This no churn chocolate ice cream is a healthy plant-based chocolate ice cream made with bananas and can be served as a pudding or scooped into cones. Can't eat bananas? I have alternatives in my post for you!
No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
Healthy no churn chocolate ice cream is easy to make, high in protein, and is the perfect energizing snack!
Another name for vegan ice cream made with bananas, is nicecream. Because it doesn't involve dairy. And nicecream is awesome because it is high in protein as well as potassium, magnesium, and more.
Although I have several healthy no-churn ice cream recipes on my blog, most don't use bananas. One of our daughters can't eat them so we pretty regularly make our healthy ice cream using other ingredients. But today I wanted to use bananas for the benefits it brings to a workout snack (Yes, I made her a matching batch of no-banana ice cream, no worries)
How to Make Ice Cream With Bananas
And I wanted to use bananas for at least one recipe because bananas, when frozen, create the closest texture to dairy-based ice cream there is.
Bananas range in length from 6-inches to 9-inches, and for this recipe (which makes 4 cups of ice cream), you'll want to about 36 (2-inch) frozen banana chunks.
And you want to freeze them ripe so they will be sweet. The sweetness of this ice cream depends on the sweetness of the bananas.
Other Ingredients in Chocolate Ice Cream
Finally, I have added extra protein and creaminess with the addition of nut butter. And I sometimes add chocolate chunks, sometimes a chocolate swirl to create a fudge ripple.
The variations are endless but I explain how to add in those two at least within the recipe.
So are you ready to step into this crazy journey with me? Let's get to it!
How Ice Cream Is Made Step by Step
First up, let's prep.
The night before, chop up and freeze 4-6 bananas. Frozen bananas have a magical quality - they lose the banana flavor and become a blank palate.
Next, blend up all ingredients, and pour into a parchment-lined loaf pan. Freeze for 30 minutes, chop up, smooth with a spoon, and freeze for at least 2 more hours. Store in the freezer in a sealed container. Eat within 3 weeks for best flavor.
Do you want to churn it for a smoother texture? Just pour the blended mixture into your ice cream container - read directions for your machine ahead of time. Most ice cream makers need you to freeze the ice cream container overnight.
So, ready to step up and actually make some ice cream? Let's do it!
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📖 Recipe
No Churn Chocolate Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 4-6 bananas (peeled, frozen, cut into 2-inch chunks)
- 5 medjool dates (soaked overnight, pitted)
- ⅔ cup Cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoon almond butter (I use WholeFoods 356 brand, or use another nut butter)
- 1 cup milk (use almond or hemp or coconut (canned,full fat) for super creamy texture)
Optional Banana-replacement
- 3 cups coconut cream (solid portion from chilled cans of coconut milk) (Leave OFF the banana and also add TWO more dates)
Fudge Sauce for Ripple
- cup Chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
Prep
- Cut 6 (6-inch) small bananas or 4 (9-inch) large bananas into 36 (2-inch banana chunks). Freeze not touching in the freezer until solid - preferably overnight.Submerge dates in clean water; refrigerate overnight. The next day, rinse and pit them.
- Line an 8-inch by 4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
Make Ice Cream
- Remove the 36 (2-inch) banana chunks from the freezer, spread out on a cookie sheet or parchment and allow them to thaw for 20 minutes so as to not break your blender. I would also use a high-speed blender only such as Blendtec or Vitamix.
- Blend up thawed bananas, dates, cacao powder, milk, and almond butter until creamy. The texture will be that of pourable cake batter.
- Taste test and add a touch of maple syrup if you think it needs more sweetness - the sweetness will depend on how ripe/sweet your bananas were.
- Pour into the 8-inch by 4-inch loaf pan and freeze for at least 2 hours before scooping into bowls. Freeze longer to make is solid enough for ice cream cones.
Add Fudge Ripple
- Melt the chips in a Pyrex glass measuring cup in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir until all chips are melted.
- Drizzle the chocolate sauce on top of the semi-frozen ice cream in swirls and with a small spatula cut it into the ice cream, pushing deep and into swirls without actually mixing it in.
- Then return loaf pan to the freezer for another 2 hours
Variations & Banana-Replacement
- Add add-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts after about 30-min to 1 hour freezing time. Fold in with a spatula, or sprinkle on top.
- Replace bananas with full fat coconut milk, however you might find a bit of a coconut flavor is added. Also you may have to "no-churn" by freezing the ice cream for one hour, chopping, blending, and refreezing to achieve a creamy texture.
Blooming Nolwenn
Who thought ice cream could be a healthy snack? 😀
It looks delicious and I'm very excited to try it!
Debbie
Thank you so much for your feedback! I hope you enjoy it! Dee xx
Nisha / RainbowPlantLife
Ice cream as a post workout snack? Sign me up! Love how healthy and nourishing this is yet so delicious and divine!
Debbie
Hah, Nisha, my thinking exactly! I have been really benefiting from post workout treats and so I think I'm on a runaway train, haha! Dee xx