I’ve been whipping up variations on this healthy dessert for weeks. I love baking and cooking for the holidays, but at some point enough was enough. I started craving something light and creamy, healthy enough to eat for breakfast if I wanted and decadent enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.
Little effort had to be part of the equation, too, because I was so busy with the holiday hustle and bustle. I decided to do a variation on my Blueberry Banana ‘Ice Cream’ using plain, organic yogurt.
This is the prefect way to use your overripe bananas. The banana adds creaminess and consistency akin to a soft-serve frozen yogurt with none of the added sugar. Make sure to freeze the banana overnight. You don’t need an ice cream maker, either. Just a mini-food chopper or a food processor. I make this in a single batch just for me. If you want to make it in a bigger batch, instead of doubling the recipe try adding ¼ cup of yogurt for each extra banana. You can add more yogurt if you want a thinner consistency.
This is linked to Life As Mom’s Ultimate Recipe Swap.
Ingredients
- 1 medium to large frozen banana, cut into chunks
- 6 frozen bing cherries
- 1/2 cup organic plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon chopped nuts to top (optional)
Instructions
- Place banana and bing cherries in the bowl of a mini-food chopper or food processor and process until chopped in smaller pieces. Add yogurt and process until smooth.
- Remove bowl from food processor and, with lid ajar, place into freezer for 20 – 30 minutes. Remove, scrape sides of the bowl, and process until just until smooth.
- Place into a custard bowl and, if desired, top with chopped nuts.
Enjoy!
Lauren
posted on January 3, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Yes! Although I’m not a big banana fan, this looks sensational =D. I might have to give it a try!
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Morgan
posted on January 3, 2010 at 9:24 pm
I have frozen “sweet cherries” (what it says on the bag). Will those work? I stuck some overripe bananas in the fridge a few weeks ago and have been wanting to use them. Very excited about this recipe!
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Amy Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 8:34 am
@Morgan, Yes, those will work. You can actually use any frozen fruit – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. It’s good with just the banana and the yogurt, too.
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Alta (Tasty Eats At Home)
posted on January 4, 2010 at 7:23 am
Ooh – my kind of treat! Anything with bing cherries is automatically on my “yum” list. This sounds easy and delicious.
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Rebecca
posted on January 4, 2010 at 8:30 am
I’ve used almost this same recipe with frozen bananas and strawberries or blueberries. I see you have a link to something similar. Very tasty. Another combo I’m crazy about right now is cherries and raspberries. You are correct it is very much like frozen yogurt. I feel guilty for eating it for breakfast, well almost!
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Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
posted on January 4, 2010 at 9:42 am
Sounds like a perfect dessert to me – healthy and easy to make and I have all the ingredients too, will definitely be making tonight!
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gfe--gluten free easily
posted on January 4, 2010 at 11:51 am
Looks divine, Amy! Bananas do amazing things in yogurts and ice creams for sure.
I like the idea of the single portion, too. 
Shirley
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Diane-The WHOLE Gang
posted on January 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm
My college guy would love this. He’s taking his ice cream maker back with him. Made me go get myself a new one. Glad I did.
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MaryMoh
posted on January 4, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Looks creamy, healthy and delicious. Quite like ice-cream to me. Would love to try that….something healthy to start off the year.
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Jenna
posted on January 4, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Looks really great – and once again I’m stalled at the gate by a stupid problem, but this time I’m just going to ask a potentially idiotic question and hope you know the answer…
Are there any viable subs for bananas in smoothies and frozen treats? Celiac is a pain, but the banana allergy might make me nutty! So many good ideas seem to start with “Take one ripe banana”! Help?
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Amy Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
@Jenna, That does sound like a tricky problem. The banana adds lots of creaminess to the frozen yogurt but I think you could try it without the banana and just add more fruit that you can tolerate.
I’ve also frozen the yogurt in ice cube trays and thrown the fruit in the microwave so it’s soft and juice, then whirled them in the food processor. I can’t guarantee it will be as creamy but it would be a nice, quick frozen treat.
