Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
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Make healthy chocolate banana ice cream with frozen bananas, cocoa powder, almond milk and almond butter. It’s absolutely delicious, healthy, dairy-free and doesn’t require an ice cream maker!
Throughout the summer months I seem to crave ice cream. Maybe it’s childhood memories of chocolate and strawberry cones. Or maybe it’s the fact that it’s blazing hot outside and I need something to cool down. Either way, I could eat ice cream every day. It’s always been my favorite dessert so when I found out you could make banana ice cream from ONE ingredient (frozen bananas) I was in heaven.
I actually have to thank my mother-in-law for the idea because she was the first person to introduce me to it. This was years ago — way before the land of Pinterest. Now everyone knows about frozen banana ice cream, which is awesome!! I’m just waiting for someone to open a shop with healthy fruit-based ice creams here in Richmond.
Anyhow, this summer I’ve been on a banana ice cream bender… again. I’ve been making a bunch of different combos and have found a new favorite.
Here’s What You Need:
- frozen bananas – I recommend peeling and chopping your bananas before freezing so they’re easier to blend! Check out my how to freeze bananas guide for tips and tricks!
- almond milk – I used unsweetened chocolate almond milk for more chocolate flavor without adding sugar and it was delicious! Unsweetened vanilla almond milk works great too.
- almond butter – any brand of almond butter works – just make sure the only ingredients are almonds and salt! I like the Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s brands.
- cacao powder – or cocoa powder works!
- cacao nibs or chocolate chips – optional but I love the texture it adds. If you use chocolate chips, I recommend Lily’s chocolate chips as there is no added sugar.
We all know banana and chocolate go well together, but you introduce a little almond butter to the mix and things get real. Chocolate, banana and almond butter = the trifecta.
Of all my years buying Almond Breeze this was my first time buying the unsweetened chocolate. Crazy, right? I’m excited I finally decided to try it because I can definitely see myself buying it again. I’ve actually been using it as creamer for my iced cold brew coffee and it’s quite delicious. Like a mocha iced latte. 🙂
See how smooth and creamy it turns out?!?
Get Creative!
I added in a few cacao nibs for a little crunch, but they’re totally optional. Isaac hates crunchy things like nuts and chocolate chips in his ice cream (or brownies) so I get that some people won’t be a fan.
Nibs or no nibs, this healthy ice cream is soooo good and incredibly easy to make! Ready for the recipe?
Healthy Frozen Treats To Try
- Blueberry Frozen Yogurt
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream
- 3 Ingredient Icebox Cake
- Frozen Banana Snickers
- High-Protein Banana Pudding Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 3 frozen bananas, chopped into chunks
- ¼ cup almond milk, unsweetened chocolate or vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon almond butter
- ½ – 1 Tablespoon cacao powder, or cocoa powder
- ½ Tablespoons cacao nibs or chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Place bananas, almond milk, almond butter and cocoa powder into a food processor or high speed blender.
- Pulse/process until smooth and creamy. You may need to turn off the motor and stir the mixture a couple times while processing.
- Add in cacao nibs or chocolate chips (if using) and pulse once more. Spoon ice cream in to a bowl and enjoy! If you want to be able to scoop the ice cream you can place it in the freezer for 2 hours so it’s solid enough to scoop.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
Mmm so good and dairy free.
can I substitute coconut butter for almond butter?
I think coconut butter will work just fine as a sub for almond butter. It will give it a coconut flavor, but I’m sure that will be tasty with the chocolate and banana.
Couldn’t wait to get home from my 4 mile power walk this afternoon and enjoy this wonderful healthy ice cream. The flavor was wonderful not too sweet chocolate chips I added or just the perfect touch satisfied my sweet tooth! I will definitely be making it a lot. Love all of your recipes!
Ahh yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this ice cream, Melissa!! Thanks for trying it and for taking the time to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream: How would I be able to lower the grams of sugar, other than omitting the cocoa nibts? Leave out the almond butter? Recipe sounds wonderful. I’m currently doing Weight Watchers and the sugar will make it very high in points. Thanking you in advance, Pamm
Hey Pamela – If you use a natural almond butter that only has one or two ingredients it shouldn’t have added sugar in it (maybe 1 gram of sugar max) so that won’t really change the sugar content of this recipe too much. I would omit the cocoa nibs / chocolate chips if you’re trying to lower the sugar content.
Just made this. It’s incredible! I have celiac (and it’s GF) and my husband has type 2 diabetes. He found out in Sept of 2019 and is beating it with diet and exercise. He love his new banana ice cream!!
Blessings,
Julie
Ahh I’m so glad you guys are loving this banana ice cream, Julie. Thanks for taking the time to come back and comment. 🙂
So good! I only had plain, unsweetened almond milk so used 1 tbsp. of the cocoa and it was excellent. I had it right away and out of the freezer. I will definitely be keeping this recipe on hand.
Thank you!!!!
Yay!! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Anthea. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I appreciate it!
Yum! Yum! Yum! Very soft but so good!
Amazzzzing!! My husband and I have been trying to eat healthier and thought we’d give this a recipe a try. I love my sweets and Seriously we could not believe how good this was!! I don’t see myself buying ice cream again when I can just make this. Thank you for sharing!
Since I had plain unsweetened almond milk, I added a scoop of dark chocolate protein powder instead of increasing the cacao powder.
Yummy! Thanks for a recipe that is healthy . Also nice, even though I love banana bread, to not have all that extra banana bread around to eat!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!! Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating, I so appreciate it. <3
Thank you for this GREAT idea! I added a little more cacao and almond butter, but the result is still a delicious, healthy treat!
Yayyy!! I’m so glad that you tried and enjoyed this recipe, Shannon. Thank you for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. The ratings are super helpful to other readers so I really appreciate it!