Strawberry Nice Cream

Name: Strawberry Nice Cream
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 3 servings, 2.0 l
Cuisine: international
Ingredients: 4.0 Frozen Banana; 285.0 g Frozen Strawberries; 0.25 TL Vanilla extract; 1.5 TL Maple syrup

Instructions

1
Layer the ingredients in the container in this order: strawberries, vanilla and maple syrup as the bottom layer, frozen banana slices on top. Lock the lid securely.
2
Start the blender and work your way up to the highest speed. If the mixture stalls or the blades spin freely, insert the tamper and gently push the mass down towards the blade assembly.
3
Continue blending until the surface shows a uniform vortex and no fruit pieces are visible. The mixture should be consistently creamy throughout.
4
Spoon the Nice Cream into bowls or glasses and garnish as you like with grated chocolate, fresh mint or cacao nibs. Best enjoyed immediately.

Chef's Note

Fresh strawberries vary widely in sweetness depending on the season – if they taste tart, simply add maple syrup a little at a time and taste as you go. If the mixture comes out too soft, a short rest in the freezer – no more than two hours – will firm it up. Freezing overnight changes the texture, so Nice Cream really is at its best blended fresh.

More background on the technique can be found in our guide How to make Nice Cream.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy	73 kcal305 kJ
Fat	0.3 g
of which saturated fat	0.1 g
Carbohydrates	17.2 g
of which sugars	10.3 g
Protein	0.9 g
Salt	0.003 g
Fiber	2.4 g

Values per EU FIC Regulation (1169/2011). Values are averages and may vary depending on ingredients and preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Nice Cream mean?

Nice Cream is a creamy fruit ice cream made without cream, milk or an ice-cream machine. The base is frozen bananas, which are blended into a rich, smooth mass in a high-performance blender – hence the name: "nice" instead of classic ice cream.

How do you make strawberry Nice Cream without an ice-cream machine?

All you need is a powerful blender. Frozen banana slices and fresh strawberries are blended together with a little vanilla and maple syrup straight to a creamy consistency – the frozen bananas completely replace the ice-cream machine.

Can you blend frozen bananas in a blender?

Yes. The key is to peel the bananas before freezing and slice them to a maximum of 1.5 cm thick. That way they can be effortlessly blended into a creamy mass in a high-performance blender – use the tamper if needed.

Can strawberry Nice Cream be made without banana?

The banana provides the creamy texture and natural sweetness. Without it you can substitute another frozen fruit such as mango and blend it creamy with a splash of plant-based milk – the result will be slightly less rich.

How long does Nice Cream keep?

Nice Cream tastes best freshly blended. If the mixture is too soft, pop it in the freezer for a short while – no more than two hours. Freezing overnight makes it hard and causes ice crystals to form.

Which blender works best for Nice Cream?

You need a high-performance blender capable of processing frozen ingredients. With a narrow container smaller portions from around 400 ml are no problem; with wider containers you need a correspondingly larger fill volume so the blades can grip.