• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Home-Cooked Roots

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Fall Recipes
  • 💛 Favorites
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Fall Recipes
    • 💛 Favorites
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Breakfast Recipes

    The Best Banana Smoothie Bowl

    Published: Apr 10, 2023 by Nicolette · This post may contain affiliate links. By browsing this website, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

    21 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    This Banana Smoothie Bowl is the BEST rich and creamy nice cream. It’s healthy enough for breakfast and indulgent enough for dessert. All you need is 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to enjoy this healthy vanilla ice cream. Great for kids and adults alike.

    Creamy banana smoothie bowl.

    Every time I make this banana smoothie bowl, my mind is blown over how rich and creamy it is considering it is made with just bananas. Ever since I went vegan almost 7 years ago, I haven’t missed dairy ice cream one bit thanks to this easy homemade recipe.

    It is the BEST banana smoothie bowl recipe I promise you!

    Jump to:
    • Why this banana smoothie bowl works
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • Banana smoothie bowl variations
    • How to make a thick banana smoothie bowl
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Recipe Tips
    • Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe

    Why this banana smoothie bowl works

    • Sliced frozen bananas are the easiest to blend! You’ll be able to blend your smoothie bowl completely smooth in just 1-2 minutes with very little effort!
    • A healthy substitute for vanilla ice cream. If you’re looking for a new healthy dessert to enjoy, this smoothie bowl is the perfect recipe. It’s so rich, creamy and delicious – but naturally sweetened with just bananas.
    • Easy to customize. We’ve given you a few of our favorite ways to top this smoothie bowl, but there are infinite options. Drizzle your banana nice cream with all of your favorites.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Sliced bananas, vanilla, coconut milk.
    • frozen bananas – We highly recommend using frozen sliced bananas when making thick smoothie bowls because they are much easier to blend than frozen whole or halved bananas and will help you get that beautiful Vitamix smoothie “swirl.” If you only have whole frozen bananas, you can use them, it will just be more of an arm workout to get it smooth.
    • coconut milk – Full fat coconut milk is the best milk to use because it is extra rich and creamy. If desired, you can substitute heavy cream or a lighter milk for a less creamy version.
    • vanilla extract – A small splash of vanilla helps make this banana smoothie bowl taste like vanilla ice cream! Optional, but highly recommended.

    Banana smoothie bowl variations

    There are tons of ways to change up the flavor of your smoothie bowl. I purposefully left the base flavor of the smoothie bowl plain so you could make it your own (eating it plain is delicious, too!).

    Here are a couple of our favorite ways to make variations of this smoothie bowl:

    • Blend with 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter and sprinkle with crushed peanuts.
    • Blend with 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder or cacao powder for a chocolate flavor.
    • Serve with a sprinkle of chocolate chips and sliced strawberries.

    How to make a thick banana smoothie bowl

    Sliced bananas in blender before blender.
    1. Allow the frozen banana slices and coconut cubes to thaw. The goal here is not to thaw them completely, but just enough to soften them up so they are easier to blend into an ice cream consistency. This should only take about 5 minutes, maybe up to 10 minutes if your home is cold.
    2. Add all ingredients to blender. Whenever using the blender, it is always best to layer in the liquids first and place the frozen fruit on top. In this case, the coconut milk is also frozen, so it won’t matter too much, but I’d still recommend putting the coconut milk on the bottom out of habit.
    Blended banana smoothie bowl.
    1. Blend until smooth. If you are using a high-powdered blender, this should only take 1-2 minutes. Make sure to use the tamper to push the bananas into the blade. This will help you understand how to use the tamper and why it’s necessary when making smoothie bowls.
    2. Serve. Spoon your smoothie bowls into 4 individual bowls and serve immediately while cold and creamy!

    Recipe FAQs

    Does nice cream taste like banana?

    Yes, banana nice cream does taste like banana, but if you like banana you won’t mind it! It’s very natural and subtle tasting.

    Is nice cream healthier?

    Nice cream is absolutely healthier than regular dairy ice cream. It’s made without added sugar, is significantly lower in fat, and is cholesterol free. It’s also naturally vegan, gluten free and paleo friendly.

    Do bananas have to be frozen for smoothie bowls?

    Yes! In order to achieve that thick, ice cream like texture, the bananas must be frozen. If you are in a rush, the banana slices can be frozen for a minimum of 4 hours before blending into a smoothie bowl.

    Should bananas be ripe for smoothie bowls?

    Ripe bananas are preferred. They will be naturally sweeter and creamier.

    Recipe Tips

    • Use the tamper! Pushing the frozen bananas into the blade helps significantly and will make your smoothie bowl fast enough so it won’t melt from the heat of the motor.
    • If adding milk, start with 1 tablespoon. You may not need any at all, but if you do, add it very slowly. It is easy to add more, but very difficult to thicken it back up.
    Bowl full of banana ice cream.
    Creamy banana smoothie bowl.

    Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe

    This Banana Smoothie Bowl is the BEST rich and creamy nice cream. It's healthy enough for breakfast and indulgent enough for dessert. All you need is 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to enjoy this healthy vanilla ice cream. Great for kids and adults alike.
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

    What You’ll Need

    • High-speed blender

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups frozen banana slices
    • ½ cup frozen coconut milk cubes
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1-2 tablespoons coconut milk - as needed to help blend
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Allow the bananas and coconut milk cubes to thaw at room temperature for about 5 minutes. This will soften them up a bit and help them blend easily into an ice cream like texture without the need for a lot of excess liquid.
    • Place the vanilla extract, coconut cubes, and sliced bananas into the blender.
    • Start the blender on a low setting and slowly work up to about ⅓ speed. Use the tamper to push the bananas down into the blade. Continue until the bananas are completely smooth and begin to swirl down towards the blade.
    • Spoon into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy plain or with toppings like extra fruit, chocolate chips, or peanut butter.

    Recipe Notes

    • How to make coconut milk cubes: Pour a can of full fat coconut milk into an ice cube tray, then freeze the coconut milk until solid. I like to do this in a silicone 2 tablespoon ice cube tray for easy removal. 
    Jump to Recipe
    👉 Send this recipe to your email inbox! 📨
    Enter your name and email and get this recipe sent straight to your inbox! Plus, you’ll get new recipes and resources from me every week.
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading

    Nutrition

    Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 877mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg

    Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.

    Course: Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Nicolette Wax

    More Breakfast Recipes

    • How to Make Vegan Caramel Sauce
    • Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
    • Crockpot French Toast Casserole
    • Collage of 4 images of recipes using plant-based protein powder.
      37 Plant-Based Protein Powder Recipes 
    21 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Add a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nicolette in kitchen leaning on kitchen island.

    Hey, there! I'm Nicolette.

    I’m a law student turned grocery budgeting and meal planning expert.

    Here I'm sharing the recipes and savvy budgeting principles that helped me pay off 70k student loan debt in less than 27 months.

    More about me →

    Newest Posts

    • Collage of 4 vegan potato recipes with text that reads, 50+ best Vegan potato recipes.
      50+ Vegan Potato Recipes
    • Collage of 4 recipes to serve with white rice with text that reads, 40+ Meals to Serve with White Rice.
      What to Serve with White Rice (40+ Ideas!)
    • Vegan garlic bread close up pieces.
      Vegan Garlic Bread
    • Marshmallows on parchment paper surrounded by ornaments.
      Homemade Vegan Marshmallows
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Collage of 4 recipes to serve with potstickers.
      What to Serve with Potstickers (37 sides, mains, soups, and more!)

    Budget-Friendly Soups

    • Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup (meatless)
    • Vegan Leek and Potato Soup
    • Creamy Vegan Tomato Soup with Roasted Red Peppers
    • Large pot of pumpkin soup with ladle.
      Cauliflower and Pumpkin Soup Recipe (Easy!) 
    • Chowder in white bowls.
      The Best Vegan Corn Chowder
    • Pot of mushroom soup with ladle of soup in gray ladle.
      Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup (Gluten, Oil Free)

    Instant Pot Favorites

    • Bowl of refried black beans.
      Easy Refried Black Beans from Scratch (Instant Pot!)
    • Bowl of vegan beef stew with wine and crusty bread.
      Vegan Beef Stew
    • Collage of 4 Instant Pot recipes that use lentils with text graphic that says 30+ Instant Pot Lentil Recipes.
      30+ Vegan Instant Pot Lentil Recipes
    • Lentil tacos garnished with cheese, sour cream, and fresh cilantro.
      Instant Pot Lentil Tacos
    • Bowl of red beans and rice topped with rice and green onion.
      Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice (Vegetarian)
    • Bowl of green lentils with spoon.
      How to Cook Lentils in Rice Cooker

    Quick and Easy Appetizers

    • Collage of 4 BBQ recipes for vegans.
      43 Vegan BBQ Recipes
    • Frozen Air Fryer Onion Rings
    • Bowl of crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts with a spoon.
      Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
    • Sweet potato wedges garnished with herbs.
      Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
    • Collage of 4 Silken Tofu recipes with text that says "39 Ways to Use Silken Tofu."
      39 Silken Tofu Recipes
    • Collage of vegetarian pigs in a blanket, vegan cheese ball, vegan spinach artichoke dip and stuffed mushrooms to showcase 31+ Vegan appetizers recipes.
      47+ Vegan Appetizers for the Holidays

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Read Our Terms

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Keep In Touch

    • Subscribe
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Pinterest

    About

    • Contact me
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate and ShopStyle Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Home-Cooked Roots, LLC

    ”Copyright© 2023 · homecookedroots.com ·