What Is “Nice” Cream?
Nice cream a magical concept of blending frozen bananas in a food processor until they reach the consistency of soft-serve ice cream (…seriously). With a little fat, like coconut milk or almond butter, the banana flavor starts to fade and bam ⚡️ …you have something very similar to soft serve, but HEALTHY.
Since bananas are naturally very sweet, nice cream has no added sugar. And it’s alllll the things: dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free. Ideal for anyone on a special diet or just wants a sweet treat without the stomach ache.
One of my all-time favorite ice cream flavors is mint chocolate chip so – inspired by my interview with #ladyboss Adeline of Nutu moringa – I decided to make this nice cream even healthier by adding matcha or moringa powder though it’s completely optional. Read on for the health benefits and some nice cream tips.
What are Matcha and Moringa Powders?
Matcha is made by grinding up the pure green tea leaves into a powder so it’s more concentrated than green tea. It’s grown in the shade so it has more chlorophyll in it (food for your cells!). One study found that matcha has up to three times the amount of EGCG (an antioxidant) than regular green tea. 👊🏼
Moringa is the world’s most nutrient-rich plant, containing 92 distinct nutrients and all nine essential amino acids – including methionine and cysteine, compounds rarely found in plants. I was introduced to moringa powder by my friend Adeline, co-founder of Nutu moringa. Here are just some of the health benefits:
- Reduces inflammation.
- Improves digestive health.
- Boosts immunity.
- Increases energy due to high protein, vitamin, and mineral content.
- Alkalizes and detoxifies the blood.
- Reduces blood sugar levels.
Check out Nutu moringa for a look at the scientific studies.
Do I Need Matcha or Moringa Powder for This Recipe?
Nope! If you don’t have matcha or moringa powder, no worries. You’ll miss out on the beautiful green color but this mint chocolate chip nice cream will still be healthy, delicious, and full of minty flavor.
Some Ingredient Notes
This nice cream is packed with healthy ingredients. Let’s take a look:
- Bananas. Bananas are an unprocessed carbohydrate, chock full of minerals, particularly the mineral electrolyte potassium.
- Coconut Milk. Coconut milk and oil has been shown to raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which ultimately decreases the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. This decreased ratio can help reduce the risk of heart disease. It also helps boosts metabolism, reverses insulin resistance, and improves cognitive function (1).
- Matcha or Moringa. Full of antioxidants. See above for matcha and moringa benefits. We like this brand of moringa and this brand of matcha.
- Peppermint Extract. Peppermint is very soothing for the digestive system, making this dairy-free nice cream even better for those with digestive issues. We like this brand of peppermint extract.
- Dark Chocolate. Cacao is loaded with flavonoids, a type of antioxidant compound that may lower your risk of several diseases by destroying free radicals in your cells and tissues. When compared to the antioxidant content of black tea, green tea, and red wine, raw cacao has the highest antioxidant activity. It’s also one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium, the “anti-stress” mineral. I like this brand of dark chocolate and for a sugar-free option, I like Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips.
Equipment Needed to Make Nice Cream
The only piece of equipment you need to make nice cream is a food processor. Some websites will say that a blender will work, but I’ve never had success with the blender method.
Extra Tips
This recipe is best with ripe but still firm bananas. I find that overripe bananas are too banana-y and sweet. Save those for banana bread ;).
It can take a while for the frozen bananas to be processed into the creamy consistency of soft serve, so be patient. Remember to scrape down the sides throughout the process.
Nice cream is best enjoyed right away. If you refreeze the nice cream, it will have a slightly icy consistency, though it will still be delicious. If refrozen, allow to thaw a bit before serving as the nice cream will get very hard in the freezer.
Matcha Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Process
- Cuisine: Japanese-Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Matcha mint chocolate chip nice cream is a healthy soft serve ice cream made with just a few simple ingredients: bananas, coconut milk, mint, chocolate, and matcha (optional)! No added sugar, dairy-free, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe but firm bananas, cut into coins and frozen in a single layer
- 1 can of full-fat coconut milk, put in the fridge to set OR 1/4 cup unsweetened cashew or almond butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, plus more to taste
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder or moringa powder (optional, add more to taste)
- 1 (3.5-oz) dark chocolate bar, coarsely chopped OR 1 cup of chocolate chips (for a sugar-free option, I like Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips).
Instructions
- Before you start. Cut the bananas into coins and freeze in a single layer on a baking tray or large plate lined with parchment paper. Put the coconut milk in the fridge to set.
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Process. Combine the frozen banana coins, the cream from the can of coconut milk (the cream should have separated from the coconut water in the fridge: discard the coconut water or save for smoothies) OR the cashew or almond butter, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, a big pinch of sea salt, and the moringa or matcha powder (optional) in a food processor.
Pulse until the mixture is the creamy texture of soft-serve ice cream. You may need to scrape down the sides throughout the process; it can take a few minutes, so be patient! Taste and add more peppermint extract if desired. Once creamy, add the coarsely chopped dark chocolate and pulse until incorporated. Transfer to an airtight container.
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Enjoy. This nice cream will be best and creamiest if eaten right away. Use a large spoon or ice cream scoop to serve. To save for later, store nice cream in the freezer. Allow to thaw for 10-15 minutes before scooping.
Love this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a review by commenting below!
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