Nice cream is an easy dairy-free, vegan ice cream recipe made with a magical secret ingredient: bananas! You can make this healthy ice cream with as little as one ingredient and can add different ingredients to make any flavor imaginable! My recipe includes some flavor variations you can try!
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through this link (at no extra cost to you).
Why This Recipe Works
- One ingredient ice cream!!!???
- This recipe is dairy-free, vegan and super healthy but tastes so much like real ice cream you won’t believe it!
- Super easy to make and you can use this recipe to make virtually any variation you can dream up!
What is nice cream made of?
Nice cream is a healthy version of your favorite frozen treat, also referred to as vegan ice cream as the basic recipe does not contain dairy. It is made of a super magical secret ingredient that you probably wouldn’t think of to make ice cream: bananas!
It is best to pre-slice the bananas and freeze them (ripe bananas are best for more sweetness). Once frozen, simply blitz them in a high speed blender. If you need to add a small amount of your favorite dairy free milk (ex: almond milk or oat milk) that will also help the blending process. Start with only a small amount at a time (1 tablespoon). I may or may not have tried this recipe using Malibu Rum. Just saying.
If you are not looking to go dairy free but still want to make your own ice cream, this recipe works too! Simply follow the same process and add any milk of your choice (fat free, 2%, whole, half and half, etc.).
How do you store vegan ice cream and how long can you freeze it?
I generally recommend making this ice cream to order: ie: eat it now! However, if you want to make a big batch, you can make it ahead of time and re-freeze it. When ready to serve, you will want to let it thaw for 15 minutes or so (or you can pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds to soften it up). It will stay in the freezer for about 1-2 months. It is best to keep in a freezer-safe dish or freezer storage bag.
Different Flavor Variations and Ideas
You can experiment with different add-ins and combinations. Here are a few ideas to play with:
- Black sesame ice cream. What!? Yes, you heard me right. If you want to make a super delicious and unique ice cream flavor, check out my Black Tahini (black sesame paste) that you can use to make this awesome flavor.
Strawberry – Add some fresh or frozen strawberries. If you add fresh, add one at a time as you don’t want the nice cream to turn to liquid. - Chocolate – Add some cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.
- Peanut Butter – Add your favorite unsweetened or sweetened peanut butter.
- Cashew Cookie – You can experiment with different nut butters. I like to add some cashew or almond butter. You can also add some dates for some added sweetness.
- Mint Chocolate Chip – Add some mint extract and some chocolate chips. Amazon has many great options for vegan chocolate chips.
- Mixed Berry – Add your favorite fresh or frozen berries to the mix. If you add fresh, add a little at a time as you don’t want the nice cream to turn to liquid.
- Booze it Up! You can add a splash of alcohol to kick it up a notch. Add a splash of Malibu Rum to take you to the tropics for some Coconut Banana Nice Cream. Add a splash of Captain Morgan Run and raisins for Rum Raisin Nice Cream.
- Add some cardamom and pistachios for a unique flavor combination. You can also check out my Pistachio Ice Cream recipe!
How to make this recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 Ripe to overripe bananas
- ¼ cup Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
- Slice bananas in rounds and freeze. You can also purchase pre-frozen bananas.
- In high speed blender, blitz bananas until they reach “ice cream” consistency.
- Add almond milk (or milk of choice) as necessary to achieve creamy consistency. Add slowly, one tablespoon at a time. Consistency will depend on preference and the power of your blender.
- Add any other mix-in toppings of choice.
- Enjoy!
Related Recipes
For other healthy sweet-treats, check out these delicious options:
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my EMAIL NEWSLETTER and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all of the latest delicious food!
You can also comment below. I LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, a 5 STAR RATING is the ultimate compliment as food is my love language!
How to Make Nice Cream
Equipment
- High speed blender
Ingredients
- 2-3 Ripe to overripe bananas
- 1/4 cup Almond Milk (or milk of choice)
Instructions
- Slice bananas in rounds and freeze. You can also purchase pre-frozen bananas.
- In high speed blender, blitz bananas until they reach “ice cream” consistency.
- Add almond milk (or milk of choice) as necessary to achieve creamy consistency. Add slowly, one tablespoon at a time. Consistency will depend on preference and the power of your blender.
- Add any other mix-in toppings of choice.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Strawberry – Add some fresh or frozen strawberries. If you add fresh, add one at a time as you don’t want the nice cream to turn to liquid.
- Chocolate – Add some cocoa powder or chocolate syrup.
- Peanut Butter – Add your favorite unsweetened or sweetened peanut butter.
- Cashew Cookie – You can experiment with different nut butters. I like to add some cashew or almond butter. You can also add some dates for some added sweetness.
- Mint Chocolate Chip – Add some mint extract and some chocolate chips (vegan chocolate chips available – see post for link).
- Mixed Berry – Add your favorite fresh or frozen berries to the mix. If you add fresh, add a little at a time as you don’t want the nice cream to turn to liquid.
- Booze it Up! You can add a splash of alcohol to kick it up a notch. Add a splash of Malibu Rum to take you to the tropics for some Coconut Banana Nice Cream. Add a splash of Captain Morgan Run and raisins for Rum Raisin Nice Cream.
Leave a Reply