Recipes, Desserts

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Do you regularly crave a bowl of rich, creamy ice cream but don’t want all the sugar and dairy that comes along with it? Allow me to introduce you to the best and easiest plant-based dessert you’ll ever make. This dairy-free ice cream was one of the first recipes I started making when I began transitioning to a healthier diet and it’s a treat I will never get tired of. You get all the deliciously sweet and satisfying flavor with none of the stomach pains or regret. The best part is you can use this recipe as a base and add whatever ingredients you like to experiment with all the flavors you can possibly think of.

Below is a step-by-step guide to making this dairy-free ice cream, with a full recipe summary and measurements at the bottom of the page.

Here’s an informational list of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:

• Bananas: Keep in mind, the riper the bananas, the sweeter the ice cream will be. This fantastic fruit helps to lower blood pressure and is rich in the antioxidant lectin, which lowers the risk of cancer.
• Medjool dates: Adding these helps sweeten the ice cream and improves the texture. Dates are an excellent source of fiber, potassium, antioxidants, magnesium, Vitamin B6, and other important nutrients.
• Walnuts: You can absolutely substitute any type of nut here. Nuts are another essential element of a healthy diet and like seeds, their phytochemicals have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, helping to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. They are the most excellent source of healthy fats and may even help to reduce weight because they are so satiating and help to suppress your appetite.
• Vanilla extract: Composed of a the compound vanillin, vanilla extract may have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidative effects. Check out my blog post on how to make it from scratch: Homemade Vanilla Extract
• Oat milk: You can absolutely substitute any plant-based milk for this recipe, I just prefer oat milk because of it’s creamy texture and the flavor. All plant-based milks contain a variety of nutrients, but oat milk in particular is a great source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and has been shown to reduce blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and help protect against cancer.

Step 1:

Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend! Add half the milk to start, then slowly add more until it reaches your desired consistency.

Just like that you’ve got a bowl of delicious, guilt-free, ice cream. To store leftovers, just stick them in the freezer and re-blend to achieve smooth consistency again. If you try out this recipe and enjoy it, share it with a friend and comment down below. I always love to hear your feedback!

Flavor variations:

• Chocolate: Add 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• Strawberry: Add 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• Mint Chocolate Chip: Add 1/4 tsp peppermint extract. After blending, add 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• Cookies ‘n’ Cream: After blending, add 1/3 cup crushed Oreos
• Chocolate Peanut Butter: Add 2 tbsp. cocoa powder + 1/3 cup peanut butter
• Piña Colada: Add 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut + 3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks

These are only a handful of my favorite flavor variations. You can really add any ingredients you like to imitate your favorite ice cream flavors and find your favorite combinations. The possibilities are endless, so get creative with it!

Don’t own a high-speed blender?

A food processor will also work for making this recipe! If you don’t have either, I highly recommend purchasing a Vitamix High Speed Blender if you have the ability to do so. While it’s certainly an investment, a high-speed blender is an incredibly useful tool to have in the kitchen. Regular blenders just don’t compare when it comes to achieving the smooth, creamy consistency that you desire for sauces, soups, smoothies, etc.

Dairy-Free Banana Nut Ice Cream

A delicious plant-based dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth without any of the guilt. It only takes five ingredients to make this smooth and creamy, dairy-free banana nut ice cream. Add whatever toppings and flavor additions you want to make it your own!

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Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine plant-based, vegan, vegetarian

Servings 1 cup

Equipment

• 1 high-speed blender or food processor

Ingredients

  

• 2 bananas frozen
• 2 Medjool dates pitted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp walnuts
• 1/4-1/3 cup oat milk

Instructions

 

• Add all ingredients besides milk to blender.
• Add half the milk and blend. Slowly continue adding milk until it reaches your desired consistency.

Notes

For storing leftovers: This dairy-free ice cream will become hard as a rock after freezing. To reestablish a smooth consistency, you can allow it to thaw for 10-20 minutes, then blend once again. 

Flavor variations: 

• • Chocolate: Add 2 tbsp. cocoa powder

• • Strawberry: Add 1/2 cup frozen strawberries

• • Mint Chocolate Chip: Add 1/4 tsp peppermint extract. After blending, add 1/3 cup chocolate chips

• • Cookies ‘n’ Cream: After blending, add 1/3 cup crushed Oreos

• • Chocolate Peanut Butter: Add 2 tbsp. cocoa powder + 1/3 cup peanut butter

• • Piña Colada: Add 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut + 3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Keyword banana nut ice cream, non dairy ice cream, plant based dessert, vegan dessert, vegan sweets