Almond supports the cherries

This pairing uses actual almond butter rather than almond extract. The butter brings a gentle nutty flavour and body; extract can quickly make a drink taste of marzipan. Sweet cherries stay at the centre, with vanilla connecting the fruit and frozen dessert.

Pitting is the most important preparation step. A powerful blender is not a substitute for removing stones, and a pitter can occasionally miss one. Check each cherry as you work. Frozen pitted cherries can be used only according to their packet instructions and suitability for eating without cooking.

Keep the base unsweetened

Almond drinks differ in sweetness and thickness. An unsweetened version makes it easier to judge the cherries and ice cream together. If using a sweetened drink, taste the mixture before deciding it needs anything more. The recipe is already a dessert shake, so a syrup drizzle is unnecessary.

Almond butter often separates into oil and a thicker paste. Stir the jar thoroughly and blend the measured butter with the liquid before adding cold ingredients. Otherwise, small lumps can cling to the jug and fail to mix through. If the finished drink is too dense, add almond drink a tablespoon at a time; a large splash may thin it more than expected.

What you'll need

200 g fresh sweet cherries, pitted
180 ml unsweetened almond drink
100 g dairy-free vanilla ice cream
15 g smooth almond butter
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Let's make it

Wash and pit the cherries, checking each piece for stones. Stir the almond butter in its jar before measuring.
Blend almond drink and almond butter until combined. Add cherries, dairy-free ice cream and vanilla.
Blend briefly until the cherries are broken down and the shake is evenly coloured. Taste before adding any additional sweetener.
Divide into two glasses and serve straight away, while the ice cream still gives a cool, softly thick texture.

Make it your own

Cashew butter and cashew drink make a milder nut variation, but still introduce tree-nut allergens.

For more tartness, add a few drops of lemon juice after blending rather than increasing almond flavouring.

Keeping it fresh

Serve immediately. Keep prepared cherries covered and refrigerated if pitting ahead of time, and use within 24 hours for this recipe. Follow the plant drink and frozen dessert storage labels.