Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
This stuff is GOOD.
Cold, creamy, chocolate peanut butter and banana flavored soft serve ice cream, studded with dark chocolate chips and walnuts.
Except this isn’t technically ice cream.
This is a dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan dessert. It’s a healthy alternative to soft serve ice cream or froyo, a single serving treat that’s also easily customizable.
When I received jars of the new Smart Balance Chocolate Peanut Butters, I knew I wanted to create a healthy dessert pairing it with bananas. I love peanut butter and banana together, often eating it pre- or post-workout, or as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack. To me, peanut butter and banana belong together, and chocolate peanut butter just makes the pairing even better. Oh yes, I said chocolate peanut butter.
I simply froze a couple of large bananas, dumped it in my blender with a couple of scoops of peanut butter and a dash of vanilla, then whirred away. I had to scrape the mixture from the sides of my blender a few times, but the bananas eventually transformed into the consistency of soft serve ice cream or frozen pudding. At the last minute, I pulsed in some dark chocolate chips and walnuts, adding even more flavor and heart-healthy fats.
The bananas transform into a creamy frozen treat, and the dark chocolate peanut butter adds a luxurious taste to this “ice cream” and makes it even more velvety. The new Smart Balance Natural Chocolate Peanut Butter Spread products are great – they’re lactose-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, contain no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and offer 320mg ALA Omega-3s per two tablespoon serving.
Which means this is totally healthy, so I don’t need to restrict it to just dessert. It can also double as a snack. And breakfast.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
2 large bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid
2 tablespoons Smart Balance Natural Dark Chocolate Creamy Peanut Butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon walnuts, chopped
1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
Directions
- Combine frozen bananas, chocolate peanut butter, and vanilla extract in a blender or a food processor, and blend until it reaches consistency of soft serve ice cream. You may have to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times, but eventually it will become really creamy with a smooth, rich texture.
- Add in walnuts and chocolate chips and pulse a few times. This resulting "ice cream" can be served immediately, or frozen for an even firmer consistency.
Recipe
Do you have a favorite chocolate peanut butter dessert? Please share in the comments section!