Food & Drink

Last year I shared a really easy way to use up black bananas with these delicious three ingredient cookies.  I’ve been keen to find more easy ways to use up black bananas and earlier this year came across easy one ingredient vegan banana ice cream on the Kitchn blog.  I had to give it a go – not only is it vegan, gluten free and a healthy ice cream alternative – but it sounded to good to be true that you could make delicious ice cream from just a banana!

To make your one ingredient vegan banana ice cream simply place a frozen banana in a blender or food processor, and give it a whizz for a minute or two until smooth and creamy.  That’s all there is to it!

I had some bananas that I’d saved from going rotten in the freezer, so I fished out my food processor.  My partner was very very skeptical about blending up frozen bananas to get ice cream, thinking we’d just get a soggy mess.  But after just two minutes of blending, the bananas were done, and it didn’t look like the soggy mess he’d anticipated.  Armed with spoons, we tucked in and I’ll admit we were pleasantly surprised that the texture of it is just like ice cream.  No joke!

Vegan banana ice cream on the left, with some variations on it (recipes below)

Now, no whatever anyone says on the internet, the taste is not exactly like ice-cream.  Instead it tastes like a healthy vegan banana ice cream, without anything bad for you in it.  Which is no bad thing if you’re looking for a healthy treat.  But as for trying to convince yourself that it tastes just like full-fat sugar laden ice cream?  I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.  Even my toddler could tell the difference!  But accepting it for what it is as a healthy dessert?  It’s delicious!

After extensive taste testing I’ve naturally got some tips for making one ingredient vegan banana ice cream!

Tips for Making Vegan Banana Ice Cream

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Vegan Banana Ice-Cream Tips

Ingredients

• One frozen banana

Instructions

1. Black bananas work best because a lot of the starch has been converted to natural fruit sugars. If you've got any going off in your fruit bowl simply peel them and pop them whole in a tub in the freezer until you're in the mood for ice cream.
2. One banana = one serving
3. Remove your banana from the freezer about 15-20 minutes before you start making the ice-cream unless you have a really powerful food processor.
4. It takes up to two minutes to fully blend your banana.
5. Serve immediately after blending.
6. As you've already partially defrosted your banana I wouldn't recommend refreezing your ice-cream.

I’ve also been trying out some vegan banana ice cream variations.  My favourite one is berry banana ice cream – just remove a large handful of frozen berries from the freezer and leave them again for 15-20 minutes prior to blending.  Blend your banana and berries together until you’ve got a smooth consistency again.

Another favourite is the less healthy but still vegan peanut butter, dark chocolate and banana ice cream.  Simply add a teaspoon (or more if you like it extra nutty) of peanut butter to the blender along with your banana, and off you go!  Slice up a square of dark chocolate into small slithers and sprinkle over the top for a decadent treat!

I am sure there are heaps of other vegan (or non-vegan) variations on this, so do share in the comments below what you come up with!

ps: the ice creams were completely impossible to photograph!  They start to melt so quickly after blending, and my daughter woke up from her nap earlier than expected and was demanding ice-cream whilst trying to get these shots!  Though you might appreciate these behind the scenes look into food blogging!