Frozen Banana-Based Dessert
This recipe is for a very quick and easy ice cream substitute. Frozen bananas form the base of this recipe as they contribute a creamy texture that goes well with a number of additional ingredients. We made two versions for this recipe, one with frozen blueberries and another with raw cacao powder. Including the word banana in the title of this recipe could be off-putting for some, but please believe me when I say that it does not overwhelm the other flavours. The word dessert is just there to indicate that it is sweet, but we have this for breakfast, lunch or dinner- or as a dessert.
This recipe is very quick and easy to prepare provided that frozen banana is readily available. We like to use very ripe bananas as they provide enough sweetness on their own, otherwise we add a little maple syrup. To freeze the bananas we peel and slice/break them into roughly one inch chunks and place them in a freezer bag. We make a point not to overcrowd the bag as it is important that the banana pieces do not freeze into a solid block. To achieve this, we fill a bag half way and then squeeze out any air and tie the bag at the very top so that the banana pieces are spread out flat in the bag in a single layer.
While this is not in any way a complicated recipe it does require a food processor. A blender will work, but not as well (unless you are using a high speed blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec). The ‘ice cream’ should be eaten immediately or otherwise returned to the freezer. If you add any liquid, the ice cream must be kept in the freezer until frozen (this can take a few hours). The more liquid added to the recipe, the more smoothie-like or soft-serve it will become.
Banana Cacao recipe:
Ingredients:
- 5 medium chopped and frozen bananas (approx. 500g)
- 4 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or to taste
Banana Berry recipe:
Ingredients:
- 5 medium chopped and frozen bananas (approx 500g)
- 300g frozen berries (we used blueberries, but any would work)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or to taste
Method:
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend till smooth.
- If the mixture doesn’t blend easily then add a little nut milk, 1/4 cup at a time, or plain old water.
