One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

0 Posted by - July 18, 2012 - Food & Drink

I needed ice cream the other night, but my pint of Ben & Jerry’s was long since eaten, so I had a choice: go to the grocery store, or go to Pinterest. Guess which one I did.

Image from TheKitchn

This is “ice cream” made from one ingredient: bananas. All you do is peel, chop, freeze, and puree.

The hell. I mean, bananas are kind of inferior fruits anyway, so how are they supposed to make delicious ice cream? I call bullshit.

But I chopped and froze as instructed.

Now here’s the part where I started getting grumpy. The site the recipe comes from wants you to use a food processor or a blender. I am not dragging my fucking food processor from the back of the cabinet, dusting it off, putting it all together, figuring out how to turn it on, chopping most of at least one finger off in the process, and then washing it all for one serving of squished up bananas that probably are going to have a taste resembling ass anyway. Not gonna happen.

So I stuck them in a bag.

And I mooshed them. Yes, mooshed. I squeezed the shit out of them until they were all squished up in the bag. We don’t need no stinkin’ food processor.

Not the most appetizing thing, I grant you, but once I spooned it out into the bowl, it didn’t look quite as bad. And, really, it didn’t taste bad either. The verdict? Sort of an ice cream consistency, I guess, but it’s still a squished up frozen banana, so you don’t really need to tax your imagination too much to figure out what it tasted like.

Also, don’t waste your time with the food processor, dudes. Squish. It works.

  • EmilyButton

    That looks like snot lol

  • pipercatt

    I’m not much of a banana fan by itself, but I did try this. i put in a spoon of dutch cocoa, and it was a little better. I re-froze it, and the next day thru it in the blender with some coconut milk and made a chocolate banana shake out of it. Much better.

    • http://www.weirdlywiredjewelry.com/ weirdlywired

       @pipercatt
       THAT sounds wonderful!!!

  • cartymeg

    ugh, i made this too but a bigger batch to share with my husband who loves bananas – we thought it was awful. 

  • woolnotwheat

    i tried this like a month ago and have kept overripe bananas in the freezer ever since. I use my food processor because it whips more air into the bananas and makes it more ice cream like.  It is also fun to watch because its like magic: its all crumbly at first and then is suddenly ice cream.  Also, giant dollop of peanut butter fixes everything if it tastes too ripe or something.  Pretty much the only thing I’ve done from pinterest more than once.  The chocolate avocado pudding was much less successful.

  • B B

    I love your sense of humor and your blog!  Next, you should try making the blueberry corn ice cream sundae @  pinterest.com/pin/36169603226811973   It looks as bad as the banana ice cream!  

  • Sandra

    It looks like it WOULD taste like ass!  I’m surprised it was edible — I love bananas on their own, and in banana bread and muffins, but sometimes they don’t go very well as a flavour – banana cheesecake was disgusting!

  • http://spermiestyle.com/ Pamela Gold

    I call bullshit in that, that first bowl of “ice cream” has to have more ingredients. You don’t get that kind of consistency with JUST bananas.

    • karacooks

      You do if you follow the directions and use a blender or food processor. 

    • Banana icecream

      No BS…it’s freaky but works!  You do have to use a blender or food processor though and it takes a while but then all of the sudden it whips up and is the consistency of soft serve ice cream.  You can mix in other things like a little cocoa or vanilla, peanut butter or just leave it as is.  It definitely banana-y, but if you’re craving an ice cream texture it works.

  • karacooks

    The point of the blender or processor is to whip air into it. It comes out a lot creamier if you do more than just “smoosh” it in a plastic bag. Also you can add peanut butter or cocoa or some other flavoring as well if you want. 

  • Lauren

    Honestly, I would put more stock in your pintesting if you actually tried to do these projects correctly. At best you only half-ass these things, which is why you fail at them more often than not.

    • B

      Since it’s supposed to be HUMOROUS, Lauren, that’s kind of half the point.  

