Sooooooo, maybe you’ve heard about it, but you have no idea how to make Banana Nice Cream, is that it?! Don’t worry, my dearest Reader, you are about to learn more than you wanted to! (like always)
Banana Nice Cream has been around for a long time in vegan and vegetarian circles, and for good reason. It’s one of the very easiest and fastest desserts you can possibly make (with miniscule planning ahead of time) and it’s 100% healthy for you. It is literally made of 1 whole-food ingredient.
Not to mention that it relies on zero animals for it’s production. Well, that is, if we’re not counting you… :P
Now THOSE are the kinda desserts you can truly feel Not Guilty about. :D
(Feeling lazy about reading? Video and Recipe down at the bottom!)
Looks and tastes like dairy!
The Best Pro Tip: Always Buy Too Many Bananas
This dessert relies on fully frozen, ripe or overripe bananas. The fact that they are completely frozen is the only requirement, which can require some planning for the future, unless you do like I do…
Every time I go to the store, I buy wayyyyy too many bananas. They are a super affordable food, and it’s even better if you can get them on sale. You bring them home, set them on your counter and let them go to work, ripening naturally.
Once you get them to the Oh-gross-I-wouldn’t-never-eat-them-this-ripe point, then they are perfect. Seriously, either of these bananas would be perfect.
As long as they aren’t black inside, as ripe as possible will make them as sweet as possible. And for ice cream, of course, that’s a great thing. The mushiness doesn’t matter for this recipe, I promise.
Once your bananas are gross hahaha, you’re going to take a minute, peel them all, and put them in some sort of freezer container. You’ll want to separate them though, so they don’t stick together, because it’s practically impossible to make the recipe if you just have a clump of bananas, all stuck together. And they really will super stick together when they’re that ripe. The smaller the pieces, the easier the time your blender will have, if you’re using a standard blender.
Make sure to not freeze your bananas with the peel on because you will never get them off when you’re trying to make ice cream — trust me on this one. :)
these are a little underripe, but we ran out! :o
You can be a little less concerned with the size of the pieces if you’ve got a high-speed blender like a Vitamix; I usually make halves or thirds with mine.
Some folks will individually wrap them in plastic wrap, but I think that’s a waste of time. Put them in a freezer bag, and keep them flat and separated until their fully frozen; that works really well.
Or do like I do: I have this crappy plastic container in my freezer right now that I use, so I always have frozen bananas on hand for smoothies or ice cream. There is literally NEVER a moment in my house where I don’t have a lot of frozen bananas around. :)
The Nutrition Is Strong With This One
The creaminess and portability aside, bananas are such a great source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. And when was the last time you could say that about the ice cream you were eating??
You could even have this as a meal and not feel guilty about it.
According to one of my favorite nutrition fact websites WHFoods:
Bananas are a good source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. Since one medium-sized banana contains a whopping 400-plus mg of potassium, the inclusion of bananas in your routine meal plan may help to prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis.
A second type of cardiovascular benefit from bananas involves their sterol content. While bananas are a very low-fat food (less than 4% of their calories come from fat), one type of fat that they do contain in small amounts are sterols like sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. As these sterols look structurally similar to cholesterol, they can block the absorption of dietary cholesterol. By blocking absorption, they help us keep our blood cholesterol levels in check.
A third type of cardiovascular benefit from bananas involves their fiber content. At about 3 grams per medium banana, we rank bananas as a good source of fiber. Approximately one-third of the fiber in bananas is water-soluble fiber. For one medium-sized banana, this amount translates into 1 gram of soluble fiber per banana. Soluble fiber in food is a type of fiber especially associated with decreased risk of heart disease, making regular intake of bananas a potentially helpful approach to lowering your heart disease risk.
Banana nice cream is a fantastic dessert indeed.
Don’t Forget the Toppings
There is a type of breakfast-y dessert thing that’s been going around, and it’s called a smoothie bowl. You can make it with banana nice cream or thin it out a bit more to use smoothie like consistency, but the principal is the same.
