3-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream - Easy Make Frozen Treat

 

 

With the advent of summer, we are all keen to keep our cool and one way of doing that is by indulging ourselves in salads, grills and frozen treats.  One quick and easy treat to make is Three Ingredient Banana Ice Cream. Yes, you heard that right. Three simple ingredients, one tasty ice cream!

Ripe bananas have always been a very popular ingredient when it comes to baking and now you can use them for making ice cream as well.  Frozen, they don't form ice crystals as most fruits do. Because they are a high starch, low water fruit, they have the unique ability in that, once frozen and then blitzed, they break down and become rich and creamy, with a truly satisfying taste and texture that might just surprise you!

 

This simple ice cream actually comes out very much like a soft serve ice cream and if you add a touch of vanilla to the process, you can fool your tongue and senses into thinking that it is vanilla ice cream, as the banana flavor seems to become less pronounced.

I have included several variations for you to try also. I actually made the Peanut Butter Variation on this occasion. Bananas and peanut butter go together like peas and carrots.  I did not add the honey, and it was quite sweet enough.

Rich, creamy and sweetly delicious with all natural flavors and ingredients. You can feel good about indulging in this cold treat. This is a small batch recipe which makes only one cup.  Feel free to double it. I created this recipe after receiving inspiration from a few different sites. 

Minimalist Baker, Simply Recipes, Fit Foodie Finds, Live Eat Learn

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE 3-INGREDIENT BANANA ICE CREAM

Three simple ingredients. Included are some variations that you may also want to try.  All are delicious! Do note you will need a powerful blender or food processor to make this. I have a Ninja 1000-watt food processor.

• 2 large bananas, peeled, sliced and frozen (about 2 cups slices)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 TBS plain milk

Chocolate Variation:

• Add 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

Peanut Butter Variation:

• 2 TBS peanut butter
• 1 TBS honey

Strawberry Variation:

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 TBS honey

Mixed Berry Variation:

• 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

Sea Salt Caramel Variation:

• 2 to 3 soaked pitted dates
• pinch of sea salt

 

Make sure your bananas are nice and ripe. This is not the time to use green bananas.  This recipe is perfect to use up brown spotted bananas. They are also sweeter.

I used whole milk. You can use any kind of milk product you enjoy. Oat or almond milk, etc. Coconut milk would also be delicious.

I did the peanut butter version, but I left out the honey as I am a Diabetic and honey and, as much as I wish we did, honey and I do not get along.

 

HOW TO MAKE 3-INGREDIENT BANANA ICE CREAM (or Nice Cream as it is also called)

This is not all that hard to make but do bear in mind you will need a really powerful blender or food processor! Also, you will need to be patient as it may take a few blitz's before it actually starts to come together.

Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.

Twenty four hours before you want to make this frozen dessert, peel your bananas and slice into 1/4 inch slices. Spread them out in a single layer on the parchment lined baking sheet.

Place into the freezer and freeze until solid. Once solid, place into a zip lock baggie and seal shut.

When you are ready to make your nice cream, place the frozen bananas into either a blender or a food processor. Process on low speed stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally. (Once the banana has really broken down into bits you can speed it up.)

Repeat as needed to make a smooth puree.

Add the milk and vanilla and process again until completely amalgamated

Serve immediately or scrape into a storage tub and seal shut.

 

If the nice cream is softer than you would like it to be, freeze for half an hour to an hour and stir.

If you freeze it until it is solid, leave out at room temperature for about half an hour before serving. This is delicious!

Notes

For the different variations add the additional ingredients when you go to add the milk. You may need a bit of additional milk for it to process properly.

 

HINTS AND TIPS FOR BLENDING SUCCESS

If you follow these hints and tips there is no reason why you should have any problems making this delicious treat!  You can use either a food processor or a blender to make this.  Make sure they are high-speed, high-power ones as you risk burning out your motor with lower power ones. My food processor it 1000 watt.

1. Use ripe and spotty bananas for the best results.

2. Cut the bananas thin so that they blend easier.

3. Freeze in a single layer, leaving space between them so that you don't end up with clumps of bananas.

4. If you are having problems getting it to blend, then leave the bananas to thaw for about 3 to 4 minutes before proceeding.

5. Stop the blender and food processor often and scrape down the sides. If you are using a blender with a tamper, use it to mash the banana down towards the blade as you blend.

I was really surprised at just how delicious and creamy this was. It did take a bit of fiddling to get the food processor to blitz it smooth, but once it seemed to reach a certain point, it worked together very quickly.

I did the Peanut Butter variation but did not add the honey to it. It was sweet enough just as it was.!  If you are looking for a delicious low sugar treat that satisfies then you really cannot go wrong with this.  

The only drawback I can think of will be needing a powerful food processor or blender, but if you already have one of those, you're all set!

 

Here are a few other Ice cream type desserts that you might enjoy that are easy to make and delicious!  Tis the season!

EASY LOW CARB STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM -  This is delicious and incredibly easy to make. No special equipment is needed either. All you need it a 2 cup (1pint) mason jar with a tight fitting lid, a few simple ingredients and five minutes of your time.  Seriously!

HOMEMADE BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM - Buttery, rich, creamy and decadently delicious!  If you have an ice cream machine, this really is a very simple ice cream to create.  Easy and delicious!

Yield: Makes one generous cup

Author: Marie Rayner

Banana Nice Cream

Low in fat and containing only natural sugars, this is a real treat for those who are watching both of those things. It is rich and luxurious and quite healthy! You can make this in a blender or a food processor.

Ingredients

• 2 large bananas, peeled, sliced and frozen (about 2 cups slices)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 TBS plain milk

Chocolate Variation:

• Add 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder

Peanut Butter Variation:

• 2 TBS peanut butter
• 1 TBS honey

Strawberry Variation:

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 TBS honey

Mixed Berry Variation:

• 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

Sea Salt Caramel Variation:

• 2 to 3 soaked pitted dates
• pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Line a large baking tray with baking parchment.
2. Twenty-four hours before you want to make this frozen dessert, peel your bananas and slice into 1/4-inch slices. Spread them out in a single layer on the parchment lined baking sheet.
3. Place into the freezer and freeze until solid. Once solid, place into a zip lock baggie and seal shut.
4. When you are ready to make your nice cream, place the frozen bananas into either a blender or a food processor. Process on low speed stopping to scrape down the sides occasionally. (Once the banana has really broken down into bits you can speed it up.)
5. Repeat as needed to make a smooth puree.
6. Add the milk and vanilla and process again until completely amalgamated
7. Serve immediately or scrape into a storage tub and seal shut.
8. If the nice cream is softer than you would like it to be, freeze for half an hour to an hour and stir.
9. If you freeze it until it is solid, leave out at room temperature for about half an hour before serving. This is delicious!

Notes

For the different variations add the additional ingredients when you go to add the milk. You may need a bit of additional milk for it to process properly.

Did you make this recipe?

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