3-Ingredient Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
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Creamy chocolate banana ice cream tastes exactly like chocolate ice cream and is made by blending frozen bananas with cocoa powder and peanut butter until smooth and soft–serve–like. This quick, no-churn treat comes together in minutes and delivers rich chocolate flavor with an ultra-creamy texture.
You know those moments when you’re craving a little treat but don’t want anything heavy or complicated? That’s exactly when I make this creamy chocolate banana ice cream. Frozen bananas get blended until smooth and somehow turn into a soft-serve–style scoop that feels almost magical. A spoonful of peanut butter and some cocoa powder make it rich and chocolatey, without tasting overly peanutty at all.
What I love most is how effortless it is. There’s no ice cream maker involved—just a high-powered blender or food processor—and it comes together in about 5 minutes. The peanut butter does a great job of masking the banana flavor and letting the chocolate shine, while also making the texture extra smooth and creamy. It’s one of those recipes that feels like a small kitchen victory every time — simple, refreshing, and always a hit.
Tip: Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, as I do in my banana nice cream recipe.
How to make frozen banana chocolate ice cream in your food processor
If you are making chocolate-banana ice cream in your food processor, add a little liquid to help it blend. In this case, it’s a 4-ingredient banana ice cream recipe. Just add a dash of your preferred milk. This is how it’s done:
- Add ingredients: Put the bananas, cocoa powder, almond or peanut butter, and some milk (any kind!) in your food processor.
- Blend: Turn it on and hold on tight. It’ll shake and rattle until the frozen bananas break down.
- Scrape down the sides and continue processing the ice cream for about 3-4 minutes, until it turns creamy and delicious. Enjoy!
How to make frozen banana ice cream in your blender
Friendly warning: Do NOT try to make this recipe in a regular blender. This method only works with a high-powered blender (such as a Vitamix or Blendtec). Frozen bananas are tough cookies, and trying to turn them into ice cream will burn out the motor of even the most expensive regular blender. If you don’t have a high-powered blender, use your food processor.
Because Blendtec and Vitamix blenders are so powerful, you don’t need to add any liquid to turn bananas into ice cream, resulting in a slightly creamier texture. This is how it’s done:
- Add ingredients: Place the frozen banana slices, cocoa powder, and almond or peanut butter in your high-powered blender. Put the plunger in the lid.
- Blend and serve: Turn the machine on, then quickly switch it to the highest setting. Blend, pushing the bananas down with the plunger, until the ice cream is smooth and creamy.
Note: Vitamix has a fan that cools the motor when it’s run on the highest setting. Always use the highest speed (even if it’s noisy) to ensure the fan is turned on.
Watch how to make chocolate banana ice cream
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 frozen bananas (peeled)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (can sub almond butter)
- ¼ cup milk of choice (only use if you are making this in a food processor)
- Optional: chocolate chunks or chips (to sprinkle on the top)
Instructions
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream in your Blender
- Place the frozen bananas, cocoa powder, and almond butter into your high-powered blender.4 frozen bananas, ¼ cup cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- Blend the bananas on high speed using the plunger to push the bananas down as needed. After 2-3 minutes the ice cream will run smoothly.
- Either eat right away or freeze for 2 hours so that it is hard enough to scoop into cones. Sprinkle with chocolate chunks, if you'd like.Optional: chocolate chunks or chips
Chocolate Banana Ice Cream in your Food Processor
- Place the frozen bananas, cocoa powder, almond butter, and your choice of milk into your food processor. Pulse until the bananas are mostly broken down.4 frozen bananas, ¼ cup cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, ¼ cup milk of choice
- Scrape the sides of the food processor then continue processing on high until the ice cream is smooth and creamy.
- Either eat right away or freeze for 2 hours so that it is hard enough to scoop into cones. If using, sprinkle with chocolate chunks.Optional: chocolate chunks or chips
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
Variations to try
This chocolate banana ice cream is luscious as it is, but it’s also versatile, so you can play around with the flavor combinations and make it your own with some easy additions. Here are a few ideas:
- Mint chocolate ice cream: Add a few drops of peppermint extract to create a mint chocolate version.
- Berries: Fresh berries can add a sweet, fruity note: use cherries, strawberries, raspberries, or any other berry you can find! You can either add it at the start so it’s smooth and consistent, or whip up your ice cream and blend it through the mix at the end so you have a few berry chunks.
- Cookies and cream: Crush up some cookies or biscuits and stir the crumbs through. Oreos are the classic choice for this!
