Chocolate Banana Ice Cream

Jun 7, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Ice cream frozen desserts Vanilla: Beans Medium

Two generous scoops of chocolate banana ice cream in a shallow ceramic bowl, softly melting at the edges

A creamy, homemade chocolate banana ice cream combining ripe bananas and rich cocoa with real vanilla bean for deep, balanced flavor and smooth texture.

Prep 30 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 4 hr

Total 4 hr 40 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (360.0 ml)whole milk
1.0 cup (240.0 ml)heavy cream
¾ cup (150.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0vanilla bean, split and scraped
½ cup (50.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
1.0 cup (225.0 g)mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium bananas)
3.0 large (54.0 g)egg yolks

Make it at home

As an Amazon Associate, VanillaGoods earns from qualifying purchases. We only suggest tools that fit this recipe.

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine milk, 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and the seeds and pod of the vanilla bean.
Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot but not boiling, about 5 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks to lighten.
Temper the yolks by gradually whisking in 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the hot cocoa mixture, then slowly whisk the yolk mixture back into the saucepan.
Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, until custard thickens and coats the back of the spoon, reaching 170-175°F (77-79°C), about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a clean bowl, discarding the vanilla pod.
Stir in the heavy cream and mashed bananas until smooth.
Cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly onto the surface to prevent a skin, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or until thoroughly chilled.
Churn the chilled mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions until it reaches soft-serve consistency, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Transfer the ice cream into an airtight container and freeze for at least 2 hours to firm up before serving.

Tips

Use ripe bananas with brown spots for the best natural sweetness and flavor.
Scraping seeds from a whole vanilla bean boosts the vanilla aroma and flavor more than extract.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make chocolate banana ice cream?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to chill and freeze. The recipe makes about 1 quart (8 servings).

How should I store chocolate banana ice cream?

Store the ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let soften at room temperature 5-10 minutes before scooping.

Can I make chocolate banana ice cream ahead?

Prepare the custard base and refrigerate overnight before churning for easier schedule management.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped. Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

A creamy, homemade chocolate banana ice cream combining ripe bananas and rich cocoa with real vanilla bean for deep, balanced flavor and smooth texture.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

263 Calories / serving

15.0g Fat

32.1g Carbs

4.8g Protein

25.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~2104 cal · 120g fat · 257g carbs · 38g protein · 204g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 263 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 50 min·2.9 mi·~5850 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 36 min·1.8 mi·~3600 steps
Moderate cycling 27 min·5.4 mi
Swimming laps 37 min
Jogging 26 min·2.2 mi·~4150 steps
Stair climbing 24 min·~2150 steps
Dancing 43 min
Bodyweight circuit training 27 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 61 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.