This banana ice cream recipe stars one easy ingredient: frozen bananas! This creamy, dairy-free deal with is enjoyable and refreshing on sizzling summer time days.
Have you ever ever made frozen banana ice cream? This one-ingredient deal with has a wealthy, creamy texture lots like common ice cream, however you don’t want an ice cream maker (or any sugar or dairy) to make it. It whizzes up within the meals processor in just some minutes!
Banana ice cream was fashionable years in the past (keep in mind “good cream”?), nevertheless it lately made its means again into my kitchen because of the PBS Children present Daniel Tiger. There’s an episode the place Daniel and his mother make “banana swirl” collectively, which impressed me to start out making it with my son Ollie.
This wholesome banana ice cream recipe is a good dessert to make with children, however based mostly on how a lot Jack and I take pleasure in it, I really feel assured saying that adults will adore it too. It’s so easy, enjoyable, and refreshing on sizzling summer time days. If you happen to’re not a fan already, I hope you attempt it!
Tips on how to Make Banana Ice Cream
You will discover the whole recipe with measurements on the backside of this submit, however for now, right here’s a fast overview of the way it goes:
Step 1: Freeze the bananas.
I do that a day forward, however 8 hours would do the trick too. Peel the bananas, then seal them in an hermetic container or bag and stash them within the freezer.
Step 2: Allow them to thaw barely, then chop.
Mixing absolutely frozen bananas may be exhausting on a meals processor. To make them simpler to whip, I allow them to thaw on my counter for quarter-hour after which slice them earlier than processing.
Step 3: Whip them within the meals processor!
Place the chopped bananas within the meals processor and course of till clean, for about 5 minutes. Cease and scrape down the edges of the bowl as essential. The banana ice cream is prepared when it turns into pale and has a clean, creamy smooth serve-like texture.
Step 4 (elective): Freeze for a firmer texture.
After mixing, the banana ice cream can have a smooth serve consistency. If you happen to’d prefer it to be scoop-able, switch it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for half-hour to 2 hours. Don’t depart it within the freezer for greater than 2 hours although—if it’s in there for too lengthy, it’ll turn out to be a block of ice!
Recipe Suggestions
- The riper the bananas, the higher. Identical to banana bread, this banana ice cream has the sweetest banana taste if you make it with brown, spotty bananas.
- Let the bananas thaw extra if wanted. If the bananas aren’t breaking down within the meals processor, cease processing and allow them to sit for an additional 2 to five minutes at room temperature to thaw a bit extra. If wanted, it’s also possible to add a splash of milk or almond milk to assist them mix, however I like the feel greatest with simply banana.
- I vote meals processor over blender. You may make this recipe in a blender if you have to, but when each choices can be found, go together with the meals processor. I’ve at all times discovered that I would like so as to add milk to a blender as a way to get the bananas clean and creamy, which ends up in a barely thinner consistency.
- Eat it on the day you make it. Banana ice cream isn’t the identical as conventional ice cream! With no added sugar or heavy cream, it freezes into an icy block after 2+ hours within the freezer. You possibly can at all times scale down the recipe if wanted. I name for six bananas right here, however 2 to three additionally work nicely in my meals processor.
Banana Ice Cream Taste Variations
I like so as to add somewhat vanilla and a pinch of salt to my fundamental banana ice cream for further depth of taste.
If you happen to’d wish to experiment with much more add-ins, be happy! Listed here are a number of concepts to get you began:
Add clean mix-ins like peanut butter to the meals processor in the previous few minutes of mixing. Fold in chunky mix-ins like chocolate chips with a spatula as soon as the banana ice cream is absolutely clean.
Let me know what variations you attempt!
Extra Favourite Frozen Treats
If you happen to love this banana ice cream recipe, attempt one in every of these yummy frozen treats subsequent:

Banana Ice Cream
Serves 4
One-ingredient banana ice cream is simple to make within the meals processor! Made with frozen bananas, this gluten-free, dairy-free deal with is clean, creamy, and scrumptious. I like so as to add somewhat vanilla and salt to mine. Discover extra taste variations within the weblog submit above!
Stop your display from going darkish
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Take away the bananas from the freezer. Allow them to sit at room temperature for quarter-hour to melt barely, then chop.
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Within the bowl of a meals processor, place the chopped bananas, vanilla, and salt. Course of for 3 to five minutes, or till the bananas have a clean, whipped texture much like smooth serve. Cease and scrape down the edges of the bowl as wanted. If the bananas are too frozen to totally course of, allow them to thaw for an additional minute or so. You can too add milk to assist the bananas mix, however the texture is creamiest with simply banana.
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Get pleasure from instantly, or for firmer ice cream, switch to an hermetic container and freeze for as much as 2 hours earlier than serving. Don’t freeze it for for much longer, or it is going to be too agency and icy to scoop. This banana ice cream is greatest loved on the day it’s made.