Chocolate Nice Cream (3 ingredients!)

This chocolate nice cream is creamy, rich, and tastes just like real ice cream. It's vegan, dairy-free, and ready in just 5 minutes with only 3 simple ingredients!

If you've got overripe bananas sitting on your counter, this is the recipe for them. I've made this chocolate nice cream dozens of times, and trust me, even non-vegans will be reaching for seconds. It's the easiest healthy frozen dessert you'll ever make.

No ice cream maker needed. No added sugar. Just pure chocolate goodness that satisfies every craving. If you love healthy banana desserts like my healthy chocolate banana brownies or these vegan banana brownies you'll love this one too.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this easy recipe
• What is nice cream?
• Ingredients for Vegan Chocolate Nice Cream
• How to Make Chocolate Nice Cream
• Tips for making chocolate banana nice cream
• Food Processor vs Blender for Nice Cream
• Nice Cream Without Bananas
• How to Sweeten Chocolate Nice Cream
• Ideas for Serving
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More easy vegan banana recipes
• Recipe Card
• Chocolate Nice Cream (3 ingredients)

Why you'll love this easy recipe

• Creamy texture that rivals traditional chocolate ice cream
• Ready in just 5 minutes (plus freezing time)
• Only 3 all-natural ingredients with no added sugar
• Perfect way to use up brown bananas
• Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free

What is nice cream?

Nice cream is a vegan, dairy-free alternative to traditional ice cream made from frozen fruit. In this chocolate nice cream recipe, frozen ripe bananas create the creamy base while also acting as a natural sweetener.

The result? A healthy ice cream that's naturally sweet with no added sugar. It has that same satisfying, creamy texture you expect from ice cream, but it's made entirely from whole foods. Check out my collection of vegan banana recipes for more ways to use ripe bananas.

Ingredients for Vegan Chocolate Nice Cream

You only need 3 simple ingredients to make this chocolaty frozen treat:

• Frozen Bananas: Use very ripe or overripe bananas for the best natural sweetness
• Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk: Almond, oat, or coconut milk all work great
• Unsweetened Cacao or Cocoa Powder: I prefer cacao for a deeper chocolate flavor

How to Make Chocolate Nice Cream

Add frozen bananas and plant-based milk to your food processor.

Holding tightly onto the lid of the food processor, pulse a few times to start breaking up the banana slices.

Once they are broken up into small chunks, add cacao powder (or cocoa powder if you prefer) to the food processor and pulse a few more times to incorporate it.

Then, process on high until the nice cream is smooth and no banana chunks remain.

Be sure to scrape the sides of the food processor to incorporate everything well together.

Transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe container.

Cover and freeze for 1-2 hours.

Now, eat up!

Tips for making chocolate banana nice cream

I've tested this recipe many times, and these tips make all the difference:

• Use very ripe bananas: The riper the banana, the sweeter your nice cream. Those brown-spotted bananas are perfect. Not sure if yours are still good? Check out my guide on how long bananas last.
• Freeze bananas properly: Cut bananas into coins or chunks before freezing. Lay them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet first, then transfer to a reusable storage bag. This prevents them from sticking together. I like to freeze them in batches of 4 bananas per bag so I'm always ready to make nice cream.
• Milk options: I've used almond milk, coconut milk, and oat milk. They all work great. Use any plain, unsweetened plant-based milk. For soy-free, avoid soy milk. For nut-free, use oat or coconut milk. For paleo, stick to coconut milk.
• Storage: Store in a sealed freezer-safe container. Once fully frozen, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften before scooping.

Food Processor vs Blender for Nice Cream

I prefer using a food processor for nice cream because it handles frozen fruit without needing much liquid. The wide bowl also makes it easy to scrape down the sides.

Don't have a food processor? A high-speed blender works too. You may need to add a splash more milk to help it blend smoothly, and you'll want to use the tamper if your blender has one. Either way, no ice cream machine required!

Nice Cream Without Bananas

If you're not a fan of bananas or have an allergy, you can make nice cream with other frozen fruits. Frozen mango, frozen avocado, or frozen coconut cream all create a creamy base. The texture will be slightly different, and you may need to add a sweetener like maple syrup since these options aren't as naturally sweet as bananas.

For more banana-free dessert ideas, check out my no-bake dairy-free desserts collection.

How to Sweeten Chocolate Nice Cream

Ripe bananas provide plenty of natural sweetness, so I don't add any sugar. But if you want it a bit sweeter, try a splash of vanilla extract or a drizzle of maple syrup. A tablespoon of natural peanut butter or almond butter also adds sweetness plus a flavor boost.

Ideas for Serving

To keep this treat sugar-free, serve in a bowl and top with cacao nibs, walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, or a drizzle of natural peanut butter or almond butter.

If you're okay with added sugar, serve on an ice cream cone (I used these gluten-free ones) or top with sprinkles or vegan chocolate chips.

Frequently Asked Questions

More easy vegan banana recipes

Recipe Card

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