form of iced coffee…. it’s about time to give that up though, based on the weather today!
ha, Lisa B – I know what you mean, I like iced coffee year round too. and other cold things, apparently.
Wow, those pictures are beautiful-I love all the red and pink! I love the strawberry balsamic conction and in ice cream form it definitely sounds interesting. I think I would like to try it.
I want summer to be over….in Florida its still summer but in Colorado it’s fall, hooray!
the strawberries are sweet enough, and the balsamic adds a richness that is just… mmmm! even though I feel we had a SHORT summer, I am loving the fall! I can still eat ice cream!
I would dominate that whole container of deliciousness you made!
It looks amazing! I love strawberry, my heart wants that ; )
I love strawberries too – now! I grew up not liking them at all, it has only been a couple years that I’ve liked them (and now I’m making up for it!)
One of my best friends recently bought an ice cream maker. She’s going to flip over this recipe! And I can’t wait to help her eat it!
exactly – if you are sharing the recipe with her she has to have you help!
I hope you both love it – have fun!
…and i remember when I first got my ice cream maker… it was around this time of year (they are all on sale after summer – go everyone, get one!!).
I went crazy making ice cream of all flavors.
I’ll have to make this! And I’ll have to get over my fear of putting balsamic vinegar in ice cream
it’s really good, Becca, I promise!
I love strawberries and balsamic! In dessert-form or even roasted with asparagus. Can’t wait to try this out – I’m thinking over a nice slice of almond cake or biscotti… yum!
Now that is a different recipe! Balsamic reduction in ice cream!!! So different and definitely looks like summer.
This sounds incredible. I think a juicer and an ice cream maker are BOTH going to be on my Christmas list. Seriously – life changers!
p.s. I’ve been holding onto summer with painted pink toenails and flip-flops until this week – temps are dropping and my feet need warmth! I brought out the slouchy boots yesterday.
I’ve already got the dark polish on my toes… a pretty blue currently, looking for a GREY.
juicer, definitely… I would call that one a life changer. ice cream maker is a super fun toy!
(that makes life changing stuff like this??!?)
Do you realize what you have done? You have combined two of my favorite desserts! Ice cream is always #1 in my book, but I am a huge fan of balsamic strawberries (with a lil’ brown sugar for good measure.)
Where can I find tapioca flour? Or can I just process tapioca pearls? Or does Bob make it? LMK.
Love you!
I buy mine from the Asian grocery – it comes in smaller bags there (and is less expensive I bet!!). Bob’s does have tapioca flour… and hmm… process the pearls? try it!!
and then let me know how that goes?
OH MY GOD. Yum. YUM!!!
This looks/sounds TO DIE FOR!!
I got an ice cream maker last spring and need to be bustin’ it out! Screw the cold weather- I’m making ice cream!
atta girl! you can always put on a sweater!
time to make the ice cream!
I am so stinking sad that summer is over. I’m kind of in denial…was still buying watermelon last week (while using my heated mattress pad at night ha!). Not going to lie though–I’ll keep making ice cream all winter long
I want a big watermelon right now!! I didn’t get enough this summer! yep – ice cream year round – even if I have to wear a sweater!
I would typically turn my nose up at this combo, but I tried mango and balsamic ice cream one time and it was surprisingly deslish. You are not afraid of anything K! I think my summer left when I boarded a plan overseas, but I still enjoy summer fruits.
heh, yeah, your climate over there is very similar to Portland’s, I think!! (which means when you come back, you should just move here. you’ll be used to it by then.)
mmm, mango balsamic? sounds like you are adventurous too – that sounds great 
Please bring back the sunshine! This looks so tasty and refreshing! So, tapioca…you know I’m getting into the stuff. What does it do here? Is it like xanthan gum in that it makes the ice cream not form into a solid block? I want a big stinkin’ bowl of this while sitting on the beach right about now!
I used the tapioca as a binder/thickener… I’ve made ice cream without it, but I thought adding the balsamic might change the normal consistency. oh!! I would LOVE to be on a beach right now…
I love the flavor of balsamic vinegar, I can only imagine how tasty it would be in ice cream! And after having to turn on the heat in the house for the first time last night, I think my last lingering grip on summer has slipped. Ah, well…Bring on the squash and sweet potatoes.
ah… I know!! same here, heat came on Tuesday morning. we were up at 4… it was cold
but YES – there are many things to celebrate about fall!
oooooh i have all the nondairy stuff!!! and paul already killed his tub of strawberry cheescake ice cream! i should make him this!!!
and duh of course i’ll take you up on your offer =) I am DYING to see portland AND YOU! <3 and basil. duh
wouldn’t that be FUN??
