Healthy Banana Ice Cream is so easy to make and tastes amazing. A delicious dessert made from only bananas (and any additional ingredients you may choose to add).
I always have a stash of frozen bananas in the freezer. They are great for making frozen desserts, for using in smoothies or to simply eat as they are. One of our favourite ways to use frozen banana is in this delicious Banana Ice Cream.
How To Freeze Bananas
- For best results use ripe or overripe bananas, green bananas do not work well.
- Peel and slice them approx 2-3cm thick (thinner slices process better than big chunks)
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and place banana slices on a single layer, without them touching. (This will stop them clumping together and makes it easier to remove the amount you require.)
- After around 2 hours the slices can be transferred to a freezable container/bag and stored until needed.
How to Make Banana Ice Cream
Once your bananas are frozen you can make this one ingredient banana ice cream in literally minutes. It is so easy and only requires you throwing your frozen bananas into a food processor and processing them.
Your bananas will eventually turn into a super creamy, sweet and delicious ice-cream. You can see in the picture below that it will go through different stages before it reaches that step
- It will start off crumbly, scrape down the sides once you reach this step.
- The clumps will start to bind together to form a gooey mixture, continue to scrape down the sides.
- Finally, it will turn into delicious ice cream with a texture similar to soft serve.
Serve straight away or if you prefer a firmer texture, return to the freezer for around 30 mins.
I always use my food processor to make banana ice cream, I tried it in my blender and it didn't work. If you have a high-quality blender (like the Vitamix) then I am sure you could also make this in your blender.
Flavour Ideas
One ingredient banana ice cream is delicious but one of the great things about banana ice cream is that it is easy to make a range of flavours.
By adding in other ingredients you can really change the flavour profile of the ice cream. Even banana haters wouldn't know that they were eating bananas!
Below I have illustrated some of the flavours we make often.
- Cinnamon Banana Ice Cream - Add 2 tsps of cinnamon (more or less depending on taste) as you are blending
- Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream - This one is amazing! Add 2-3 tablespoon of peanut butter before you start blending.
- Chocolate Banana Ice Cream - Add 2 tablespoon of cacao (more or less depending on taste) as you are blending
- Raspberry Banana Ice Cream - Add 1 cup of raspberries (frozen or fresh)
Of course, it doesn't stop there. You really can make whatever you dream up! Just experiment with add-ins to create whatever your heart (or your child's heart) desires!
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Healthy Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 banana
Instructions
- Peel bananas and slice. Freeze on a baking tray (for around two hours) and then transfer into a freezable container until you are ready to use.
- Using a food processor blend until smooth. At the start of blending it will be chopped into tiny pieces, the pieces with start to clump together and will eventually blend into a creamy ice cream consistency. (see above picture for illustration) Scrape the sides down as it blends.
- OPTIONAL - Add in any extra ingredients to flavour the ice cream differently. (Pictured I added cinnamon, peanut butter, cacao and raspberry.) Blend until mixed.
- Serve straight away or return to the freezer to harden further.
Rita
Great recipe! Quick question. I have frozen bananas with their peels. Can I just remove them from the freezer, peel them, chop them & follow from step 2 of your recipe (skipping step 1)? Thank you!
Amy
Hi Rita, yes that will work too 🙂
Maria
Made this with my 3 year old daughter and she love it. ( including the dad and mom) we all love it
Amy
Great! Thanks Maria 🙂
Roz Broomfield
Made this today. It was absolutely delicious. I put four bananas in my food processor without first freezing. I then put one and a half desert spoons of cocoa in and processed again. Then placed in freezer. Will def be making this again.
Amy
Thanks Roz! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Karien
I make large batches of these, freeze them as popsicles or in small containers. They do loose the soft serve consistency but are still creamy and my daughter loves them. Current favourite is toasted coconut and mango and choc/peanut butter
Amy
Toasted coconut and mango - YUM! Thanks for the feedback and great to know you can make them into popsicles. 🙂
claudya
Hi! I wonder if we can use blender instead of food processor? Have you tried before? Thanks.
Amy
Hi Claudya. We find that a food processor works best for this. If your blender is powerful enough to process the frozen bananas then it will work. Unfortunately, it doesn't work in all blenders.
Jacqueline Long
The whole family enjoyed this, even my husband who doesn't much like bananas. I added raspberries which meant everyone enjoyed it,
Amy
Thanks, Jacqueline. So happy you all enjoyed it 🙂
Aundrea
Can do it backwards? Blend it first then freeze? I am curious to find out. I have all the tie in the world. This was a great recipe!! Thanks Amy!!
Amy
Hi Aundrea, I have never actually tried it that way before so can't actually say. I'd worry it might be a little gloopy but without trying I can't say for sure.
Emma
I love the idea of this! I was wondering about making a larger batch to minimise cleaning, I assume it can be left in the freezer to eat another day? Do you know if it would be too hard to scoop?
Amy
Hi Emma, Good question - I have only ever made small batches of this. I have returned to the freezer to harden and it was perfect but then I wasn't trying to scoop from a larger batch. I think making a larger batch would be ok, just make sure your food processor can cope with more banana. You may have to make in smaller batches and then combine. Sorry I can't be of more help!
Aundrea
I made this and it was amazing!!! I love to make things like this!!! My brother is lactose intolerant so this was perfect for him!! He loves bananas. I love customizing this with different things like chocolate chips!! Thank you so much Amy!!
Amy
So happy you enjoyed it, Aundrea 🙂
Nyi
May I how to maintain it’s light yellow colour ?
Amy
Hi Nyi, I'm sorry I am a little confused. Do you mean that when you freeze the banana they change colour?
Sabrina
What kind of food processor do you use?
Amy
Hi Sabrina, I have a Magimix 🙂
alannah
Can I put the ice-cream in cones??????
Amy
Yes, of course 🙂 Delicious!
Amy
I'm glad you liked it! Your flavour combos sound delicious. I must give them a try the next time I make this.
Thanks for your comment
Amy
Marion
Made three flavours of this quick treat last night.
Strawberry
Mango and Lime
Peanut Butter and Vanilla
All brilliant! Thanks so much for the idea!