Banana Ice Cream
You can create our rich banana ice cream using only one ingredient; however, incorporating a few pantry staples significantly enhances its quality compared to any other "nice" cream.
Why It Works
Utilizing a food processor rather than a blender to blend the bananas results in a custard-like texture for the dessert.
Gently softening and slicing the frozen bananas prior to puréeing guarantees a smooth ice cream consistency and reduces the likelihood of damaging the processor blade.
Adding optional lemon juice and vanilla extract elevates the fresh banana taste.
I grew up enjoying banana whip, also known as banana ice cream or "nice cream," a light vegan dessert made solely from bananas that was surprisingly as creamy and satisfying as traditional ice cream. During my childhood summers in Ocean City, New Jersey, every Sunday morning, my sister and I would walk along the boardwalk, avoiding the fast-moving surreys, and stop at our favorite café, the Bashful Banana, for their self-proclaimed "famous" banana whip. To me, their banana whip was indeed superior to ice cream. It was refreshing on warm days and possessed the ideal silky custard-like texture, overflowing with fresh banana flavor. As a child, I also appreciated that since it consisted solely of puréed bananas, it was an acceptable "ice cream" to enjoy at any hour.
As an adult, banana whip remains one of my preferred frozen desserts, and it may be the simplest "ice cream" to prepare at home. Bananas serve as an excellent base for creaminess: Their high pectin content allows them to maintain a creamy texture when frozen, and their natural sweetness means there is no need to add sugar.
For the easiest nice cream, simply place frozen bananas in a food processor and blend thoroughly. However, for truly exceptional banana ice cream, I prefer to include a splash of oat milk, almond milk, whole milk, or heavy cream, which enhances the rich creaminess of the mixture, along with a touch of vanilla and lemon juice.
If you prefer a soft-serve texture, consume it immediately. For a more classic scoop, store it in an airtight container in the freezer, and serve it as you would with any conventional ice cream. Whether savored directly from the processor bowl or from the freezer, it is undeniably delightful. Below are several suggestions for achieving the creamiest banana ice cream possible.
Tips for Creamy Banana Ice Cream
Consider giving your blender a rest and opting for your food processor instead. Throughout the years, I have experimented with creating banana whips using both a blender and a food processor, and I have consistently found greater success with the food processor. Unless you possess a very high-powered blender, the mixture may not fully engage with the small blade of the blender, necessitating frequent scraping down of the sides of the blender jar.
The work bowl of the food processor is wider and flatter than that of a blender, allowing more air to circulate around the frozen bananas compared to a blender. The outcome is a lighter, silkier banana whip. Additionally, the large cutting blade of the food processor is more effective at slicing through frozen bananas than the smaller blades of a blender, which means you will require less liquid to blend the mixture adequately. This ensures a rich and creamy ice cream texture.
Gently thaw and slice the frozen bananas prior to processing. Blending whole, solid frozen bananas in the food processor could potentially harm the blade. Spend a few moments allowing the frozen bananas to soften on your countertop and slice them before placing them in the food processor bowl. This will expedite the processing time and guarantee a smooth texture throughout the mixture. Believe me, your food processor’s blade will appreciate it, and you will end up with superior nice cream as well.
Blend the bananas with your choice of milk or even water. Incorporating a small amount of liquid assists the processor’s blade in effectively puréeing the bananas without the need for constant scraping down the bowl every ten seconds. It also adds a touch more creaminess to the mixture. Feel free to use your preferred dairy or dairy alternative. In an emergency, you could even resort to using just water.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 pint (375ml) milk or cream
- (or a mixture of both according to taste),
- 4oz (100g) sugar,
- 3 ripe bananas (to purée)
Purée the bananas place in a mixing bowl. Pour in the milk/cream and sugar, mixing in well as you do so. Transfer the whole mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cool. Enjoy the Banana Ice Cream Recipe !!!
Banana Ice Cream Recipe Video :
