If you’ve been on Instagram in the last few years, you’ve probably discovered the wonders of “banana nice cream”—one-ingredient soft serve made simply from blended frozen bananas. It’s incredibly tasty and easy to prepare, and we still can’t believe it’s actually healthy.
Yield: 2–3 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes | Total time: 15 minutes | Advance prep required (freeze the bananas)
You’ll need: a food processor
Chocolate Shell:
3 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
1 tablespoon coconut oil (refined or unrefined)
Nice Cream:
4 large, spotty, ripe bananas, peeled, sliced, and frozen for at least 24 hours
¼ cup cocoa powder (optional)
2 tablespoons peanut butter (any type) (optional)
Optional Toppings:
Chopped peanuts
Vegan rainbow sprinkles
Vegan whipped cream
Cherries
1. To make the chocolate shell, in a small microwave-safe ramekin, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Melt in the microwave, heating for 20-second increments and mixing with a spoon between each, until a smooth chocolate sauce forms.
2. To make the nice cream, place the frozen bananas in the bowl of a food processor. Add the cocoa powder and peanut butter (if using them). Process on high, pausing to push down the sides as needed, until the mixture has the creamy, soft texture of ice cream. Do not add liquid. The bananas will get crumbly at first, but be patient—the mixture will become creamy.
3. Scoop into bowls and drizzle with the chocolate shell (it will harden when it’s added to the cold nice cream). Top with any optional toppings. Serve immediately.
Friendly Suggestion: If you don’t have a food processor, you can make this in a blender. You may need to add a splash of plant-based milk to get things moving and will likely need to stop and push the bananas down several times before the mixture starts developing the texture of ice cream.
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