Who said all fakes are bad?
An ice-cream maker has long been on my list of things I wish to buy for my kitchen, but since quitting my job to concentrate on study in February, money has definitely been one of the things I’m lacking in (well, the purchase of my highly overpriced but much loved Canon G7 probably had a bit to do with that too!). This has left me ice-cream maker-less and pining over my computer every time I’ve seen those luscious ice-cream posts on other food blogs! However, when I spotted this faux banana ice cream on the lovely Lis’ blog ‘La Mia Cucina‘, I literally jumped out of my chair and whooped for joy. Why, you ask? Because this recipe could be made WITHOUT an ice-cream maker!
*listens to a heavenly choir a-singin’ in her ears*
Ahem.
Anyway, we had a stash of bananas, but none were really ripe/bananay enough to give this a try, so thus began the waiting game. A rather dangerous waiting game, truth be told, as my brother has a tendency to devour 1-2 bananas every day. This means that unless there is a MOUNTAIN of bananas in the fruit basket, very few actually make it to the point where the skin starts to brown 
I *could* have hidden one…but then again, with my memory, I would likely have forgotten it’s existance only to discover it far too late later down the track whilst cleaning out my pantry (there is a story here…involving a mango and my pantry. It is a sad tale of woe, and I won’t share it except to say that never in the history of mankind have ants had such a feast!)
Stopping short of writing “MY BANANA! DON’T EAT IT” in black marker all over one of the doomed fruit, I advised my brother that it would be in his best interests to leave just one banana for me, and so every morning I checked the bananas, until that one fateful day when suddenly I spotted one that had begun to brown! At last, victory was mine! MU-HA-HA-HA-HA!
However, since I’m one of those silly individuals that can never leave well enough alone, I tinkered with the recipe to make it more caloriffic (though the healthy recipe is over at Lis’ blog so make sure you check it out if you’re better at following your diet than I am!) and the result was something that almost had my sister and brother fighting for the remains.
I’m sorry I’ve been absent on the blogosphere of late, but I’m at the arse-end of my semester and have an essay, research project, web coding assignment and 2 exams to study for that are all within the next 3 weeks, so time is very scarce. Add that to the fact that my internet access has died (I’m currently sitting in the courtyard at uni before my lecture and freezing my little mitts off!) and so I just don’t have the time nor means to browse your lovely blogs! I’m guessing I’m going to have a LOT of reading to catch up on once I come back!
At any rate, here’s the recipe - trust me when I say that you need to make this. Really, there’s no excuse not to 
(and yes, I slathered my ice cream in a non-dairy chocolate sauce, which will be my next post. Promise!)
Faux Banana Ice-Cream
Makes 4 servings (about 2 cups)
2 very ripe large bananas
1/4 cup thickened/double cream
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Peel the bananas and slice them into 2cm-thick pieces. Place them on a cookie sheet and freeze till rock solid, about 1-2 hours minimum.
2. Blend the frozen banana slices in a food processor till slightly creamy, then add the cream, sugar and vanilla extract and pulse till smooth and creamy, occasionally scraping down the sides and giving it a good mix up with a spoon.
3. Pour into a container and freeze for 1-2 hours minimum, then scoop out into ramekins/bowls to serve. Drizzle your choice of topping on top and serve up and enjoy!
Technorati Tags: banana, ice cream, fake ice cream, dessert, sweets, recipes
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Comments
How can it be fake when it’s so real good!
I did this with just the banana and it is just unbelievable!!!
Best on your projects and exams!
This looks really lovely and not at all fake. Another ice cream maker-less option is semi freddo which I almost prefer to ice cream. Good luck for all those assignments and exams!
Oh this evil recipe again. It kills me everytime I see it. I can’t believe I haven’t tried it yet. I love your alterations, you can never add too many lovely treats to an ice cream creation.
Ooo, that looks delicious and I love that it can be made without an ice cream maker! Your story about almost writing “My Banana” on a banana made me laugh out loud - you totally should have! Then taken a picture for us to giggle at.
Way to go! I love your additions - it’s still a very healthy dessert! We’ve got Marce of Pip in the City to thank for this lusciousness. 
This looks really really good even for those of us with ice cream makers! I used to love banana frozen custard as a child and with the chocolate sauce, it looks fabulous.
Kat - Awww, ice cream is always in season! 
I think you should give this a try soon 
Tanna - Thanks for the luck, I am SOOO going to need it! And it’s amazing what a little ol’ banana can do, isn’t it?
Gattina - Hehehe, I tried to stop myself from going overboard Thanks for the well wishes, they’re much appreciated!
Truffle - Ahh yes, something I’ve been meaning to try! Maybe once my exams are over
Cheryl - LOL! You need to try it, it’s ridiculously easy!
Ari - Next time I’m in that situation, I’ll make sure to take a picture for you
Lis - Thanks hon
Deborah - Chocolate and banana is a match made in heaven
Maya - No worries, I hope you like it!
I can spot a faux a mile away and this one is no fake. Banana and chocolate, mmmmm, when can I come over?
Jenjen - Hehehe, I have your seat ready and waiting
Mary - I don’t know why, but I wonder how well the cream would work with that? Also, you wouldn’t get it to freeze into a semi solid as the alcohol would keep it in liquid form…
Cris - I hope you do, it’s a stunner
You know…my ice cream maker is still in the cupboard…another item on the counter top. I found out that I can make really smooth ice cream with a hand held immersion blender or stand mixer and whipping the custard 3 -4 times in its freezing process.
Your banana ice cream looks delicious.
Good luck on the exams!
Helen - Oh my goodness, what I great idea!! Thanks so much, I’m going to have to try this after my exams and see if I can create a decent ice cream
I missed Lis’s post and will have to go read it now. I eat frozen bananas all the time, so you know I’ll love this!
I used this recently as a pre-dessert at work. I substituted mascarpone for the double cream, and used very ripe, fresh (not frozen) bananas. Once I’d mixed all the ingredients in the VitaPrep, I poured the mix into Paco containers and froze it. For a non-ice cream, non-stabilized recipe, this stays really scoop-able - the texture is wonderful!
I served it with coffee-caramel sauce and chocolate sable squares embellished with fleur de sel.
It was a big hit!
mmm ice cream season! can’t wait! this looks and sound luscious. good luck with your studies and hurry back!