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Jenna Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
@Amy, Thanks so much, I’ll definitely give that a try. Heck, I’ve got yogurt working in the kitchen at the moment, so I’ve got plenty to experiment with. I have to wonder, if the banana is mainly there for a creamy taste… would yogurt cheese (yogurt dripped through cheesecloth overnight) work better? The nice thing I’m finding about celiac – at least experiments in THIS lab are usually edible!
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Amy Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
@Jenna, Yes, I think that yogurt cheese would work. It’s thick enough to make a creamier texture. Greek yogurt would work, too. I would start with less yogurt and then add more to get the consistency you want. I would love to hear how it turns out!
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
posted on January 4, 2010 at 3:59 pm
I love desserts like this! Especially after the holidays!
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Cari Snell
posted on January 4, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Hi Amy!
Your “icecream” looks lovely! And I have some frozen bananas just waiting to be used up! I’d love to feature this recipe on my site with full credits and links back to you. Please let me know if you are keen! Sincerely, Cari
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Cari Snell Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
@Cari Snell, Whoops! I meant frozen yogurt! That’s what I get for trying to type while the kids play a mere 2 feet away!
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Amy Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
@Cari Snell, Yes, I’d love for you to feature this on your website. Please let me know when the feature is up so I can send my readers your way. Thanks so much!
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Irene
posted on January 4, 2010 at 6:47 pm
This is a recipe I can handle. Looking forward to trying this recipe with berries – I love my berries!
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SnoWhite
posted on January 4, 2010 at 9:48 pm
that looks wonderful!! thanks for a great recipe — can’t wait to try it with my homemade yogurt!
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thé
posted on January 5, 2010 at 3:42 am
Hello
I have never tried cherry banana frozen yogurt before.This is something new recipe for me and I will definitely try for this.This looks delicious.Thank you very much for giving such different recipe.
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Simply Life
posted on January 5, 2010 at 7:16 am
wow, way to go! this looks great!
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Fayinagirl
posted on January 5, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Amy, this looks so yummy. I’ve been contemplating trying to make some coconut milk yogurt too. The kids would love this. =)
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Liz@HoosierHomemade
posted on January 5, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Oh my! This looks delicious! I know what I’m adding to my grocery list for the wkend. I think the boys would even eat this.
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
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Lorie AMYS LITTLE SISTER :)
posted on January 6, 2010 at 11:26 am
LOVE these ideas- my BF thinks she might have Celiac disease- we are going to try to do some of these recipes TONIGHT! Thanks for all the healthy ideas. It really helps when they come from someone I trust.
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Amy Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 11:53 am
@Lorie AMYS LITTLE SISTER
, Hey you! It’s so neat to have you comment on my blog. I hope your BF doesn’t have Celiac and it’s something easier to live with, but most of all I hope she finds a solution so she feels better. Let me know what you think about the recipes you try. I so value your feedback. Much love!
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Kestlyn
posted on January 9, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Thank you so much for this recipe! I have a milk allergy so I replaced the yogurt with soy yogurt and it turned out beautifully…and…um, added some mini chocolate chips (but maybe I shouldn’t admit that part LOL). Thank you again
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Kestlyn
posted on January 9, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Sorry to double post, but I just had to come back. I ate my cherry banana frozen yogurt about 15 minutes ago…and I’m full. I’m not craving anything. It’s a wierd feeling. Usually I am up starving at night and can eat a whole box of crackers, cookies, etc…but I’m not hungry at all. I stumbled upon your site, looking up a recipe for my MIL who recently went gluten free, and am so glad I did. After reading your story I’m pretty sure that I’m like you too. I can’t believe that my eyes are tearing up right now…but I’m so thankful to not be hungry. Thank you.
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Amy Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 7:32 am
@Kestlyn, I understand the tears. It’s a miracle in my book. I was hungry for years until I quit the white sugar and wheat.
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Mireya Merritt
posted on January 12, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Amy,
This is a great recipe. I love finding recipes like this that taste great and don’t have added sugar.
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