Pour your banana nice cream or smoothie into a bowl and add as many toppings as you’d like. Great choices are granola, cinnamon, sliced almonds or other chopped nuts, dried fruits, frozen berries or other fresh fruits cut up and even some oatmeal, chia seeds or hemp seeds. Mix in some mint and you’ve got a super healthy version of ice cream…or top it with a small amount of chocolate chips and you’re REALLY cooking with gas.
Can’t go wrong here. Seriously, all roads lead to yum. Think of homemade banana nice cream as your own personal frozen yogurt shop…without the guilt!
What To Do If You Hate Bananas (Like I Do :) or Are Allergic?
I definitely admit that I hate bananas with a passion. The only time I will eat them is when there is not a single spot of brown on them, and I even prefer them a little green. I don’t mind the texture too much: for me it’s the flavor. Just YUCK.
But you can’t say I haven’t been trying: I’ve eaten at least 5-7 bananas per week for the last like….15 years? And I STILL can’t stand the flavor. But I have definitely gotten used to it and I’m more able to tune it out…so that’s…pathetic improvement…kinda how I feel about cilantro, but that’s another post for another day…
What I love so much about bananas though, is that they are the best choice for adding creaminess to smoothies and this banana nice cream. You can use avocados, frozen mango, even silken tofu to get that creaminess….but really, nothing is as good as bananas. So I’ve been sticking it out for all these years because there’s just nothing else that’s as convenient.
What I have done in the past to get over that flavor issue, is that I make this ice cream with another frozen fruit as well, so I’d do like half bananas, half frozen cherries. Then I’ll add some raw cacao powder or cocoa powder (about 1 tablespoon) and then a tablespoon or two of creamy peanut butter. I’m telling you, THAT combination…is DANGEROUS. :P
And it totally makes the bananas either un-tastable or at least, a tiny bit of flavor that I can at least stand. But full disclosure, I never make the below recipe just for me…gross! :P hahah
Regular Blenders versus High-Speed Blenders versus Food Processors
The blender that you use really matters here. If you have a standard blender, that you got at the kitchen section of your store for like $30 bucks, that will work ok. But you’ve gotta follow some pretty specific instructions.
You *DEFINITELY* need to chop up your banana into small, fully-separated pieces before you freeze them. It can definitely work (as I show in the video) but it takes a bit more work. And you’ll have to use some sort of milk to get it moving, stop and shake the blender quite a few times, and then you’ll be rewarded in the end for your hard work.
And then you’ll start to realize that getting a Vitamix will be much more cost-effective in the end…because…banana ice cream!
click to watch the blender comparison video
And then a warning: you might not be able to do this many times…you just might burn out your blender motor. So I’m saying it’s not impossible, but it’s not an easy task for a blender like that to handle. The motor just isn’t powerful enough.
Of course, while you’re making it, keep an eye on the health of your blender. If you start to smell motor burning, then you wanna take it easy, or add more almond milk. You just might have to end up with a milkshake instead…which is never a bad thing. :) And if it really sounds like it’s struggling, take it easy or abort mission!
Unless the craving is too much…then press on my friend! :)
But when you have a Vitamix, this banana nice cream is really a BREEZE to create. You literally can just use the bananas, no almond milk necessary (using the tamper that comes with it)! High-speed blenders like this are called that because they have a much more powerful motor and substantial parts than standard blenders.
Sure the price reflects that as well, but when you get into a healthier lifestyle, you will find that you really wished you’d gotten one sooner. And hey, if you’re gonna be burning out multiple blenders over time with banana nice cream, it’s really worth the investment. :) I definitely use my blender at least 1 time per day, sometimes even 2-3!
Think about it…your healthy lifestyle needs it and…so does your newfound banana nice cream obsession!
