If you enjoy ice cream but want something simple you can make at home, this banana coconut version is worth trying.
The original Natural Health Kingdom recipe uses just four ingredients: frozen banana, chilled coconut milk, chopped coconut and vanilla. Everything is blended together in a food processor until smooth.
It is simply an easy homemade dessert with a short ingredient list.
At a glance
Prep time: About 10 minutes, plus freezing the bananas
Blend time: About 2–3 minutes
Serves: About 4
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped frozen banana slices
- 1 cup chilled coconut milk
- 1/2 cup finely chopped coconut
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
How to make banana coconut ice cream
1. Freeze the bananas
Peel and slice the bananas before freezing them.
Spread the pieces out so they don’t freeze into one solid block. Freeze until completely firm.
2. Add the ingredients
Place the frozen banana pieces, chilled coconut milk, chopped coconut and vanilla in a food processor.
3. Blend until smooth
Process until the mixture becomes thick and creamy.
You may need to stop once or twice to scrape down the sides.
Avoid adding more coconut milk than necessary, because too much liquid will make the mixture softer.
4. Serve
For a soft-serve texture, serve straight away.
For a firmer texture, transfer the mixture to a freezer-safe container and freeze until it reaches your preferred consistency.
If it becomes very firm, let it sit for a few minutes before scooping.
Easy variations
The original recipe is deliberately simple, so it is easy to adapt.
Add berries: Blend in a handful of frozen strawberries or raspberries.
More chocolate: Add a little grated dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Add spice: A small pinch of cinnamon can work well with the banana and coconut.
Try another extract: A little almond extract can give the dessert a different character.
What makes the texture work?
Frozen banana is doing much of the work here.
When blended, frozen banana becomes smooth and creamy, giving this dessert an ice-cream-like texture without a traditional ice-cream machine.
Chilled coconut milk also contributes richness.
Is coconut milk healthy?
Coconut milk can be part of a varied diet, but it is worth avoiding the idea that coconut automatically makes a recipe healthier.
Coconut milk and coconut cream are relatively high in saturated fat, and the NHS recommends limiting saturated fat as part of a balanced diet.
So enjoy this as a dessert rather than treating it as a health food.
A note about portions
The nutritional value of the finished dessert depends on the exact ingredients and portion size.
Bananas contribute natural sweetness, while coconut milk and chopped coconut add fat and energy.
If you are watching your overall calorie or saturated-fat intake, keep portions sensible and consider the dessert part of your day’s food rather than something that needs a “diet” label.
Nutrition labels can help you compare packaged coconut products and check their fat and saturated-fat content.
Make-ahead and storage
This dessert is especially convenient because you can prepare and freeze the bananas in advance.
Once blended, keep any leftovers covered in the freezer.
Homemade frozen desserts can become quite firm, so let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
The bottom line
This banana coconut ice cream is an easy homemade dessert made from a handful of ingredients.
Frozen banana provides the creamy base, while coconut milk, chopped coconut and vanilla give it its flavour.
It’s a quick, creamy homemade treat — and sometimes that’s enough.
Recipe Notes
This recipe is a modern presentation of the original Healthy Banana Coconut Ice Cream Recipe article on Natural Health Kingdom from 2015. (How time flies)