Lately I’ve been working to eat a little healthier. One thing I’m doing is trying to avoid dairy and refined sugar during the weekdays. It’s been a great change because I save any sugary (or creamy) treats I’m craving for the weekends and focus on filling my days with vegetables, fruits and other good stuff.
But, I do have a sweet tooth (to say the least). So finding some kind of weekday treat was key to this change. I’ve been making lots of different banana ice creams, so I thought I’d share.
I love that you can easily customize this basic recipe to feel like soft serve frozen yogurt or a firmer ice cream depending on how long you freeze the mixture. For me this really hits the spot when I’m craving a sweet treat during the weekdays, but I can feel good that I’m not consuming any refined sugars or dairy—mostly fruit! Plus, it couldn’t be easier to make. Here’s how in pictures:
Here are the combinations I’ve been enjoying the most lately.
Strawberry Poppyseed: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 5-6 frozen strawberries, and 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice).
Chocolate Peanut Butter: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, and 2 tablespoons cocoa. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water.
Vanilla Coconut: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing), 2 big handfuls of unsweetened coconut flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or coconut water.
Mango: 3 frozen bananas (sliced before freezing) and 2 frozen mangos (peeled and cubed). If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice). This one has a sorbet feel to it!
Now I just need to figure out how to make some no sugar, no dairy hot fudge. Hmm. Anyone have a recipe for me for that?
If you’ve never tried banana ice cream before, I highly recommend giving it a try because it is shockingly good for how simple it is. You could also freeze these into popsicles if you like. Thanks for letting me share a current obsession of mine. 🙂 xx. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
3-Ingredient Ice Cream
Ingredients
Strawberry Poppyseed
- 3 frozen bananas sliced before freezing
- 5-6 frozen strawberries
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
Chocolate Peanut Butter
- 3 frozen bananas sliced before freezing
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
Vanilla Coconut
- 3 frozen bananas sliced before freezing
- 2 big handfuls of unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Blend in a food processor or quality blender until smooth. If the mixture is too thick or you have difficulty blending, then add a few tablespoons of cashew milk or water (or fresh fruit juice).
80 Comments
Yum! Banana soft serve is perfect for a healthy summertime treat. I make chocolate sauce with coconut oil, cacao powder, peanut butter and maple syrup. It’s delicious! The recipe is from Heather Pace at Sweetly Raw.
This is a great idea! I’m curious to how much it tastes like bananas…? I’m not the biggest banana fan, but I’d love to give this a try!
Banana ice cream is one of my favorites (regular dairy makes me break out). I really like adding a spoonful of peanut butter but no chocolate to mine.
As for the sugar/dairy free hot fudge I like this recipe. It’s 3 ingredients: dates, baking chocolate, and almond milk.
http://www.topwithcinnamon.com/2013/05/healthy-3-ingredient-chocolate-fudge-sauce-no-added-sugar-grain-free-vegan-gluten-free.html
This looks so amazing and I love that it’s dairy free. Score!!
Jill
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This is great! It’s a perfect no sugar treat for children – something I’m always on the hunt for. So thank you! Xx
Yum!! I too am a healthy eater, with stomach issues up the wazoo! I eat GF, mostly dairy free as of late (aside from organic milk in coffee), and meat free. Too picky for my own good 🙂 Coconut Milk Ice cream has been my favorite and absolute saving grace! You must try it and let me know if you like it! So Delicious Dairy Free makes a few no sugar added coconut milk varieties. The mint chip is my favorite and I also like the vanilla bean! Each serving is around 100-120 calories and 1-2 grams of sugar.
Xx
heapsofme.com
Can’t wait to give this a try, banana soft serve will be on my list to try first! Perfect for sugar free treats!
Bananas have a lot of natural sugar. You might try almond butter with less banana or some apples. One thing I like to make as a weeknight dessert is apples sauteed in coconut oil with cinnamon and pecans. Super tasty and not too sugary. Good luck!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! So fresh and so delicious! I have a similar recipe on my blog!
A healthier hot fudge might be heated coconut milk with some honey or maple syrup (or date paste), vanilla, and cocoa powder. It’d probably take some tweaking, but I think you could make something yummy (and the date paste would thicken it up). Love these ideas!
Loving the healthier treats!
You may be interested in this fudge: https://iquitsugar.com/recipe/sugar-free-salted-peanut-butter-fudge/
I love doing this! I like it with nutella!
Is it just mixing these things all together?
I didn’t know you could make ice cream this way..
That’s a great thing to try.
x
The Losing Struggle | Bloglovin’
Ditto for the chocolate sauce, minus the pb!
This looks amazing! I’ve never heard of banana ice cream before, but I’ve definitely got to try it! Banana peanut butter sounds like the perfect combination! 🙂
http://sometimesgracefully.com
Banana ice creams are my fav!
