Just 4 simple ingredients to make this:
Swirly chocolate soft-serve.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen the idea of whipping frozen banana in a vitamix or food processor until it resembles the exact texture of soft-serve ice cream. (If you add a fat source, like peanut butter, it tastes pretty similar to ice cream as well. Or leave the fat out for a refreshing sherbet-like taste.)
I first blogged about the idea back in 2009, and then again in the Vitamix ice cream post, and I’m sure others were making it even earlier than that. The best thing about the concept is its versatility; everyone gets to put his or her own spin on the basic recipe. One of my favorite variations: chocolate soft serve!
With sprinkles on top.
(Just in case you forgot whose blog you were reading.)
Chocolate Banana Soft Serve
(Serves 2-3)
Category: 50+ Healthy Banana Recipes
- 3 medium bananas, the riper the better (for substitutions, see nutrition link below)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/16 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder (15g)
- optional: sweetener of choice, depending on your tastebuds and ripeness of the bananas
- optional: 3-5 tbsp peanut butter or another nut butter of choice
Ahead of time: peel and slice the over-ripe bananas into chunks. Freeze in a Ziploc-type bag, then combine all ingredients in a Vita-Mix, food processor, or blender. (If not using a Vita-Mix, add 2-3 tsp milk of choice so it’ll blend more smoothly. You might also have to thaw the frozen bananas if your freezer is super-powerful.) If you want the look of ice cream, use an ice-cream scoop to serve! (If you scoop it all into a container and freeze about 10-15 minutes, the texture will also become a bit firmer like ice cream, as opposed to soft serve.) Don’t try to halve the recipe unless you have a tiny food processor, as it won’t blend as smoothly.
View Chocolate Banana Soft Serve Nutrition Facts
Have you ever tried banana “ice cream”?
Any favorite ways to eat it? I almost always add a ridiculous amount of peanut butter, even to this chocolate version. Peanut butter and banana belong together, and the added fat makes it taste more like ice cream than sherbet.
LINK OF THE DAY:
I use the banana idea all the time I love it! i actually did it for breakfast this morning with chucks of a chocolate brownie clif bar and a splash of vanilla! Delish!
awww… that sounds good. Nice idea…
That’s a great idea! I like to sprinkle mine with granola.
It’s super good with a teaspoon of almond butter in it if you have it for dessert. If you’re eating it for breakfast, a tablespoon. PB is good too, but almond butter gives it a good taste.
Hey I just made banana raspberry soft serve this weekend! 1/2 a bag of frozen raspberries, 2 frozen bananas, dash of lime juice and a spash of almond milk. Excellent! Can’t wait to try your chocolate version! 🙂
barefootcookingirl..it also works great with frozen strawberries 🙂
I like to add chocolate chips and walnut pieces to make a chunky monkey version but i wanna make rocky road next making it chocolate with nuts and marshmallow.
I have been making banana ice cream recently with frozen strawberries too. I add coconut milk and a little vanilla extract. Perfect!
so you just blend it up in a food processor?
ooo yum!! Love your nails btw 🙂
This looks amazing!! have to try the recipe 🙂 and your nails look soo pretty !
Love chocolate-banana ice cream! Whoever came up with the idea of blending frozen banana is a hero in my book! 🙂
Is your nail photoshopped? The pink looks so intense…
It’s matte polish, so there’s no shine. I don’t actually recommend it, though, and I won’t buy it again… it started peeling off the day after I painted them! 😕
Chocolate and banana are the best combination ever!! That pink does look really matte. I’m obsessed with nail polish especially those hard shiny types like gelish! What brand/color pink is that? Did you use a top coat? I love the version OPI makes.
Yes, it’s opi. I upped the saturation and contrast quite a bit (and messed with the white balance of the whole photo, but that was mostly to fix the ugly yellow lighting in my kitchen.)
Ugh, how annoying!! My kitchen has this 1970’s dome that I hate. I wish I could replace it. Have you tried photography umbrellas? I think Kath has some, for her dark dining room. I’m dying to know what OPI color was so matte. I have at least 40 different pink shades and line them up by number – told you I’m nail polish obsessed! New to your blog. I found it through some random google search. Can’t wait to try out a few recipes…and continue the girly nail and beauty gab too!!!!
I *think* it’ll be La Paz-itively Hot, matte version. Not many people like it because it applies poorly (chalky, streaky), and chips/peels quickly. I follow a lot of nail blogs 😀
Hi Katie, I was about to make this recipe for my kids and I was reading through the comments when I saw you had an issue with your nail polish. I am not sure if you have ever heard of Jamberry Nails. No dry time, chipping or smell and they are vegan. If you want a sample I would totally send it to you. https://www.facebook.com/erinandgirlsnails
I think I need to break down and finally buy a food processor just so I can make this! I’ve heard people rave about banana soft serve and to see a chocolate version?
sold!
p.s. any idea how long this would last in the freezer?
As in – if I made some this afternoon and had the willpower to not eat it all could it good for my boyfriend to try when he gets home?
It’ll definitely last :).
It lasts at least 3 days in the freezer.
Love it! And with a cone, it makes it that more special! 🙂
I love banana soft serve!! I really need to remember to make it more often when I’m craving ice cream or frozen yogurt!
When I saw another banana soft-serve recipe posted on another blog, she recommended not using over-ripe bananas unless you want an especially strong banana flavor, which was her personal preference. They will be sweeter the riper they are, true, but also much stronger tasting. Do you agree?
Yes, definitely. I guess if you don’t like the banana flavor you can use green (unripe) bananas and just add some sweetener. I’ll go write that in. Thanks for the suggestion :).
I am one of those people that doesn’t like the strong banana flavor and even when I make banana bread I go towards the “greener” side. As in I would eat them normally. I have never had to add sweetener either, but some of that is my taste preference.
I actually initially got that tip from some comments on this site. 🙂 It was a life changer (I hated banana bread prior). 🙂