Vegan Cookie Dough Nice Cream
This Vegan Cookie Dough Nice Cream is a healthy twist on ice cream made with frozen bananas and chunks of edible cookie dough in every bite. Dairy-free, no ice cream maker needed, and ready in minutes!
Whoever invented cookie dough ice cream knew what they were doing. Chunks of cookie dough mixed into creamy vanilla ice cream? It’s the best.
Cookie dough was always my favorite ice cream flavor growing up, so I had to come up with a healthier version—and this recipe totally satisfies all my adult cravings.
You might find it hard to believe this vegan ice cream is made from frozen bananas (yes, bananas!). If you’ve never tried banana nice cream before, this is a great place to start.
The creamy base of this healthier ice cream is made with frozen bananas and cashew butter, then it’s topped off with chunks of edible vegan cookie dough.
No ice cream maker needed, no dairy, refined sugars or gluten, and ready in minutes.
What’s Nice Cream?
Nice cream is a plant-based alternative to traditional ice cream made by blending frozen bananas until smooth and creamy. I guess it’s called “nice cream” because it’s nicer to you than regular ice cream (lol).
When frozen bananas are blended, they create a soft-serve-like texture with natural sweetness—no dairy, no added sugar, and no actual cream. Win-win!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Healthier take on cookie dough ice cream
- No ice cream maker needed
- Quick, easy, and blender-friendly
- Creamy dreamy texture. Frozen bananas = soft-serve magic
- Made with whole food ingredients
- Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened
Ingredients Needed
Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe with measurements!
- Frozen Sliced Bananas: The riper, the better! Sweeter flavor and less banana taste. I recommend slicing the bananas before freezing so it’s easier to blend.
- Cashew Butter: Adds creaminess and a cookie dough vibe. Almond or peanut butter taste great too.
- Non-Dairy Milk: Just a drop to help it blend.
- Vanilla Extract: For that classic cookie flavor
- Almond Flour: The base for the edible cookie dough balls.
- Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetens the dough without refined sugar.
- Mini Vegan Chocolate Chips: I use Enjoy Life vegan mini chocolate chips.
How To Make Vegan Cookie Dough Nice Cream
- Make the Cookie Dough Balls: Mix together the almond flour, cashew butter, maple syrup, mini chocolate chips, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Roll into small balls and pop them in the freezer while you make the nice cream.
- Blend the Nice Cream: Add frozen banana slices, cashew butter, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until creamy and smooth—like soft serve! Add 2-3 tablespoons of non-dairy milk if needed to help it blend.
- Mix in the Cookie Dough Balls: Scoop the nice cream into bowls and top with cookie dough balls and more chocolate chips. Enjoy!
Megan’s Tips
- Use ripe bananas. The riper they are before freezing, the sweeter your nice cream will be and the less banana taste.
- Slice bananas before freezing. Makes blending so much easier.
- No cashew butter? Sub with almond or peanut butter. Tahini works too for a nut-free version!
- Make it extra thick. Only add extra plant milk if needed.
- More cookie dough, please! Double the edible cookie dough recipe and freeze extras for the next time you make nice cream (pair it with my chocolate nice cream for a fun twist)
More Healthy Summer Desserts
- Chocolate Nice Cream
- Klondike Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Cups
- No Churn Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Healthy Fudgesicles
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below letting me know how you liked it! This helps others find my recipes. I appreciate your support, as always. xo, Megan
Vegan Cookie Dough Nice Cream
Ingredients
Nice Cream
- 4 frozen bananas
- 2-3 tablespoons non-dairy milk
- 2 tablespoons cashew butter
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- vegan mini chocolate chips, measure with your heart!
Edible Cookie Dough Balls
- ½ cup almond flour
- 2 tablespoons cashew butter, or other nut butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon vegan mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Make the Cookie Dough Balls
- Mix together the almond flour, cashew butter, maple syrup, mini chocolate chips, and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Roll into small balls and set aside while you make the nice cream.
Blend the Nice Cream
- Add frozen banana slices, cashew butter, non-dairy milk, and vanilla extract to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until creamy and smooth—like soft serve! Add 2-3 tablespoons of non-dairy milk if needed to help it blend.
Mix in the Cookie Dough Balls
- Scoop the nice cream into bowls and top with cookie dough balls and more chocolate chips. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use ripe bananas. The riper they are before freezing, the sweeter your nice cream will be and the less banana taste.
- Slice bananas before freezing. Makes blending so much easier.
- No cashew butter? Sub with almond or peanut butter. Tahini works too for a nut-free version!
- Make it extra thick. Only add extra plant milk if needed.
- More cookie dough, please! Double the edible cookie dough recipe and freeze extras for the next time you make nice cream (pair it with my chocolate nice cream for a fun twist)
This was delicious! The flavor of the cashew butter in the nice cream was so good. Loved it! And the cookie dough, as well. #happyholidays
I really enjoyed these. Just the right amount of everything. #happyholidays
So happy to hear that 🙂
Yum! This is so quick and easy and my non-vegan husband likes it and said it’s a keeper! Thanks Megan!
Yay I’m so happy you both loved it!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
#happyholidays great ice cream replacement! I couldn’t even tell this was purely bananas. All recipes are so easy to make in a pinch.
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this “nice” cream 🙂 thank you Daniele!
Best ICE CREAM EVER AND HEALTHY
Amazing, so glad you love it!
This was SO GOOD and healthy I saw this on Instagram so I knew I had to try this. Next time you should make healthy mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Aw yay I’m so happy you enjoyed it! You must have read my mind because I did make a healthy mint chocolate chip version – it is in my e-cookbook, Sweets From Plants. Hope you give it a try!