Temperatures are hovering at 100°. The humidity level leaves everyone drenched in sweat as soon as we step outside. It’s the perfect time for a classic summer treat; ice cream. Unfortunately for me, I overindulged during my stress-eating period when Covid-19 struck. I still wanted a bowl of cool, creamy deliciousness, but without the fat and calories. Enter this easy vegan “nice” cream recipe. It’s like soft-serve ice cream but made from a secret ingredient: bananas.
Easy Vegan “Nice” Cream Recipe
With only 3 or 4 ingredients and a preparation time of around 1 minute, you can have your “ice” cream and eat it too. While I make my nice cream with whole milk, it’s easy to substitute your favorite variety of milk. Coconut, soy, or almond are all good choices. Because it’s naturally gluten-free and can be made dairy-free, this is a great option for anyone with Celiac, dairy allergies, or lactose intolerance. I enjoy it plain, but there’s lots of variations you can make as well.
Tips for Making Nice Cream
*The secret to super smoothness is using frozen bananas. Peel bananas, slice, and place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
*This works best with extra-ripe bananas. When you find a bag on sale, purchase them, slice them, and store them in the freezer. You’ll always have bananas on hand. Not only can you use them in nice cream, but they are also perfect for smoothies, banana bread, muffins, and cookies.
*Freeze bananas for at least one hour before making nice cream.
*Want to keep bananas from changing color? Dip them in lemon juice or orange juice before freezing.
*An easy way to freeze bananas to keep them from sticking together is to slice them and place them on a baking sheet. Allow the sliced bananas to freeze, then transfer them to an airtight plastic storage container.
Printable Recipe
- 3 ripe bananas, frozen *see tip below
- 2 tablespoons vanilla (I use a lot to mask the taste of bananas. Adjust this to your taste. Start with 2 teaspoons and work your way up.)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 2 tablespoons milk of your choice (almond, soy, coconut, or regular)
- Add bananas, vanilla, salt, and milk to blender. Process for 5-10 seconds on low. Scrap down with a spoon and process 10 more seconds or until banana is blended.
- *If you have some bananas that are not blended-remove ingredients from the blender. Add unblended bananas and two tablespoons of creamed mixture. Process until smooth.
Nice Cream Variations
*Chocolate Peanut Butter-> Add 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter to the banana mixture while blending.
Double Chocolate->Add 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons mini milk chocolate chips.
*Cherry Nice Cream->Add 5 maraschino cherries and 1 tablespoon cherry juice to the banana mixture while blending.
*Chocolate Cherry Nice Cream->Prepare cherry nice cream and add 1 tablespoon mini milk chocolate chips while blending.
Have you tried nice cream?
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Want more desserts?
Try our Copycat Wendy’s Frosty Recipe.
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Love the idea of “nice” cream! Definitely sharing with my vegan friends!
This is great recipe I would love to try it. it is hard to find a vegan nice ice cream.
This is my kind of recipe! I would love to make a batch for myself.
That looks absolutely delicious! I would really like to make this for the kids.
This sounds like a fun recipe to try. I think I am sensitive to dairy, and I often avoid ice cream. It is nice to have a recipe that wouldn’t bother my stomach.
Looks delicious and healthy, also really easy to prepare, I need to try to make it this weekend
The double chocolate sounds right up my alley these days! Sounds like it would be fun to make.
Oh i havent tried this nice cream I will surely try this one. Thanks!
This looks like a wonderful treat, especially with the hot weather we’ve been having.
We love nice cream! Going to try this recipe this weekend.
I love nice cream. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try.
Hi it’s Brenda from RubyHemMinistries.com I think I’d use a lot of vanilla (maybe even some chocolate) to mask the taste of the bananas lol
I think I have to get those ingredients today. It is so hot in NYC, and I love a cool treat, this sounds perfect and so easy to make! Thanks for this recipe!