      • Lauren

        I know it’s supposed to be funny – the humor and writing are why I follow the blog. However, I feel like she sets out to do things wrong on purpose, and that loses some of the humor in it for me. I would rather see the project fail (IF it fails) when attempted correctly. I guess I’m just too much of a perfectionist in real life. I always just want to reach through the monitor and stop her as I read each thing she does wrong. lol

        • Mis

          Lauren,
                  I agree with you. The best posts are the ones where she honestly tried and failed instead of setting herself up to fail for a laugh. 

        • TanyaGreerBreese

           @Mis  then why don’t the 2 of you start a new blog where you take it seriously but it still doesn’t turn out…why follow what she does here if it’s not to your liking? me personally, i love her humor and don’t care if she half asses the projects…it’s flippin funny.

        • Mis

           @TanyaGreerBreese
           Sorry to upset you.  I can read her blog and have an opinion.  She is funny but I personally, in my opinion do not think she is as funny when she half asses (as you pointed out) things.  Again, sorry to upset you by my comment.

        • TanyaGreerBreese

           @Mis lol you have hardly upset me…just seems ridiculous to me that people who follow her blog have opinions on how she should write it.

        • Lauren

           @TanyaGreerBreese There’s nothing wrong with some of us having a different opinion about a certain aspect of her blog, especially since we obviously still like it enough to keep reading about all her misadventures. Sorry for not being like her most devout of followers and blindly supporting everything she fails at on here. Jeez.

        • TanyaGreerBreese

          lol whatever….jeez!

  • Katy

    I am absolutely enthralled with the morons who are taking you seriously.  Is sarcasm a foreign concept on Pinterest??  (Not on my boards, that’s for sure)

    • karacooks

      Wow. “Morons” Really? Do you have to be that much of a bitch about it? No one is being rude or nasty to her – we’re just pointing out that it is actually pretty good if you do it right. We get that she’s intentionally fucking up these projects for the lulz (which is not sarcasm .. it’s satire), but there’s nothing wrong with saying “hey this is actually pretty good”. 

  • elliekornexl

    I have tried this one, and it totally works, and it is good.  You have to use the food processor but the consistency is just like ice cream.  Of course if you don’t like the flavor of a banana you’re screwed.  Although I added Nutella and that helped a lot.  But when doesn’t Nutella help?

  • TanyaGreerBreese

    lol…how do they call that ice cream? i hear you on the food processor/blender!

  • Yakityyak

    Viva la half-assert!

  • Yakityyak

    Viva la half-assedry!

  • princessmom09

    you really need to try this again, using a blender.  i make it all the time and whipping is what makes it so grand, i also add a spoon of peanut butter and a spoon of cocoa powder, no sugar.  and washing the blender is easy, fill half way w hot water and add a drop of soap. then turn it on and rinse. i loved this before pinterest.

  • Lillyxo

    Ok So I won this gadget called a ‘Yonana’s’ from the Dr. Oz show.. It’s a fancy blender made JUST for this. (Hey it was free..) It’s actually really good, as so many others have pointed out. The add-ins are what do it. We add other frozen berries, cocco, nutella, peanut butter, so on. It’s no Ben and Jerry’s, but it’s a pretty healthy alternative.. My kiddos love it and since they’re under 5 and don’t really know any better yet, they like it BETTER than ice cream.
     

    • TanyaGreerBreese

      ok, i’m going to have to try this but i’m not going to smoosh it in a baggie like pintester! i didn’t know that the blender makes it whippy….probably not my lame blender but a good blender lol

  • Cassandra

    I do this one all the time.. it might b worth it to bring out your food processor.. I have a little one and it makes the bananas way more Ice creamyier. 

  • Truffles8761

    It’s not for everyone.  I wouldn’t ruin a perfectly good banana by freezing it.

  • coachksr

    Wonderful!  You’re the wo/man!
     
    Keep writing…

  • Maureen

    You really need to use the food processor. I mean really. It transforms it! If you really want to kick it into ice cream mode add some chocolate syrup, peanut butter or nutella. But the food processor really makes the difference.

