5 ‘Nice Cream’ recipes to Make

Ice cream is a delicious frozen treat in the summer but ‘nice cream’ might be something people are not too familiar with.

There are some key differences between the two.

While ice cream is traditionally made with a cream base, nice cream is a sugar and dairy-free dessert that is made by blitzing pieces of frozen fruit.

This makes it suitable for vegans and those with health problems, such as diabetes.

Nice cream is rich, creamy and luscious enough for a special occasion, yet light enough for an anytime indulgence.

We look at the foundations of nice cream as well as five recipes.

Start with Frozen Bananas

Nice cream was originally coined the describe the popular dessert, which is made by blending chunks of frozen bananas.

In order to obtain a custard-like consistency, dense, sweet fruits remain the best.

1. Freeze whole, peeled, ripe bananas until firm.
2. Break the bananas into one-inch chunks, then blend in a food processor until smooth, adding up to a quarter cup of plant-based milk if necessary.
3. Serve immediately or place in the freezer for around one hour for a firmer consistency.

But nice cream is not just about bananas, other fruits provide a good base.

Not all fruits have the right balance of natural sugar and moisture to blend into a creamy consistency.

Different fruits can be blended into the base fruit to enhance the flavour of your nice cream. Or, to add a chunky texture, fold in a cup of chopped fresh or frozen fruit or nuts.

Once you have learnt the basics, there is an endless array of nice cream combinations.

Here are five delicious nice cream recipes to enjoy this summer.

Mango Nice Cream

Made with mangoes, milk and a banana, this fruit-based treat provides a sweet and tangy taste.

It has the richness of ice cream and the intense fruitiness of a sorbet but it is sugar and dairy-free.

In this recipe, there is only a subtle banana flavour, allowing the mango to shine. This makes for the perfect summer dessert.

Ingredients

• 900g fresh mangoes, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 1 Banana, cut into ½-inch rounds
• A pinch of salt
• 2/3 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk

Method

1. On a baking paper-lined tray, arrange the mango and banana in a single layer. Freeze until firm.
2. Once firm, transfer the fruit to a food processor. Add the salt and blend until the fruit is crumbly.
3. Stop the processor and scrape down the sides.
4. Turn back on and pour in the milk. After one minute, scrape down the sides. Repeat the process for around two minutes, or until smooth.
5. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and freeze until solid.

This recipe was inspired by The Kitchn.

Cherry Garcia

Cherry Garcia is a popular Ben & Jerry’s flavour and it has been reimagined as a dairy-free version.

Made with plant-based ingredients, each one containing its own health benefits, this cherry nice cream is 100% dairy-free, vegan and tasty.

The cherries add subtle sweet and tangy flavours to this smooth dessert.

Dark chocolate chips add a crunchy texture and a slight bitterness.

Ingredients

• 2 Frozen bananas, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1½ cups frozen cherries, pitted and divided
• A splash of unsweetened plant-based milk or vegan cream
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (vegan)
• 1 tsp vanilla (optional)

Method

1. In a food processor, place the bananas, one cup of cherries and milk and blend until just combined, pausing to scrape down the sides.
2. Add another splash of milk if necessary.
3. Add the chocolate chips and remaining cherries. Blend until just combined.
4. Serve immediately or freeze in an airtight container for at least six hours.

This recipe was inspired by The Simple Veganista.

Strawberry Nice Cream

Strawberry ice cream is a classic flavour so why not strawberry nice cream?

Containing no added sugar, this dairy-free ice cream is bursting with a sweet berry flavour.

If you freeze the fruit ahead of time, it takes just minutes to make.

Ingredients

• 450g strawberries
• 2 Bananas, peeled
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ cup ice-cold water, as needed

Method

1. Coarsely chop the strawberries and bananas. Layer on a baking tray and freeze for at least 12 hours.
2. When ready to use, allow the strawberries to thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes.
3. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
4. Add the frozen bananas and lemon juice and pulse until smooth, adding up to a quarter cup of water if needed. Stop to scrape down the sides.
5. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container and freeze until solid.

This recipe was inspired by Eating Well.

Blueberry Muffin

This nice cream takes the much-loved flavours of a blueberry muffin and turns it into a frozen dessert.

Containing fresh blueberries, this nice cream has a number of health benefits. This includes potentially reducing blood pressure.

Vanilla extract adds another layer of flavour while the rolled oats add some texture to this dessert.

Ingredients

• 4 frozen bananas, sliced
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• ½ tsp cinnamon powder
• ¼ cup rolled oats, toasted
• ¾ cups blueberries, chopped

Method

1. Place the bananas, vanilla extract, almond milk and cinnamon powder in a food processor and blend until smooth, scraping the sides from time to time.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and pulse for approximately 15 seconds.
3. Serve immediately or transfer to a baking paper-lined loaf tin and freeze for at least four hours.

This recipe was inspired by Fit Foodie Finds.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter and banana go so well together that this nice cream flavour works beautifully.

Peanut butter adds more creaminess to the mixture while the nuttiness provides a unique flavour.

Although optional, the addition of salt really brings out the flavours.

Ingredients

• 4 cups frozen bananas, sliced
• ¼ cup all-natural peanut butter
• ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips (dairy-free if desired)
• A pinch of salt (if desired)

Method

1. Into a food processor goes bananas, peanut butter and almond milk. Blend until it reaches a smooth consistency.
2. Add the chocolate chips and pulse to combine.
3. Serve immediately for a soft-serve consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a baking paper-lined loaf tray and freeze for about two hours.
4. When ready to eat, garnish with chocolate chips and a drizzle of peanut butter.

This recipe was adapted from Yummy Mummy Kitchen.

If you choose to freeze your nice cream, make sure to let it defrost slightly before serving.

These nice cream flavours highlight that there are plenty of dairy-free options out there when it comes to frozen treats.

They boast a similar texture and creaminess to the regular thing but without dairy or sugar, making nice cream beneficial for those with dietary requirements.