I love avocados. With their rich, smooth and buttery consistency, I’m rendered helpless when it comes to resisting them! I’m not surprised that they’re known as “butter fruit” to many cultures. My fondness of this exotic fruit is legendary at parties I’ve thrown, where my homemade guacamole is the first thing to disappear.

Guacamole isn’t the only thing I’ve made to acclaim with avocados. I like to use them in all types of recipes, not only for their flavor, but also their nutritional value. Mayonnaise, butter and eggs can all be subbed out, avocados subbed in instead. Avocados are loaded with fat, but not just any fat. It’s healthy monounsaturated fat, which helps lower LDL cholesterol levels and heart disease risk.

It’s a given how avocados are delectable in sandwiches, wraps and salads, so opening your mind and palate to other applications shouldn’t be much of a stretch, right?! Let’s explore the versatility of avocados…

**Creative Uses for Avocados**

Drinks with a Twist. Avocados aren’t just for eating…they’re for slurping, too! Sneak avocados into any chilled drink recipe that calls for a rich, creamy consistency, like this California Avo Colada (love the name!) or Vietnamese Shake. And if avocados are drinkable, you can surely consume them in chilled soup form, too. Serve these Avocado Soup Shots with spicy breadcrumbs at your next summer party.

Sweet Treats. This is my new favorite way to use avocados (if you couldn’t tell by the photos). Avocados work wonderfully as substitutes for eggs and dairy in dessert recipes - a plus for vegans! In fact, the Choco-Cado Cupcakes I adapted from Joy the Baker (pictured above) were the moistest and fluffiest cupcakes I’ve ever eaten. Avocados can be such an asset to dessert recipes, especially these Black Bean Avocado Brownies, Avocado Pie, and Avocado Ice Cream with Toasted Coconut.

Healthier Pasta Dishes. Take advantage of avocados’ rich, buttery flavor by ditching fatty Alfredo sauce and switching to a healthier avocado pasta sauce. I’m salivating just at the thought of eating Avocado Fettuccine, Avocado Chicken Parmesan, or Creamy Avocado Spaghetti.

Edible Bowls or Cups. Save some dishes by using avocados to hold a Baked Egg, Black Bean Salad, Crab Salad, or Eggs and Bacon. And to make it even tastier, grill your avocados on the barbie!

Natural Beauty Remedies. If you thought avocados couldn’t get any more versatile, check this out. Avocados are healthy for both your inner and outer beauty thanks to their high vitamin E content. So give your body some TLC with this avocado hair mask for softer, more elastic hair. Or how about an avocado body scrub to exfoliate your dry, wintered-out skin and then an avocado facial mask to re-hydrate it for spring? Think twice before throwing out that leftover avocado peel! The inside of it is packed with moisturizing oils, making it perfect for massaging and rejuvenating your face.

Basically Anything. Yes! Avocados can be added to and used for just about anything, so get creative! Feeling more adventuresome? Try these Crunchy Avocado Fritters, Avo & Egg “Pizza”, or Avocado Mashed Potatoes with caramelized garlic. You’ll be surprised at all you can create with this wonderful fruit!

Brynn Cahalan is seriously the biggest avocado fanatic you will ever meet. She eats avocados on a daily basis while she studies Business Economics and Digital Arts at UC Irvine. Read more…

**Recipe**

Avocado Ice Cream with Toasted Coconut
Serves 8 (1 quart)
Adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod

Ingredients
3 medium ripe avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lime juice
Pinch of salt
Shredded coconut, toasted

Place all ingredients (excluding the coconut) in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Serve immediately for a soft ice cream or store in the freezer for a couple of hours prior to serving for a firmer ice cream. When ready to serve, top with toasted coconut.