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I keep seeing these banana ice creams, but I haven’t tried one yet. I don’t know why because I love bananas and I love ice cream, so duh! Maybe I’ll finally take the plunge this week. I’d kinda like to spike it with Kahlua, but maybe that messes up the whole healthy part?
I really want to try this idea now as I am also trying to not eat dairy. They look so good! 🙂
http://taleofatallgirl.blogspot.co.uk/
For chocolate sauce I always use 1 can of coconut cream (put it in the fridge 1 day before you want to use it) 3/4 cup chocolate and one teaspoon vanilla extract. Heat it all on the stove. You can use it hot as fudge sauce or put it in the fridge again to use as cake icing 🙂
Hi Emma,
Just wanted to ask, do you just freeze it or you have an ice cream machine or something? It’s not described in your post. I see that your ice cream is so nicely freezed. Please enlighten.
Thank you!!
Hi Emma!
Thanks so much for sharing. I am lactose intolerant and love love love (and miss eating) ice cream 🙁 I’ve been experimenting with different flavors of the banana ice cream so thank you for sharing different recipes!
<3
These look so good! I’ll have to try it out sometime!
Kristi
beloverly.com
These look incredible! I love banana ice cream so I’m always looking for new recipes! Strawberry poppyseed sounds absolutely delish!
I do this as well and I love it so much I don’t need regular ice cream anymore. the bananas are so creamy and yummy!
I love frozen banana desserts! No guilt involved!
For a sugar-free, dairy-free hot fudge recipe, try melting sugar-free chocolate or cacao and coconut oil together! It was be saucy, but it will harden on ice cream since it is cold and the temperature will bring it back to it’s solid state – it’s worth a try! 🙂
Mocha and Moccasins
M.
These look amazing !!!
Have also been trying to cut out dairy and one of us is lactose and tolerant so these look great to try out!
Yum! Those look so good! And it sounds easy to make! I even have frozen bananas ready in the freezer! I can’t wait to try this today!
Laura
http://laurahager.blogspot.com/
Mmm, sounds so good! I’m going to try it tomorrow 🙂 <3
I need// have to try this right now !
Saving this for later! Looks so good -Hanna Lei
Mmm this looks so good!
http://carinazz.blogspot.com/
These look delicious, but I can’t eat banana (or pineapple)! Is there another fruit or veggie I could substitute in?
I’ve been intrigued, yet scared, of the banana ice cream for awhile. I might have to make it this week- I’m eying up the chocolate peanut butter.
-Melanie-
http://www.theseblankwallls.com
Delicious! I actually do have a dairy-free, sugar-free chocolate sauce recipe (made with agave nectar) – http://www.ktmade.com/2012/03/sugar-free-chocolate-syrup-three-ways.html. It would be perfect with these!
Heather, I do something similar with frozen raspberries or a frozen berry blend. It has more of a sorbet texture, but if you add in cocoa and almond butter or peanut butter, it starts getting that smoother ice cream texture. And a little bit of avocado helps with the creaminess too – the chocolate masks the flavor of the avocado if you don’t put too much. 🙂
I’m seriously addicted to sugar, and the habit needs to stop. I’ve seen this type of ice cream all over, but I’m still skeptical. I’ll have to give this banana ‘ice cream’ a try.
I have to have my daily dose of sweets. So, thank you Emma for this healthier option.
Happy Monday 🙂
http://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/thinkoutloud
It might be helpful to clarify this post when you say “no sugar, healthy” ice cream because this dessert does in fact have a TON of sugar even though it’s naturally occurring in the bananas. Bananas have an INCREDIBLY high sugar content so it’s basically the same as adding any other natural sweetener like maple syrup, honey, or agave. So this is NOT sugar-free ice cream…
We literally just made this exact ice cream this weekend! So yummy!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
These look so good! I have to try these like right now!! Thank you Emma for sharing this current obsession of you with us, now I think I will be obsessed too, haha 🙂 xx
-L |http://thenerdymelife.blogspot.com
i don’t know why our ice cream machine’s recipe keep wanting us to add egg to the mix, but it freaks me out! this is is delightful! i’m feeling the chocolate/pb, vanilla coconut, and mango . . but am quite sure i could make the list longer! thanks for sharing. yum.
I would have never thought of making ice cream using bananas! This is such a good idea. I love that this recipe is both healthy and delicious.
-Helen
http://www.sweethelengrace.com
I LOVE mint choc chip ice cream, which you can make this way by adding some chopped mint leaves and chunks of dark chocolate (I like 70% cocoa) to the frozen bananas. It’s delicious!
Inma x
sunshineandglow.blogspot.co.uk
I was wondering this too. Do you freeze the mixture again after it is blended to get former ice cream or do you freeze the bananas longer to begin with?