  • Meg

    Make the avocado ice cream next!  I loved it but did feel a bit queasy after eating it.  

  • FeralCarebear

    All sarcasm aside, I’ve done this several times, and for a single serving the full sized food processor would be a needless pain in the ass. My stick blender, with the little food-chopper attachment? absolutely perfect for one serving of banana ice cream. 

  • Abberatia

    *giggle* *snorty-snort-snorty*     *HUGE INHALE* :::GUFFFAAAWWWW::::;                        Laughed so hard people a few cubicles over had to come check on me.  I love you.  Yes.  I do. 

  • bthomas87

    I LOVE your blog. It makes my day! Keep Testing.

  • kr60201

    You are so funny. I haven’t tried this pin because I don’t have a food processor and my blender kind of sucks. However, I routinely freeze sliced bananas to eat. I suck on them like a lifesaver and find them to be pretty awesome and creamy when I’m craving a treat.

  • Groove Chicken

    I tried this in the food processor. It turns out really whipped and soft serve like, but it was an odd, sticky type texture. Not unpleasant, but could use a bit of cream. Mangoes done this way however make a very delicious sorbet!

  • zimmy

    I did this too. I don’t have a food processor, so I used my blender.  It actually worked pretty well! I added a spoonful of peanut butter & a small amt of cocoa and waalaa! It was so yummy!  So I tried it again w/more nanners…let’s just say my blender wasn’t thrilled about having to do all that work….

  • Elaine

    I heard of “Ice cream, but really just bananas” before Pinterest. The trick is to use a banana that’s gone bad. Like completely black peeling bad. Then, when you freeze it in slices, it tastes nothing of bananas, just cold and a little sweet, and you can flavor it with a little vanilla, or chocolate chips. 

  • http://southyourmouth.blogspot.com/ South Your Mouth

    I actually came over to your site to see if you’d tried this one yet and VIOLA! here it is!  Funny, funny stuff, woman… I dig your shit.  And GOD I hope you never have a hard time with anything of mine!

  • http://www.emergencybucks.co/ John Bucks

    Mine tasted like cold bananas.  Huh.

  • kelliepra

    I made this the other day but i added a little of frozen chocolate chips. it was actually pretty good, my husband preferred it over regular icecream….
     

  • Caroline1800

    I tried this earlier today, I did use a food processor (it took me a while to figure out how to use it) and it turned out differently than your squishing method (lmao). This is the one thing I’ve tested so far that I haven’t managed to mess up. 

  • juliane729

    Toss in a a little Nutella and it’s heavenly!!!  This is one of the few Pinterest successes I’ve had.  

  • Barbara Barnes

    I have no doubt that with the language you used you will have no problem saying something smart to me so go ahead…you should be ashamed…………

  • Steph

    I tried this pin… I used a magic bullet, and it was gross. Tasted like a smashed banana and left that icky thick texture all over your mouth just like a banana. Not that I hate bananas, but I was expecting banana ice cream!

  • Madeline

    We used to make this all the time as kids but we called it banana freeze. We just froze bananas and threw them in our mini food processor and processesed their asses out. It was delicious every time and we got it to a creamy texture that was ice cream like and amazing. We also did blueberry freeze, mango pineapple freeze, and mixed berry freeze.

  • EmilySchmemily

    I did this in the magic bullet. I put a teeeennnnsssyyy bit of vanilla and a couple frozen strawberries. It was tasty! I will have to try the squish method!

  • Amber

    I made it in a food processor and it made it super creamy and exactly like ice cream texture…

  • annieannieannie

    I think the idea is to make a big batch so hauling out the food processor is worthwhile.
    I hate it when people recommend using disposable things just to make recipes “easier.”  we live in such a disposable society, it makes me sad.

  • JillFendentzColeman

    Add some cocoa powder and/or peanut butter. I love this stuff! Oh…and it’s definitely worth taking the food processor out.

  • monicae

    Ha I used my food processor. I love this shit. Don’t add oreos though, it’s gross. I’m assuming peanut butter or nutella would kick ass though.

