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Never-ending scoops of strawberry banana nice cream is all we need for summer!
Well, that might have been a bit exaggerated, but this nice cream is…
- Delicious
- Creamy
- Refreshing
- Plant-based (I am not vegan, but my nice cream recipe is!)
- Healthy
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- No-added-sugar
And it’s so easy to make, it’s hard to believe we just discovered it.
The good news is that summer is here and we can indulge in BUCKETS of nice cream!
But, if you’re like me and just found out about it, you might be wondering…
What is “nice cream”?
This ice cream is made with only frozen bananas has become very popular because it’s a healthier alternative. It’s as delicious as it’s good for you, hence the “nice” addition.
Additionally, it’s a great choice for anyone following a plant-based diet. For me, one of the most important benefits is that it’s perfect for toddlers and even babies who are already eating solids!.
Tips for making a great nice cream
- Slice bananas into ½ inch thick “coins”. If they’re too thick, they’ll be harder to blend and to achieve a creamy texture
- Freeze banana coins without overlapping them. Prepare a single layer over parchment paper on baking trays. Freeze a few hours and then transfer to a resealable plastic bag.
- Choose ripe bananas for a sweeter taste. Bear in mind that if they’re spotty, they will be very sweet, so you won’t need to add any sweetener
- For a creamier texture pour inside an airtight container or a loaf pan and let it freeze for 2 hours
- Before serving, let it thaw for about 10-15 minutes. This depends on your room temperature
- To get a chunk-free blend you’ll need to scrape the sides of the blender several times. It’ll take a bit of extra care, but it isn’t too annoying. The creamy result makes it worthwhile
- You can store leftover ice cream in an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months. Whenever you feel like eating it, just let it thaw about 15 mins before scooping
Optional flavors & toppings
If you love that nice creamy texture, it’s better to experiment with toppings. Playing with the blend will always mean a bit of an experiment. Still, there are plenty of tried and tested flavors that are quite nice.
In our recipe, we chose to add frozen organic strawberries, and they worked just fine, especially since they add more sturdiness for a more “scoopable” ice cream. If you want to experiment with local ingredients, keep in mind that watery or high-fiber fruits will alter the texture significantly.
Some of the coolest flavor ideas we found were:
- Vanilla (add 1 tsp of it)
- Chocolate (add 2 tbsps of cocoa powder)
- Peanut butter (add 2 tbsps)
- Matcha (add 1 tsp)
Playing with toppings can be very fun for your kiddos too! You can use:
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut/almond/cashew butter
- Sliced or chopped nuts
- Granola
- Shredded coconut
- Chia or hemp seeds
Find our recipe below, with everything we used for ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Strawberry Banana Nice Cream
Ingredients
- 5 medium-sized bananas (when sliced, 5 cups)
- 3 cups of frozen organic strawberries
- 1 tsp maple syrup or honey (optional)
- ¼ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, to melt and decorate
Instructions
Before freezing bananas
- Make-ahead (the night before): slice your bananas into ½-inch-thick “coins“. Arrange them on top of parchment-paper-lined baking trays and freeze overnight. After that, you may transfer them to an airtight container to avoid getting freezer taste on them.
Making nice cream
- Add your frozen sliced bananas, frozen strawberries, and optional sweetener of choice to the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S blade
- Pulse and process everything until the fruit breaks down and has a creamy consistency. You will need to scrape down the side several times, don’t worry
- You may eat right away but it will have a “froyo” consistency. For “scoopable” ice cream, transfer the mix to a freezer-safe dish and freeze for 2 hours. Scoop and serve
- You may decorate however you’d like (sprinkles, shredded coconut, chocolate).
For chocolate faces
- 5 mins before scooping, melt your chocolate in 30-second intervals in the microwave. Transfer it to a plastic or piping bag and cut a small hole. Add melted chocolate faces right on the scooped ice cream.
If you liked this Strawberry Nice Cream recipe, you might like some of my other dessert recipes too. You can check them here.
And remember, if you try this recipe and want to share your pictures, remember to tag me @lacooquette on Instagram. I’d love to share your pictures on my IG stories.
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