Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (2024)

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2-ingredient ice cream (aka nice cream) made with delicious strawberries and bananas. No ice cream machine needed and ready in no time. So easy and healthy! The perfect spring and summer treat.

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (1)

You know the feeling when you want to eat "something good", a little treatBUT you don't feel like actually cooking or baking, are too lazy to go out and buy something AND, in addition to all these criteria, you also want this treat to be guilt free?

I've been there – so.many.times! And my little finger tells me I'm not the only one😉

Luckily, I'm humbly presenting you with a solution to our struggle today. In the form of ice cream. Guilt-free, easy, 2-ingredient ice cream. Sounds nice, huh?

Okay, let's see how it's done!

How to make strawberry banana ice-cream – Step by step

First, slice some ripe bananas (so they're sweet and full of flavor) and strawberries(step 1).

Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and pop them in the freezer for about 2 hours(step 2).

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (2)

Once they're frozen, place the fruits in your food processor(step 3)If the fruits are stuck on the sheet, let it sit on the counter for a couple of minutes before lifting the baking paper.

Start the food processor and process until it's nice and smooth. The mixture will go through different stages: "crumbly"(step 4),partcrumbly part smooth(step 5)and finally, smooth(step 6).

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (3)

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (4)

At the end, it should have a smooth, soft-serve consistency (step 7).It takes a while to reach the perfect texture – don't worry, it's normal. Keep pulsing until you create ice cream magic!

You can eat it straight away as a soft-serve, but if you want a firmer, more ice-cream like texture, transfer the mixture to ametal container – I used a loaf pan – and freeze for about 3 to 4 hours or until firm(step 8).

It will be hard straight out of the freezer so let it sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before scooping and enjoying!

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (5)

Can you make banana ice cream aka nice cream in a blender?

Well, yes and no. You can make banana ice cream in a high speed blender like a Vitamix or a Blendtecbut if you just have a basic blender, the frozen fruits will be too hard to process.

I have this KitchenAid blender,which is pretty strong, and I still need to add a little bit of milk or another liquid to get it going. It's not smooth and easy as using a food processor.

Unless you have a high speed blender, I would recommend using a powerful food processor instead. I have this Magimix one and I LOVE it.

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (6)

Banana Ice Cream / Nice Cream variations

I love the strawberry/banana combo, but know that you can make hundreds of different flavor combo with the same frozen banana base! Here are a few idea for you to play around:

  • Very Berry: bananas + a mix of frozen berries
  • Peach: bananas + peach + a pinch a ginger
  • Pina Colada: bananas + coconut milk + pineapple
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter: bananas + peanut butter + cocoa powder

A few last tips!

  • Make sure to useripe bananas. Not ripe bananas won't be sweet enough and taste funky.
  • Next time you have a bunch of ripe bananas sitting on your counter, peel them, cut them and freeze them for a banana ice cream later!
  • This recipe is perfect to use strawberries that are past their prime and that you no longer want to eat "as is".
  • As mentioned above, make sure to use a powerful food processor that can handle frozen fruits (they are very hard).

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (7)

If you tried this strawberry banana ice cream,don’t forget torate the recipeand let me know how it went in the comments below – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me onInstagram,PinterestandFacebookfor more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (8)

5 from 10 votes

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Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

2-ingredient ice cream (aka nice cream) made with delicious strawberries and bananas. No ice cream machine needed and ready in no time. So easy and healthy! The perfect spring and summer treat.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Freezing time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Servings 6 people

Calories 94 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4bananaslarge and very ripe
  • 1lb/ 450 g fresh strawberries ripe

Instructions

  1. Peel the bananas and cut them into slices. Hulled the strawberries and slice them as well.

  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (to prevent the fruits for sticking to the baking sheet). Arrange the fruits in a single layer. Place in the freezer and freeze for 2 hours or until fully frozen.

  3. When the fruits are frozen, place them in the bowl of your food processor. Process until the mixture is creamy and smooth, scraping down the edges of the bowl as needed. It while take a while to reach the right consistency - don't worry, it's normal (see the different steps pictured above).

  4. Serve immediately for a soft-serve consistency (picture #7 above). If you prefer a harder, more ice-cream like consistency, transfer mixture into a 1.5-litre-capacity metal container (I used a loaf pan) and freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm.It will be hard straight out of the freezer so let it sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes before scooping and enjoying!

  5. If you're not eating everything, keep the leftovers in the freezer, covered with plastic wrap.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

Amount Per Serving (1 /6th)

Calories 94

% Daily Value*

Sodium 1mg0%

Potassium 397mg11%

Carbohydrates 23g8%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 13g14%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 60IU1%

Vitamin C 51.3mg62%

Calcium 16mg2%

Iron 0.5mg3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More ice cream and popsicle recipes:

  • No-Churn Banana Cinnamon Ice Cream
  • Mixed Berry And Yogurt Popsicles
  • Skinny Lemon Curd And Raspberry Popsicles
  • Banana Peanut Butter Yogurt Popsicles
  • Coconut Berry Popsicles
  • Kiwi And Orange Popsicles

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

    This sounds like a light, refreshing dessert and I love the frozen fruit trick. My husband and I are trying to eat healthier and this fits right into that lifestyle! Great photos too!

    • Marie

      Thanks so much Lisa - I hope you and your husband will love it 🙂

  2. Shanika

    Wow, this ice cream looks so smooth and creamy! I definitely love the strawberry and banana flavors together! The perfect summer sweet treat!

    • Marie

      Right?! Thanks Shanika! 🙂

  3. Claudia Lamascolo

    I sure love all the flavors in this and it looks so creamy! I know my whole family will enjoy this ice cream..

    • Marie

      I hope you all love it!

