The Best Free-of-Sugar Ice Cream. EVER.

by Ambassador, Danielle S

When you think of kids, you usually think of sticky and messy. And snot.
​
But I think of ICE CREAM. Because my kids always want it (and so does my husband). But ice cream is EXPENSIVE and it's loaded with ADDED SUGAR. The cheaper ice cream usually doesn't even contain the natural ingredients that are used to make homemade ice cream.

So on a mission (like Snackster Sam's), I found a recipe to make a knock-off ice cream. I modified it slightly and removed the added sugar. 

What's amazing about this recipe? 

It's SO EASY TO MAKE AND CONTAINS 3 INGREDIENTS! 

AND YOUR KIDS WILL THINK IT'S REAL ICE CREAM. I PROMISE.

Bananas for Ice Cream

Ingredients:
3 frozen RIPE bananas (if you cut up prior to freezing, it will be easier)
Splash of milk, water, or milk alternatives - you don't need much!
​Dash of cinnamon (optional, but oh so good)

Optional:
Fruit toppings (blueberries, strawberries, bananas, etc)

Equipment:
Blender
Spoons & bowls!

Put ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 

A note on blending: You will need to be patient. The frozen bananas take a while to blend. Some people suggest cutting up the bananas prior to freezing, and this would make your blending time shorter. I don't really mind babysitting the banana. You want some liquid, but if you add too much, your mixture will turn out like a smoothie rather than an ice cream consistency. It is better to add more than subtract, so start with just a small splash.

Ok... so why is this the best EVER?

Glad you asked! A few reasons:

It's affordable.

I purchased my bananas at a discount - they were bruised and over ripe. Which is exactly what I wanted! If you can't get your bananas on sale, just store your bananas that are overripe in the freezer. Either way, bananas are much cheaper than ice cream.

I fooled my kids.

Every time I make this, I have the kids go to another room while I make the Bananas for Ice Cream. When they SEE and TASTE it, they BELIEVE it is ice cream from the store. It's actually funny to watch them look in the freezer later and ask for more "ice cream". They have no idea how I make it magically appear!

No, it doesn't taste like bananas.

If you have a picky eater who hates bananas, just try it. Frozen RIPE bananas taste so much different than non-frozen ones. Plus, if you add a dash of cinnamon or some other fruit on top, it masks any hint of banana.

There is so much room for variations!

What I love about this recipe is you can change it. For a change of flavor, you could add other FROZEN fruit (just keep bananas as the main ingredient). Let your kids experiment with seasonings (I bet ginger would be yummy!) and toppings. The possibilities are nearly endless!

​DID YOU TRY IT? Share your comments and experiences below!

Bananas are Snackster Sam approved! (Ice cream is not.)

Get the List

---

Danielle is the mother of two, small business owner, and creator of Snackster Sam. She has been concerned about healthy habits and nutrition for over a decade, and conducted an award-winning scientific study on portion control. Danielle is an author and community activist who is passionate about helping people reach and exceed their personal and professional goals. Danielle is involved in numerous volunteer activities in the area. She believes philanthropy is as important as carving your own path. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing on Rainy Lake with her family.