Chocolate Chip Banana Pudding Ice Cream

Rich and creamy banana pudding custard combines with fresh banana, sweet vanilla, chocolate chips, and delicious chunks of wafer cookies for a decadent ice cream that will be a hit all Summer. You don’t need a ton of fancy ingredients to make this ice cream either. All you need is a little sugar, lots of love, and an ice cream maker…..of course 🙂.

It’s officially ice cream season ya’ll, and I couldn’t think of a better way to start my summer blogging than with this delicious, custardy, sweet treat. I am a huge fan of all things banana, so I decided to take my favorite banana dessert and turn it into ice cream. I tested this recipe so much that I am going to be running off its rich goodness for the next month or so lol. It’s all worth it, though, because this has become one of the best ice creams I have ever made. If you are a banana pudding fan, then you are going to love this frozen twist. It will be impossible not to reach for another scoop of this delicious treat!

Making banana pudding ice cream at home is easier than you think! With just a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can create gourmet ice cream that will surpass anything you can buy at the store. There aren’t many steps involved either! It’s as simple as making the custard, chilling it, and then churning when you are ready. One of the most important tips I have found when making ice cream is to make sure that the ice cream bowl is frozen! I would advise that if you have the space and you plan on making ice cream often, to leave your bowl in the freezer until you need it.

Another important note I will add is to add a little sugar, about a teaspoon, to the bowl with your egg yolks. This will help prevent the eggs from scrambling when making the custard. Making custard is not hard, but you may get a little workout with all of the whisking you will have to do. This is arguably my least favorite part and my favorite part all at the same time. But hey, with ice cream this good, it is definitely worth the extra effort.

BANANA PUDDING ICE CREAM INGREDIENTS

Jump to the bottom of the recipe card below this post for full ingredient measurements and instructions.

• Heavy cream and whole milk – Milk and cream combine to make a rich, decadent, and creamy ice cream base. You’ll want to use full-fat milk due to its higher fat content because this is going to give this ice cream the best flavor!
• Sugar – I use fine granulated sugar for this ice cream. Since I am in Texas, Imperial Brand is a staple here. Any brand of granulated sugar or natural cane sugar will work.
• Egg Yolks: The egg yolks give this ice cream a thick, custardy taste and richness.

BANANA PUDDING ICE CREAM ADD-INS

• Banana – I like using slightly ripe bananas for the ice cream. You want them firm enough that they won’t fall apart when added to the ice cream.
• Chocolate – I love using rich, dark chocolate, but you can also use semi-sweet, or milk chocolate
• Vanilla Wafers: I use the brand Nilla Wafers, but you can also use shortbread cookies.
• Vanilla: Adds a sweet, warm flavor to the ice cream.

HOW TO MAKE BANANA PUDDING ICE CREAM

Follow these steps to make this recipe:

Warm the milk: In a medium saucepan, combine the half and half, cream, sugar, and salt. Warm the mixture over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

Make the custard: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks. Gradually ladle about half of the warm cream mixture into the egg yolks while whisking constantly. This process is known as tempering and helps to prevent the eggs from scrambling.

Pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan with the remaining cream and return the saucepan to medium heat. Stir the mixture until it thickens and coats the back of your spatula or a spoon.

Remove from heat and pour the custard into a fine mesh strainer to remove any grainy solids. Stir in the vanilla extract, then cover and cool completely at room temperature, or by using an ice bath. Transfer to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator to chill for 6 to 24 hours.

Churn the ice cream: Prepare the ice cream maker according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Pour the custard into the ice cream maker. During the last 2 to 3 minutes, add the Nilla wafers, chocolate, and banana. The ice cream will be more of a soft serve texture when done. Place ice cream in an air-tight container, then freeze until solid.

BANANA PUDDING ICECREAM RECIPE TIPS

1. The ice cream bowl. Depending on the ice cream bowl you use, you will want to make sure you freeze the bowl for 12 to 24 hours. My bowl stays in the freezer, so if you have room, I say leave it there until you need it.
2. Chill the custard. It’s important to completely chill the custard before adding it to the ice cream machine. This is one trick I learned for the very best results. Leave the ice cream base in the fridge for at least 24 hours before churning.
3. The banana. To make sure the banana is firm before adding it to the ice cream, pre-chop it and toss it in the freezer ahead of time. If using fresh banana, add to the ice cream maker during the last 1 to 2 minutes.

Did you make this recipe?

Great! Now let me know how you liked it. Follow me on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. You can also sign up for my newsletter for the latest updates. Tag @sheaddsflavor on Instagram and hashtag it #sheaddsflavor to share your creations with me. I can’t wait to see your photos!

While I have you here… may I suggest a few for you to try next:

• Chicken Burger Patties
• Blackened Fish Tacos Recipe With The Best Sauce
• Moms Home-Style Meatloaf Recipe With The Best Homemade Glaze

Until next time. Keep following and commenting. Join me on Youtube next week where I will be cooking up another recipe and maybe telling a few of my terrible jokes! Yes, that’s right.

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