This Ninja Creami banana recipe turns ripe bananas into a creamy, naturally sweet frozen dessert that’s simple to make and endlessly customizable. Bananas provide natural sweetness and creaminess, making this a perfect base for mix-ins or standalone treat.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas (medium size, very ripe with brown spots work best)
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup milk (dairy, almond, oat, or coconut)
- 1-2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of salt
Optional mix-ins:
- Peanut butter swirls
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped walnuts
- Crushed graham crackers
- Caramel drizzle
- Coconut flakes
- Dark chocolate chunks
- Banana slices
Instructions
- Prepare the bananas.
Peel the ripe bananas and slice into 1/2-inch pieces. For easiest blending, freeze the slices for 2-4 hours first (spread on parchment paper to prevent sticking). Fresh ripe bananas also work but may need more milk. - Blend the base.
Add frozen or fresh banana slices, milk, sweetener (if using), vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed. Start with 1/2 cup milk and add more only if needed for blending. - Check consistency.
The mixture should be thick but pourable, like a smoothie. Taste and adjust sweetness—bananas vary in ripeness and sweetness. If too thick, add 1 tablespoon more milk. If too thin, add a few more banana slices or pieces. - Pour into pint.
Transfer banana mixture to Ninja Creami pint container. Stay well below MAX FILL line (banana bases expand during freezing). Secure lid tightly. - Freeze solid.
Freeze upright for 24 hours minimum on level surface. Banana’s natural sugars freeze softer but still need full freeze time for best Creami results. - First spin.
Remove pint from freezer, assemble in Ninja Creami outer bowl. Process on Ice Cream or Sorbet setting (Sorbet works great for fruit-heavy bases). - Texture check.
Banana bases often spin slightly crumbly first time. Normal! Spoon center—if powdery/dry, needs re-spin. - Re-spin process.
Add 1 tablespoon milk to center, run Re-spin cycle. Check texture. Most banana recipes need 1-2 respins for perfect creaminess. - Add mix-ins.
Create deep center well (not to bottom), add 2-3 tablespoons mix-ins, run Mix-ins cycle once. Peanut butter + chocolate chips = PB&J bliss! - Serve immediately.
Soft-serve perfection right away, or freeze 30 minutes for scoopable texture. Keeps 3-5 days covered.
Recipe Tips
- Riper = better: Brown-spotted bananas taste sweetest, blend smoothest.
- Milk matters: Coconut milk = tropical; almond = light; whole milk = richest.
- No ice cream maker needed: Bananas’ pectin creates natural creaminess.
- Flavor combos: PB&banana, chocolate banana, banana bread (add cinnamon + walnuts).
- Vegan friendly: Use plant milk + maple syrup.