One Ingredient Ice Cream (2024)

Did that title pique your interest?

It did mine when I first saw it on the internet. In fact, this little phenomenon has been popping up on food blogs all over the place lately. Maybe you’ve heard of it referred to as “Nice Cream?” If you’re like me you’re probably wondering what could possibly possess all of the properties necessary so that just the item itself could be enough to magically transform into ice cream. Right? Apparently bananas.

I’ll admit I was very skeptical. When I think of banana ice cream, I think of something more like THIS. And obviously a frozen banana isn’t going to compare. But I have to say I was very surprised and very pleased with the results. Somehow whipping up frozen banana chunks creates some magical reaction and really does turn it into a creamy-smooth ice cream-like substance. Wanna see how?

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Ingredient & Equipment Notes

  • Food processor or blender –This recipe will work in pretty much any food processor. A high powered blender (Blendtec, Vitamix, Ninja Pro, etc.) will work as well.
  • Add-ins – If you’d like, feel free to blend in a little peanut butter, Nutella, or cinnamon-sugar. You can also blend in a few frozen raspberries or blueberries for a fruity twist.
  • Bananas – Bananas can tend to get a bitter taste to them after freezing and it’s intensified if they’re under-ripe So definitely use very ripe bananas for this. They shouldn’t be brown-mushy-banana-bread-ripe, but ripe. I found the best ones to be like the ones below, where the outsides were spotty but the insides weren’t brown yet at all. They were super sweet.

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How To Make One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

  1. Try it with about 3 medium bananas. Slice or dice into small pieces (to make the blending part easier) and place in the freezer. Place frozen banana chunks into a food processor.

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2. Can you guess the next step? Ya, blend those babies up. Depending on the size of your food processor, the amount of bananas, and how frozen they are, you may have to stop it a few times and scrape and mush the mixture around. I’ve had to do that every time.

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The first time I tried this I was concerned when my mixture never turned into anything resembling ice cream. It just looked like tiny little grains, much like couscous!

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But all I had to do was grab a spatula and when I stirred them even the tiniest bit, ta-da!

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Sure enough it was smooth, creamy, and looked just like ice cream!

3. Now looking like ice cream is one thing, but what about the taste and texture? I was very surprised to find that this stuff actually feels like ice cream in my mouth. It tastes like- let’s be real here, bananas. But it’s still quite delish. One of the great things you can do is add some mix-ins to the food processor along with bananas. Sure it won’t make it “one” ingredient ice cream anymore, but it’s sure yummy. I tried one batch with some cinnamon-sugar, one with a spoonful of peanut butter, and our personal favorite: a scoop of heaven. Er…I mean, Nutella.

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It’s really amazing how much frozen bananas can resemble ice cream.

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The true test? This one:

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Not only was this 4 year-old super happy to be eating a treat, he had noooo idea it was just bananas.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this ahead and freeze it?As is, this banana ice cream comes out like soft serve. For a more scoopable texture, pop it in the freezer for a bit. For longer freezing, make sure it is sealed tight to prevent freezer burn. You may need to let is sit out to soften for a bit if completely frozen.

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Ice Cream Crunch Bars (Tastes like Fried Ice Cream!)
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice CreamCherry Chocolate Ice CreamSnickerdoodle Ice CreamCaramelized Banana Ice Cream

Did You Make This?

I’d love to hear from you! Snap a picture and tag me onInstagram, then come back and give this recipe a rating!

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One-Ingredient Ice Cream

This ice cream is bananas-- literally! Frozen bananas make the perfect base for a sweet, frozen treat. Add cinnamon-sugar, peanut butter, or Nutella for a fun twist.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 3 medium ripe bananas just beginning to show brown spots on the peel but the insides have not yet begun to brown-- not underripe but also not as ripe as you would use for banana bread
  • OPTIONAL ADD INS
  • cinnamon-sugar
  • peanut butter
  • Nutella

Instructions

  • Slice or dice bananas into small pieces (to make the blending part easier) and place in freezer until frozen through, at least a few hours.

