Jamie and I have this thing where we’ll get on a kick of eating or drinking a certain item and then will name it a funny name that relates to our life at that moment in time. For example, we went through a “Pool Hangs & Glamping in the Living Room” Watermelon Mule phase while we were living in Colorado, which is actually exactly what it sounds like – the best, most refreshing watermelon Moscow mules that paired perfectly with weekends at the pool (which was a frequent occurrence that particular summer) and our indoor tent set-up in the living room (one memorable evening that makes us smile!). More recently, I’ve made the Dalgona coffee that’s been trending majorly on social media a few times during quarantine and have been affectionately referring to it as “Pretending We’re in a Coffeeshop” Whipped Coffee.
The recipe I want to share today is what we’re calling “We’re Going Bananas” Quarantine Ice Cream, which would be tasty even if we weren’t in quarantine, but it’s the perfect recipe for our current COVID-19 situation because: 1.) it’s more healthy than ice cream since the predominant ingredient is bananas; 2.) it consists of only a few ingredients and can be made very easily with items you have on hand and no ice cream maker; and 3.) it uses up those overripe bananas, preventing food waste! And also 4.) because hello, we’re in quarantine and NEED ice cream right now!
Basically, all you do is chop up very ripe bananas into small pieces and freeze them (or you can use cut/peel off the skin of already-frozen whole bananas and then chop them up like I did, but the first option is a lot easier). Then you use a food processor to grind the bananas according to the directions until they turn into the texture of soft-serve ice cream, and that’s it! You can add all sorts of mix-ins to create different flavors and sweetness levels, which is the best part. The three flavors in these photos are Cinnamon Dulce, Strawberry, and Nutella, and it’s crazy how much they taste like ice cream, not just frozen bananas!
Notes
Feel free to add any mix-ins that you like and adjust the amounts to your liking! Banana is such a versatile flavor that can be paired with many other flavors. Different mix-ins will change the consistency of the ice cream; for example, adding sweetened condensed milk will make the ice cream a little softer, while adding heavy cream will make it a little more firm - closer to the texture of regular ice cream. Have fun with it!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs very ripe bananas
- Mix-ins of choice - see variations below for ideas
Instructions
- Peel bananas and chop them into small pieces, about 1/2" dice. Freeze the bananas overnight or until they are completely solid, then put the frozen banana pieces in a food processor and blend for several minutes. Scrape down the sides of the food processor frequently to ensure that the bananas are getting evenly processed. The bananas should first turn into smaller chunks, and then will become a fine grit before suddenly turning creamy and smooth - the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. (If banana pieces get stuck on the blade, add a small spoonful of water to the food processor and continue blending.) Serve as is, or make your own variations with mix-ins, which should be added just after the bananas have turned creamy and smooth. Serve immediately, or return to the freezer to harden a little more if desired.
- VARIATIONS
- Nutella Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 1/2 cup Nutella spread
- Strawberries Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 2/3 cup chopped frozen strawberries and 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
- Cinnamon Dulce Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Tropical Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 1/3 cup coconut and 1/3 cup drained crushed pineapple
- Dark Chocolate Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 6 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Peanut Butter Honey Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 1/4 cup peanut butter and 2 tablespoons honey
- Dreamsicle Banana Ice Cream - Blend in 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and 1 teaspoon vanilla
Have you made ice cream with frozen bananas before? Let me know what flavor you like best!
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