- Rum: For an adults only version, throw in a splash of rum (or vodka). Alcohol doesn’t freeze, so a bit of rum will keep the ice cream that bit softer in the freezer, too.
- Crunch: Add a bit of crunch on top with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Peanut butter cup: Switch out the almond butter for all-natural peanut butter to make a peanut butter cup inspired ice cream.
I made it no milk and peanut butter its do good how many calories is in a 1/4 cup?
Hi Kristen! I tried making this recipe and it didn’t turn out quite right. I’m wondering if you could help me troubleshoot? It looks so delicious I’ve got to get this figured out! First of all, it tastes very much like bananas; I thought it would taste more like chocolate ice cream? The banana flavor overpowers everything else. Second, mine came out the consistency of pudding instead of soft serve. I’ve put it in the freezer to get it solidified, but wonder what I might have done wrong? I used my Ninja blender and blended it for several minutes. I was hoping it would thicken up, but maybe I blended it too long? Also, I froze the banana chunks for 2 hours, but maybe that wasn’t enough time? Any tips you have for me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Did you use bananas that were very ripe? The only time I’ve had this turn out banana-y is when I’ve used overripe bananas. And I suspect the bananas may need to be frozen longer next time. I always keep some in my freezer for smoothies and this recipe so they are very frozen when I use them. The other thing that could have happened is the heat from your blender could have warmed the bananas a little too much. You want to stop processing it as soon as it turns creamy. I’ve had it turn into pudding too from leaving the blender running a little too long. A quick sit in the freezer fixes it though. I hope that helps!
We liked the recipe, but in your picture, it looks like there are chocolate chunks in your “ice cream.” Is that added or did we miss an ingredient?
You’re right, I did! They are optional and can be sprinkled on top. 🙂
Delicious! Need to make more next time!
So happy to hear you loved it as much as I do!
I made this today and it was so awesome! I had to use restraint not to eat the whole batch! I’ll be making this all the time! Thanks!
Haha I love it! I have to restrain myself whenever I make it, too!
Did you add in some chopped chocolate? It looks like it in the picture.
I sprinkled some on top. 🙂
Seems like alot of sugar per serving 14.9 grams
1 banana has 14 grams of natural sugar in it. 🙂
this ice cream ist just woooooow
even my kids love it and rather have this than regular italian ice cream
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! Love when kids opt for the good choice!
Fantastic! Easy and YummY! I was skeptical…. but WOW this is delish!
I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!
This was delicious! Used the food processor and used 3 slightly thawed bananas + 1 fresh. Followed the rest of the instructions exactly! Everyone loved it!
Good call on using the slightly thawed bananas. That would be easier on your food processor!
I have some tahini (ground sesame seeds butter) in my cupboard. What do you think of using that in place of the peanut or almond butter? I know it is less sweet.
I think it will probably work just fine. The only thing is that some tahini (not all) can be a little bitter. I would taste yours first before adding it to make sure it’s not bitter. You could also add a little natural sweetener (honey or maple syrup) if you find it is a bit bitter. 🙂
I never leave reviews on recipes, in fact, this might be my first. But this is the BEST nice cream I’ve ever tried! I’ve made many, but they all taste too much like bananas, but this one is outstanding in terms of that creamy texture, the perfect balance of chocolate, and sweetness. Brilliant!
Thank you so much for leaving your first review here! I’m so happy you liked the recipe!!
In the vitamix, do you use the dessert setting? Or do you just put the motor up to 10?
I have a power setting on mine that I use. They are all a little different. If the fan comes on with one of the speeds, use that one as the motor will get hot without it.
Question: do I use unsweetened cocoa powder? Also my Vitamix has an ice cream function, so maybe I’ll try that setting. Trying this recipe today!!!
I do use unsweetened cocoa powder!
I have a ninja blender… Is that strong enough???
It should work just fine! You may want to opt for adding a little non-dairy milk or do what one of the commenters did and use partly thawed bananas. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this out! As a conservationist, may I suggest bananas don’t need plastic bags to freeze – they come in their own natural skin, I just throw them in the freezer and take out however many I need for smoothies, etc. Just use a sharp knife to “peel” the now-blackened skin from them and voila!
Trying to reduce/eliminate all plastic from my life, one step at a time,
You’re absolutely right! I used to do it that way but got tired of peeling messy frozen bananas. I’ll probably go back to it though as I’m trying to faze all disposable plastic out of my life.