Dragon Fruit Nice Cream
With a unique twist on traditional nice cream recipes, this Dragon Fruit Nice Cream is full of antioxidants and incredible flavor. This healthy non-dairy dessert gets its beautifully vibrant color from frozen dragon fruit (pink pitaya). Bananas provide some natural sweetness, along with a few optional ingredients that kick the flavor profile up a notch! This healthy 5 ingredient dessert recipe is so easy and takes only 5 minutes to make. It’s also vegan, dairy-free, and guilt-free!
If you have never tried nice cream, it’s a healthy version of ice cream that typically uses only 3 main ingredients. My recipe adds a few more ingredients, but the results speak for themselves. The flavor is so delicious in comparison to traditional nice cream recipes. To learn how to make this tropical nice cream recipe, see the printable recipe card below. Take a look at the recipe video, or get Step by Step Instructions for a more detailed explanation of this recipe. For other recipe variations and to learn about some of the health benefits of dragon fruit, visit the Pimp My Recipe section in this recipe’s Blog Comments & Tips.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
DRAGON FRUIT NICE CREAM
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prep and freeze all your fresh fruit overnight.
- To a large food processor (11 cup), add frozen bananas, frozen dragon fruit, and agave nectar (optional). Pulse until fruit is broken up into smaller pieces (about 20 short pulses), then process until almost smooth (about 10 seconds). Scrape down sides, then add cinnamon, pink pitaya powder (optional), and unsweetened coconut milk beverage (optional), and process until smooth.
- For soft serve texture, scoop, and serve immediately. For a firmer texture, transfer to a freezer safe airtight container (8 cup). Smooth, cover, and freeze for up to 24 hours for a firmer texture. Allow to defrost slightly (covered on the counter) for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Top with your favorite toppings, like toasted coconut, fresh sliced strawberries and/or cubed dragon fruit.
Notes
- You can cut and freeze fresh bananas and dragon fruit overnight. Or you can use already frozen dragon fruit, which can be found at most local grocery stores.
- Agave nectar is optional, and I recommend using this only if you like extra sweetness, or if your bananas aren’t extra ripe. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your nice cream will be. For other sweetener options, you can use the same amount of pure maple syrup, or my Quick Honey Simple Syrup.
- I only add unsweetened coconut beverage to this recipe if the mixture is not smooth enough.
- Recipe can be made ahead. If freezing nice cream overnight, when ready to serve, remove the container from the freezer, leave covered on the counter for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
103.97Fat (grams)
1.16 gSat. Fat (grams)
0.86 gCarbs (grams)
23.94 gFiber (grams)
2.94 gNet carbs
21 gSugar (grams)
14.84 gProtein (grams)
1.32 gSodium (milligrams)
2.2 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mgNutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods. Optional ingredients are included in the nutritional calculations.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
STEP 1
Cut 2 large bananas into thick slices (see Note below), and cube 1 cup dragon fruit (pink pitaya), and freeze them overnight.
Note: You can cut and freeze fresh bananas and dragon fruit overnight. Or you can use already frozen dragon fruit (as shown in the photo below), which can be found at most local grocery stores. Visit my Tips & Tricks page and watch the video for TIP #5 - How to Store Overly Ripe Bananas.
STEP 2
To a large food processor (11 cup), add frozen bananas slices, 1 cup frozen dragon fruit (cubed pink pitaya), and 1 tablespoon agave nectar (optional-see Note below). Then pulse until the fruit is broken up into smaller pieces (about 20 short pulses). Process until almost smooth (about 10 seconds). Scrape down sides, then add ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon pink pitaya powder (optional), and 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut milk beverage (optional - see Note below), and process until smooth.
Note: Agave nectar is optional, and I recommend using this only if you like extra sweetness, or if your bananas aren’t extra ripe. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your nice cream will be. For other sweetener options, you can use the same amount of pure maple syrup, or my Quick Honey Simple Syrup. I only add unsweetened coconut beverage to this recipe if the mixture is not smooth enough.
STEP 3a
For soft serve texture, scoop, and serve immediately.
STEP 3b
For a firmer texture, transfer to a freezer safe airtight container (8 cup). Smooth, cover, and freeze for up to 24 hours for a firmer texture. Allow to defrost slightly (covered on the counter) for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Top with your favorite toppings, like toasted coconut, fresh sliced strawberries and/or cubed dragon fruit.
Notes:
Recipe can be made ahead. If freezing nice cream overnight, when ready to serve remove container from freezer, leave covered on the counter for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Makes 4 servings.
VIDEO
How to Make Dragon Fruit Nice Cream!
Blog Comments & Tips
A unique twist on traditional nice cream!
This Dragon Fruit Nice Cream is a unique twist on traditional nice cream recipes. Frozen dragon fruit and bananas are combined with agave nectar, cinnamon, and a splash of coconut milk. To enhance its already beautifully vibrant color, I added Suncore Foods pink pitaya powder. This nice cream is full of antioxidants and incredible flavor, and uses only 5 healthy ingredients. You can’t go wrong with this easy 5 minute recipe. It’s the perfect summer dessert recipe, and is also vegan, dairy-free, and guilt-free!
Pink pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, is not only visually stunning but it offers various health benefits. Here are some of the health benefits of pink pitaya dragon fruit:
Antioxidants: Pink pitaya is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C.
Immune System: The high vitamin C content in pink pitaya boosts the immune system.
Fiber: Dragon fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes a healthy gut environment.
Nutrients: Pink pitaya is nutrient rich and a good source of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, iron, magnesium, and calcium, which are essential for various bodily functions and overall well-being.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties: Certain compounds in dragon fruit have been associated with anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing inflammation in the body.
How do you ensure the best results from this recipe?
My 5 tips to making this vibrant Dragon Fruit Nice Cream:
Make it easy on yourself and use already frozen dragon fruit. I typically keep a bag of Sprouts cubed dragon fruit in the freezer for smoothies and nice cream recipes like this one!
Use very ripe bananas for this recipe to add natural sweetness. So as not to waste them, I freeze them and have them on hand at all times. Visit my Tips & Tricks page and watch the video for TIP #5 - How to Store Overly Ripe Bananas.
I prefer using a food processor for nice cream, as it yields a smoother texture than a high speed blender. And, it doesn’t liquify the nice cream like a blender tends to do.
Although soft serve is great and super quick to make, I usually freeze my nice cream overnight and let it rest on the counter covered for about 10-15 minutes before scooping. The resting time makes it much easier to scoop!
To enhance the gorgeous color of this summer dessert, I recommend adding Suncore Foods pink pitaya powder.
It’s time to customize and Pimp My Recipe.
Pimp My Recipe:
Add Frozen Strawberries: In addition to all the other ingredients, quarter 4 large strawberries (see Note below), and freeze them overnight. Using all frozen fruit will yield a firmer nice cream. You may need up to 2 tablespoons of coconut beverage to loosen up the mixture. I recommend adding only 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Add Fresh Strawberries: This recipe requires frozen bananas and dragon fruit. If you want to add strawberries but don’t want to freeze them, just quarter 4 fresh large strawberries and add them at the same time you add the cinnamon and pitaya powder. You can omit the coconut beverage when using fresh strawberries, as they will liquify and add moisture.
Enjoy and let me know what you think by commenting below, rating my recipes, subscribing, following, and liking Prep My Recipe on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok! Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Happy Cooking!
Mich
Footnote: Don’t over process your nice cream, or it will liquify. Best to follow the instructions and stick with the number of pulses or seconds required to make it smooth.
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