Chocolate Banana Nice Cream tastes like soft serve ice cream! The base of this recipe is made with simple and healthy ingredients like frozen bananas, cacao powder, and vanilla extract. This no churn recipe is super easy to make right in the blender!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Creamy Chocolate Ice Cream is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth on a hot summer day!
It takes less than 5 minutes to make, you only need a few simple ingredients like bananas, cacao powder, and vanilla extract.
Nice cream AKA banana ice cream is much healthier than traditional ice cream because it's naturally sweetened with bananas and there are no artificial colors or additives. Plus, it's a great way to use up slightly overripe bananas!
And best of all, almost anyone can enjoy this recipe it's dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free and Paleo friendly!
🍴Ingredient Notes
- Frozen Banana - For more information and how I prepare frozen bananas check out my post on How to Freeze Bananas!
- Fresh Ripe Banana - The fresh ripe banana helps the ice cream blend. If you don't have a fresh banana, just add 1 extra cup of frozen banana.
- Cacao Powder - You can use traditional cocoa powder, but I like cacao powder because it’s less processed. TerraSoul is one of my favorite brands – great quality, and great price!
- Dairy-Free Milk - Any dairy-free milk will work with this recipe. Coconut milk, almond milk, or cashew milk are great options!
- Chocolate Chips - My favorite dairy-free chocolate brands are Hu Kitchen & Pascha – they make high quality chocolate that’s dairy-free and soy-free.
- Vanilla Extract - To balance out the bitter chocolate flavor, I love adding in a little vanilla extract.
- Salt - Salt brings out all the flavors in this recipe!
Recipe Variations
- For a little extra sweetness, add in 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey.
- To give a deeper chocolate flavor, add 1-2 more tablespoons of cacao powder.
- Add some crunch by folding in chopped walnuts, almonds, or peanuts!
🍴Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Add Ingredients into Blender
Start by adding the frozen banana discs, fresh banana, cacao powder, vanilla extract, salt, and dairy-free milk into a high speed blender.
Step 2: Blend Ingredients
Blend on low until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You will need to stop and stir a few times.
Step 3: Serve Ice Cream
Transfer into two small serving bowls, top with chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or whatever your heart desires! Place in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes to set. Serve, and ENJOY!
Helpful Tips
- Leave the frozen bananas out on the counter for a few minutes before adding it into the blender! This makes it easier to blend.
- If the mixture is looking too soft, just throw in a few extra frozen bananas. It should thicken it right up!
- To create a thicker ice cream consistency, try blending without the dairy-free milk. Add a little at a time as needed.
- If you don't have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor to blend the ice cream mixture.
- The best way to freeze bananas is to slice bananas into discs, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and place in the freezer until frozen solid.
- If you have leftover frozen sliced bananas, save them for smoothies or another nice cream recipe!
Ice Cream Topping Ideas
- Chopped Nuts
- Nut Butter or Sunbutter
- Shredded Coconut
- Chocolate Chips or Cacao Nibs
- Melted Chocolate
- Coconut Whipped Cream - My homemade recipe is so easy!
Serving & Storing
The ice cream will have a creamy texture like soft serve right out of the blender. You can enjoy right away by serving in two small cups or place in the freezer for 15-60 minutes to firm up.
You can also use an ice cream scooper for serving in ice cream cones!
I have left nice cream overnight in the freezer and the texture is still pretty good the next day!
The ice cream will need to defrost on the counter for about 15-20 minutes. You can even microwave it for about 10-15 seconds to soften it up.
More Ice Cream Recipes!
After you make this Chocolate Nice Cream, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe!
Recipe Card
Vegan Chocolate Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Equipment
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Frozen Banana Slices
- 1 Ripe Fresh Banana
- ¼ Cup Cacao Powder
- 2-4 Tablespoons Unsweetened Dairy-Free Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
Fold In
- ¼ Cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Start by adding the frozen banana discs, fresh banana, and cacao powder, vanilla extract, salt, and dairy-free milk into a high speed blender.
- Blend on low until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You will need to stop and stir a few times.
- Then fold in the chocolate chips and transfer into two small serving bowls. Enjoy!
Notes
Helpful Tips
- Leave the frozen bananas out on the counter for a few minutes before adding it into the blender! This makes it easier to blend.
- If the mixture is looking too soft, just throw in a few extra frozen bananas. It should thicken it right up!
- To create a thicker ice cream consistency, try blending without the dairy-free milk. Add a little at a time as needed.
- If you don't have a high-speed blender, you can use a food processor to blend the ice cream mixture.
- The best way to freeze bananas is to slice bananas into discs, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, and place in the freezer until frozen solid.
How to Store & Serve Nice Cream
This recipe makes about 2 cups of ice cream. I recommend putting the ice cream in small glass or ceramic cups, and either eating them right away or popping them in the freezer to enjoy within 15-60 minutes. The ice cream will have a creamy texture like soft serve right out of the blender, but I have left the cups overnight in the freezer and the texture is still pretty good the next day! The ice cream will need to defrost on the counter for about 15-20 minutes. You can even microwave it for about 10-15 seconds to soften it up. ** See full post for more information!Nutrition
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Cindy
Wow this is so yummy!! I made it twice, and my kids loved it.
Mariah Mandile
Glad it's kid approved!! Yay!
Chelsea
This recipe is so delish! It’s simple to make, indulgent, creamy and actually so filling! I topped mine with coconut whip cream, strawberries and cocoa nibs!
Mariah Mandile
Thank you Chelsea!!! So glad you enjoyed. (: Next time I need to top mine with coconut cream!!