Three ripe bananas were sitting in our fruit basket, taunting me with options. Should I make banana muffins? How about sour cream banana pancakes? Banana Crumble was a huge hit around here… maybe I should use these ripe bananas to make that recipe. Undecided, I went about my business for the day, still stewing about how the bananas should be used.
It’s funny how sometimes ideas come from above. I was putting away a favorite cookbook I had recently used and as I was reaching for the top shelf of our pantry, where I keep the books, I lost my balance and the book dropped… hitting me in the head, falling to the ground and opening up to a picture and recipe that solved my ripe banana dilemma.
Banana Gelato from one of my favorite cookbook’s, Seasons & Celebrations (recipes and menus from Relish Magazine), was just the answer I was looking for. Although I had never had Banana Gelato, I figured “who can go wrong with bananas and ice cream?”
This sweet, creamy, full of flavor Gelato is the perfect solution to your ripe banana dilemma. Save yourself a knock in the head and try it today!
Banana Gelato
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups skim milk
- 3 very ripe bananas peeled and quartered
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Bring milk, bananas and brown sugar to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes.
- Let cool 5 minutes, then puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return mixture to the saucepan; set over very low heat to keep warm.
- Beat egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer at high speed until thick.
- Gradually beat half the milk mixture into the yolk mixture. Return mixture to the saucepan. Set over low heat and cook until thick and bubbling, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla, salt, and cream.
- Pour into a large container. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Pour mixture into the canister of an ice-cream freezer (I own this Cuisinart model and have been really happy with it!)
- Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serve or store in freezer in an air-tight container.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Banana love! I have a Yonanas and it’s fantastic to make banana and fruit soft serve by just processing frozen bananas. But love your gelato recipe!
Kristen, I love the way you think! I need this in my life and in my stomach. Do you deliver?
As another side note- I absolutely love the photos! 🙂
You are so funny. I love this post. And, the Gelato looks delicious!
“It’s funny how sometimes ideas come from above.” How neat how the inspiration came to you! Love the photos and styling as always!
This looks fabulous. I just posted a banana cream pudding pie smoothie with pudding mix in it. It made so much that I had extra, froze it, and made my own banana ice. Your gelato looks so tasty!
I love banana gelato! Gorgeous photos!
:O are you kidding me?!?!
Banana Ice cream (aka chunky monkey) is one of my favourite ice creams.
I MUST try this gelato!!
Totally not kidding you 🙂 You’ll adore this if you love bananas!
Yum! Sounds good! Beautiful pictures, Kristen!
Delicious!!!!
I have 4 egg yolks in my fridge I need to do something with. Too bad I don’t have any bananas. I love gelato but never tried banana.
This looks delightful! And even though it’s winter, I’ve been craving ice cream and other cold treats.
I loooove Banana Ice Cream but noone else in the house does. Guess who is going to make this and keep it ALL??? 🙂
I have never had gelato! This looks delicious and your photos are beautiful!
So pretty. I have a few ripe bananas just begging to be turned into a dessert, perhaps with a homemade chocolate sauce.
I’m on a banana kick lately too! I have some banana desserts lines up to make, I buy the bananas then don’t make them before my bananas go too ripe, so I have plenty of ripe banana’s right now!!
I have to admit, I’m guilty of throwing away overripe bananas. And I harbor far too much guilt about that fact. I KNOW there are so many wonderful things to make, but I feel like I miss that window when they’re just perfect. Any tips on how to preserve a banana one more day? So that I can make this delicious gelato, or banana bread, or something equally delicious.
Wow, that literally came from above! How fortuitous! 🙂
And who doesn’t need another way to use up those starting to get old bananas!?
This is one thing I have never thought to do with over-ripe bananas. What a great way to change things up!
That is a beautiful and creamy recipe Kristen. I have never made a chilled banana dessert and this looks so promising!
Do you deliver? I can’t get gelato in my town, and I love it!
I love anything bananas and this gelato looks delicious – and it’s easy to make!
Kristen, your photos get more gorgeous by the day, my friend. Every time I stop by I’m stunned by so much beauty.
xx
Gorgeous! 🙂
I’m making this gelato this weekend! I was getting sick of banana bread so this is perfect, thanks!
This gelato is heavenly! We always have a bunch of bananas in the house and I know I will be whipping this up very soon.
Oh yum, that sound really good, I love banana anything!
I haven’t yet met a banana dessert I haven’t liked, but this looks especially wonderful. And the topping choices…endless!
I made this last night and it was soooooo good! Thank you for the recipe, I’m sharing it in my menu plan this week.
I am so glad you tried it and liked it! Yay!
Banana gelato recipe looks yummy. You also took nice pictures.I also have a daycare and will try this recipe for lunch with my daycare babies.
The banana gelato looks so good i crave for it right now thank you for sharing the recipe.
“Gradually beat half the milk mixture into the yolk mixture.”
What happens to the other half?
Hi! It stays in the saucepan. You just pour part of it out to “temper” the eggs (so they don’t curdle / cook). Then you pour it all back into the saucepan together for the rest of the recipe.
Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Thanks!
Kristen
Thank you! 🙂 This is my first time ever making die cream, I just went and bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker and its something I’ve wanted to try for a long time now 🙂
Also what kind of consistency is the finished product meant to look like before freezing? Because mine came out fairly lumpy. It still tastes amazing, just isn’t right some how?
Cheers!
You can make ice cream or gelato without a machine too, just put the bowl in the freezer and stir in the ice crystals every hour or so.
Hello, on the banana gelato recipe the last instruction is freeze in an ice cream canister. Do you mean freeze as in use my ice cream maker with rock salt, ice, the whole shebang or put it in the freezer?
Sorry, couldn’t figure that out….I’m sure it’s clear to everyone but me:)
Melinda
This recipe is wonderful! So wonderful in fact that I made an adaptation of it and shared it as one of my first blog posts on my new website happalyeverafter.com! Feel free to check it out 🙂
This was the first recipe I’ve made in my new cuisinart. The consistency was great and the banana flavor really came through. We found it to be overly sweet for our tastes and would cut back on the sugar next time.
Hi! Is it possible for me to use Regular Milk in place of Skim Milk?
Yes – absolutely!
Wow, amazing! Banana ice cream is not my favourite but this one was extremely tasty!