Banana "Nice Cream"
Enjoy this light ice cream dessert with a fraction of the calories of regular ice cream
Ingredients
Basic Nice Cream
- 3 medium to ripe bananas, sliced and frozen
- 1-2 tbsp milk (dairy, almond, oat, or coconut)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Flavor Variation - Chocolate
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Flavor Variation - Peanut Butter
- 2 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Flavor Variation - Berry Nice Cream
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries or mixed berries
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
Flavor Variation - Coffee Nice Cream
- 1-2 tsp instant espresso powder
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Dark chocolate chips
- Sliced almonds or chopped nuts
- Fresh berries
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Sugar-free chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Freeze the bananas ahead. Peel ripe bananas and slice into 1/2-inch coins. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Prepare your blender. Remove frozen banana slices from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes to slightly soften. This prevents motor strain and creates smoother texture.
- Add ingredients to blender. Place frozen banana slices in a high-powered blender or food processor. Add 1 tablespoon milk and vanilla extract if using. If making a flavored version, add those ingredients now.
- Blend in stages. Start blending on low, using a tamper if you have one to push bananas toward the blade. The mixture will go through stages: crumbly, then chunky, then suddenly smooth and creamy like soft-serve. This takes 2-4 minutes.
- Add more liquid if needed. If the mixture won't blend smoothly, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. Too much liquid makes it soupy, so add conservatively.
- Check consistency. The nice cream is ready when it's smooth, creamy, and resembles soft-serve ice cream. It should hold soft peaks when you scoop it.
- Serve immediately or freeze. For soft-serve texture, serve right away. For firmer ice cream texture, transfer to a container and freeze for 30-60 minutes, then scoop and serve with desired toppings.