Banana Ice Cream 4 Ways

July 27, 2017

By Meghan Zichelli

Little wonder that bananas are the world’s most popular fruit. They are convenient to carry and eat, are protected by harmful pesticides due to their thick peel, are delicious, and, when they turn extra ripe, can be used to make a multitude of desserts, such as this one-ingredient ice cream with four mix-ins below.

On top of this, they’re loaded with health benefits:

They contain tryptophan which the body converts into serotonin, making you feel happier and relaxed.
Bananas are a good source of potassium, which helps prevent muscles from cramping and also helps maintain a healthy heart, nervous system and ideal blood pressure level.
Rich in fiber, bananas help keep your digestive tract moving and also, in combination with their carbohydrates, provide energy and keep you feeling full.
They contain good amounts of vitamin C and vitamin B6, two vitamins we all need to increase with cold and flu season starting.

One-ingredient banana ice cream is an easy-to-make frozen treat using just a food processor. We’ve put together simple instructions for you as well as four mix-in suggestions, most of which are superfoods and have their own health benefits.

Mix-ins for banana "ice cream" recipe

Banana Ice Cream 4 Ways

SERVES

PREP TIME

05 min

COOK TIME

8h 00 min

Ingredients

1 ripe banana

Honey & Sea Salt: ½ tablespoon honey and a pinch or two of sea salt, to taste.

Toasted Chocolate Coconut: ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon coconut flakes or shreds toasted lightly on the stovetop. Save some coconut for garnish.

Almonds & Dates: a few almonds roughly chopped by hand or in the food processor, 2 dates finely chopped by hand or in the food processor, a dash of cinnamon.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate: 1 tablespoon all natural peanut butter and a few dark chocolate chips.

Directions

Peel and slice the banana into small pieces, put in a freezer safe container, and place in freezer overnight.

When you’re ready to make the ice cream, dump the frozen banana slices in a food processor (the smaller the better for 1 - 2 bananas) and blend until creamy. You will have to stop a few times to scrape down the sides.

Blend in your mix-ins. If you prefer more of a frozen yogurt texture, stop here and enjoy! To harden your ice cream a little more, stick it in the freezer until it’s reached your desired consistency.