Banana Ice Cream

Here’s how to make the best healthy banana ice cream recipe at home, with unlimited flavor options!

One ingredient easy banana ice cream

Have you tried the popular vegan banana ice cream yet?

One of the most frequent requests I receive each month is from readers asking for more banana ice cream or nice cream recipes.

The basic concept is simple. Just blend peeled and frozen bananas in a food processor or blender until the results resemble a creamy soft serve ice cream texture!

And the best part is that you can create an endless array of custom flavors, including dark chocolate, blueberry, caramel, coffee, rocky road, or butter pecan.

Also try this Almond Milk Ice Cream (with no banana)

Homemade nice cream ingredients

This is a super short list, as bananas are the only required ingredient!

Depending on the strength of your blender, you may want to add a small amount of milk of choice or another liquid, such as pineapple juice, to help with the blending process. For vegan nice cream, any plant based milk is fine to use.

Optional add ins or toppings are completely up to you. I’ve included a few of my favorite flavor combinations below, but feel free to experiment.

Flavor inspiration is everywhere, from restaurant menus, to grocery store displays, to even looking up the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor list online.

In other words, don’t be surprised if you ever see a Peanut Butter Fudge Core banana soft serve ice cream recipe show up here on this blog.

Want cookie dough nice cream? Add Chickpea Cookie Dough!

Banana ice cream recipe video

Above, watch the step by step video

Banana ice cream flavors

Chocolate Banana Ice Cream: Use 3 bananas. Add 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract, pinch salt, and 3 tbsp cocoa powder.

Mint Chocolate Chip: Use 2 bananas and a pinch of salt. Add 1/8 tsp pure peppermint extract (or more if desired), and stir in chocolate chips or cacao nibs after blending. Optional, blend in a pinch of spirulina or a small handful spinach for color and an extra nutrient boost.

Nutella Nice Cream: Blend a generous spoonful of Homemade Nutella or your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread in with the bananas.

Peanut Butter: Make the original recipe below, adding 2-3 tbsp peanut butter or another nut butter or allergy friendly alternative before blending.

Piña Colada: Make the original recipe below, using 1/4 cup canned coconut milk as your milk of choice. Blend in 1/2 cup frozen pineapple. Stir in shredded coconut if desired.

Cookies’n Cream: Make the original recipe below, adding 2 tbsp Coconut Butter if desired. After blending, add in a crushed Oreo cookie sandwich.

Very Berry: Make the original recipe below, adding 1 cup frozen berries of choice and 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract.

Strawberry: Use 2 bananas. Blend in 1/2 cup frozen strawberries. Add 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract and optional shake of cinnamon.

Vanilla Bean: Use 3 bananas and a pinch of salt. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste.

Pistachio: Make the original recipe below, adding 2-3 tbsp pistachio butter and 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract. Sprinkle crushed pistachios on top if desired.

How to make banana ice cream

Once your bananas are ripe (when the peels are at least partially brown), peel them and cut into pieces. Freeze in a ziploc bag or container.

You can do this step days, weeks, or even months in advance so there’s no need to wait when you are ready to make banana ice cream.

To make the nice cream, start by tossing the frozen pieces of about three bananas into a food processor or blender. No need to be exact with measuring, and feel free to double or triple the recipe for a larger serving or to feed a family.

If using a regular blender instead of a high speed one like a Vitamix, or if your frozen bananas are rock hard, add a few tablespoons milk of choice or another liquid.

Blend until the mixture resembles a thick and smooth soft serve texture.

Either transfer to a bowl and enjoy right away, or spread the banana soft serve into a container and freeze for thirty minutes or so to get a firmer ice cream texture.

Usually, I will eat the banana ice cream in a bowl, straight out of the blender, because this option involves no waiting. If you do want the firmer texture, I recommend scooping it out with an ice cream scoop after chilling, for authentic presentation.

Try topping it with homemade Coconut Whipped Cream!

Recipe tips and tricks

While banana ice cream is a wonderful and refreshing healthy snack on its own, adding a little fat to the blender, such as peanut butter, almond butter, or coconut milk, can even make it start to taste pretty similar to actual ice cream!

Be sure to let the bananas ripen before peeling and freezing. If they are green or entirely yellow with no brown spots when you buy them, it means the fruit is not yet ripe and will have more of an earthy taste than a sweet one.

Let the bananas sit on the counter until the peels at least begin to turn brown. I like to wait until they are almost entirely brown, because brown bananas develop a rich caramelized flavor. Ripe bananas are a great natural sweetener option that can be used in many recipes instead of added sugar.

This soft serve banana nice cream is even healthy enough to eat for breakfast, with no heavy cream or added sugars. The recipe can be fat free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, raw, paleo, and gluten free.

Readers also love this Chia Pudding Recipe

More healthy ice cream recipes

Protein Ice Cream

Keto Ice Cream

Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream

Oat Milk Ice Cream

Avocado Ice Cream

Healthy Banana Recipe Ideas

Chocolate Banana Bread

Vegan Banana Pudding

Healthy Banana Bread

Blender Muffins

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Banana Muffins

Almond Flour Banana Bread