Banana Ice Cream (4 Ways)
These creamy and delicious banana ice cream recipes are easy to make and make perfect afternoon treats. The preparation time and ingredients are minimal, making this the ideal dessert to prepare whenever you and your loved ones crave something sweet.
What could be better than ice cream to celebrate summer? Especially when making ice cream is as simple as two ingredients and needs no special equipment.
I think no-churn is not a very common term in all parts of the world. No-churn simply means that you don’t need an ice cream maker. It refers to the paddle in an ice cream maker that turns (churns) the ice cream mixture from a liquid state to a creamy ice cream consistency.
Why is this the best homemade ice cream
- This classic ice cream needs just two ingredients you probably already have. The rest are optional for creating the variations.
- Also, it takes just five minutes to whip and about 4 hours to freeze.
- And it makes smooth, creamy ice cream with no ice crystals, and no one will believe it wasn’t made with an ice cream maker.
- Additionally, unlike traditional ice cream, this one has no eggs, which means it’s eggless – one dessert for everyone.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Whipping cream – The higher the fat, the creamier your ice cream becomes. I use whipping cream with 38% fat.
- Banana – I use frozen bananas today. However, you can also use ripe, soft bananas. In fact, these have the most flavor and make excellent ice cream.
- Optional ingredients
- Caramel – I use homemade caramel, but you can also use Butterscotch Sauce. Of course, this makes the ice cream slightly sweeter and perfect for those with a sweet tooth.
- Cherry filling – I use homemade cherry filling. Bananas and cherries are a great combination, so when cherries are in season, you must try cherry banana ice cream.
- Chocolate – You can also add some chocolate chips or chopped chocolate to the ice cream. And you can also fold some melted, cooled chocolate into the banana mixture.
Banana Sorbet
- Pulse the frozen bananas in a blender until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.
Pro tip – I like to use frozen bananas, and I don’t mind a few bits of banana left behind.
Classic banana Ice cream
- Mash – Pulse the bananas in a blender until smooth and creamy.
Pro tip – I like to use frozen bananas even for my ice cream, but you can also use room-temperature bananas, too. I don’t mind a few bits of banana left behind, so I leave it lumpy. - Whip the cream – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream until almost stiff peaks.
- Combine – Fold the mashed bananas into the whipped cream with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Classic banana nice cream – Pour the mixture into an ice cream container.
Caramel banana ice cream
- Fold the cooled caramel sauce into the banana mixture and combine well.
Pro tip – Once frozen, serve with additional caramel sauce, so save some.
Chocolate banana ice cream
- Add the chopped chocolate to the banana mixture and fold it until it is well combined.
Cherry banana ice cream
- Fold the cherry filling into the banana mixture until well combined.
- Freeze – Pour the mixture into an ice cream container and freeze for 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, frozen bananas are essential for making banana ice cream. You can freeze ripe bananas ahead of time to achieve the desired creamy texture.
No-churn ice cream typically freezes in 4-6 hours until firm. However, for the best results, freeze it overnight.
Absolutely! No-churn banana ice cream is a versatile base that can be customized with various flavors and mix-ins. You can also add ingredients like vanilla extract, cocoa powder for a chocolate flavor, peanut butter, spices, or mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or crushed cookies to enhance the taste and texture.
Absolutely! No-churn banana ice cream can easily be made dairy-free or vegan. Instead of regular dairy heavy cream, you can use plant-based alternatives like almond butter, coconut cream, or oat milk. Ensure that any additional mix-ins or sweeteners you use are dairy-free or vegan-friendly.
Yes, ripe bananas are naturally sweet, so you can make banana ice cream without adding additional sweeteners. However, if you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add a small amount of honey, maple syrup, or a natural sweetener to enhance the flavor. You can adjust the sweetness according to your preference.
Banana Ice Cream
These creamy and delicious banana ice cream recipes are easy to make and make perfect afternoon treats. The preparation time and ingredients are minimal, making this the ideal dessert to prepare whenever you and your loved ones crave something sweet.
Video
Ingredients
- 4 large Frozen bananas
- 4 large (450 g) Banana Preferably frozen
- ½ cup (240 ml) Double cream 38% fat
- ½ cup (240 ml) Caramel sauce homemade or store-bought
- 4 oz (115 g) Chopped chocolate dark, semi-sweet or bittersweet
- ½ cup (120 ml) Cherry filling or other fruit filling
Method
- Pulse the frozen bananas in a blender until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.4 large Frozen bananas
- Mash – Pulse the bananas in a blender until smooth and creamy.4 large Banana
- Whip the cream – In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the heavy cream until it forms almost stiff peaks.½ cup Double cream
- Combine – Fold the mashed bananas into the whipped cream with a rubber spatula until well combined.
