It doesn't get any simpler than this one ingredient Vegan Banana Ice Cream or Nice Cream. Easy, healthy and super adaptable recipe you've got to try today! Enjoy them as they are or try one of my favourite flavour combinations.
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One ingredient banana ice cream!
Who said that making healthy vegan ice cream needs to be complicated and involve some weird ingredients?
Sometimes (a lot of times in fact) the answer is staring you right in the face or in this case those really ripe, spotty bananas in your fruit bowl are staring you right in the face. These lovely, super sweet "nanas" are all you need. There are literally no other ingredients involved unless we are adding flavours and other extras but let's start simple first.
What if I don't like bananas?
I know it might sound quite hard to believe but this simple ice cream doesn't taste much like bananas at all. You've got to give it a go to taste for yourself.
If pure banana version doesn't convince you then read on to get to my two favourite flavour combinations which taste anything but!
Choosing right bananas!
To keep things pure and simple and so that we don't need to add any other sweeteners we want our bananas to be lovely and ripe as that's when they're the sweetest!
Having said that, we don't want them to be overripe to the point that they're almost black and mushy, definitely not! You want the skin to be yellow and spotty but there should be some firmness still to them which will make their handling much easier. I tend to use the ones that look like this. ⬇️
How to freeze bananas?
I don't know about you but I freeze bananas all the time and always keep little stash in the freezer to use in smoothies, bakes and of course to make this delicious ice cream with.
My favourite way to freeze them is to cut them into slices and freeze in a single layer on top of a tray lined with baking paper. Once rock solid, I move them into freezer friendly container which then gives me an easy access to the exact amount of bananas I need, as opposed to having them in one big lump and difficult to separate.
Freezing bananas in slices is actually really quick. They should be frozen solid within half an hour!
Another big plus of doing it this way is that if you're planning on blending your bananas when frozen (like we are in this banana ice cream recipe), having smaller chunks of frozen fruit is easier on your food processor and/or blender.
How to make banana ice cream?
Once you've got your frozen bananas, you're almost there!
Simply pop required amount of frozen banana slices in your food processor or powerful high speed blender and start blending.
Once you start blending you will notice your banana turn into crumbs but don't panic and keep blending.
You might have to stop and scrape bits of banana from the sides of your food processor/blender but then continue blending and eventually you will see that smooth and creamy consistency you're after.
Your banana ice cream is ready!
Helpful tips!
- Make sure you use either food processor or really powerful, high speed blender for your ice cream as you really need equipment with powerful motor here. I tend to use my really old but still strong Magimix* or Froothie Evolve* high speed blender (check out my Froothie Evolve review post with readers' offer).
- I suggest you use minimum of two frozen bananas when making your ice cream as your food processor/blender might struggle with less.
- Don't be afraid to stop blending and scrape bits of banana from the sides of your machine to make sure it all gets blended and there is no waste.
- I've seen recipes that advise you to add a drop of milk (dairy or plant based) to make blending easier but I really don't think it's necessary. As long as you keep to the minimum of 2 bananas rule, you should be fine.
- Once blended your ice cream will have creamy, soft serve consistency which will be just about scoopable if you act quickly. For more set consistency pop it in a freezer for half an hour which will make it easier to scoop into cones.
Top Tip: After few hours in the freezer your banana ice cream will get rock solid to the point that you will need a concrete breaker to get any of it out. Make sure you take it out of the freezer good 30 minutes before you need it!
Banana ice cream flavour combinations
If you fancy jazzing up your simple banana ice cream try drizzling over some strawberry coulis - heaven!
Sometimes simple banana ice cream on its own just won't do and there really are lots and lots of different flavour variations you can play with here. My two ultimate favourites which I'll share with you below are Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunks Banana Ice Cream and classic Double Chocolate Banana Ice Cream.
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunks
This flavour variation requires two extra ingredients: peanut butter and your choice of vegan chocolate buttons/chips/chunks.
Bananas create your creamy base and in combination with peanut butter and chocolate you get that sweet and salty vibe with a hint of chocolate, so so delicious! I know it seems odd but you really don't get any banana flavour at all so I encourage you to give it a go even if you don't particularly like bananas.
To serve, a sprinkle of salted peanuts and of course some extra chocolate and you're in ice-cream heaven!
