Coconut Banana Nice Cream

Name: Coconut Banana Nice Cream
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 5 large bananas ((sliced and frozen ahead of time)); ⅓ cup canned coconut milk ((kept in the freezer for 90 minutes before using))

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I recently did a post on Chocolate Banana Nice Cream. But the number of bananas that ended up in my shopping basket this week was kind of prolific, and I just couldn’t pass up the chance to experiment with this coconut banana ice cream version too.

Three scoops of Coconut Banana Ice Cream in a white bowl.

It’s a cold and creamy treat with a hint of tropical flavors. Mini Chef gobbled this up and so did the rest of my family! This is one recipe we’ll be making again and again. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did!

Dietary Adjustments

This recipe is naturally Paleo, dairy-free, processed sugar-free, and gluten-free. It is also a vegan ice cream.

That being said, you can add anything to this which could change the status of any of those. So be aware of the ingredients you purchase and make sure they fit your dietary requirements before using them.

Recipe Variations

There really isn’t too much you can’t change about this. You can blend in other ingredients, add mix-ins like chocolate chips or shredded coconut, or even add a little unsweetened cocoa powder to the blender. The taste and texture will change slightly based on any changes you make, but it will always be delicious. Here are a few more suggestions:

Toasted coconut
Frozen Mango
Dark chocolate
Pinch of salt – A small pinch will help bring out the sweetness.
Vanilla extract – Not vanilla flavoring
Lime peel (or zest)
Maple syrup
Honey
Nut butter
Frozen berries such as strawberries
Other sweeteners such as coconut sugar work great here.

About The Bananas

The level of banana flavor in your finished ice cream will depend heavily on how ripe your bananas are.

For lighter flavor – Opt for just-turned-yellow bananas.
For heavier flavor – Opt for spotting bananas. Ripe bananas have a stronger flavor.

About The Ingredients

Bananas – Sliced and frozen ahead of time. Freeze them in a single layer on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. The thinner you slice them, the faster they will freeze and the easier they will blend. Never put large chunks of frozen banana into your blender or food processor. You will risk burning out your motor.

Canned coconut milk – Kept in the freezer for 90 minutes before using. You only want this partially frozen. Never freeze this completely. If it happens accidentally, let it thaw at least halfway before using it or you will burn out the motor on your blender or food processor. Also, if you prefer, you can substitute the coconut milk with unsweetened almond milk.

How To Make Coconut Banana Nice Cream

Two white bowls on a white surface. One filled with frozen banana slices, the other with partially frozen coconut milk.

Slice and freeze your bananas the night before. Then, 90 minutes before you plan to make the ice cream, put the coconut milk in the freezer as well. You don’t want it completely frozen, but partially frozen is a big plus here.

Partially frozen coconut milk sitting in a blender tumbler.

Transfer the partially frozen coconut milk into the blender tumbler or food processor.

Slice bananas sitting in a blender tumbler.

Add the frozen banana slices on top of that.

Just blended Coconut Banana Ice Cream sitting in a blender tumbler.

Blend until smooth, stopping the blender from time to time to scrape and/or tamper the sides as needed. If you feel the motor straining too much, you can add extra coconut milk in small amounts.

The finished Coconut Banana Ice Cream, scooped into a white bowl.

Scoop into serving bowls or into a waffle cone, and enjoy.

About The Consistency

This is roughly the consistency of soft serve ice cream. How firm it is after blending will depend heavily on how frozen your ingredients were and whether you added any extra liquid to avoid burning out your motor. While it’s obviously possible to get scoopable ice cream, any small adjustment can change the consistency to that of soft serve.

Can You Store This Coconut Banana Nice Cream?

I do not recommend it. This is better eaten directly after making it. If you freeze it, it will freeze rock hard. And when it thaws, the texture isn’t the same. That said, if you must freeze it, you could potentially thaw it partway, and then blend in a few more frozen bananas to get the consistency back to where it’s supposed to be.

Recipe Supplies

For this recipe, you’ll need either a food processor or a strong, high speed blender (like a Vitamix). Here are some suggestions. Click the image to be taken to that product on Amazon. (Affiliate links)

Vitamix blender sold on Amazon. (Affiliate link)

Food processor sold on Amazon. (Affiliate link)

More Nice Cream Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Recipe

Coconut Banana Ice Cream Recipe Card