Wild Raspberry Ice Cream
Inspired by a mountain full of sweet surprises
Ever had a moment that was unexpectedly perfect?
A moment where you thought, “No way did that just happen.” I had one of those just last month while riding in our RZR with my family up Powerhouse Mountain. Out loud I said, “I wish there were berries on the trail. That would be cool.”
About 30 seconds later, I yelled, “Stop!”—because on both sides of the trail were thousands of wild raspberries. I couldn’t believe our luck. We jumped out, laughing at the sweet surprise, and helped ourselves to the berries we could reach. (There were even some conveniently at our 2-year-old’s height, perfectly ready for him to pick.)
We noticed that even more raspberries would be ripe in a couple of weeks, so we made a note to come back—with buckets.
Yesterday, we did just that. We loaded up our trusty RZR (lovingly named Bluey) and drove back up the mountain, this time with a mission: pick as many wild raspberries as we could. We spent about an hour up there, gathering berries for two things: Wild Raspberry Ice Cream and Wild Raspberry Jam—perfect for pancakes and summer treats.
A Moment to Remember
I’ve been reading The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath, and it’s made me reflect more deeply on what makes an experience truly meaningful. The book says that powerful moments tend to include one (or more) of these four elements:
- Elevation – rises above the ordinary through surprise, delight, or celebration
- Insight – shifts our understanding or perspective
- Pride – involves effort, achievement, or perseverance
- Connection – strengthens relationships and shared belonging
Finding those raspberries? That was Elevation—a surprise that made us all laugh and gasp.
Heading back up and trudging through berry stalks to gather enough for our recipes (while trying not to eat them all on the spot)? That brought a sense of Pride.
And being side by side with my son Anthony at the top of the mountain, talking and picking together? That was Connection. But it didn’t stop there. The next day, we all sat down and enjoyed the ice cream made from the very berries we had worked together to pick. It felt like a full-circle moment—from mountain to bowl, everyone had a part in it. That’s the kind of thing I want to make more space for in our lives.
Some moments are powerful enough to stay with us.
This was one of them.
And the best part? It tasted like summer, together.
Hope you enjoy—and maybe make a powerful memory of your own.
Wild Raspberry Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild raspberries or regular raspberries
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk use less if you want a lighter coconut flavor
- ¼ cup maple syrup or less, to taste
- 4–5 frozen bananas
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until thick and creamy.
- Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the mixture into a container and place it in the freezer until firm.
- Scoop and serve once set.
- Optional: Top with fresh raspberries or coconut flakes for extra texture.
