Nice Cream: the Easy and Quick Recipe for Vegan Ice Cream in 4 Different Flavors!

Nice Cream is a delicious and velvety ice cream , prepared without an ice cream maker or added sugars with the sole aid of a food processor. A clever recipe, also suitable for vegan and lactose intolerant people, which will allow you in a few simple steps to bring to the table one of the most loved spoon desserts of all time.

We are going to show you how to prepare 4 different versions of the dessert, one more delicious than the other, all prepared with a base of frozen banana slices and almond milk to which cocoa powder, frozen strawberries, peanut butter or vanilla extract will be added, depending on the desired flavor. Once you have blended all the ingredients together, you just need to immediately distribute, with the help of a special ice cream scoop, the nice cream into individual cups and then garnish the surface with your favorite topping : dried fruit cream, dark chocolate chips, pieces of fresh fruit, and so on.

The result will be a dessert without eggs or animal products, excellent to serve for a summer snack or to propose as a happy ending to a meal topped with a dollop of vegetable cream. Also perfect for recycling ripe bananas in the fridge, nice cream can be made by combining together your favorite fresh fruit, such as peaches, apricots, melon, berries…

What is Nice Cream?

Nice cream is a delicious, dairy-free alternative to traditional ice cream, made primarily from frozen bananas. This creamy treat originated as a vegan and health-conscious dessert, gaining popularity for its simplicity and wholesome ingredients. To make nice cream, frozen bananas are blended until smooth, often with added flavors like cocoa, berries, or nut butters. The result is a creamy, sweet, and guilt-free dessert that can be enjoyed by everyone, especially those looking for a healthier option.

Ice Cream Vs. Cream Vs. Nice Cream

Traditional ice cream is made from a rich mixture of cream, milk, sugar, and often eggs, churned and frozen to achieve its smooth texture. Cream, on its own, is the high-fat component of milk, used in various recipes for its richness and ability to whip into a stable foam. Nice cream, however, is a vegan alternative to ice cream, typically made by blending frozen bananas to create a creamy, dairy-free dessert. Unlike ice cream, nice cream is free from added sugars and dairy, making it a healthier and more diet-friendly option.

Tips for The Best Nice Cream

• Ensure your bananas are fully ripe before freezing. Slice them into coins for easier blending and freeze them for at least 4 hours. This ensures a smoother, creamier texture.
• A powerful blender is essential for achieving a smooth, creamy consistency. If your blender struggles, let the frozen fruit sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly before blending.
• Too much liquid can make your nice cream too runny, so add it slowly until you reach the desired consistency.
• Feel free to get creative with mix-ins. Nuts, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut can add texture and extra flavor to your nice cream.
• Nice cream is best served right away while it’s at its creamiest. If you need to store it, place it in an airtight container in the freezer, but note that it will harden. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving to soften.

Does Nice Cream Always Taste Like Bananas?

Nice cream often has a subtle banana flavor since its base ingredient is frozen bananas. However, the taste can be significantly altered by adding other ingredients like cocoa powder, strawberries, vanilla extract, or peanut butter. These flavors can help mask the banana taste, making it versatile and customizable to your preference.

What Is The Best Tool for Making Nice Cream?

The best tool for making nice cream is a high-powered blender. It ensures a smooth, creamy consistency by efficiently blending the frozen bananas and other ingredients.

What Can I Use if I Don't Have a High-Powered Blender?

If you don't have a high-powered blender, a food processor is a good alternative. Just let the frozen fruit sit at room temperature for a few minutes, to soften them and make the blend better.

How to Freeze Bananas for Nice Cream

Frozen, sliced bananas are the cornerstone of this recipe. Simply slice the bananas in equal sizes and place them flat on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes until frozen. You can now use the frozen bananas in your recipe, or you can transfer the frozen slices to a Ziploc bag and store them in the freezer. Do not transfer fresh bananas straight into the bag, it must be frozen first so that it doesn’t stick to each other.

Can I Make Nice Cream Without Bananas?

Yes, you can make nice cream without using bananas by substituting other frozen fruits like mangoes, avocados, or berries. These alternatives will create a creamy texture and allow for different flavor profiles while keeping the dessert dairy-free and healthy.

Why is My Nice Cream Runny and Why Isn't it Setting?

Nice cream may be runny and not setting due to too much liquid being added during blending. To fix this, reduce the amount of liquid (such as almond milk) and ensure your bananas are fully frozen. Blending the mixture in short bursts and using a high-powered blender can also help achieve a thicker, creamier consistency.

What Flavors Can I Experiment With?

There are so many flavor combinations for this Nice Cream recipe. Try any of the following:

• Mint Choc Chip – add 1/4 teaspoon mint extract and 1/4 cup chocolate chips.
• Coffee – blend 3 frozen bananas, 2 tsp instant coffee, 2 dates, and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• Mango – substitute the berries in this recipe with chopped frozen mango.
• Matcha Green Tea: Blend frozen bananas with a tsp of matcha powder and a splash of almond milk.
• Coconut Pineapple: Combine frozen bananas with frozen pineapple chunks and a bit of coconut milk.
• Blueberry Lavender: Blend frozen bananas with frozen blueberries and a touch of lavender extract.
• Chai Spice: Mix in chai spice blend (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves) for a warm, spiced flavor.

Can I Make Nice Cream Ahead of Time?

Yes, nice cream can be made ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer. However, it will harden, so let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving to soften it back to a scoopable consistency.

More Vegan Desserts to Try During Your Summer

Water Cake

Mini No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

Unicorn Latte

Vegan Tiramisu

Vegan Panna Cotta

How to Store Nice Cream

Nice cream should be consumed immediately after preparation. Alternatively, it can be stored in the freezer, in a special container with a lid, for up to 1-2 weeks. Before serving, leave it at room temperature for a few minutes and blend it again with a food processor to break the ice crystals: it will be creamy again, as if it were just made.

How to Make Nice Cream

First, peel all the bananas and cut them into slices. As they are ready, transfer the slices into a freezer-safe container; cover with the appropriate lid and freeze for at least 4 hours.

Once the time has passed, start by preparing the vanilla banana nice cream: use two of the frozen bananas and put them in a high-powered blender, adding the almond milk, a pinch of salt and the vanilla extract.

Blend everything well, until you obtain a creamy and smooth mixture. Serve immediately by scooping into a cup.

To prepare the chocolate nice cream, collect two of the frozen bananas from the freezer and put them inside of the high-powered blender, then add a pinch of salt and the almond milk, and finish with the bitter cocoa powder.

Proceed to blend the ingredients together, until you obtain a creamy consistency. Distribute the nice cream into individual cups and garnish with a few shards of dark chocolate or chocolate chips if you prefer.

For the strawberry nice cream, take two frozen bananas out of the freezer, collect them in a blender, add the frozen strawberries and the almond milk. Add a pinch of salt.

Blend carefully until you have obtained a creamy consistency, and distribute the ice cream into individual serving cups, garnishing with fresh sliced strawberries.

Finally, to prepare the peanut butter nice cream, tame the remaining frozen bananas from the freezer and collect them inside of a blender, then pour the peanut butter over them and the almond milk.

Blend carefully until you have obtained a smooth and creamy consistency. Serve the nice cream into individual serving cups and top with a drizzle of peanut butter.

Bring the nice cream to the table and serve immediately, to enjoy it at the best of its creamy consistency.