It’s HOT!! So it’s the perfect time of year to make banana nice cream. We love this summer treat because it is freezing cold, delicious, cheap, simple to make, kind to cows, and perfectly healthy. Just bananas! No added sugar but still really sweet! And it doesn’t have to be banana-flavored either…read on.
Quick Nutritional Comparison
Please note that banana nice cream is a low-calorie, low-fat, low-sodium, cholesterol-free dessert that sneaks in some fiber but has no added sugar….in addition to having the simplest ingredients. And for all the vegans out there enjoying the new, non-dairy additions to the freezer section, let’s just agree that you can’t call them healthy!
Sources: https://www.webmd.com/diet/healthtool-food-calorie-counter, https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/about-our-food/nutrition-calculator.html, https://www.breyers.com/us/en/products/classics/natural-vanilla.html, https://www.dairyqueen.com/en-us/menu/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-blizzard-treat/?size=medium, https://www.benjerry.com/flavors/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-non-dairy
Instructions
The only thing you need to do to prep is let some bananas go very ripe on the counter until they have freckles and are soft. This makes them sweeter. Then break them into pieces and freeze.
Once you have frozen bananas, you’re ready to go with one of these three methods! Allow the bananas pieces to thaw for about 10 minutes and then…
1. Stir by Hand
Nothing special needed! Putting this one first for everyone out there with minimal supplies. It’s not the easiest, but it will get the job done. Just use a fork or potato masher to break down the frozen banana. Probably best for a single serving rather than big batches.
2. Use an Appliance You Own
Either a high-speed blender with a tamper or a food processor will work, and you’ll have nice cream in five minutes or less! Smaller frozen chunks are better when you are mixing it this way.
3. Behold the Magic of a Dessert Machine
The Yonanas brand is the most popular one we know of, but there are definitely competitors out there. We even found a brand new Dessert Bullet at the thrift store! These appliances are incredible. You can put frozen banana halves in the chute and have soft serve nice cream come out instantaneously! And with some models, even in fun shapes! This makes a great gift for a family that you know will use it.
If you want to get fancy, you can always include more ingredients. Cocoa powder or vanilla extract stirred in at the end. Other frozen fruits smashed with the bananas: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, mangoes. Nuts thrown on top. Can you freeze the soft serve to get it scoopable? Sure! Can you add more liquid to the blender and make a smoothie or milkshake? Yes! Can you then pour that mixture into popsicle molds. Absolutely!
You really don’t need a recipe because you’ll figure out what amounts are perfect for you by experimenting, but if you want one to get started, we recommend this beginner’s guide from Minimalist Baker.
Enjoy, but be prepared to answer questions from the grocery store cashier when you start buying bunches and bunches and bunches and bunches of bananas!
What’s missing from this list? Comment below!
