This is one of the most amazing little culinary tricks that I’ve learned yet. Simply genius.
You’re never gonna believe this BUT if you take a frozen banana and pop it into the food processor (or blender) you will end up with thick, rich, creamy banana ice cream.
And I’m not talking well-sorta-kinda-could-pass as banana ice cream, I’m talking ‘it is seriously just as good if not better than the real deal’. It’s just crazy. Pure insanity.
BUT before I continue to swoon, I just have to give some props to Jenna over at Eat, Live, Run. This is where I first discovered this brilliant idea (thanks for sharing Jenna!).
Back to my swooning…
I’ve always adored the frozen banana.
Frozen bananas topped with almond butter, stirred into yogurt, and dipped in chocolate are just a few of my favorites BUT NEVER in my wildest dreams did I know that the frozen banana was capable of this!! It actually morphs into ice-cream all by its self!
You could pop the banana in the blender (or processor), whirl it up and call it a day BUT I found that I enjoyed adding a splash of milk to it, just to thin it out a bit (which just goes to show you how creamy it is!). I used unsweetened vanilla soy milk – SO GOOD.
Beng and I actually had some frozen yogurt leftover in the fridge from our Friday night stroll w/ Katie (oh, how our weekend activities have changed since having a new born baby!) and so we decided to do a little side-by-side taste test (I love taste tests).
Now granted, the frozen yogurt was vanilla and chocolate and NOT banana flavor BUT Beng and I both agreed that the frozen banana ice-cream was way better than the yogurt. It’s just so rich and creamy… not to mention eating it along side the frozen yogurt made the yogurt taste especially “fake”.
Whenever I come across an idea like this it makes me think of how there are SO many nutritious alternatives to the traditional classics out there. Like making brownies out of almonds OR cheese cake out of tofu. I don’t know about you guys, but if I can find a way to incorporate more of the nutritious stuff without sacrificing taste or dancing with deprivation, I’m all in.
I think it’s just a matter of the times… people don’t cook like they used to. For example, we just don’t have the time that people had fifty years ago SO we learn to cook faster, right?
SO I say, why not learn to cook smarter too. If you can sub out a “not-so-great” ingredient with a “super-nutritious” ingredient without sacrificing flavor, then why not?!
I guess it’s just a matter of leaning some more modern techniques in the kitchen… don’t you think?
Maybe I should change the title of this post to “Modern Day Banana Ice Cream”…
Anyhow.
I don’t often ask my readers for a favor BUT tonight I am begging you… please make sure to pop some bananas into your freezer ASAP so you can make this insanely, deeelicious treat very, very soon!!
Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas
- 2 tablespoons almond milk (or any milk you prefer)
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Pop bananas into a blender or food processor and blend until the bananas have a smooth and creamy consistency (just like ice-cream). Depending on how powerful your blender or processor is, your bananas may clunk around a bit at the beginning BUT just give them a minute. Once they start to break down they turn into this lovely, creamy treat.
- If you want, you can skip the milk addition altogether, but I like to add a little in. I usually use just a tablespoon or two along with the maple syrup. Blend until thick and creamy. Enjoy!
Sara says
I tried this last night for dessert, delish! The only prob was my food processor literally exploded and the liquid came out the sides. Did I do something wrong? I took them from freezer to food processor…and then added in some almond milk as it was whirling. Should I have waited for the bananas to defrost a little?
Andrea says
This was amazing!!! Thanks so much for the recipe. I am a new vegan and am really missing ice cream. I mixed the banana with a bit of all natural peanut butter and it was awesome. My kids absolutely loved it as well. What a health alternative to fattening ice cream. Thanks so much!!!
TJ says
You can add chocolate protein powder or chocolate syrup to a medium sized banana also… add some milk and the kids don’t know it’s not a milk shake!!!
I am a smoothie JUNKY and I NEVER use ice… it’s always frozen banana’s or other frozen fruit. My favorite is chocolate peanut butter banana in place of a meal! OH IT’S SO GOOD and it seems like I’m drinking a milk shake … and it’s GOOD for me!!
