In the Kitch is reader-supported. External links may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.

With lactose intolerance affecting millions worldwide and consumer awareness of dairy practices rising, the non-dairy product market is expanding. From alternative milks to cheese, consumers today have plenty to choose from to satiate dairy cravings without eating dairy.

However, many of these products cost much more than their dairy counterparts, and often contain unwanted ingredients. This is especially the case with frozen desserts.

Enter, “nice cream”: a banana ice cream recipe made without an ice cream maker.

Vegan banana ice cream in a dessert dish with a spoon on the side.

Believe it or not, we can show you how to make ice cream using bananas and nothing else. This one-ingredient, non-dairy dessert remarkably resembles the original. Below you can find our delicious and easy homemade banana ice cream recipe. To whip a batch up yourself, all you need is a frozen banana to purée in a blender or food processor.

Just follow the six simple steps to learn how to make banana ice cream at home and start on your way to enjoying a bowl of sweet, creamy goodness as soon as possible. When you make homemade banana ice cream without eggs, vegan eaters can indulge as well!

Step #1. Prepare Ingredients

Bananas on a cutting board.

In this tutorial, we will teach you how to make a vegan banana ice cream aka. ‘nice cream’, with only one ingredient! Make sure you have the following on hand:

  • Fresh bananas (you can skip to step #4 with pre-frozen banana chunks)
  • Food processor

Step #2. Cut Bananas into Chunks

Slicing bananas on a cutting board.

Cut the bananas into big chunks.

Step #3. Freeze Bananas

Sliced bananas in a ziplock bag.

Place the banana pieces into a plastic bag and freeze for 1 day or overnight.

Step #4. Process Frozen Bananas

Banana slices in a food processor.

Process the frozen bananas in a food processor or blender until smooth and very creamy.

Closing lid on processor with banana chunks in it.
Blending frozen banana chunks in a food processor.
Blending frozen banana chunks in a food processor.
Blended banana ice cream in a food processor.

Step #5. Scoop Out Banana Ice Cream

Scooping banana ice cream out of food processor.

Scoop out the banana ice cream into a dessert dish.

Step #6. Serve & Enjoy

Banana ice cream in a glass serving dish.

OPTIONAL: Garnish with shaved vegan chocolate.

Vegan banana ice cream in a dessert dish with chocolate grated on top.
Banana ice cream in a glass serving dish with chocolate on top.

Banana Ice Cream Flavor Ideas

Nice cream is delicious plain, but you can also take it to another level with one of these fun banana ice cream flavor ideas:

Banana Ice Cream Flavor Ideas: 1. Blueberry 2. Butter Pecan 3. Chocolate Peanut Butter 4. Mint Chocolate Chip 5. Strawberry Shortcake
  1. Blueberry: This one is easy! Just blend ¼ cup of fresh or frozen blueberries with the banana.
  2. Butter pecan: Blend 2 tablespoons of chopped roasted pecans, ½ of teaspoon vanilla extract, 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and ½ teaspoon of non-dairy butter spread with the bananas.
  3. Chocolate peanut butter: Blend 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder with the bananas.
  4. Mint chocolate chip: Blend a couple of drops of peppermint extract with the bananas. Fold in a tablespoon or two of non-dairy chocolate chips.
  5. Strawberry shortcake: Blend the bananas. Once smooth, add ½ tablespoon of vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of coconut cream. Fold in ¼ cup of strawberries and small handful of vegan biscuits.

If it doesn’t seem that the bananas are blending into a smooth mixture, don’t panic! They’ll look like rough crumbles at first. Just wait a few minutes for the magic to happen. For some flavors, like peanut butter, you might need to add a splash or two of almond or coconut milk to help the blending process.

For soft-serve, enjoy your healthy creation as soon as it finishes blending. If you like harder treats, freeze the mixture in a covered container until firm.

What do you think: How does this easy, moo-free recipe compare to store-bought options?

Vegan banana ice cream in a dessert dish with chocolate grated on top.

How to Make Banana Ice Cream

Joss Dyckson
Believe it or not, we can show you how to make ice cream using bananas and nothing else. The vegan chocolate is an optional garnish. This non-dairy dessert remarkably resembles the original.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 210 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2-3 bananas - if using frozen, skip to step #3
  • Vegan chocolate - (Optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • Cut the bananas into big chunks. (or use pre-frozen bananas and skip to step #3)
    Slicing bananas on a cutting board.
  • Place the banana pieces in a plastic bag and freeze overnight.
    Sliced bananas in a ziplock bag.
  • Add the frozen bananas to a food processer or blender and process until smooth and very creamy.
    Blended banana ice cream in a food processor.
  • Scoop out the banana ice cream into a dessert dish.
    Scooping banana ice cream out of food processor.
  • Optional: Grate vegan chocolate on top of the ice cream. 
    Serve and enjoy!
    Vegan banana ice cream in a dessert dish with chocolate grated on top.

Equipment

Food processor or blender

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 845mgFiber: 6gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 151IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.

Keyword vegan
Want to see our recipes in action?Subscribe to our channel on Youtube!
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

Recipe Rating




    1. It might appear a bit lighter after you process it, but no it shouldn’t change color, unless you add something to it.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}