For you coffee lovers out there, if you're looking for a delicious and energizing frozen treat, then you seriously need to give this Coffee and Banana Ice Cream a try. And the best part? You don't even need an ice cream maker!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you've never tried homemade banana ice cream before (also known as "nice cream"), then you're in for a pleasant surprise. This frozen dessert is something that anyone can make at home with just a blender or food processor. What makes this recipe such a fan favourite?
- No ice cream maker needed - don't worry, no churning here! All you need is a blender or food processor.
- Natural and nutritious - made with whole foods, and without the high calories, refined sugars, trans-fats, and artificial additives that traditional ice cream has.
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan - this recipe accommodates many common dietary restrictions, making it accessible and easy for many people to enjoy.
- Easily customizable - this coffee and banana flavour is just one of the many unique ice cream flavours you can create by mixing in your own add-ins.
- Satisfies sweet-tooth cravings - I've got a big sweet tooth, and this satisfies those cravings for something sweet while being healthier than your typical cakes, brownies, ice cream bars, etc.
The Magic of Frozen Bananas
When I first discovered the magic of frozen bananas years ago, it was truly a revelation. What is this magic I speak of? Well, when frozen bananas are blended, they produce a velvety smooth, luxuriously creamy texture that closely mimics the consistency of traditional ice cream or gelato. Due to their natural sweetness, ripened bananas often don't need much (or any) added sweetener, making them a delicious frozen dessert that really hits the spot when you're craving something sweet.
Ingredients
Please see recipe card below for exact measurements.
- Frozen bananas - make sure to use frozen and ripened bananas - the browner and more spotted they are, the sweeter the'll be!
- Unsweetened almond milk - any milk will work here, whether it's cow's milk or plant-based milk. A splash just helps everything blend a bit more easily.
- Vanilla extract - a small amount produces a big boost in flavour.
- Maple syrup - just a little bit of maple syrup gives this the perfect amount of sweetness. You can use honey, agave nectar, or any kind of sweetener you like.
- Instant coffee powder - I prefer using instant coffee powder so as to not water down the consistency of the ice cream. But you can use a shot of espresso as well; just make sure it's been chilled in the fridge first, and skip the milk.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder - a nice touch of rich, chocolatey flavour to give this more of a mocha vibe.
- Pinch of salt - to help all of the flavours pop.
Instructions
STEP 1: Prepare frozen bananas by peeling and slicing them so they're easier to blend.
STEP 2: Freeze banana slices for 3+ hours until they harden (or overnight for best results). Use a sealable container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
STEP 3: Pour ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor.
STEP 4: Blend the ingredients until it turns into a smooth consistency. Periodically stop to stir and scrape down the sides for an even blend.
STEP 5: Once it's blended, scoop it out and enjoy as a smooth and creamy soft-serve, or freeze it for later as a hard-serve ice cream!
Equipment
In order to get a smooth, creamy texture every time, a high-powered blender or food processor will give you the best results. A high-powered blender will have the strength and speed needed to crush through frozen fruits without breaking a sweat. I personally love using my Vitamix blender everyday - it comes with a handy tamper that I stir the ice cream with during blending. A good food processor also works well, but you may need to stir and scrape it a bit more frequently to keep things moving.
Enjoy as Soft-Serve or Hard-Serve
Guess what? You can enjoy this ice cream as either a soft-serve or hard-serve! For a soft-serve, just eat it as soon as it finishes blending. For a hard-serve, simply freeze it for a few hours to let the ice cream harden; when you take it out, let it thaw and soften at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, and then scoop and enjoy! (or leave it out for longer to turn it into a soft-serve again)
Soft-serve
Hard-serve
Storage
You can store this in the freezer for up to 1-2 months without any issue - just make sure to use a sealable container to prevent freezer burn. Then, all you have to do is thaw it for 15-20 minutes whenever you're ready to eat!
For storage, I love using 16-ounce (473 ml) wide-mouth mason jars. They're a perfect size for storing one pint of ice cream (which is what this recipe makes), with a sealable lid and a wide-mouth opening that makes it easy to clean and scoop out of.
Toasty's Tips
- Top it off with some coconut flakes or chocolate chips for a more indulgent treat.
- If using a blender, start at a slow speed and then slowly move up to higher speeds - this will give the frozen bananas a chance to crush and break down before blending.
- If using a food processor, give it a few pulses first before blending.
- Keep frozen bananas in the freezer handy - this makes it easy to whip up a fresh batch of banana ice cream whenever you like! They're also great for thickening smoothies.
- Use a parchment paper-lined baking tray to freeze the banana slices on in order to prevent them from sticking together.
- Instead of slicing and freezing bananas myself, I often like the convenience of pre-packaged frozen banana slices. They're already ripened and ready to use!
FAQ
Why is my blender struggling to blend the bananas smoothly?
If your blender is struggling to blend the ingredients, there are a few things you can try. Add a splash of milk to help things move. Periodically pause blending to stir and scrape the banana, then blend again to keep things moving. And skip those slower, older blenders which often struggle with blending frozen bananas due to lack of power. Instead, use a high-powered blender or food processor for best results.
Do I have to use milk?
If you have a strong enough blender or food processor, you can try blending without using any milk, although you may need to use a bit more elbow grease to scrape and stir the banana. A small amount of milk helps it blend more easily, but you can try blending without it to start, and then slowly adding it only as needed.
Do I have to use instant coffee powder?
I like using instant coffee powder because it doesn't water down the consistency of our ice cream. But you can use a shot of espresso or coffee instead - just exclude the milk (since the espresso will now act as the liquid for our recipe), and make sure your espresso or coffee has been chilled in the fridge beforehand!
Is this banana ice cream healthy?
Yes! Bananas are packed with essential nutrients, fibre, and are naturally sweet. You won't find the high amounts of added sugar, trans fats, and other additives of traditional ice cream - plus it's much lower in calories! Plus, cocoa powder contains anti-inflammatory properties. You can even add in your favourite superfoods to make it even more nutritious!
Try These Other Ice Cream Flavours
📖 Recipe
Coffee and Banana Ice Cream
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 small/medium bananas (or 3 large bananas) - frozen and ripened
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- sea salt - pinch
Instructions
- Prepare frozen bananas by peeling and slicing them so they're easier to blend.
- Freeze banana slices for 3+ hours until they harden (or overnight for best results). Use a sealable container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
- Pour ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Blend the ingredients until it turns into a smooth consistency. Periodically stop to stir and scrape down the sides for an even blend.
- Once it's blended, scoop it out and enjoy as a smooth and creamy soft-serve, or freeze it for later as a hard-serve ice cream!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- If using a blender, start at a slow speed and then slowly move up to higher speeds once the frozen bananas have started breaking down.
- If using a food processor, give it a few pulses first before blending.
- Top it off with some coconut flakes or chocolate chips for a more indulgent treat.
- If your blender is struggling to blend the ingredients, try adding a splash of milk. Stop the blender or food processor periodically to stir and scrape the bananas, and then continue blending. And use either a high-speed blender or food processor - lower-powered blenders often struggle with crushing and blending frozen bananas into a smooth puree.
- Use a parchment paper-lined baking tray to freeze the banana slices on in order to prevent them from sticking together.
- Instead of slicing and freezing bananas myself, I often like the convenience of pre-packaged frozen banana slices. They're already ripened and ready to use!
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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