I love the strawberry/balsamic combination and would eat (lots of!) this ice cream in a heartbeat! YUM!
I was really happy with the result – pretty much exactly the flavor I imagined… minus the balsamic ribbons. next time
There’s a company that makes strawberry goat milk ice cream with balsamic reduction swirl that is absolutely incredible. So tangy! This reminds me of that.
oh, wow. you had to bring in goat cheese. I bet that is amazing!
YUM, this sounds awesome. I need an ice cream maker! I would love you to recap the photography lessons that you learned, sounds like it would have been so amazing…
I’ll work on a recap of the session – it was good!
Aaahhh.. my favorite ice cream ever!!!! I need an ice cream maker, pronto!
Well, we are now just getting summer in California! I developed a girl-crush on Isa in that photography class and I envy that she gave you the fabric. My only condolence is that I have the same iPhone cover as her, ha ha. I am holding on tightly to the lovely memories of Vida Vegan Con and meeting amazing people like YOU!
isn’t Isa sweet? and so are YOU, Carrie! I wish all the time that we could have that weekend again, soon!
The fact that I do not have an ice cream maker is further proof that the world is a flawed place. Or that my pants just can’t stretch anymore and I should continue to walk by them in Target. Either way.
haa, indeed! I bet they’re on sale now, too, so walk fast!
trying to cling to the weather! I hate the cold weather! and darker, shorter days..ugh.
beautiful, creative recipe!
thanks, Averie! the shorter darker days – that’s what gets me too! I don’t mind the cooler weather, but I miss our daylight until 9PM!!
Balsamic in ice cream! I must tell my husband about this. He’s a huge fan of balsamic… and ice cream!
then he would probably like this!!
What a great story about the fabric! I have a couple of props that mean a lot to me too and it brings a smile to my face every time I use them. The ingredient I’m holding on to is dill. SUCH a summer ingredient… but I don’t care.
glad I’m not the only one!! I have some favorite dishes, but rarely use them… fun to have fun props – one of my favorite things to look for…
Yum! I love strawberries in a sweetened balsamic syrup – it’s awesome on pancakes. In ice cream?!? Sounds incredible, what a great idea
Love the photos.
thank you, Lou! and you just got me thinking… this ice cream would be good on pancakes!
Wow, this is the most creative thing I’ve come across lately! I want to make this! But …
Do you need an ice machine for making this? Because I don’t have anything like that.
Do you think this would work with almond milk as well (because coconut milk makes me feel sick).
Is the tapioca flour for binding, like starch? Could I replace it with other starch, say, arrowroot?
Sorry for all the qeustions, but I’ve never made ice cream, and I’d really love to try this one.
I used the tapioca for binding/thickening, so yes an arrowroot should work. I have never tried an ice cream with almond milk… I should, just so we both know! unfortunately I used my machine for this, I don’t know if you could make it without?
I know there are ways, perhaps with an ice bath, like a double boiler but with ice? and lots of hand whipping or a mixer?
no problem on the questions, my dear! I just know some answers might be disappointing
Oh yum! I’m bookmarking this. No doubt a special refreshing treat. And summer? What summer? Oh yeah, the short one we had….ha ha! Well, I’m hanging on to summer by buying non-local fruit such as kiwis and mangoes and papayas…so you know, my own little tropical paradise going on.
nice – *sigh* sometimes you need to do that, if you want a kiwi!
I think we’re in for a COOOOOLLLLD winter this year. snow!
I love strawberries with balsamic so I’m sure I would love this too. I could and do eat ice cream all year round. I will put on a jacket if necessary but I won’t stop eating ice cream!
haa – I love it! I’d gladly put on a jacket for year round ice cream also!
I was just thinking that I need to make a different type of ice cream and I have strawberries in the freezer, have to make this, thanks!
I love balsamic strawberries, I need to make this immediately!! thank you, I love your creative site!!
sounds incredible! thanks for sharing.
did you make this from the phone commercail? I found you from it LOL balsamic ice crea, never heard of
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