Banana Walnut Nice Cream
This simple Banana Walnut Nice Cream combines frozen ripe bananas and walnuts for a rich, creamy whole-food plant-based dessert. Enjoy it straight from the blender or food processor, or freeze individual portions to have on hand whenever you want something sweet.
Ice cream was one of my favorite desserts before I switched to a whole-food plant-based diet, so finding something that could take its place was pretty high on my priority list.
Banana walnut nice cream definitely filled that spot and is probably the dessert I make more often than anything else. It’s rich and creamy, totally satisfies my sweet tooth, and couldn’t be much simpler to make.
I usually finish mine with Date Lady chocolate syrup, which is sweetened with dates, but that’s completely optional. With or without the chocolate, this is one of those desserts I genuinely look forward to.
Why I Add Walnuts
You can make nice cream with nothing more than frozen bananas, but I always add nuts to mine.
The walnuts add richness and a little nutty flavor that works really well with the bananas. They also make the nice cream feel a little more substantial and satisfying.
I don't usually measure them—I just grab a small handful—but about 3 to 4 tablespoons is a good starting point.
Start With Very Ripe Bananas
The riper the bananas are when you freeze them, the sweeter your nice cream will be. I like to use bananas that have developed plenty of brown spots rather than freezing them while they're still yellow and firm.
Before freezing, peel each banana and cut it into 3 or 4 chunks. I place the chunks on a tray and freeze them until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. This keeps the pieces from freezing together and makes it easy to grab what I need when I'm ready to make nice cream.
I keep frozen bananas on hand pretty regularly, which means I'm usually only a few minutes away from having nice cream when I want something sweet.
Banana Walnut Nice Cream
Makes 1 generous serving
Ingredients
2 ripe bananas, peeled, cut into 3–4 chunks each, and frozen
1 small handful walnuts (about 3–4 tablespoons)
Date-sweetened chocolate syrup, optional, for serving
High-Speed Blender Directions
Add the frozen bananas and walnuts to a high-speed blender.
Blend until thick and creamy, using the tamper as needed to push the mixture toward the blades.
Spoon into a bowl and drizzle with date-sweetened chocolate syrup, if desired.
Serve immediately for a soft-serve consistency, or divide into individual portions and freeze for later.
Food Processor Directions
Add the walnuts to a food processor and pulse several times to break them into smaller pieces.
Add the frozen banana chunks and process until the bananas begin to break down, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. The mixture may look crumbly at first; continue processing until it becomes smooth and creamy.
If needed, add a small splash of unsweetened plant milk, starting with a tablespoon or less, just enough to help the mixture come together.
Spoon into a bowl and drizzle with date-sweetened chocolate syrup, if desired. Serve immediately or portion and freeze for later.
Here’s a quick look at how I make my Banana Walnut Nice Cream from frozen bananas and walnuts to the finished bowl.
Make Ahead & Freezing
Nice cream is delicious straight from the blender when it has a softer, almost soft-serve consistency, but you can also make it ahead.
I like to divide extra nice cream into individual portions and store them in the freezer. It will become quite firm once completely frozen, so when I'm ready to eat one, I put it in the microwave on the defrost setting for just a few seconds at a time until it's soft enough to eat.
Variations
Banana Mango Nice Cream
One of my favorite variations is Banana Mango Nice Cream. Replace one of the bananas with about 1 cup of frozen mango and swap the walnuts for raw macadamia nuts.
For this version, I add 1 to 2 tablespoons of unsweetened plant milk whether I'm making it in the high-speed blender or food processor. The frozen mango doesn't soften and blend quite as easily as banana, so the little bit of extra liquid helps everything come together. Start with 1 tablespoon and add the second only if needed.
I like to top this version with a little raw flaked coconut.
Final Thoughts
If ice cream is one of the things you miss—or you simply want an easy whole-food plant-based dessert—banana nice cream is worth trying. With frozen bananas already in the freezer, it takes just a few minutes to turn a couple of simple ingredients into a rich, creamy dessert.
And don't be afraid to experiment with other fruit and nut combinations to find one you love. I recommend keeping banana in the mix, though, because that's what gives nice cream its creamy texture.
Want More Nutrient-Dense Meal Ideas?
My free Tower-to-Table Recipe Guide includes my Daily Salad Formula, along with simple whole-food plant-based recipes to help you turn fresh greens and vegetables into delicious, nutrient-dense meals.
Here’s to simple, nourishing food — one recipe at a time. 🌱
Karen
Vertical Hydroponic Garden
