Our summer sweet tooth is calling, and we’ve got banana nice cream on our mind! For all you dessert lovers, it’s time to pull out your blender, freeze those bananas, and swirl up your favorite no-cook treat: nice cream. Made with real fruit and all-natural ingredients, this dairy-free treat is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy and delicious way. Beloved by vegans and non-vegans alike, this ice cream replacement is indulgent, creamy, and easy to customize for any flavor preference! Add some raw cacao for a chocolate twist, throw in some protein powder for a post-workout treat, or drizzle some raw honey and fresh berries for an antioxidant-rich dessert. We’ve even got banana-less options — that’s right, there’s something for everyone!
Find out simple ways to make this ice cream alternative, healthy swaps, and ten delicious healthy banana nice cream flavors!
What is Banana Nice Cream?
If you’ve never heard of banana nice cream, you’re going to want to try it ASAP! Think of banana nice cream as ice cream’s healthy, dairy-free cousin. Nice cream contains the same creamy, indulgent flavor as ice cream, without the added sugar. With just a few wholesome ingredients, healthy banana nice cream is just as healthy as it is simple.
So, what is banana nice cream exactly? Just as it sounds, it’s ice cream made from bananas. Simply blend frozen ripe bananas with a splash of dairy-free milk and voila — healthy banana ice cream made in minutes! You can even make it without banana using creamy swaps like avocado or coconut cream! Then, simply add in any flavors or toppings like cacao nibs, fresh or frozen fruit, mint, peanut butter — even crumbles of healthy cookies for a cookie-dough flavor. Yes, our mouths are watering too!
It’s easy to convert any traditional dairy-filled ice cream into a healthy banana nice cream flavor! Find out our favorite flavors below.
Is Banana Nice Cream Healthy?
While we’re all for treating ourselves from time to time, traditional ice cream is typically filled with sugar, dairy, and high-calorie ingredients. Ice cream may taste delicious, but it doesn’t always make us feel our best! If you’re sensitive to dairy (hello bloat), focusing on your health and fitness goals, or trying to cut back on sugar, it may be time to find a healthy ice cream replacement.
Luckily, banana nice cream is both healthy and sweet. The natural sweetness from fresh banana combined with a non-dairy milk of choice makes healthy banana nice cream a delicious and simple dairy-free ice cream swap. This no-added-sugar dessert is easy to customize to any flavor preference, making it a family favorite!
How to Make Healthy Banana Nice Cream
Making healthy banana nice cream is simple! You’ll need a high-speed blender or food processor and the following ingredients:
- Frozen ripe, spotty bananas
- Non-dairy milk of choice (we love creamy oat milk)
- Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (optional)
- 1-2 medjool dates or sweetener of choice (optional)
So, are you ready to make your own indulgent blend? Try this no-fail banana nice cream recipe, and use it as your base. Enjoy it plain, or add any flavors or toppings!
The Best Banana Nice Cream (Use This As Your Base)
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients:
- 2-3 large spotty bananas, frozen and sliced
- ¼ cup of oat milk (or non-dairy milk of choice)
- 1-2 Medjool dates, pitted (or 1 Tbsp. sweetener of choice, optional)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (optional)
Directions:
Step #1: Peel and slice spotty bananas into 1-inch chunks and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet or platter (to prevent banana from sticking together)
Step #2: Once frozen, add bananas to a high-speed blender or food processor with optional sweetener of choice and vanilla.
Step #3: Blend the frozen banana until smooth (be patient! This may require stopping the blending process and scraping down the sides or stirring the base with a spoon as needed)
Step #4: Add 1 Tbsp of non-dairy milk as needed to blend (this may make your nice cream runny if you add too much at a time)
Step #5: Once smooth, add in any other flavors or toppings and blend until well combined.
Step #6: Serve immediately, or transfer the mixture into a freezer-safe storage container and freeze for 4-6 hours or overnight — thaw for 5 minutes before serving.
10 Delicious Healthy Banana Nice Cream Flavors
#1 Peanut Butter Banana Nice Cream
Peanut butter lovers, rejoice! Create a healthy peanut butter banana nice cream by adding the following ingredients to our base recipe. To keep it nutritious, look for peanut butter brands made without added sugar or oils. Or, make your own! Not a fan of PB? Swap in your favorite nut or seed butter in place.
- ⅓ cup peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 2-4 tablespoons of non-dairy milk (as needed)
#2 Mint Chocolate Chip Banana Nice Cream
There’s something about the cooling yet sweet flavor of mint chip that just hits differently in the summer heat. Refresh your taste buds with this easy recipe!
