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If you’re looking for an easy, healthy, yummy treat, you’ve come to the right place! This banana ice cream needs one ingredient: bananas. And your favorite toppings, of course.
This is so easy, it falls under that “too good to be true” heading. Just slice a ripe banana (one large banana yields about two servings). Place the slices on a wax paper-lined baking sheet and pop it in the freezer for a few hours, or overnight.
When frozen, put the slices in a food processor (or blender) and pulse till you get an ice cream consistency.
We usually pause a couple of times during the processing step to scrape down the sides of the bowl. The frozen banana will look a bit crumbly when processing, but it will hold together if you want to scoop it out at that point (that’s our standard way of serving it).
If you want it smoother, just continue to process. You’ll get to a soft serve consistency with just a few more minutes. You can eat it like that, or return it to the freezer if you want it to solidify a bit more. Your choice!
Toppings are also your choice. We love a good sprinkle of cinnamon. Sometimes we’ll do cinnamon and cocoa powder with a touch of chocolate syrup.
Peanut butter and chocolate chips are great, too. Experimenting is half the fun, so let your imagination run wild!
For those who prefer mix-ins over toppings, add your cinnamon, cocoa powder, chips, etc. at the soft serve stage, before refreezing.
It’s simple, delicious, and good for you. Winner, winner!
Another great way to use ripe bananas is in this Vegan Banana Bread – it uses half the sugar of traditional recipes. Or add them to Heart Healthy Overnight Oats.
The Best (and Easiest!) Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 large, ripe banana
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
- Peel and slice the banana into one-inch chunks, then place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least three hours and up to overnight. If leaving in overnight, cover the bananas with another sheet of wax paper.
- Remove bananas from freezer and place in a food processor (or blender – see Notes). Process the frozen bananas, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed. The bananas will take on a crumbly appearance as you process them, which is normal.
- Continue processing until you achieve your desired consistency. If you want the bananas to be completely smooth, continue to puree till smooth. At that point, the ice cream will be like soft serve. If you prefer a more solid dessert, place the soft serve in a freezer safe container and return it to the freezer for a few more hours, or overnight.
- Serve as is, or sprinkle with your favorite toppings and enjoy.
Notes
- If you don’t have a food processor, or just prefer to use a blender, be sure your blender is capable of handling the frozen bananas, which can be a bit hard.Â
- If you like the idea of adding mix-ins to your ice cream, it’s best to process the bananas till you achieve a smooth, soft serve consistency. That’s the perfect time to stir in cinnamon, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc. You can serve it right away, or refreeze for a harder ice cream.