Chocolate nice cream is dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free which is a great substitute for store-bought ice cream. It is made with frozen bananas and cocoa powder. It's a healthier and lighter option than traditional ice cream because it contains no added sugars or dairy products. Make this 4-ingredient, homemade, healthy chocolate ice cream, and enjoy!
This Chocolate Banana Ice Cream is the best substitute for your regular chocolate ice cream without feeling guilty about eating more. Enjoy this anytime you crave healthy vegan ice cream and I guarantee that you will feel satisfied, content, and happy.
ingredients and substitutions
- Riped Bananas - You will get the ice cream-like consistency if your bananas are frozen. You can also use fresh bananas and freeze them for 2 hours or longer after blending to get the creamy and delicious ice cream texture.
- Cacao Powder - Great addition to your chocolate-flavored ice cream or smoothies. You can also use cocoa powder.
- Dates - Dates are what I use to sweeten this chocolate nice cream. You can use any sweetener such are honey, maple syrup, stevia, or any sweetener you prefer. Start by adding a few tablespoons and adjust accordingly.
- Milk - I use coconut milk for extra creaminess. You can use almond milk, cashew milk, or oat milk too. Milk or some water also helps to blend everything together easily.
- Chocolate chips or nuts - Sprinkle some chocolate chips or nuts on top for an extra crunch texture as an option.
Instructions
You can make banana ice cream chocolate flavor in a blender or food processor in less than 10 minutes!
First, gather and prepare all the ingredients on hand. It is a good idea to peel, cut it into chunks and freeze bananas ahead to achieve the ice cream texture immediately. Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until you reach your desired ice cream texture. It should be smooth and creamy.
You can serve it immediately or freeze it for about two hours until it is firm. Enjoy your chocolate healthy ice cream.
Make-ahead and storage tips
Make-ahead - Transfer the homemade chocolate ice cream in a glass container and put it in the freezer. You can make your chocolate nice cream ahead and enjoy it whenever you crave it. It will stay in the freezer for about 3-6 months and will stay good when stored properly.
WHY WE LOVE CHOCOLATE NICE CREAM
- Healthier option: Chocolate nice cream is a healthier option compared to regular chocolate ice cream. It is made with whole and natural ingredients such as bananas, cacao powder, and dates. It is dairy-free which is perfect for people who are lactose intolerant or have a dairy allergy.
- Easy to prepare: Chocolate ice cream is very easy to make at home. All the ingredients are easy to find and are kitchen staples. All you need as the equipment is a blender or food processor.
- Delicious taste: This ice cream is incredibly delicious and satisfying, and it's a great way to indulge your sweet tooth without consuming a lot of sugar and calories.
- You can customize your ice cream to your own preference and taste. You can add chopped chocolate, nuts, and dried fruits like raisins to add texture and more flavor.
- If you love this ice cream recipe, don't forget to check out my avocado nice cream.
Helpful Tips
- Use ripe bananas: Ripe bananas are sweeter and creamier making them perfect to make ice cream. Choose bananas with some brown spots or even mostly brown and soft.
- Freeze the bananas: Peel the bananas and cut them into smaller pieces. Plate them in a container and freeze for about 2 hours or overnight. This will give an ice cream texture.
- Add some liquid: If the bananas are not blending easily, add a splash of milk or cream to help them along. You can also add peanut butter or vanilla extract to add flavors.
- Serve immediately or freeze: Banana chocolate ice cream is best served immediately after blending, but you can also freeze it for later. Let it set at room temperature for a minute or two before scooping.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
With just few ingredients and minimal effort in the kitchen, you can have the healthiest banana ice cream in a few minutes. Place slices of frozen bananas, chocolate powder, sweetener of your choice, and some milk or water, and turn your high-speed blender or food processor for less than 5 minutes to achieve the right smooth and ice cream-like consistency. Enjoy!
You can use honey, maple syrup, dates, or your choice of any kind of sugar. You can also add some vanilla for extra punch of flavor.
Absolutely! It is easier to blend all the ingredients if the bananas are not frozen. However, you need to freeze them for 2 hours or longer after blending to get the ice cream-like consistency.
If your bananas turned brown when they are frozen is because they have been exposed to too much air and were not stored properly. To prevent this from happening, use an air-tight glass container.
Cacao and cocoa powder both come from the same source, which is the beans of the cacao tree. However, these two refer to different products that have undergone different processes.
Cocoa powder is made by grinding roasted cacao beans into a fine powder, from which most of the cocoa butter has been removed. Cocoa powder is often used in baking and is the primary ingredient in chocolate products.
Cacao powder is made from raw cacao beans that have been cold-pressed to remove cocoa butter. Cacao powder is not processed with high heat like cocoa powder, it retains more of its natural nutrients, including antioxidants and minerals such as magnesium and iron. It is perfect for smoothies, ice cream, and other raw preparations.
Ripe bananas are a great homemade ice cream thickener. Add it to your food processor or blender to blend your ice cream. You can thicken your ice cream using gelatin. Bloom 1-2 teaspoons of gelatin in cold water for a few minutes. Heat the gelatin mixture over low heat until it dissolves, then add it to the ice cream base and stir.
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Chocolate Nice Cream Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large riped bananas fresh or frozen
- 4 large dates soaked in water
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 2-4 tablespoons coconut or almond milk
Instructions
- Put the bananas, cocoa powder, dates and milk in your food processor.
- Turn it on and hold on tight. It'll shake and rattle until the frozen bananas break down.
- Scrape down the edges and keep processing and blending the ice cream for about 3-4 minutes until it turns to an ice cream-like consistency. Sprinkle some chocolate chips or nuts (optional). Serve while it's cold and slightly frozen.
Notes
Recipe Notes:
- Use ripe bananas: Ripe bananas are sweeter and creamier making them perfect to make ice cream. Choose bananas with some brown spots or even mostly brown and soft.
- Freeze the bananas: Peel the bananas and cut them into smaller pieces. Plate them in a container and freeze for about 2 hours or overnight. This will give an ice cream texture.
- Add some liquid: If the bananas are not blending easily, add a splash of milk or cream to help them along. You can also add peanut butter or vanilla extract to add flavors.
- Serve immediately or freeze: Banana chocolate ice cream is best served immediately after blending, but you can also freeze it for later. Let it set at room temperature for a minute or two before scooping.
Nora
Love chocolate ice cream! And it’s even better with dates and banana as sweeteners. Thank you for this recipe. Will definitely be making soon!
Jomelyn
I'm glad you appreciate it. Thanks for checking in.