  4. Beth

    This looks perfect for me as I can't enjoy "real" ice crream. I'm lactose intolerant so this is a perfect find! Thanks for sharing!

    • Marie

      I'm so glad I could help Beth! 🙂

  5. camila

    wow! amazing! Thats the definition of an easy and delicious recipe! Also wholesome because it doesn't involve any added sugar!! Amazing work! love your pics!

    • Marie

      Thanks so much Camila!

  6. Michaela Kenkel

    I can't wait to make this this weekend! There is nothing better than the combination of strawberries and bananas -- and this dessert virtually guilt free!

    • Marie

      I know, right?! Such a great combo! I hope you love it Michaela! 🙂

  7. Liz

    Hi Marie, this looks so delicious!!! If I were to add some coconut milk to this recipe how much would I add? Thanks for the recipe.

    • Marie

      Hi Liz! Thanks 🙂 It depends! Do you want to add coconut milk to get your food processor/blender going or to add a coconut taste? If it's only for the machine, about 1/4 cup should be enough. If it's for the taste, I would start with 1/4 cup, taste and add more as needed. You could also manually stir in some desiccated coconut at the end. Hope this helps!

  8. Terry C.

    HI Marie,

    I have made this recipe twice now. Once with strawberries and once with raspberries. Immediately it is ready to eat, but your picture looks more set up rather than soft serve. When I freeze mine it is as hard as a rock and very much icy in texture, where yours looks so creamy. Also both mine have bee named on the tart side. Could I add stevia to sweeten?

    What am I doing wrong not to achieve your results? Please advise. Thank you.

    • Marie

      Hi Terry, Try and put it in the freezer for 3 hours, then it should be perfect for scooping. If it has been sitting in the freezer for longer, it does get quite solid. To make it easy to scoop place it in the fridge until it softens or let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes before scooping! Yes, stevia is a great addition if you feel it's not sweet enough or if your bananas were not that sweet. Hope this helps. Cheers

  9. A.H.

    It is a nice substitute for ice cream and so easy. Love it! I can't wait to try the variations.

    • Marie

      Thank you, I love it too! Glad you enjoyed this recipe 🙂

  10. Ifeoma

    Looks very nice and creamy. I will give it a try. Many thanks!

Easy + Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream Recipe - No Machine! Step by Step (2024)

FAQs

Is ice cream made from bananas healthy? ›

Is banana ice cream healthier than regular ice cream? Banana ice cream is much lower in fat and calories than regular ice cream. It also is made with less ingredients and has no added sugar, while regular ice cream has added sugar to it.

Can I freeze bananas and strawberries together? ›

It is a healthy frozen snack using frozen banana and strawberry and when you blend it together, you get a creamy ice cream-like consistency. SO good and healthier!!

Can you put fresh fruit in ice cream? ›

While you can't use whole fruit pieces in your ice cream base, macerating fruits will give you the fruity taste you're looking for. Once you've learned to extract juices from your fruits, you can even start experimenting with adding other ingredients into your simple syrups, such as spices, vinegars, and extracts.

Is homemade ice cream healthier? ›

It's healthier

Store bought ice creams are often full of preservatives that you won't need in homemade ice cream (which is likely to be eaten very quickly!). They're also full of sugar. Sugar is important in ice cream. But you really don't need as much as they put in commercial ice cream.

How to make ice cream in a blender without a machine? ›

How do you make ice cream from scratch without a machine? It's easy! Simply make any ice cream recipe base, pour the ice cream base into an ice cube tray, and then freeze overnight. The next day, add the ice cream ice cubes to a blender, and pulse to blend until you reach an ice cream texture.

Do bananas have more sugar than strawberries? ›

Sugar. It's not uncommon to assume that strawberries are high in sugar. However, one serving of strawberries only contains 7 grams of sugar. This is significantly lower than other fruits such as bananas, with one medium sized banana containing 12 grams of sugar.

When should you not use frozen bananas? ›

Freeze bananas for up to 3–6 months. Freezing bananas beyond 6 months may be fine, but the peeled bananas do begin to darken over time, and then they thaw into an overly mushy mess. I've found up to 6 months is fine, and under 3 months is even better.

What is fruit ice cream without milk called? ›

"Sorbet is made with fruit but no dairy (eggs or milk/cream) so it's generally vegan-friendly and suits those with egg or dairy allergies, too," she says. The pureness of the fruit makes it icy and refreshing, and it won't be silky or rich in its texture as some other kinds of ice creams and sherberts may be.

How do you make fruit ice cream not icy? ›

You might think that you could simply add cut up fruit to your vanilla ice cream base – and you could. But because fruit has a lot of water, you'll end up with icy chunks of fruit disrupting your otherwise-smooth-and-creamy ice cream experience. So instead, you simply cook the water out of the fruit.

What is banana ice cream made of? ›

This banana ice cream is very simple and easy to make with frozen bananas, milk, and cream. No need for sugar if you use ripe bananas.

Is banana milkshake good or bad? ›

Conclusion. Banana shakes or smoothies can be a delicious and nutritious addition to your diet when consumed in moderation. Be mindful of the ingredients, watch your intake, and relish the health benefits without compromising your overall well-being.

Does freezing bananas change the sugar content? ›

Nutritious and more delicious!

Freezing bananas and then thawing them does not affect their nutritional properties or taste, in fact, it is thought that they could even be sweeter. This, thanks to the enzyme known as amylase, responsible for making them sweeter as they mature, as it breaks down starch.

Are frozen bananas as healthy as regular bananas? ›

While it is true that bananas will lose their firmness when thawing takes place, the flavour and nutritional value will remain the same as fresh bananas. It is recommended that you keep both fresh and frozen bananas on hand to have the best of both worlds.

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