  • Place frozen banana chunks into a food processor and blend. Depending on the size of your food processor, the amount of bananas, and how frozen they are, you may have to stop it a few times and scrape and mush the mixture around. I've had to do that every time.

  • The mixture may look crumbly and resemble cous cous. Just grab a spatula, stir it, and watch as it transforms into perfect soft serve banana ice cream.

  • If using, blend in your desired add ins to taste and serve.

Keyword: banana, dessert, frozen treats, fruit, ice cream

Author: Our Best Bites

Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a picture, and hashtag it #ourbestbites. We love to see your creations on our Instagram @ourbestbites!

One Ingredient Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient to ice cream? ›

The cream cheese helps create an ice cream with a denser, smoother texture. As explained by TASTE, cream cheese acts as a stabilizer in ice cream, preventing water from seeping out of the milk and cream as well as preventing the formation of ice crystals that detract from ice cream's creaminess.

What is the main ingredient in ice cream? ›

Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food colouring is sometimes added in addition to stabilizers.

What does frozen banana taste like? ›

Many people have concerns about the flavour and consistency of frozen bananas. While it is true that bananas will lose their firmness when thawing takes place, the flavour and nutritional value will remain the same as fresh bananas.

Can you freeze bananas in the peel? ›

You can freeze whole, peeled bananas in large plastic bags like smaller banana chunks. You can also freeze bananas whole in their peels, but this will only work if you want mashed bananas. After thawing and peeling a banana frozen in its peel, it will come out of the peel in an essentially mashed texture.

What is the secret to making ice cream very creamy? ›

Keep It Creamy

Sugar, corn syrup or honey, as well as gelatin and commercial stabilizers, can all keep your ice cream at a softer consistency.

What is the best sugar for homemade ice cream? ›

Most home ice cream recipes call for simple table sugar, which is chemically known as sucrose. But in pro kitchens you have more options. Liquid sugars like invert sugar, corn syrup, honey, and glucose syrup all add body, creaminess, and stability to ice cream, and a little goes a long way.

Do bananas turn black when frozen? ›

If you freeze whole bananas, the peels will turn brown with time in the freezer. This is fine and doesn't affect the flavor of the fruit. However, if your frozen banana slices, chunks, or mash turns brown, the container or bag is not airtight.

When should you not use frozen bananas? ›

Place the whole unpeeled banana in the freezer. Use it within 3 months for best quality.

What is the brown liquid in defrosted bananas? ›

When defrosting whole bananas or mashed bananas, they will leech a brown liquid (which is perfectly fine to consume), however it is best to strain it off before mashing or incorporating into the batter, as the added liquid can make the final bake denser.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. It's tempting to share tasty fruit with your dog, especially when they're staring at you longingly. The good news is dogs can eat bananas in reasonable quantities as an occasional treat.

Can you freeze cucumbers? ›

Freezing cucumbers extends the vegetable's shelf life considerably. In the refrigerator, cucumbers last about four to six days, but properly frozen cucumbers may last for up to 12 months. For peak quality, though, it's best to consume frozen cucumbers within eight months, says Schwan.

What makes ice cream creamy and not icy? ›

To get rich ice cream, you need enough fat, enough milk protein, and enough sugar to keep the water in the ice cream from freezing solid.

What are the two most essential ingredients of ice cream? ›

The basic ingredients for ice cream are milk, cream, sugar, flavorings, and sometimes eggs. There are two basic types of ice cream. Custard ice cream, also known as French ice cream, is made with a base of a stirred egg custard (essentially a vanilla sauce).

What is so delicious ice cream made of? ›

Filtered Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Sunflower Oil, Rice Starch, Pea Protein, Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Vanilla Bean Specks, Locust Bean Gum, Vanilla Extract, Annatto Extract (For Color).

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