Chocolate Banana Ice Cream Recipe (Healthy)
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.
This healthy chocolate banana ice cream recipe is made with frozen ripened bananas, dark chocolate, walnuts, and your choice of yogurt for an enticing treat that is great all year long! Creamy, soft, and naturally sweetened, this nice cream can easily be made into a vegan version, and is full of natural fiber too!
We love to have any reason to celebrate with ice cream and light desserts, especially when there are healthy alternatives! In the summertime, I like to make mango nice cream, gluten-free lemon bars, and this tasty three milk cake because they’re suitable for almost any occasion.
But during the warmer months, there is nothing quite like diving into a bowl of freshly made, homemade chocolate banana ice cream. The flavor combinations that are created from the chocolate, banana slices, and walnuts are so satisfying and remind me of the most perfect sunny day.
Latest Recipe Video!
This is the most perfect chocolate banana ice cream out there, and we love to make it when we’re needing to satisfy a sweet tooth! The best part about this simple recipe is that it’s a healthy alternative to ice cream and has no added sugar, so you can enjoy it completely guilt-free. It’s a great sweet treat for kids too!
This has quickly become one of our favorite homemade ice cream recipes ever, and it’s the easiest way to enjoy a decadent treat that fits into a healthy lifestyle!
What is nice cream?
Nice cream is a term that refers to a healthier version of traditional ice cream: and is typically made with frozen fruits.
Nice cream has a creamy texture just like real ice cream, but typically does not contain artificial sweeteners, dyes, or other ingredients that are considered unhealthy.
It can also easily be made dairy-free, and you won’t need an ice cream maker which is a huge plus when you’re trying to make homemade ice cream! This chocolate banana ice cream is one of our favorite nice creams!
How to Make Chocolate and Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients Lists and Notes
With just a few simple ingredients, you can have this simple chocolate banana ice cream recipe in the comfort of your own home.
Whole Frozen Bananas: These are the main ingredient in this healthy ice cream. To make things earlier, cut your fresh banana(s) into slices prior to freezing them. Bananas have a natural sweetness that make a great base for this recipe. For the sweetest ice cream possible, use overripe bananas. Bananas are naturally high in potassium and fiber giving this nice cream lots of nutrients.
Yogurt: This recipe calls for Organic Plain Greek Yogurt, but any type of yogurt will work such as coconut or almond. If you want to make sure this nice cream has protein, then make sure to use a yogurt with a higher protein content. You can also use a plant based milk (like unsweetened almond milk) instead of yogurt, 1/4 cup milk of choice will work here! This is our healthy swap for heavy cream in this recipe.
Chocolate: Dark chocolate chips are blended to create additional rich textures in the ice cream. If you don’t have chocolate chips, then you can chop a chocolate bar into small pieces, use unsweetened cocoa powder, or use cocoa nibs.
Walnuts: You can find walnuts in any bulk food section at the grocery store or even online. Walnuts naturally lower cholesterol, contain natural antioxidants and polyunsaturated natural fats and are also believed to have anti-inflammatory benefits.
Optional Add Ins: Frozen berries, pecans, a little bit of cinnamon, peanut or almond butter, pinch of salt, and coconut flakes. The sky is truly the limit here! If you need a sweeter ice cream that’s more like dessert, you can use a touch of maple syrup, honey or agave (but keep in mind, this will increase the sugar content of this creamy ice cream recipe!)
Tools and Equipment
- Food Processor, Regular Blender, or high-speed blender
- Sharp knife
- Wooden cutting board
- Ice cream scoop, for serving
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: First, place the frozen sliced bananas in the bowl of a food processor or high powered blender. Pulse.
Step 2: Add the yogurt and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the chocolate and walnuts.
Step 3: Finally, serve the nice cream immediately (to have a soft serve ice cream consistency) or place in the freezer for 30-60 minutes.
What Makes This Banana Chocolate Ice Cream Healthy?
High in Fiber and Protein: This homemade banana ice cream has natural fiber and does not contain any refined sugar. Made with fresh bananas that are rich in nutrients, this wholesome recipe is a great solution for anyone looking for a healthy treat. The walnuts add an extra boost for some healthy fats, too.
Lower in Calories: Especially with our vegan option, this chocolate ice cream is naturally lower in calories than regular ice cream!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Since this ice cream is fruit-based doesn’t contain a lot of artificial ingredients or refined sugar, this wholesome banana ice cream is considered healthier than traditional ice creams.
We recommend storing banana ice cream in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to four months.
If you want to have a soft-serve texture, then yes, you will need to freeze the bananas! If you don’t freeze the bananas, then you will have a smoothie texture.
Variations and Substitutions
Make it Vegan: Instead of Greek yogurt, use a plant-based yogurt. Alternatively, you can use 1/4 cup of any plant based milk of your choice!
Change The Chocolate: If you don’t have access to a dark chocolate bar or chocolate chips, then you use raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder. You can also use white chocolate for a sweeter, more indulgent recipe.
Change The Flavor: You can make a bunch of different flavors using this ice cream base! Our favorites:
- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream: Just add a touch of mint extract or use mint chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate.
- PB&J: Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and instead of the chocolate, use fresh strawberries.
- Pina Colada: Use 1/4 cup whole milk coconut milk instead of yogurt, and use pineapple chunks instead of chocolate chips!
Top Tips for Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
- Use ripened bananas for the sweetest possible flavor.
- Freeze the banana slices in the single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper prior to blending them! If you’re planning to make a big batch of frozen bananas to use for later, I recommend storing the frozen banana slices in a freezer bag or airtight container until you’re ready to use them.
- If you’re not serving the ice cream right away, and you plan to freeze and store in an airtight container, you will need to let the ice cream thaw before trying to scoop it. You can also transfer the ice cream to a loaf pan lined with parchment if you plan to freeze it.
- If you need to make a bigger batch, then feel free to double or triple the recipe!
More Banana Recipes and Healthy Desserts to Try!
If you have tried this chocolate banana ice cream recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food!
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
For The Nice Cream
- 2 bananas frozen
- ¾ cup Organic Plain Greek Yogurt or any plant-based yogurt, can also use up to ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk (or any plant-based milk)
- 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
Optional Mix-Ins
- 1 tablespoon peanut or almost butter (Optional)
- ½ cup frozen berries or other fresh fruit
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
Instructions
- Place frozen banana chunks in a food processor. Blend until you have coarse crumbs.
- Add the yogurt and blend 1-2 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the chocolate and walnuts and pulse a few times until incorporated. Add any mix-ins you like as well at this point.
- Serve immediately, or place in the freezer for 30-60 minutes for a firmer, more ice cream-like consistency.
Notes
- Use ripened bananas for the sweetest possible flavor.
- Freeze the banana slices in the single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper prior to blending them! If you’re planning to make a big batch of frozen bananas to use for later, I recommend storing the frozen banana slices in a freezer bag or airtight container until you’re ready to use them.
- If you’re not serving the ice cream right away, and you plan to freeze and store in an airtight container, you will need to let the ice cream thaw before trying to scoop it. You can also transfer the ice cream to a loaf pan lined with parchment if you plan to freeze it.
- If you need to make a bigger batch, then feel free to double or triple the recipe!
