How to Make Ice Cream in a Blender

This 3 ingredient banana ice cream is made in a blender with frozen bananas, frozen fresh pineapple and a splash of almond milk. No dairy, no ice cream maker and no waiting for it to churn.

It blends up thick, smooth and creamy in about a minute, and it tastes like a tropical soft serve you can enjoy any time a craving hits.

The Best Blender Ice Cream (Dairy Free Banana Pineapple)

It was a sad, sad day when I realized that dairy and sugar were my migraine triggers. No dairy? No sugar? No ice cream?!? Well, I’m not a quitter. Life without ice cream just seemed too grim. However, eating ice cream was not worth having a migraine that knocks me out for a couple of days. What was a girl to do?

Well, I found a creamy, smooth and perfect solution! Almond milk, frozen bananas and frozen fresh pineapple did the trick. No dairy. No sugar. No migraines.

I know I’m not the first to use a frozen banana in blender ice cream, and I definitely don’t want to be the last! I want you to have success each and every time.

Fresh pineapple is a frequent visitor in our home. It doesn’t stay long… or should I say, it doesn’t last long. So as soon as I chop up fresh pineapple chunks, about 2 cups join the bananas in the freezer. You never know when a craving for this quick, easy blender ice cream may arise. Once you have my Ooey Gooey Brownies and Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches, I think it’s going to be pretty often.

Okay, go get some bananas and pineapple frozen so you can fall in love with blender ice cream just like I have. Happy blending!

Why You’ll Love This 3 Ingredient Ice Cream

• Just 3 ingredients. Frozen bananas, frozen pineapple and almond milk are all you need.
• Dairy free. No cream, no milk and no ice cream maker required.
• Naturally sweet. Ripe bananas and pineapple bring all the sweetness.
• Ready in a minute. Blend for 45 seconds to 1 minute and dig in, as long as your fruit is already frozen.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Bananas: The base of the ice cream. Frozen bananas blend into a texture that is amazingly close to soft serve. Wait until they’re completely yellow, but freeze them before they get too ripe, with no brown on the inside. Overripe bananas taste stronger and can make the ice cream a little gummy.
• How I freeze my bananas: I’m frequently asked this one. Place 6 peeled bananas in a gallon size zip top freezer bag, whole or cut in halves or quarters, and seal it. Freeze for at least 5 hours before using. SUPER easy. Smaller pieces are easier on your blender and blend faster, so the ice cream stays colder and thicker.
• Fresh pineapple chunks: Adds a bright, tropical sweetness and a little tang that keeps the banana from tasting flat. Pick a ripe pineapple that smells sweet at the base. Freeze the chunks the same way, in a zip top bag for at least 5 hours. Fresh pineapple frozen at home has the best flavor, and freezing it the day you cut it means it never goes to waste.
• Almond milk: Just enough liquid to get the blender moving. I use sweetened vanilla almond milk, which adds a hint of vanilla flavor. Unsweetened almond milk works if you want to skip the added sugar, and any milk you like will do the job. Start with the amount in the card and only add more if the blender stalls, because extra liquid turns ice cream into a smoothie.
• A quality blender: You HAVE to use a quality blender. I’m a Vitamix girl, and others have had success with BlendTec and Ninja. Here’s my post on why I chose Vitamix.

How to Make Ice Cream in a Blender

1. Freeze the fruit. Peel the bananas and freeze them in a zip top bag. Freeze the fresh pineapple chunks in a separate bag. Give both at least 5 hours, until they are frozen solid all the way through. Partly frozen fruit makes a thin, slushy ice cream.
2. Add the almond milk first. Pour the almond milk into the blender before the fruit. The liquid on the bottom helps the blades catch the frozen pieces instead of spinning in place.
3. Add the frozen fruit. Add the frozen bananas, then the frozen pineapple chunks, in the order listed. Break any large banana pieces in half so they fit down toward the blades.
4. Blend on high. Blend on high for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Blender ice cream gets pretty thick, so use the tamper to keep pushing the frozen banana and pineapple down into the blades. It’s a nice 45 second forearm workout. So, double the benefit: defined forearms and deliciously creamy ice cream. You’re welcome.
5. Watch for the texture. Stop as soon as the mixture is smooth and creamy, with no icy chunks left and a thick, glossy swirl that holds its shape. Blending longer will start to melt it.
6. Serve right away. Scoop it into bowls and enjoy it as soft serve, or tuck it between cookies for an easy treat. It melts faster than regular ice cream, so don’t wait too long.

Blender Ice Cream FAQs

• Can I make ice cream in a blender? Yes. With frozen fruit and a quality blender, you can make thick, creamy ice cream in about a minute with no ice cream maker.
• Is this ice cream dairy free? Yes. It is made with almond milk, bananas and pineapple, so there is no dairy at all. That’s exactly why I created it.
• Does it have added sugar? The fruit does the sweetening. I use sweetened vanilla almond milk, so use unsweetened almond milk if you want no added sugar at all.
• How long do the bananas need to freeze? At least 5 hours, until they are frozen solid. Freezing them overnight is even easier, so they’re ready whenever you are.
• Why won’t my blender blend it? The mixture is very thick. Use a tamper to push the fruit down, or stop and stir. Add almond milk a tablespoon at a time only if you really need it.
• Can I make it firmer? Yes. Spoon the blended ice cream into a container and freeze it for an hour or so for a scoopable texture.
• How do I store leftovers? Freeze them in an airtight container. Let it sit out for a few minutes to soften before scooping, since it freezes harder than regular ice cream.
• Do I need a Vitamix? No, but you need a quality blender. Others have had success with BlendTec and Ninja.

Kitchen Tools for This Recipe

Banana Pineapple Blender Ice Cream

Banana pineapple blender ice cream is a dairy free soft serve made with just frozen bananas, frozen pineapple and almond milk. It blends smooth and creamy in 45 seconds to 1 minute in a quality blender.

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Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup almond milk I use sweetened vanilla
• 3 bananas peeled and frozen for at least 5 hours
• 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks frozen

Instructions

 

• In a quality blender, add ingredients according to order listed. Blend on high for 45 seconds to 1 minutes until ice cream smooth and creamy.
• Enjoy!

Made this blender ice cream? Leave a star rating in the recipe card and tell me how it turned out in the comments below. Your feedback helps other readers, and I love hearing what blender you used.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Ooey Gooey Brownies
• Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Why Buy a Vitamix?
• Copycat Jamba Juice Aloha Pineapple
• Frozen Fruit Salad