1 frozen banan
1tbs nut butter
chocolate (carnation instant breakfast or protein powder work well or just some cocoa powder or chocolate syrup)
1/2 milk or soy milk or almond milk etc
blend and you have a meal 🙂
The magic bullet blender is perfect for one serving also…. it’s what transformed me into a smoothie “junkie” 🙂
Brenda C says
Wow, this looks awesome. Can’t wait to try it. I have a bag of just purchased frozen, banana, strawberry, peaches mixture. Gotta try this for dessert tonight. Thanks for the wonderful site Dani – you’re a star! It’s part of my daily surfing routine.
And Dave Cave, I felt that way the first time I made her Kale Chips. It is a vegetable, or a chip, who knew??? Now I’m hooked!
Elana says
Hey Dani,
Hope you are feeling good. Thanks for the link lovage 🙂
xo Elana
Bridget says
I use my Magic Bullet (small container) with 1 banana frozen in chunks, 1 heaping teaspoon of cocoa powder, 1 packet of Stevia & milk. I find it works best if the bananas are cut in quarters then in chunks-much easier to blend. I keep banana chunks frozen at all times then I can whip up a treat when I feel like icecream. I eat it out of the bullet jar.
I also make fruit sorbet using frozen mixed berries, Pom Juice & packet of stevia—delicious!
Shelly MacDonald says
I just happened to have a frozen banana on hand, so when I read this article I just had to try it, even though it’s 10pm in the evening… oh, what the heck! I diced up the banana into tiny pieces, added cinnamon, and one teaspoon of virgin coconut oil. WOW is all I can say. Why buy the fake processed ice cream at the store when you can have an awesome and healthy treat like this?
Tabi says
Is there really a video on this page? I can’t seem to find it.
I tried making some yesterday though, and it was awesome! Thanks so much for talking about it, I love it.
Cecilia says
I’m bad for letting bananas go brown-and then I don’t want to eat them. When I heard about this through Pinterest and tried it I was ecstatic! It’s sooooo good! I make mine with a spoonful of peanut butter, and some cocoa powder. YUM!!! A trick I’ve learned is to slice the bananas before putting them in the freezer-makes it easier for my blender to break them up.
Miran77 says
Do the bananas have to be frozen? My kids and I tried this with fresh bananas and almond milk and it tasted just like that; bananas in milk and nothing like a dessert at all so I find it hard to believe all these people are raving about it 🙁
Dani says
YES!!! 100%! Absolutely! The bananas MUST be frozen. This makes the ice cream thick and creamy – totally different then fresh bananas.
Jen says
I LOVE this ice cream… so does my 2 1/2 year old! Two quick thoughts… 1. Don’t do what I did and freeze the bananas while they are still fairly green… The longer you let them sit, the better, as they develop more sweetness as they ripen. 2. Adding a few FROZEN strawberries makes a fabulous strawberry banana ice cream and does not mess with the texture or consistency. 🙂
fizz says
im trying to print the banana ice cream recipe
but to no avail, im not on facebook. i have had to
write the recipe out by hand, am going to try and make it
on wednesday, have just bought a new blender, and i have two frozen bananas in the freezer ready to go. it sounds yummy.
fizz says
have just made this i used almond milk what i had made
and i put organic cocoa powder in it, will try and add other things to it, this has got to be the best recipe ever
its yummy
Mara says
Absolutely delicious! I added some cinnamon powder and it was greatttt
I replaced the milk with low fat cows milk and when I calculated the nutritional information it turned out double!
Is the nutritional information you gave the amount for 1 serving?
Thanks!
Michael Mankus says
Just made this and loved it. Used almond/coconut milk. I also stirred in some crushed almonds and dark chocolate. Delicious! We’ll definitely make it again.
Dani says
I love the add-ins – what could be better than a little dark chocolate and almonds? sounds delish!