Learn How to Make the Base Recipe
This is one of our base recipes. Banana nice cream is a perfect lightened-up dessert when you get a craving for something cold, creamy, and sweet!
Must-Know Culinary Skill
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Frozen Banana Nice Cream
Do NOT freeze bananas with the peel on!!! They are a nightmare to unpeel once frozen. To freeze bananas, peel, slice into quarters, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container. Although you can freeze bananas whole, they will freeze faster and blend easier if broken into smaller pieces.
If your nice cream is too thick after blending, add more liquid. If it is too thin, add more banana.
Don’t be discouraged if the nice cream does not quickly turn creamy when blending. Use a spatula to scrape the sides, and continue to blend. It will get there!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Frozen Banana: substitute half of one banana with any frozen fruit of your choosing.
- Milk or Milk Alternative: use cow’s milk, a non-dairy alternative, or canned coconut milk. Note that different milks will create slightly different tastes and textures. Choose unsweetened varieties and those with as few additives as possible for best nutrition.
Base Recipe Variations
Remember that this is a base recipe, so the goal is for you to customize it to your taste! Keep it simple or spice it up!
Use these additional ingredients for even more flavorful nice cream.
- Frozen Fruit: use frozen strawberries, blueberries, mangos, cherries, peaches, pineapple, or whatever else sounds good to you!
- Toasted Chopped Nuts or Coconut Flakes: use sliced or slivered almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, or whatever sounds good to you! Choose unsweetened coconut flakes, shreds, or smiles. Blend into the nice cream, stir in after blending, or sprinkle on top.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: substitute dark chocolate chips or chunks. Blend into the nice cream, stir in after blending, or sprinkle on top.
- Nut or Seed Butter: use any nut or seed butter. Blend into the nice cream or swirl in after blending.
- Cocoa Powder: substitute 2 teaspoons melted and slightly cooled chocolate.
- Sweetener: use honey, agave, maple syrup, molasses, or brown sugar. Taste the nice cream before adding – you may not need it if using extra ripe frozen bananas.
- Flavor Extract: vanilla, almond, and coconut extracts are our favorites for ice cream. If you’re feeling adventurous, lemon, lavender, or peppermint could provide unique banana nice cream flavors!
- Spices: use sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom, pumpkin spice, or apple pie spice. Start with a dash, then add more to taste. Blend into the nice cream, or sprinkle on top.
Need some flavor ideas? Try out these combinations!
Peanut Butter Banana Nice Cream: add 2 Tablespoons peanut butter.
Double Chocolate Banana Nice Cream: add 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, and1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
Banana Strawberry Nice Cream: add ¼ cup frozen sliced strawberries.
Banana Coconut Nice Cream: add ¼ teaspoon coconut extract OR use canned coconut milk. Alternatively, mix in or top the base recipe with toasted coconut flakes.
Vanilla Banana Nice Cream: add ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract or pure vanilla bean paste.
Banana Berry Nice Cream: add ¼ cup frozen mixed berries.
Banana Mango Nice Cream: add ¼ cup frozen mango.
Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream: add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract, then stir in mini chocolate chips after blending.
Want more nice cream inspiration?
Use this recipe variation for inspiration, then have fun exploring other flavors, ingredients, and textures!
Which Blender is Best for Nice Cream?
Any blender will work! While a Vitamix probably makes the creamiest ice cream, any full-size blender, single-serve blender, immersion blender, or even a food processor will do the job. If your appliance has a difficult time blending all of the ingredients, use a silicone spatula or blender tamper to scrape down the sides between blending, or double the recipe to increase the blender volume.
Is Banana Nice Cream Healthy?
Banana nice cream is certainly a more nutrient-dense alternative to traditional ice cream! The featured ingredients in this nice cream recipe are bananas, milk/milk alternative, and less added sugar than store bought ice cream.
Banana
Bananas contain fiber and potassium. The natural sugar in bananas (and all fruit!) does not count against your daily sugar budget. Aim to include fruit in all of your meals so that you fill up on beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber, water, and phytonutrients.
Milk or Milk Alternative
Cow’s milk is rich in calcium, B vitamins, and protein. Dairy-free alternatives provide different benefits depending on which kind you choose. There are now options available made from pea protein, bananas, oats, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, macadamia nuts, pecans, cashews, coconuts, and of course the originals: rice, soy, and almond. Soy milk is the most nutritionally comparable to cow’s milk. When choosing a milk alternative, try to limit added sugars, gums, and stabilizers. Some varieties, like cashew or oat milk are creamier, and therefore create a thicker ice cream.
Learn more about the different types of milk in this article: Plant Based Milk vs. Cow’s Milk!
Less Added Sugar
High sugar consumption is not good for health, and in general, most Americans eat way too much. Men should aim to consume less than 9 teaspoons (~36 grams) of sugar per day, and women should aim to consume less than 6 teaspoons (~24 grams) of sugar per day. If you use extra ripe bananas and omit the added sweetener, this recipe is free of added sugars! If you choose to add the extra sweetener, each ½ cup serving contains only ½-1 teaspoon of added sugar; FAR less than regular ice cream, which can have 18-20 grams, or 4-5 teaspoons, in just ½ cup!
Banana Nice Cream Serving Suggestions
Banana nice cream makes for a perfect afternoon or evening treat. It’s also a great post-workout recovery snack because it contains muscle-restoring carbohydrates.
What about nice cream for breakfast? Sure! Because this recipe doesn’t contain excess sugar, it can definitely be included as part of a balanced breakfast! Serve alongside scrambled eggs, overnight oats, whole wheat pancakes, or avocado toast for a fun and flavorful meal.
Storage Tips
Keep leftover banana nice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month for best quality. Note that the nice cream will solidify after 4-6 hours in the freezer, so you may have to let it sit on the counter for ~15 minutes before serving to achieve desired consistency.
Want more delicious dessert recipes?
Try out these favorite base recipes, and as always, adjust to YOUR taste!
Dark Chocolate Covered Fruit Bites Base Recipe
Frozen Fruit Crisp Base Recipe
Banana Nice Cream Base Recipe
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- 2 extra ripe bananas, peels removed, quartered, frozen
- ¼ cup milk or milk alternative
Additions to YOUR taste
- ¼ cup frozen fruit
- 2-3 Tablespoons nut or seed butter
- 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1-2 teaspoons natural liquid sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon flavor extract
- ¼ teaspoon spice(s)
- 2 Tablespoons – ¼ cup mini chocolate chips*
- 2 Tablespoons toasted chopped nuts*
- 2 Tablespoons toasted coconut flakes*
Instructions
- Place frozen bananas, milk, and additional ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, using a spatula to scrape down the sides as necessary. Once smooth, stir in optional chocolate chips, nuts, or coconut flakes.
- Serve as is or freeze for 1 hour for a firmer texture.
- Add optional toppings for a boost in presentation and flavor. Enjoy!
Notes
- Chocolate shavings
- Chocolate chips
- Toasted nuts or seeds
- Dash spice
This Post Has 4 Comments
I love ice cream, but I don’t always love how heavy it sits. I love that this banana nice cream recipe has nearly the same texture as regular ice cream, but with a fraction of the calories, sugar, and saturated fat!
So true! Frozen bananas are magical 🙂
Different than ice cream but I did scream when I tasted some…..good job tt team…. Keep these recipes rolling….. maneck
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! We’ll definitely keep the recipes rolling!