I love these suggestions! I have made the chocolate peanut butter combo before but I’m curious how strawberries would taste. Delicious I’m sure!
♥Heather
Hi Caroline! You’ll want to put it in the freeze afterward to get more of an ice cream consistency. 🙂 -Jacki
These all sound delicious and perfect for healthy thing as summer approaches! Also great for the lacto-intolerant hubby
<3 Haley @ http://www.beautyinthischaos.com
This looks so simple and delicious! I’m DEFINITELY giving this a try…maybe this week! 🙂
http://www.sweetlytattered.com
Hi Alice! Be sure to use frozen bananas and then freeze the mixture afterward to get more of an ice cream consistency! 🙂 -Jacki
I was given this chocolate sauce from Wax Orchards as a gift and it’s so good. I believe the only ingredients are pineapple juice, pear juice, cocoa and vanilla. I will have to try this ice cream, thanks!
I’m not a huge banana fan, but so many people rave about frozen banana ice cream that I think I’m going to have to give it a try. I think I want to try hazelnut butter instead of peanut butter. With some cocoa it would be like healthy nutella ice cream! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I love your idea of avoiding refined sugars during the week and then indulging on the weekend! I’m going to “copy” this goal for myself (and my family) this summer! Love it.
Yep! We do the hot chocolate sauce with coconut oil and cacao too! I tend to sweeten with agave nectar.
I cant believe that not everyone makes it that way. Its so unbelievably good and not full of nasties! 🙂
I’ve heard of this before, I really need to try it because it sound yummy and healthy
Lauren
livinginaboxx
These look delicious but any tips if you don’t love banana flavored foods?
These are such a great idea! And they look so delicious 🙂
tonixox.blogspot.com
Ahhh this is just making me want ice cream so bad. This looks delicious!
That vanilla coconut combination sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for those suggestions! I’m excited to try it!
I must try this! Chocolate peanut butter sounds amazing! This post has definitely struck my sweet tooth.
http://www.youmeandwhatever.com
Weekend plans are decided! 😀
http://www.misadventuro.us
These look so good! I definitely need to make the pb one, but I am curious what the mango one tastes like! I definitely need to try! Where do you buy the ice cream containers?
Sue me, but I really hate peanut butter 😛 I am intrigued by the strawberry and poppy seed though! Definitely going to try it.
http://www.oneblackrobin.com
Yes! I’ve been looking for healthy, fruit-based dessert recipes for this weekend and this is perfect! Thanks for sharing 🙂
can’t wait for summer to come!! yumm
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
OMG! This is such a good idea!
Wow, thanks for sharing Emma! I’m definitely trying one of these recipes this summer 🙂
Love, Laetitia
http://www.twocraziesoneblog.tk/
Mmm these sounds so so nice!
—
prettymadthings.blogspot.co.uk / / x
Yes! We call it “banana swirl” at our house and our whole family loves it for dessert. We do use chocolate sometimes, but also love to add other fruits or even just a little vanilla extract. So good & much healthier than ice cream!
I live in Mexico and so often in summer my bananas turn dark and mushy before I get to use them. At last I have something I can do with them, and we’ve been enjoying simple banana ice cream with pecans on top for weeks. Think I’m going to try using coconut milk to make them blend easier, adding some coconut and maybe a little fresh pineapple. All my favorite flavors! Also I didn’t know you could blend it and then put it back in the freezer to get more of an ice cream texture, less of a Dairy Queen. Gotta try that!
Here’s a recipe of a sugar-free chocolate syrup. It’s my favorite, you need to try it! The recipe it’s in spanish, use google translator, here’s the link http://saschafitness.com/panquecas-y-sirope-de-chocolate-light/
yum!! these all look amazing!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
We love banana ice cream. My daughter loves to help make it. We’re a big fan of using coconut milk to help smooth it out a bit.
I’m definitely going to try out some of these!
I had banana strawberry smoothies this morning 🙂
http://somebodyfromsomewhere.blogspot.com/
I’ve been wanting to make this forever, but unfortunately neither have a proper blender nor a functioning freezer (student problems). So excited to make these though when I get home to a boiling hot Los Angeles this summer 😀
Julia
ExploresMore.com
These recipes sound great! For a fudge sauce, you could use raw cacao, coconut milk, and dates to make it. I’ve never made a sauce but once made a paleo-friendly pie and those were the ingredients for the filling. Could fiddle with the proportions to see what happens.
Oh I need to try this!! 🙂 gonna go freeze some bananas right now!
going out to buy some natural peanut butter for this ASAP! Thanks for sharing, looks delish!
Liana
http://thefrench75.ca
you could try this:
http://deliciouslyella.com/guest-recipe-raw-cherry-and-chocolate-fudge/
It’s delicious and nutritious 🙂
Try https://www.onelovelylife.com/vegan-hot-fudge-sauce