Double Chocolate
This one will satisfy the biggest chocolate fanatics! You get double hit of chocolate from unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder* and chocolate chips/chunks/buttons.
You can control the amount of chocolate you put in here but I find 2-3 tablespoon of cocoa or cacao powder per two bananas and a handful of chocolate buttons works for me. As we're using unsweetened cocoa/cacao here I tend to add some extra sweetener like agave or maple syrup but you can use honey as well.
Small pinch of salt intensifies chocolate flavour beautifully so don't be afraid to add it.
This double chocolate version of banana ice cream tastes super rich and indulgent and again you would have no clue that the main ingredient is our humble banana!
Storing banana ice cream
Personally, I think this ice cream is best when eaten fresh and on the day you make it. We love soft serve ice cream in our house and tend to make these "to order" and devour immediately.
You can of course store them in the freezer but I would advise you to consume them as soon as possible and not to keep them for longer than a couple of weeks tops as both flavour and texture will be affected.
This natural and preservative free ice cream is so delicious you won't mind making it as and when you need it.
Have you tried my Vegan Banana Ice Cream?
Please consider giving it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in recipe card below.
More delicious recipes you might want to try
Strawberry & Banana Ice Lollies (Popsicles)
Healthy Vegan Banana Bread
Vegan Chocolate Banana Cake
Rhubarb Ice Cream (No Churn)
Healthy Banana Flapjacks
Healthy Banana Muffins
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Vegan Banana Ice Cream (Nice Cream)
Ingredients
Banana Ice Cream
- 2 large and very ripe bananas
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunks Banana Ice Cream
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 3 tablespoon peanut butter
- 50 g vegan chocolate buttons/chips/chunks
- salted peanuts & more chocolate to serve optional
Double Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
- 2 very ripe bananas
- 2-3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
- pinch of salt
- handful of vegan chocolate buttons/chips/chunks
- agave or maple syrup to sweeten if desired optional
Instructions
Banana Ice Cream
- Freeze banana slices in single layer for at least 30 minutes.
- Put frozen banana slices in a food processor or powerful high speed blender and blend until smooth.
- Initially your bananas will turn into crumbs before they reach the creamy consistency you're after so keep blending until you get there. You might have to stop to scrape the sides of your food processor and then blend again.
- Enjoy straight away as soft serve ice cream or put in a freezer to achieve harder, more scoopable consistency.
Adding Flavour Combinations
- Add other ingredients (but chocolate chunks) into the food processor or high speed blender together with frozen banana slices and blend.
- Once you've reached smooth consistency of your nice cream, add chopped chocolate buttons/chips/chunks and give them couple of extra blends to incorporate.
- Serve as above, garnished with your favourite extras!
Notes
- Nutritional information is approximate, per serving based on two servings of plain banana ice cream without additions only.
- Banana ice cream is best eaten freshly made but can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Please note the longer you store it the more it will affect its flavour and texture.
- After few hours in the freezer the ice cream will be rock hard so make sure to take it out 20-30 minutes before you want to eat it.
- Make sure you use food processor or high speed blender to make your ice cream. You need a machine with powerful motor to cope with frozen fruit.
- Use minimum of 2 bananas as your food processor/blender might struggle with more. Feel free to double or even triple the recipe.
- Don't be afraid to stop blending and scrape bits of banana from the sides of your machine.
- I've seen recipes that advise you to add a drop of milk (dairy or plant based) to make blending easier but I really don’t think it’s necessary. As long as you keep to the minimum of 2 bananas rule, you should be fine.
- Once blended your ice cream will have creamy, soft serve consistency which will be just about scoopable if you act quickly. For more set consistency pop it in a freezer for half an hour which will make it easier to scoop into cones.
Ellen says
Just wondering the best way to refreeze this? Would like to make it in advance for my niece and nephew! To get the texture back would i simply take it out of the freezer a few minutes before serving?
joskitchenlarder says
Hello Ellen, As mentioned in the post this ice cream is best served immediately although you can keep it in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. It will freeze solid so if you'd like to bring it back to soft scoop consistency I would take it out of the freezer approximately 20-30 minutes before serving. It's difficult to give an exact time as it will depend on the temperature in your kitchen so you might have to watch it. Hope that helps. 🙂