Banana Swirl – An Easy (and Vegan!) Frozen Treat

This simple banana swirl technically only needs one ingredient, but you can definitely add more to make it extra delicious!

If you are interested in a vegan ice cream, or even a lower sugar frozen treat, this dessert is for you!

Banana swirl is another name for nice cream, or vegan ice “cream” you can make using frozen bananas.

The riper the bananas are when you freeze them, the sweeter your swirl will turn out!

This is a fun and tasty way to enjoy all the nutritional benefits of bananas.

For a full breakdown, you can check out healthline’s article on 11 evidence-based health benefits of bananas.

You may recognize the name banana swirl from the popular PBS kid’s show, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

In one episode, “Daniel Tries a New Food,” Mom Tiger shows Daniel how to make a banana swirl for a special dessert, since his best friend Miss Elaina is coming over for dinner.

PBS’s recipe for banana swirl includes tips for getting kids to try new foods, so if that is something you would like some support with, be sure to check out the original.

Tips for the best banana swirl

Much like banana bread, ripe or overripe bananas work best in this recipe.

A food processor will yield best results. If you only have a blender, make small batches (like one banana at a time), and scrape down the sides with a spatula. You can also add a splash of non-dairy milk if it needs more moisture.

Blend, blend, blend – if your banana swirl is a weird consistency, you probably need to blend it more.

For a soft serve consistency, serve immediately.

You can freeze any leftovers in a bread loaf pan or similar. This will yield a harder, icier dessert, which works better for scooping into a cone.

The tahini is optional, but I highly recommend it. I made my first batch with just bananas and vanilla, and it was very sweet. The tahini adds a bit of protein and fat, so that your body doesn’t get hit with just sugar all at once.

If you don’t like tahini or sesame, try peanut butter or almond butter instead.

Optional mix-ins and toppings

With easy, foundational recipes like this, you can get as creative as you’d like with customizing this dessert to your tastes! For example, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, or pineapple would all be delicious.
• Dried fruit: sweetened shredded coconut flakes, dates, etc.
• Nutella
• Peanut butter or almond butter
• Chocolate chips
• Caramel sauce
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa powder and/or nibs
• Instant coffee
• M&Ms, crushed Andes mints, Reese’s, Heath bars, gummy candy, or any other candy you’d like
• Mochi
• Popping boba pearls
• Crushed Oreos or brownie pieces
• Granola
• Cheesecake pieces, angel food cake squares, etc.
• Crushed graham crackers or chocolate chip cookies
• Fresh mint

How long do bananas take to freeze?

Generally speaking, bananas freeze after about 60-90 minutes in the freezer.

For best results, freeze your bananas at least two hours ahead of when you plan to make this treat.

Of course, you can freeze them the day or week before with no issues.

You can store bananas in the freezer for up to three months before they start losing flavor and changing color, which could negatively impact how photogenic your banana swirl comes out.

For this recipe specifically, peel your bananas and break them into chunks that will easily fit in your food processor before freezing.

You can put them in a freezer bag or storage container and freeze until you are ready to use them.

Banana Swirl Ingredients

Before you begin, you will need:

Edible ingredients

• 4 frozen bananas, peeled and broken into pieces
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp tahini paste (optional)

Tools and equipment

• A food processor (preferred) or a blender
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons

How to make banana swirl

1. First, if you didn’t freeze your bananas ahead of time, peel them and break them into smaller pieces. Then, toss them in a freezer bag or storage container and put them in the freezer for at least two hours, then come back.
2. Once your bananas are frozen, add them to a food processor, and blitz.
3. After that, add in your vanilla and tahini, along with any other mix-ins you choose, and blend until smooth.
4. Finally, serve immediately for a soft serve texture, garnish with any toppings you want, and enjoy!
5. Once you’ve eaten, freeze any leftovers in a bread loaf pan or storage container immediately. If desired, you can use parchment paper at the bottom for easier clean-up. This will yield a more traditional (and scoop-able) ice cream texture, with ice crystals.

Pin it for later!

Variations on this recipe

This would be a fun, not to mention tasty, way to sneak in things like protein powder or similar.

Of course, any nut butter would go wonderfully in this. I only put a little tahini in the recipe as it can be a bit strong in flavor, but play with the proportions to create your ideal ratio.

If you want added sweetness, maple syrup or honey would go nicely, but I thought it was sweet enough on its own.

For a bit of fun color, as well as added health benefits, try adding matcha powder.

If you found this article helpful, please consider joining my email newsletter community for new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!

Related dessert recipes

You may also enjoy my recipes for:

• Black walnut ice cream (no-churn, not vegan)
• High altitude banana bread muffins (if you have even more leftover bananas)
• Melba sauce (raspberry topping for ice cream)
• Gianduja (the original homemade Nutella)
• Goiabada (preserved guava paste – delicious on ice cream!)

I hope you love this simple recipe for banana swirl!