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.
Wasn’t expecting much because the recipe’s so simple, but it was delicious! The texture was surprisingly creamy, even without any cream or milk!
Yummy! Thank you! Couldn’t be any easier!
Ahhh!! I’m so happy! I just finished eating a bowl and I could hardly even tell that there was banana in it (it tastes just like chocolate ice cream)!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! My family members easily get a cold after eating ice cream in the winter so I’ll have to make this for them in the summer. I was seriously feeling so down and unmotivated but after eating this, I just feel so motivated.
Side note: since I didn’t have almond butter or peanut butter, I used nut butter (mixed nuts).
That is so wonderful to hear, Dia! Yay!!
This is so good! I made it in my food processor. Instead of cocoa powder and peanut butter I used 4 tablespoons of PB2 Cocoa Powder. I also added 3/4 cup of vanilla oat milk. Amazing!
Absolutely amazing! Tastes like a decadent dark chocolate ice cream!!
H, I was wondering which Vitamix blender you have? I’ve been looking for a better high-powered one and the one you have seems to be working great!
Mine is a super old one that (I don’t think) they make anymore. I think their professional series 750 is the newer version of mine. 🙂
Made this in my vitamix tonight and OH MY STARS is it delicious! Easy to make and delicious! My husband was so impressed! The texture is perfect. I put some in popsicle molds for the kiddos to eat tomorrow, but we are considering keeping them for ourselves!
Unbelievable absolutely Divine, my weakness is ice-cream, and this is totally yum, Will be making this regularly, thank you for this wonderful recipe, thank you Kristen your a star
You’re so very welcome!
I haven’t had ice cream or chocolate since goin WFPB in June. This was amazing!! I used my cuisinart so it took a little longer to process til smooth but it worked. I used Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder and organic peanut butter. I sprinkled it with shredded coconut, OMG it was delish! Thanks for sharing!
I love this recipe and you don’t even miss the sugar.
Just made this! It is exactly as described! Smooth, creamy and tastes just like chocolate ice cream. I used my cuisinart, it took a few minutes, but not long. Best part, I don’t feel bloated like I do after ice cream made with dairy!H
Unbelievably Good! Thank you, Thank you. I did mine in a Vitamix according to the above directions and it was Perfect.
Organic Banana
Organic Cocoa Powder
Organic Peanut Butter
Yum!
Such a Yummy recipe, I think adding banana makes it more smooth. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to making this tomorrow.
I subbed out 1/4 of the cacao powder with orgain chocolate protein powder, to add protein to it. It was delicious! Amazing recipe, thanks again!
Haven’t been this excited about a recipe in awhile! The first time I made it in my Vitamix I didn’t add any liquid but felt it was going to burn out my mixer 🙁 so added some milk to it. Must’ve added too much because it made it came out like a milkshake. Still, My grandkids and I wanted to lick the blender (though I wouldn’t try that 🙂 it was so tasty! Just made again tonight using less than 1/4 cup almond milk, 3 bananas, cocoa powder and almond butter and it was perfect!!! Came out like soft serve ice cream. Have it in the freezer now with dark choc chips and some walnuts mixed in. Can’t wait to dig in! Thank you!!!
You’re so welcome!!
Used a food processor and the first time I made it I had trouble getting the frozen bananas chopped and mixed evenly. This time I ran the bananas through the grater disc first and then switched to the regular blade to combine it with the nut butter and cocoa powder and it blended much more easily. Added chocolate chips and toasted walnuts. Yum!
Great idea!