Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
I’m a huge fan of all things mint chocolate chip. It’s been a part of my birthday tradition since I was a kid (though back then it was always mint chocolate chip ice cream cakes). Now, in gluten-free Downshiftology-land, I get creative each year with unique birthday desserts that are a bit healthier and maintain that fun and special mint chocolate chip theme. You can check out previous birthday recipes below!
So let’s chat about this mint chocolate chip nice cream. It uses the simplest ingredients (no green dyes or powders are needed to make it green), it’s fast and easy (literally one minute in a blender), and it’s got the most refreshing peppermint-y flavor (with lots of chocolate chunks for good measure!).
What You Need For Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
The beauty of nice creams is that you don’t need to add extra sugar – all thanks to frozen ripe bananas that are perfectly sweet on their own! The banana serves as a sweet and creamy base, and then there’s just a few extra ingredients to make the perfect ice cream-like dessert.
Bananas: Frozen sliced bananas are key! I’ve got a few tips on how to freeze bananas, but just make sure to use ripe bananas that have just started to brown for a sweeter nice cream. Then you don’t need to use any honey or maple syrup, though you can always add that if you’d like.Avocados: A ripe avocado not only adds to the ultra-creamy texture, it’s adds a natural green color without the need for dyes or special powder colorings like matcha powder or spirulina. Bonus – avocados are neutral in flavor and take on whatever flavor you add, like peppermint! If you’ve made my chocolate avocado pudding, you know! Almond Milk: Feel free to use almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk or your favorite non-dairy milk.Peppermint Extract: Just a teeny bit is needed for the right amount of peppermint flavor. Tip – start with less and add more so the peppermint flavor isn’t overpowering.Vanilla Extract: Just a smidge of vanilla extract sweetens the nice cream and balances the peppermint flavor.Chocolate Bar: Grab your favorite chocolate, whether that’s milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Your choice!
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Nice Cream – with a Mint Chocolate Chip Twist!
Freeze the bananas and avocado. Peel and slice the bananas into chunks, and place on a parchment lined baking tray. Peel and dice the avocado, and add to the baking tray. Place both in the freezer for at least 2 to 3 hours. You want them nice and frozen!
Blend the base up! Add the bananas, avocado, almond milk, peppermint extract and vanilla extract to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend for one minute, until it’s smooth. If your blender has a tamper, make sure to use that!
In goes the chocolate. Add the chopped chocolate to the blender and either stir together (if you’d like to keep big chunks of chocolate) or pulse a couple of times (to get small flecks of chocolate).
It’s ready to enjoy! Serve immediately for a soft texture or place in a loaf pan and freeze for a couple of hours for a firmer texture.
A Few Tips For the Perfect Nice Cream Recipe
Make sure you have enough in the blender. Don’t try to reduce this recipe at all. You need a minimum amount of “stuff” in a high-powered blender in order for it to churn into nice cream. If you find that it’s not blending properly, you may need to grab larger bananas next time.Don’t be shy with the tamper. You’ve really got to push the tamper down hard. It’s a little bit of an arm workout… but it’s only a minute! Scrape down the sides as you blend. Since you’re working with mostly frozen ingredients, you may need to scrape down the sides or move around bigger frozen clumps as you go.
How To Store Nice Cream
Any leftover nice cream can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just keep in mind it will be rock solid once you take it out of the freezer. So let it thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes, or until it starts to soften.
More Mint Chocolate Desserts
Craving more mint chocolate dessert ideas? I’ve got you covered with lots of previous birthday recipes! And with that in mind…what mint chocolate dessert should I make for my birthday next year?
Mint Chocolate Energy Balls (2021 birthday)Mint Chocolate Vegan Cheesecake (2020 birthday)Peppermint Truffles (2019 birthday)Mint Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (2018 birthday)Chocolate Peppermint Slice (2017 birthday)Mini Skillet Brownies with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (2016 birthday)
For all my mint chocolate lovers, I guarantee you’ll be making this pretty often. Once you give this recipe a go, let me know your thoughts in a comment below!
Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
from votes Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 6 hours Total: 6 hours 15 minutes Servings: 6 servings PrintPinReviewSaveSaved
Description
This creamy, vegan nice cream recipe will have all the mint chocolate chip lovers swooning – all you need are 6 simple ingredients!
Ingredients
4 large bananas1 large avocado¼ cup almond milk (or other dairy-free milk)½ teaspoon peppermint extract¼ teaspoon vanilla extract3 ounces chocolate bar, roughly chopped
Instructions
Peel and slice the bananas into chunks, and place on a parchment lined baking tray. Peel and dice the avocado, and add to the baking tray. Freeze for at least 2 to 3 hours. 
Add the frozen bananas, frozen avocado, almond milk, peppermint extract and vanilla extract to a high-powered blender or food processor. Blend for one minute, or until smooth. If your blender has a tamper, make sure to use that.
Add the chopped chocolate to the blender and either stir together (if you’d like to keep big chunks of chocolate – my preferred method) or pulse a couple of times (to get small flecks of chocolate).
Serve immediately for a soft texture or place in a loaf pan and freeze for a couple of hours for a firmer texture. 
Nutrition
Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 2mg Course: Dessert Cuisine: American Keyword: Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream, Nice Cream Recipe
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