July is National Ice Cream Month! Since our love of ice cream is well documented at Williams-Sonoma, I want to share with you the easiest “ice cream” recipe you’ll ever find — no custard base or ice cream maker necessary.
This recipe is dairy-free, nut-free and completely vegan, so almost everyone can enjoy it. All you’ll need is one very ripe banana and a food processor or blender.
Peel the banana and chop it into slices about 1/2 inch wide. Place in a ziploc bag or container and stick it in the freezer for at least 1 hour (I usually leave mine in there overnight).
Once it’s frozen, remove the banana from the freezer and drop the pieces into a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
Enjoy! Frozen bananas have a natural creaminess that gives this snack or dessert a surprising richness.
Feel free to jazz up your banana ice cream with add-ins, such as the ones suggested here. Put the ingredients in the blender along with the bananas and then puree.
- Chocolate-Hazelnut-Banana Ice Cream. Add a spoonful or two of Nutella (or another chocolate-hazelnut spread) to the food processor or blender before pureeing. If you’ve ever eaten a Nutella-banana crepe in Paris, you know this one’s a good combo.
- Pina Colada Ice Cream. Grown-ups, add a splash of rum, pineapple juice and coconut milk for a tropical twist.
- PB & J Ice Cream. Add a spoonful of peanut butter and another spoonful of your favorite jam. No wonder peanut butter-banana sandwiches are so delicious!
What are your ideas for great flavor combinations?
6 comments
You could blend that longer and it’ll get even creamier! At least that’s what happened to mine. I also used a food processor v. blender.
Olivia – Thanks for recommending my vegan ice cream recipe! It’s so hot today. I’m getting ready to make a variation of this recipe with some Kahlua. Stay cool! ; )
Bryan and KGIAI, if you want to skip bananas, I’d recommend trying coconut milk to get the creamy texture of ice cream without the dairy. Here’s a Vegan Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream recipe: http://analisfirstamendment.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-would-you-you-do-o-o.html
Let us know how it turns out!
but what if you are lactose and banana intoleralant…another option, please?
My fiancee is on a strict CKD diet, which means even a banana is risky due to its high potassium content. Other ideas?
Awesome idea specially for summer time!