Easy to make chocolate nice cream! This nice cream recipe is rich, smooth, creamy and chocolatey – everything you want in an “ice” or nice cream. Dairy free, refined sugar free, paleo and vegan – although you can’t tell – it still tastes lush, creamy and decadent!
This nice cream recipe is full of delicious wholefood ingredients, it is much healthier than your standard store bought icecream – it has no refined sugar, preservatives or colours added. As nice cream is dairy free it falls into the vegan, paleo and allergy friendly categories which makes it is suitable for most folk to enjoy!
This recipe really is very simple to make….No icecream maker needed! Simply pop a few ingredients into your food processor or high speed blender, blitz, freeze and it is ready to go!
I’m all about healthier treats, and this nice cream is definitely a family favourite. The main ingredients in this nice cream recipe are frozen bananas, raw cacao, coconut cream and maple syrup.
So with all that being said you may be thinking…..
What is nice cream?
Nice cream is a popular term that has been used over the last few years to represent a frozen treat that resembles ice cream. However, nice cream is fruit based, vegan, dairy free and free from any artificial colours, preservatives and added refined sugar.
The nice cream base is usually made from frozen bananas as they give a smooth creamy texture that resembles soft serve icecream and bring a natural sweetness to the overall flavour. Other fruit can also be added depending on the desired flavour.
Additional Recipe Notes for making Nice Cream
- If you find cacao too stimulating for the younger ones in your family than you can easily substitute with carob powder.
- I have added a couple of pinches of sea salt as I find this gives this nice cream a well rounded flavour – it gives a hint of salted chocolatey goodness to the nice cream but it is very subtle.
- It is best to use bananas that are well ripened, ideally you want them just as they are about to turn brown, they should be soft. Don’t use bananas that are still slightly green, this will give the nice cream a completely different taste, you want the over ripe ones for a sweeter taste.
- If you want to keep the sugar content of your nice cream down you could use drops of stevia liquid instead of maple syrup. Bear in mind this will slightly change the flavour of your nice cream. When you have heated the coconut cream and added the cacao powder I would add anywhere between 5 to 20 drops of stevia depending on your taste buds. Start off with 5, stir and taste, add more as desired. Remember that the bananas also add a sweetness to the end flavour.
- If you want to add chocolate chips or cacao chips and keep them as “chips” then add them at the end once you have blended the frozen banana through the cacao mixture. If you add them to the coconut cream mixture on the stove they will melt, this will give your nice cream an overall darker chocolatey flavour which you may like but they will not be chocolate chips anymore!
How long should you freeze bananas for nice cream?
You should peel and slice the bananas and freeze for at least 2 hours or until they are solid. Store them in a ziplock plastic bag or airtight container to freeze.
If you are looking for other paleo or vegan desserts or sweet treats you may like to try:
Mango Chia Pudding with Coconut & Blueberries
I hope you enjoy this recipe! Please let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
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Have a lovely week!
Hope x
Serves 6
Hope Pearce
Smooth and Creamy Chocolate Nice Cream
3 hr, 5 Prep Time
5 minCook Time
3 hr, 10 Total Time
Save Recipe5 based on 14 review(s)
Ingredients
- 3 bananas (use overripe bananas, chopped and frozen)
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 4 Tbspn cacao powder
- 3 Tbspn maple syrup
- 1 tspn vanilla extract
- cpl pinches sea salt
- 1/4 -1/2 cup dark chocolate chips if desired.
Instructions
- In a small saucepan gently heat up the coconut cream - don't let boil.
- Stir in the cacao powder until fully dissolved.
- Remove from the stove and stir through the maple syrup, vanilla and sea salt.
- Place the frozen bananas into the food processor, pour the coconut cream mixture on top.
- Blitz until smooth and creamy. If you would like chocolate chips through your nice cream stir through now or just add on top when serving.
- Pour mixture into an ice cream container or an air tight container that has a lid. Place lid on top and freeze for 3-4 hours until solid.
- Leave to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
The prep time above includes the freezing time.
Calories
Fat
Carbs
Protein
Other recipes you may like to try:
Strawberry, Acai & Coconut Chia Parfait
29 Comments
Mira
February 27, 2019 at 4:17 am This was delicious and guilt free!Hope Pearce
February 27, 2019 at 9:06 am I'm so glad you liked it, thanks Mira :)STACEY CRAWFORD
February 27, 2019 at 6:28 am This is so creamy and chocolatey! I love it!Hope Pearce
February 27, 2019 at 9:06 am Thanks Stacey!Tessa Simpson
February 27, 2019 at 9:37 am a delicious and guilt free frozen treat!! Sign me up!Wendy
February 27, 2019 at 10:55 am I would really love to make this! Sounds so good...but...would you have a substitute for the banana? The one that's dairy free just cant stand the sight, smell, taste, touch of a banana. Infuriating is what it is! LOLHope Pearce
February 28, 2019 at 2:58 pm Hi Wendy - oh no thats a shame! The bananas really are the base of this dessert unfortunately and give it the smooth, creamy "ice cream" texture. You may be best looking for just a standard dairy free ice cream recipe or a coconut milk ice cream recipe as the ratios in this one won't work without bananas. Hope :)Raia Todd
February 27, 2019 at 2:44 pm I might have to try this for breakfast tomorrow... haha. Bananas make it acceptable, right?Hope Pearce
February 28, 2019 at 2:58 pm For sure!! Haha :)paleoglutenfreeguy
February 28, 2019 at 10:49 am This looks so perfect! It's really cold in Chicago right now but I may have to make this anyway. :)Hope Pearce
February 28, 2019 at 2:59 pm Thank you! Haha yes I think I could still eat this in cold weather :)Jean
February 28, 2019 at 3:18 pm Omg, yum. I'm ALL about this, and I love that you don't have to churn it!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:30 pm Thanks Jean, yes no churning is definitely a bonus!!Kelly
February 28, 2019 at 5:19 pm Love this nice cream. I'm ready for summer!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:30 pm Thanks Kelly!Leslie
March 1, 2019 at 4:42 pm My kids would adore this! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I make a similar smoothie but have never gone the next step of freezing it. Will have to try it!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:27 pm Thanks Leslie, I'm sure they will love it! :)CHIHYU
March 1, 2019 at 4:46 pm That looks amazing! So flavorful and delicious!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:27 pm Thanks Chihyu!Megan Stevens
March 2, 2019 at 3:47 pm Sooo delicious!!! Can't wait to make this! Yum!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:26 pm Thanks Megan!Kathryn
March 3, 2019 at 4:43 pm I love everything about this recipe! This is the perfect treat for hot summer days!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:26 pm Thanks Kathryn, it is lovely when you need cooling down!Zuzana
March 3, 2019 at 11:14 pm Love the timings, perfect sunny weather outside for this lovely chocolate treatHope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:25 pm Aah perfect!:)Anne Lawton
March 4, 2019 at 7:19 am I love nice cream! And this recipe sounds delicious!Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:25 pm Thanks Anne!Mimi
March 4, 2019 at 11:34 pm I can't believe how awesome this texture is! It is so creamy and smooth and... mouthwatering! I can't wait to make a lot of this cream at home now :-)Hope Pearce
March 7, 2019 at 3:24 pm Thanks Mimi, it is lovely and creamy, I hope you enjoy it :)