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 love this! I make banana ice cream ALL THE TIME. I used to eat ice cream every day. Not kidding. But now I use bananas, and I that way I don’t feel guilty
My husband got me a Yonanos machine about a month ago because I was killing my blender making banana ice cream so often. You have to swirl in the pb or choc and vanilla after but we freeze other fruits, like raspberries and blueberries and add in between each frozen banana. I love it just plain but my favorite was when my son added dark choc in between the bananas to make choc chip. Thanks for the flavor ideas. I will be making some tonight!
And thanks for your blog, Katie! I have tried so many of your recipes and devour them all! I love when I see it come up on facebook…get excited to see what yumminess you have created. Must say our favorite so far is a non-choc recipe…the bread free vegan stuffing. I can’t make enough of it!
I ADORE chocolate soft serve at home-so yum and super easy! Cute nails! : )
I love banana soft serve!
I use a powerful hand blender to make mine as it works so much better than a regular blender ( and easier to clean!)
I love the cacao flavor with coconut on top yummm
I love this! So good. I love all the other ideas from everyone else too!
Ok. I saw that you could use mangoes instead of bananas and omit the cocoa. Sooooo what about kiwis? would that work or are they not a good choice? Please let me know what other fruits would work. Thank you!!!! 🙂 Love love love your blog 😀
I think mangoes are mentioned because they’re soft and creamy (if ripe), a little bit like banana. Kiwis on the other hand aren’t creamy and I *guess* they wouldn’t work as well for a soft serve recipe. Maybe in frozen joghurt but not on their own.
It’s also about the acid. Kiwis do have more… and they contain more water, so it would end up being a sherbet.
+ you find the little seeds get everywhere and are not pleasant in “icecream”
I have been wanting to try a frozen banana recipe, and this was the perfect opportunity. It was soooo good! So quick and so easy. Can’t wait to play around with this! Thank you!
I like to (ground) flax seeds to all my smoothies/ice creams because:
A. I have a lot to be used up
B. It makes it even more healthy!
I don’t think it really changes the flavor/texture all too much but I really don’t know for sure…but I like to throw in about a tablespoon of it per serving.
i’ve done that too! love my flax meal
I have been obsessed with making banana soft serve lately, especially with the crazy heat! It’s so simple to make and tastes great without any added sweetener!
I love banana “ice cream”! My mom makes a really yummy version with PB and silken tofu. I agree that PB makes it tastes like you’re eating something really rich and creamy, when in reality it is really healthy and good for you 🙂