Video of How to Make Banana Nice Cream
- 2-4 ripe bananas, frozen and chopped or halved
- 1 cup almond milk (more or less depending on the blender you have)
- If using a regular blender, add chopped pieces of banana plus almond milk. Pulse on high until bananas are a creamy consistency, adding more almond milk and shaking or stirring the contents until well blended.
- If using a high-speed blender, add halved frozen bananas and add ¼ cup almond milk or less, just to get it moving. Start off on low setting, and gradually increase speed using tamper when necessary to keep moving bananas until they are well blended.
Cheri,
Nice recipe… But why do you eat bananas if you don’t like them? There are so many good fruits!!! Stop punishing yourself!!! Ha ha ha! But don’t stop posting great recipes!!!!
Hey Cheri,
I use my “Yonannas” frozen dessert maker quite a bit in the summer. It’s made especially for making frozen desserts with frozen bananas. No milk/almond milk necessary and you’d swear it’s real icecream, same smooth texture. Easily mask the flavor of bananas for those who don’t care for it, with the 22 great recipes that come with it. Easy to use, easy to clean. There is also a generic version of the Yonannas appliance available., I think it’s called a frozen desert maker.
I admit I’m a sucker for specialty appliances, but then they do take up cabinet space, and need to be pulled out to use, etc. I’d certainly love to have a vitamix but truthfully I can’t afford one, and would never pay the price. I’m over 60, my kids are grown, and my husband is a meat and potatoes man who would never eat “clean”, vegan, or vegitarian. He hardly ever eats vegetables, though I do try to convert him. As it is he cooks his own meals, I cook mine. So to invest in a vitamix for me, would be a waste of money.
I find my food processor is my most used appliance, my bullet does well for smoothies for one, even with frozen bananas, and my Yonannas, does my frozen desserts. You might want to spencer these products also.
Love your posts! But you tend to sponcer only very expensive items, like the matcha green tea powder. That was a sticker shock for sure. I personally will not go there. Can’t afford to, but I make many of your recipes and look forward to more.
Great Idea!!! I always have too many bananas! I love desserts?
That’s a great idea Cheri, I’ve always wondered what to do wit banana’s that were overly ripe. Beats throwing them out. Thanks for the tip gorgeous.
Hey Paul, soooo glad you liked it. Another great idea is to use them for banana bread! Hope you love the smoothies and nice cream :)
Fantastic, Pat! Can also be used for banana bread! :D Lemme know if you like the nice cream! xo
Hahah, I know Ann, sounds a little crazy right? But I eat them because they’re just so dang portable and easy to eat…there’s nothing that beats them for those benefits, I feel. And I’ve always really *wanted* to like them..and hey, at least it’s not as bad as it used to be! :) (also, I know lots of my readers love ’em sooo…there’s that. :) Have a great weekend! xo
Hi Roberta! Thanks so much for the great information. I definitely don’t like bananas enough to get an appliance for them, but it sounds like it would be a great idea for so many others, so thanks for sharing. And I have the Vitamix, a food processor and an ice cream maker at this point, so I don’t need another way to make awesome desserts :) hahaha.
I feel you on the cost thing. For sure. However, I tend to only promote things I really really really truly believe in and feel are completely worth the money. For me, the Vitamix was a huge investment in my health — I make sooo many things in it from smoothies (every day!) to nice cream, to soups (start to finish; it even heats it up to steaming hot!) to hummus, to sauces, to salad dressings, etc. There are seriously so many ways to use it, that it really keeps me healthy. I bought it using a Bed Bath and Beyond coupon (20%) off, and paid it off on a credit card slowly because I truly believed in it. And it really was worth it for me. But I can see your points as well.