- 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cacao nibs
- ⅛ tsp peppermint extract
- 1-2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk (as needed)
- 1 Medjool date, pitted (optional)
#3 Double Chocolate Banana Nice Cream
Get your creamy chocolate ice cream fix by adding a few healthy ingredients to the base recipe. Plus, adding unsweetened cacao will give you a boost of antioxidants — this already healthy treat just got sweeter.
- 2-3 tablespoons of cacao nibs
- 2-4 tablespoons of cacao powder
- 2-4 tablespoons of non-dairy milk (as needed)
- 1-2 Medjool dates, pitted (optional)
#4 Berries and Cream Banana Nice Cream
Add a splash of coconut cream or a handful of soaked cashews alongside your favorite seasonal berries. Low in sugar and loaded with antioxidants, your creamy, dreamy berry bliss flavored healthy banana nice cream awaits!
- ¼ cup coconut cream or soaked cashews
- 1 cup fresh or frozen berries of choice
- 1-3 tablespoons non-dairy milk (as needed)
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetener of choice (optional)
#5 Chocolate Chip Protein Banana Nice Cream
Healthy protein banana nice cream? That’s right. Enjoy this as a post-workout treat, satiating snack, or healthy late-night dessert when you have a case of the midnight munchies. Add the following to our healthy banana nice cream base recipe:
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder of choice
- 2-4 Tablespoons of non-dairy milk as needed
- 1-2 tablespoons cacao nibs or dairy-free chocolate chips
#6 Salted Caramel Banana Nice Cream
Who doesn’t love salted caramel ice cream? Between the sweet gooey swirls of caramel and flakey sea salt, every spoonful is a bite of heaven. So, we’re giving you a non-dairy healthy banana nice cream flavor that tastes just as decadent without any added sugar. Made with fiber-rich dates, this melt-in-your-mouth dessert is dare we say *better* than the real deal.
- 4-5 Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
- 1 generous pinch of flakey sea salt or pink Himalayan sea salt
- 1-3 tablespoons of non-dairy milk (as needed)
#7 Matcha Banana Nice Cream
Need a pick-me-up sweet treat that’s equally as healthy? Trade your matcha latte for a matcha nice cream. This matcha banana nice cream is a decadent green dream.
- 1-2 tsp of matcha powder
- 1-2 Medjool dates, soaked and pitted
- 1-3 tablespoons non-dairy milk, as needed (we love coconut milk or oat milk)
- ¼ cup soaked cashews or coconut cream (for added creaminess, optional)
- Chopped pistachios to serve (optional)
#8 Coffee Banana Nice Cream
Don’t worry, coffee lovers — we didn’t forget about you! This cold-brew-infused blend will have your mind and taste buds buzzing. It tastes like a creamy cappuccino and healthy ice cream all in one. But, be aware — this recipe includes caffeine — so, be sure to enjoy it in the afternoon and not too close to bedtime!
- ½ cup chilled cold brew, unsweetened
- ¼ cup cacao or cocoa powder, unsweetened (optional)
- ¼ cup coconut cream or soaked cashews (if needed to thicken)
#9 Tropical Banana Nice Cream
Transport yourself to a tropical oasis with every bite. This simple recipe is made with real mango, pineapple, and banana for a healthy taste of the topics! Top your bowl with coconut flakes and fresh fruit for next-level flavor.
- ½ – 1 cup frozen mango
- ½ – 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 1-3 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk (as needed)
#10 Black Raspberry Chip Banana Nice Cream
This easy-prep recipe is the perfect balance of tart and sweet with a decadent chocolatey crunch. Made with dairy-free chocolate chips and low-sugar berries for a better-than-ice cream sweet treat.
- ¼ cup coconut cream or soaked cashews
- ¾ cup frozen raspberries
- ½ cup frozen blackberries
- 1-3 tablespoons full-fat non-dairy milk (as needed)
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetener of choice (optional)
- 2-4 tablespoons dairy-free chocolate chips
Banana Nice Cream Ingredient Swaps
Skip the milk and enjoy a creamy, dreamy dairy-free banana nice cream using any of the following non-dairy milks:
Oat milk (the creamiest non-dairy milk), coconut milk (or coconut cream for a richer flavor), cashew milk, or almond milk.
P.S. You can easily make your own dairy-free milk with 1 or 2 simple ingredients! Here’s how.
Not a fan of bananas? Make nice cream using a different star ingredient! Swap banana in our base recipe for frozen, ripe mango, peaches, or cherries, frozen coconut cream ice cubes + sweetener or fruit of choice, frozen avocado + sweetener or fruit of choice.
Indulgence You’ll Feel Good About!
When your sweet tooth hits, reach for this nutritious ice cream alternative. Get creative — transform your favorite ice cream flavor into a healthy banana nice cream treat! Try our ten nice cream flavors, or create your own. No matter which flavor you choose, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