  • http://david-and-melissa.blogspot.com/ Melissa

    I think I’m going to try this tonight, with some peanut butter? Yeah I had a rough day yesterday I think it would need a little peanut butter.

  • Allibeth

    My friends and I tried the same recipe.  We used a blender instead of a food processor.  Still came out looking like mashed banana.  BUT we put it back in the blender with some coconut rum and that shit was delicious.

  • Erin

    Chocolate…..this recipe needs chocolate and lots of it!

  • BeckyPerryBlog

    Oh yes, you can make it taste good!  A little maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla with your frozen banana and you have Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream!  (also add a little milk)

  • Shalise

    The best trick for this is to mix it quick and eat it quick too. If you mix it too long or don’t eat it fast enough it does just taste like mashed bananas (it does not stay frozen long). Good with some chocolate syrup or when mixing it add frozen strawberries. Amazing for my little girl that is allergic to dairy.

  • Dinky90

    Perhaps if you actually followed the recipe, you’d get better results? Blending it in the food processor mixes air into the banana so it’s not just “squished banana.” It actually ends up quite good. Add some peanut butter or a little chocolate syrup, and it easily passes as decent ice cream (though maybe not Ben & Jerry’s quality). 

    • http://blog.robbiefoust.com/ rfoust

      I’m a skeptic.  Air has no flavor… :)

  • http://chantillylacealisa.blogspot.com/ Alisa

    No, everyone is wrong, this tastes bad.  And after putting a banana in the freezer, it tastes like rotten banana.  The people who like this also like to eat those asian candies with sesame seeds on them and seaweed.

    • SarahAndrus

      really???  Just because you have different likes and dislikes, your gonna slam everyone who isn’t just like you?  So if I said everyone who likes onions has a lower intelligence, then it must be true?  Just say you thought it was disgusting and leave it at that.

  • JennMursch

    Actually if you use the food processor it does turn into soft serve like ice cream, just like in the picture. If you add a small amount of cocoa powder it tastes like chocolate banana ice cream.

  • Guest

    Lololol, people are taking this soooo seriously, wth? I’m not reading any more of these until my daughter comes over so we can laugh like hell

  • beepink3

    Which is why it is soooo frickin’ funny!

  • beepink3

     @TanyaGreerBreese I love her, my middle name is half-asser!

  • amselby81

    I do this a lot, and it really is yummy.  Add some cocoa powder and peanut butter.  SO GOOD!!

  • ErinCostelloBaker

    I’ve done this a few times and it is actually pretty tasty. We add peanut butter or cinnamon or some other shit like that. It’s annoying that it takes a food processor several minutes and then you have to clean all that stuff up, but it does work and it is yummy.

  • http://emilysadventures.com/ Emily

    Definitely do pull out the food processor, it makes a world of difference!

  • amitchell0316

    Hi, just found your blog! Yay..I agree with the others who feel that people take this way too seriously, I mean, really? Anyway, keep up the wonderful tests, comments, and work that it takes maintaining the blog, there are many many supporters out here in “internet world” that adore you…oh, I bet if you add a little bit of chocolate syrup yummy…oh yeah, shit just got real…LOL. Also, I would have squished them too!

  • MODEangel

    you need the processor to add air and make a better consistency. Don’t do a blog on something you are not going to follow the instructions on! still love your blogs!

  • EmiraMustafa

    OH this had me literally tearing from laughter, thank you for making my crappy night worth while!

  • kik

    this didnt go too well. i used a food thingy and all it tasted like was mashed up bananas. it WAS addicting tho. once i really got into it i even scraped out the edges with my spoon.

  • No really…

    Use the food processor. Or a blender. And add a scoop of Nesquik. So much better.

  • vulcangeek

    My aunt bought one of those Yonanas machines, that uses very ripe frozen bananas as a base. You pretty much put a half of a frozen banana through, then frozen chocolate chips, mini reeses cups, strawberries etc. It is actually pretty good. I had just some banana, and I liked it. Very healthy, but no Ben & Jerry’s