Cookies and Cream Nice Cream Recipe

This cookies and cream nice cream is creamy, delicious, and wonderfully easy to make. With just three simple ingredients, you can blend up a smooth frozen banana dessert that tastes like a cookies and cream treat, without needing an ice cream maker.

If you have never made vegan banana ice cream, also known as nice cream, you are in for a treat. Frozen bananas become surprisingly thick and creamy when blended. Their texture turns smooth, soft, and scoopable, making them a great base for a simple dairy-free dessert. Plain frozen banana nice cream is often described as one-ingredient ice cream, but adding a few extras makes it feel much more indulgent.

This cookies and cream nice cream recipe uses frozen bananas, Oreos, and cashew butter. The bananas create the creamy base, the Oreos add the classic cookies and cream flavor, and the cashew butter gives the mixture a little extra richness. The result is a quick vegan frozen dessert that is sweet, creamy, and full of cookie pieces.

It is best served straight after blending, when the texture is soft and creamy. You can prepare the bananas ahead of time, keep them frozen, and then make the nice cream in just a few minutes whenever you feel like a cool dessert or snack.

Ingredients

Bananas: Ripe bananas work best because they are naturally sweeter and blend into a creamier texture. Very ripe bananas will give the nice cream a stronger banana flavor, so choose the ripeness depending on how sweet and banana-forward you want the finished dessert to be.

Oreos: Oreos give this banana nice cream its cookies and cream flavor. They add chocolate cookie crumbs, creamy filling, and a little crunch. Oreos do not contain animal products in the ingredients, but the packaging may note that they are made in a facility that handles dairy. If that matters to you, choose another cookie that suits your dietary needs. You can also use your favorite cream-filled cookies or another crunchy cookie you enjoy.

Cashew butter: A small amount of cashew butter adds richness and helps make the frozen banana mixture taste creamier. Look for smooth cashew butter made with 100% cashews if possible. You can substitute another nut butter, coconut cream, or a splash of plant milk, but the final texture may be a little less creamy.

How to make cookies and cream nice cream

Peel the bananas and slice them into coins. Line a baking tray with baking paper and spread the banana slices out in a single layer, making sure the pieces are not touching. Freeze for two to four hours, or until the bananas are frozen solid. While the bananas freeze, roughly chop the Oreos into small and medium pieces.

Hot tip: bananas can oxidize and turn brown when exposed to air. This does not affect the taste, but it can change the color of your nice cream. To help prevent browning, cover the tray with cling film before freezing, or freeze the slices in an airtight container with baking paper between the layers.

Add the frozen banana slices to a heavy-duty food processor or high-powered blender. Blend for several minutes until smooth and creamy. You may need to stop the machine a few times, turn it off completely, and push the banana pieces back down toward the blades. At first the bananas may break into small pieces, then clump together, before finally turning into a smooth mixture. Keep blending patiently until the texture becomes creamy.

Hot tip: frozen banana pieces are very firm, even when sliced. A powerful blender or food processor is best for this recipe. Less powerful machines may struggle, so blend carefully and give the motor a break if needed.

If the bananas are not blending easily, let them sit at room temperature for a minute or two to soften slightly. You can also add a small splash of plant milk or water to help loosen the mixture, but add only a little at a time so the nice cream stays thick.

Add the cashew butter and about one third of the chopped Oreos to the blended bananas. Blend until smooth. Add another third of the Oreos and pulse briefly, just enough to mix them through while leaving some cookie texture.

How to serve

Scoop the cookies and cream nice cream straight from the blender or food processor into bowls, sundae glasses, or small dessert cups. Sprinkle the remaining Oreo pieces over the top and serve immediately. The texture is soft, creamy, and easiest to enjoy right after blending.

How to store

This vegan cookies and cream nice cream is best eaten as soon as it is made. If you want to prepare ahead, freeze the sliced bananas in advance, then transfer them to an airtight container once solid. The frozen banana pieces can be kept in the freezer for up to three months. When you are ready to serve, blend the frozen bananas with the cashew butter and Oreos.

Looking for more yummy dessert recipes?

If you enjoy easy frozen desserts, try other simple treats such as blueberry cashew ice cream, banana ice cream, homemade Oreos, cakesicles, or cookie dough ice cream.

• Blueberry cashew ice cream
• Cakesicles
• Banana ice cream
• Homemade Oreos
• Cookie dough ice cream

📋 Recipe

Pin it for later!