- Classic banana ice cream – Pour the mixture into an ice cream container.
- Caramel ice cream – Fold in the cooled caramel sauce into the banana mixture and combine well.½ cup Caramel sauce
- Chocolate banana ice cream – Add the chopped chocolate to the banana mixture and fold it until it is well combined.4 oz Chopped chocolate
- Cherry banana ice cream – Fold the cherry filling into the banana mixture until well combined.½ cup Cherry filling
- Freeze – Pour the mixture into an ice cream container and freeze for 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Notes
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- Choose ripe bananas: Ripe bananas will provide the best flavor and sweetness for your ice cream. Look for bananas that have yellow skins with some brown spots. Overripe bananas will have a stronger banana flavor and natural sweetness.
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- Freeze the bananas: Peel the ripe bananas and cut them into small slices or chunks before freezing them. Freezing the bananas in advance is crucial for achieving the creamy texture of the ice cream.
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- Blend the frozen bananas: Once the bananas are frozen, place them in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to occasionally stop and scrape down the sides of the blender to ensure everything is blended evenly.
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- Add flavorings: You can keep the banana ice cream simple and enjoy the natural sweetness of the bananas, or you can add flavorings to enhance the taste. Popular additions include vanilla extract or spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
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- Add sweetener if needed: Depending on the ripeness of the bananas, you may not need any additional sweeteners. However, if you prefer sweeter ice cream, add a small amount of honey, maple syrup, or a natural sweetener. Start with a small amount and adjust to your taste.
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- Whip the heavy cream separately, then fold the rest of the mixture into the banana. This makes the result softer and creamy in texture. If you use less fat cream, the possibility of ice crystals forming can be high. A great way to reduce that is to stir the ice cream once or twice in between.
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- Fold in mix-ins: For added texture and flavor, you can fold in mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or crushed cookies into the banana ice cream once blended. This will give your ice cream some extra crunch and variety.
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- Freeze until firm: Transfer the blended mixture into a lidded container or loaf pan and smooth the top. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or the lid and place it in the freezer. Let it freeze for at least 4-6 hours or overnight until it’s firm and scoopable.
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- You can store ice cream in a metal loaf pan wrapped in aluminum foil. The foil helps prevent the formation of ice crystals. I like to use these silicon ice cream tubs with tight lids.
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- Let it soften before serving: No-churn ice cream can be quite firm when taken straight from the freezer. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly before serving to make it easier to scoop. I like to dip my ice cream scoop in water. This helps scoop the ice cream better.
I love all the varieties you can make with bananas and cream as the base. This is so easy to make with kids and perfect for hot days.
Another winner of a no-churn ice cream recipe! This makes #3. I used bananas that I had previously frozen and thawed them in a sieve to drain any excess water. I also made the homemade caramel sauce recipe linked in this recipe and what an outstanding caramel sauce it is! I have so much success with your recipes that I didn’t hesitate to double the recipe for the caramel sauce and I am so glad I did! Not only are these no-churn ice cream recipes simple, they are amazingly delicious especially for so little effort. Thank you Veena for another winning recipe!
Thank you, Maria
Hi veena, Thx for sharing this cool recipe. I tried it today for August challenge and it came out yummy n creamy except it started melting very fast. I had used plastic box and wrapped in ziplock box. But on tastewise it was 10 on 10. I ll be soon posting pics of my icecream.
thanks again!
Thank you, Bhaavi
I love the tip about storing the ice cream tip inside of a zip lock bag! My ice cream tub works really well, but not 100%. I’ll have to give that a try!
Thanks Mackenzie – hope it helps
This looks fantastic! My Mom absolutely loves bananas, this is a recipe I can totally envision her taking a try making.
Thanks Val- I’m sure she will love it.
What a great dessert for summer. It is similar to bananas foster but cold. Looks delicious!
Thank you Linda !
That’s a great idea. Similar to a banana foster but cold. Great dessert for summer!
Thanks Linda. yeah a banana foster sure is similar.
Thanks for the tips about keeping the ice cream from geting icy! I hadn’t heard some of those and will definitely be trying them out! Caramel and bananas are heavenly!
Thank you Amy. Yeah some sounds weird I know
Veena, this is such a sinful treat!..love how nicely you have written your recipe as well..I have made banana soft server before as this as such!..such a great idea..
Thank you Srivalli.
OMG, the ice-cream looks so yummmm and that caramel drizzle is simply awesome! I looove making ice-cream/popsicle in summers and can literally live of them, so would be trying this soon 🙂
Thank you Molly. Yeah we’ve been making whole lot of ice creams and drinks recently