And I can see what you think about the tea as well, but for me, I add a few dashes to my smoothies and I go through it super quick. And actually, compared to other matcha tea brands, for the quality and volume in the container, it comes out to be a LOT less expensive than other brands. The container holds 200 cups of tea, which comes out to only 17.5 cents per cup! Other brands will charge around $15-$20 per ounce, whereas this is 3 ounces for $35…and it’s organic, and comes from my friend’s farm. You really can’t get a better quality than that. And 3 ounces of tea is a lot…which will last quite a while at 1-3 cups per day! So I’ll get off my soapbox, but I promise that I promote only super high quality products that are well worth the money. But I understand your point of view for sure! I will definitely think about adding links to these products you mention as well: I’m sure others would find them interesting as well. :D
I also promise to regularly keep giving out awesome recipes for free as well. So I’m glad you’ll stick with me for that part. And I look forward to serving you more in the future. :) Happy weekend to you! xo
I find using only bananas a little too intense.
What I do is use a ratio of 1:3. Using one part frozen bananas and3 parts frozen organic unsweetened pineapple chunks ( Costco, etc. I then add a little orange juice and equal water in my ‘ Bullet-type’ blender. I have several Ninja blenders but for one person, I use the
Bullet. I DO SHAKE TGE BLENDER to keep the contents moving around.
If you use plant-milk, omit the orange juice.
Susan, this a fantastic recommendation, thank you!! As a banana hater, I think this just might do the trick! I am going to try it very soon. :D xoxox
I personally love💖 bananas 🍌 and actually all fruits and veggies and greens, so I guess I was born to be vegetarian/vegan😊 Just today I made banana nice cream without looking for any recipe. I used 2 frozen bananas, couple tb spoons of nondairy coconut yogurt and a spoon of cashew butter. Well there is non left👀😆
Yyyuuummm Aleksa! Sounds so delicious!!! <3 <3 :P
Looks delicious !! Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks Nina!!
Thank you for the recipe. Would that fruit:milk ratio work for any other fruit nice cream? Lets say strawberry or mango?
Great question, Gigi. Yes, it would be similar, depending on what blender you’re using. Too much milk results in something closer to a milkshake anyhow, and that’s never a bad thing. :)
Hi, do you think it would be possible to blend the bananas before freezing, then blend the frozen bananas. (after a little thawing) with the other other ingredients ? Thanks Eric Burke
Hi Eric!! This is a very interesting idea Eric, and yes I think it would work, I’m assuming you’re asking because of having a standard blender. Just make sure to separate out the pre-blended bananas a bit before you freeze, like maybe in 1/3 cup at a time portions or less. Otherwise you’ll just have a big lump of banana after freezing that will be harder to blend again. Let me know how it goes please!
Hi Cheri,Yes I have tried the idea mentioned, and it seems to have worked fine. Thanks for the further advice though. I have received praise about this method from my daughter. Praise indeed. Best regards Eric.
Cheri,
I love bananas.Unfortunately they no longer love me. They make me constipated. I have at least 5 bananas in the freezer waiting to be used. I used to use them often in smoothies. Do you have any suggestions what I can do with them other than throw them out. I hate to waste food. Thanks.🤔🙏🍨
Hi Cheri,
I have a Vitamix A3500 and I love to make healthy banana ice cream. I’m on the heart transplant list because I have heart failure and atrial fibrillation which causes me to have strokes. So eating ice cream know that the ingredients are healthy is paramount. What I would like to know is how do you stop ice cream from freezing as I like to have ice cream every day as part of my diet. I made some mango ice cream using coconut milk dates frozen mangos and vanilla essence then I put it in a plastic food saver container put it in the freezer and it turned solid so how do I stop that from happening?
Hi Andie!
The addition of nuts/nut butter may help but is a limited food so not sure that’s your best option. I am sorry I don’t have anything more for you!
bananas help ulcers heal also
Thanks for sharing Donna! Happy holidays! ;)
Hi Cheri,
I made nice cream for the first time last week using two frozen bananas and loved it. Tonight I added cacao powder to the bananas—loved it too. My son is coming over this weekend and wants to try “this vegan ice cream” (he says) since he is thinking about becoming a Nutritarian too. I love all the combinations one can use. Who knew???
Hattie!!!! What an amazing development! Look at your powerful influence, my friend. Keep it up!! <3 (You're right, so versatile!!)