How to Make Homemade Banana Ice Cream Recipe Easy!

Hi there! Craving a delicious, creamy dessert that’s easy, cheap and your whole family will love? I’ll show you how to make another one of our favorite ice cream recipes, Homemade Banana Ice Cream…it doesn’t get easier than this!  I’ve been making this delicious ice cream since my kids were little! 

This 2 ingredient soft serve ice cream needs NO ice cream maker and is perfect for a hot Summer day…or even the middle of winter! YAY!

Making homemade banana ice cream is not only easy and delicious but has no added sugar so it’s healthy too!  It’s a fantastic way to treat your family while staying budget-friendly.

You can whip up a treat that’s not only yummy but also packed with nutrients. This is an absolutely easy, guilt-free dessert and can be switched up in so many ways… Plus, it’s something you can feel good about serving to your kids…so let’s get started!

Homemade Banana Ice-Cream Recipe

Making banana ice-cream at home means you can avoid spending extra money on fancy, pre-packaged options. Instead, you can make a delicious and wholesome dessert without breaking the bank.

This homemade banana ice cream recipe is so easy, you can make a dessert that everyone in your family will love. It’s a fun and creative way to get the kids involved in the kitchen too!

Equipment needed:

The only equipment needed for this banana lovers ice cream is a good Blender or Food Processor!

Ingredients:

You only need 2 ingredients for this easy recipe!

• Large Bananas ~ Don’t use overripe bananas or old bananas: While brown-spotted bananas are great for banana bread, old bananas can make your ice cream too mushy. Instead, use yellow whole bananas that are just ripe, but not yet brown. (a few spots are ok!)
• Milk or milk alternatives see below for different varieties

What Liquid to Use for Banana Ice Cream

Depending on the number of bananas you’re using, you’ll need to add a little milk or a small amount of liquid to get the desired creamy texture. The type of liquid you choose can also change the flavor profile of your ice cream.

These are all great options:

• Coconut Milk
• Almond Milk
• Oat Milk
• Cow’s Milk ~ any kind
• Heavy Cream ~ for super thick decadent ice cream (but not needed)
• Coconut Water ~ Yep…you can even use water! 

How Much Liquid to Add?

Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid for every banana you are blending. 1 tablespoon is usually enough. This balance helps you get a smooth, creamy mixture without watering down the banana’s. Always start with the least amount, then add a tiny more if needed.

Homemade Banana Ice Cream ~ Step by Step

Making homemade banana ice cream is a fun and delicious way to treat yourself and your family. It’s easy, budget-friendly, and requires only a few simple ingredients. Follow these steps to create this YUMMY dessert in your own kitchen.

Prepare Your Fresh Bananas First

First things first, we need to prepare the bananas. Here’s what you do:

Step 1:

1. Peel the Bananas: Remove the peels and discard them.
2. Slice the Bananas: Cut the bananas into small chunks. This helps them freeze faster and blend more easily.
3. Freeze the Chunks: I simply throw my sliced bananas into a sandwich bag. Or if I’m freezing a lot of bananas I’ll use a gallon freezer bag.

Freeze the banana slices for at least 2 hours or until they are solid. Overnight works better!

Blend Your Ingredients:

Once the bananas are frozen, it’s time to blend them. The best way to do this is as follows:

Step 2: Place Bananas in Blender: Take the frozen banana slices and place them in a high-powered blender or food processor.

Step 3: Add Your Liquid of Choice: You can use anything you like! (REMEMBER–1 tablespoon per banana)

Step 4: Blend Until Smooth: Start blending the bananas. They will first look crumbly, then gooey, and finally, they will turn into a smooth, creamy texture. Be patient and keep blending!

Scrape Down the Sides: Depending on how many bananas you are blending, occasionally stop and scrape down the sides so that all the banana pieces are evenly blended.

This whole process should only take a couple of minutes to make!!

Add Optional Ingredients: If you are adding more ingredients, I’ve found that the best time to add your optionals is right at the very beginning. This way you can see how much extra liquid to add or not…as some ingredients cause your banana ice cream to be thicker and some more runny.

You should now have the best homemade ice cream that’s delicious and creamy!

Favorite Toppings and Garnish Ideas

If you want to take your homemade banana ice cream up a notch next time, then you can try adding some of these toppings and garnishes. 

• Granola: Add some crunch with Homemade Granola or store-bought Granola! YUM!
• Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream can take Banana Ice Cream over the top!
• Fresh Fruit: Sliced strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries add a burst of freshness and color. (these can be blended in too as mentioned above)
• Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top.
• Caramel Sauce or Chocolate Syrup: Drizzle some syrup on top!
• Sprinkles: For the kids (and the kids at heart), colorful sprinkles can make the ice cream more festive.

Different Variations of Homemade Banana Ice Cream

Homemade Banana Ice Cream is a fantastic base that you can transform in countless ways to please everyone’s taste buds. By adding a few simple ingredients, you can create amazing variations that are delicious and fun to make with your kids. 

Banana Ice Cream with Chocolate

You can use cocoa powder or chocolate chips to get that wonderful banana chocolate flavor! This 

For cocoa powder, blend in 2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder with your frozen bananas. If you’re using chocolate chips, mix in about half a cup after you’ve blended the bananas smooth. The kids will love biting into those little chocolate surprises!

Banana Ice Cream with Nuts

Adding nuts, nut butters or we LOVE the PB2 powders to your homemade banana ice cream is an extra delish treat…who doesn’t like Peanut Butter and Bananas!! Ok, so it adds a nice boost of protein too!

Here are a few ideas:

• Peanut Butter: Just add a couple of tablespoons of creamy or crunchy peanut butter while blending the bananas.
• PB2: If adding PB2 powder, add a little at a time. Start with 1 Tablespoon per banana. You MAY need to add just a tiny bit of milk if your creamy ice cream becomes too thick. (VERY LITTLE)
• Almonds: Chop a handful of almonds and mix them in after the ice cream is smooth.
• Walnuts: Either add raw or Slightly roast them beforehand for extra flavor...add these also after blending.

You can mix and match these nuts and nut butter’s to create a favorite!

Banana Ice Cream with Fruit

Mixing other fruits into your homemade banana ice cream can create so many wonderful flavors and colors! This is a fun way to make the ice cream more exciting and nutritious for your kids.

A couple of flavors my kids like:

• Strawberries: Blend in a handful of fresh or frozen strawberries with your bananas…all kids and may I say adults love strawberries and bananas…it’s universal!
• Pineapple: Pineapple adds a tropical twist. Use frozen pineapple chunks blended well with your bananas or chopped and left in chunks!

Experiment with other favorite fruits your family likes! We also love blueberries and raspberries! Each fruit adds its own special touch to this homemade banana ice cream.