One-Ingredient Ice Cream

Did that title pique your interest?

It did mine when I first saw it on the internet. In fact, this little phenomenon has been popping up on food blogs all over the place lately. Maybe you’ve heard of it referred to as “Nice Cream?” If you’re like me you’re probably wondering what could possibly possess all of the properties necessary so that just the item itself could be enough to magically transform into ice cream. Right? Apparently bananas.

I’ll admit I was very skeptical. When I think of banana ice cream, I think of something more like THIS. And obviously a frozen banana isn’t going to compare. But I have to say I was very surprised and very pleased with the results. Somehow whipping up frozen banana chunks creates some magical reaction and really does turn it into a creamy-smooth ice cream-like substance. Wanna see how?

Ingredient & Equipment Notes

• Food processor or blender – This recipe will work in pretty much any food processor. A high powered blender (Blendtec, Vitamix, Ninja Pro, etc.) will work as well.
• Add-ins – If you’d like, feel free to blend in a little peanut butter, Nutella, or cinnamon-sugar. You can also blend in a few frozen raspberries or blueberries for a fruity twist.
• Bananas – Bananas can tend to get a bitter taste to them after freezing and it’s intensified if they’re under-ripe So definitely use very ripe bananas for this. They shouldn’t be brown-mushy-banana-bread-ripe, but ripe. I found the best ones to be like the ones below, where the outsides were spotty but the insides weren’t brown yet at all. They were super sweet.

How To Make One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

1. Try it with about 3 medium bananas. Slice or dice into small pieces (to make the blending part easier) and place in the freezer. Place frozen banana chunks into a food processor.

2. Can you guess the next step? Ya, blend those babies up. Depending on the size of your food processor, the amount of bananas, and how frozen they are, you may have to stop it a few times and scrape and mush the mixture around. I’ve had to do that every time.

The first time I tried this I was concerned when my mixture never turned into anything resembling ice cream. It just looked like tiny little grains, much like couscous!

But all I had to do was grab a spatula and when I stirred them even the tiniest bit, ta-da!

Sure enough it was smooth, creamy, and looked just like ice cream!

3. Now looking like ice cream is one thing, but what about the taste and texture? I was very surprised to find that this stuff actually feels like ice cream in my mouth. It tastes like- let’s be real here, bananas. But it’s still quite delish. One of the great things you can do is add some mix-ins to the food processor along with bananas. Sure it won’t make it “one” ingredient ice cream anymore, but it’s sure yummy. I tried one batch with some cinnamon-sugar, one with a spoonful of peanut butter, and our personal favorite: a scoop of heaven. Er…I mean, Nutella.

It’s really amazing how much frozen bananas can resemble ice cream.

The true test? This one:

Not only was this 4 year-old super happy to be eating a treat, he had noooo idea it was just bananas.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I make this ahead and freeze it? As is, this banana ice cream comes out like soft serve. For a more scoopable texture, pop it in the freezer for a bit. For longer freezing, make sure it is sealed tight to prevent freezer burn. You may need to let is sit out to soften for a bit if completely frozen.

Related Recipes

Looking for other ice cream ideas? Consider these Our Best Bites Favorites:

Ice Cream Crunch Bars (Tastes like Fried Ice Cream!)
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream
Snickerdoodle Ice Cream
Caramelized Banana Ice Cream

Did You Make This?

I’d love to hear from you! Snap a picture and tag me on Instagram, then come back and give this recipe a rating!

One-Ingredient Ice Cream

This ice cream is bananas-- literally! Frozen bananas make the perfect base for a sweet, frozen treat. Add cinnamon-sugar, peanut butter, or Nutella for a fun twist.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

• 3 medium ripe bananas just beginning to show brown spots on the peel but the insides have not yet begun to brown-- not underripe but also not as ripe as you would use for banana bread
• OPTIONAL ADD INS
• cinnamon-sugar
• peanut butter
• Nutella

Instructions

• Slice or dice bananas into small pieces (to make the blending part easier) and place in freezer until frozen through, at least a few hours.
• Place frozen banana chunks into a food processor and blend.  Depending on the size of your food processor, the amount of bananas, and how frozen they are, you may have to stop it a few times and scrape and mush the mixture around. I've had to do that every time.
• The mixture may look crumbly and resemble cous cous. Just grab a spatula, stir it, and watch as it transforms into perfect soft serve banana ice cream.
• If using, blend in your desired add ins to taste and serve.

Keyword: banana, dessert, frozen treats, fruit, ice cream

Author: Our Best Bites

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