Matcha Banana Strawberry Ice Cream Cups are made with naturally sweet frozen banana ice cream whipped with matcha green tea swirled with strawberries and topped with Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream.
Table of Contents
Why you are going to love Matcha Banana Strawberry Ice Cream Cups
First off, it's a 3 ingredient dessert wonder. Matcha banana strawberry ice cream cups have a lovely soft serve ice-cream texture. It is very healthy as it is only made with frozen bananas, antioxidant rich Fraser Tea Vanilla Matcha Organic (green tea) and fresh California strawberries. Simple, delicious and ready in a flash.
There is no added sugar but just the slight sweetness from the fresh fruit. Delicious matcha banana and strawberry ice cream cups are dairy free, vegan, gluten-free, low-fat and cardiac friendly just like our black sesame nice cream.
What is Hanami?
Welcome to Hanami the time of the year that the Japanese sakura cherry blossom flowers come into full bloom in Japan. It almost looks like it is snowing as the ground will be covered in white flower petals from the sakura. It is a magical time of the year as family and friends celebrate the coming of spring with picnics in the parks to enjoy the beautiful sakura.
I miss the fragrant beauty of the parks in Japan and taking time to smell the flowers and enjoy sweet treats with family and friends. We used to live about a 5 minute walk from Negeishi Shirin Koen, a beautiful park, full of lovely sakura.
In the rest of world it is not usual to take time out to smell the flowers as people are always coming and going and always in a rush. Hanami (celebration of the viewing of the sakura) is a cherished tradition in Japan that has been enjoyed for generations.
I feel a little sentimental remembering the last walk through the park with my eldest son during hanami in Yokohama. I remember my son whining and complaining about having to go on this boring walk with mom through the park, when he had so much homework to do. I told him that this is your last chance to see this beautiful event as the next weekend all the sakura will be gone.
He was memorized by the beauty and we spent at least an hour in the park, walking, taking photos and stopped along the way to enjoy a little treat. He still talks about it to this day as one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen and glad he took a moment out to "Stop and Smell the Sakura" or as the Japanese call it; Hanami.
Food Memories: Strongest Memories
It is also the time of the year that I get a little more sentimental and miss my old home in Yokohama and my dear friends that are still there. There is not better way to remember a place then through its food.
Did you know that food memories are the most strongest memory that you hold on to? Scientists have studied this and say it is because you use so many senses to experience food. We use our sight to look at the food, next we smell the food, then we experience its taste and then texture.
I miss the matcha green tea ice-cream sandwiches I used to get at the 711 in Japan. Matcha is powdered green tea and it is full of antioxidants and is delicious too. It is also the time of the year that the sweet and delightful strawberries from California are coming to the markets.
So I decided to take 2 of my loves and combine them together for a delightful and healthy treat that you can make in a flash...Matcha Banana and Strawberry Ice Cream Cups.
More Dairy Free Dessert Recipe Ideas
Do you ever get craving for something sweet and cold like ice-cream but are lactose intolerant? I do all the time and yes believe it or not you just can't find lactose free ice cream in Hong Kong.
If you have a craving for something sweet, cold and creamy, you can have this problem rectified with help of your handy-dandy food processor or blender. Do you remember my post Red White and Blue Healthy Sorbets? You might also like our No-Churn Dairy Free Mango Swirl Ice Cream, Mocha Banana Ice Cream or our Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie.
Soft Serve Banana "Nice Cream"
I made this delicious Matcha Banana and Strawberry Ice Cream Cups with the same concept using my food processor. When you use your food processor to whip up your bananas it first turns into tiny little granules of micro bananas.
Then after you add just a couple of teaspoons of water and keep the food processor going and intermittently brushing down the sides of the food processor something amazing happens. It turns your matcha and frozen bananas from a dark green to a light green and fluffy soft serve ice cream. Just purely delicious and guilt free.
How to Serve
I wanted to make my matcha banana strawberry cups to feel a little more indulgent so I just whipped a little Homemade Coconut Whipped Cream to top this dessert. However, serving these little nice cream cups with our crispy strawberry jam roll cookies is a fun texture experience. If you want to really kick this recipe up a few notches, be sure to try our chocolate homemade magic shell and drizzle on top.
Enjoy these lovely Matcha banana strawberry ice-cream cups as a delicious and guilt free dessert any time you get a craving for something healthy and sweet.
More Delicious Matcha Recipes to Enjoy
Baked Matcha Lemon Glazed Donuts
Matcha White Chocolate Brownies
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Matcha Banana Strawberry Ice Cream Cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries
sliced - 4 bananas
(frozen and sliced) - 3 teaspoon matcha (green tea)
- 1-2 teaspoon non- dairy milk of choice - 1-2 teaspoons
or as needed to loosen the banana from the sides of the food processor)
Toppings (Optional)
Instructions
- Slice your strawberries and line up the strawberries on the bottom and sides of your ice cream cups. I cut my strawberries horizontal as this worked the best for me. )If you wish to make coconut whipped cream, https://www.hwcmagazine.com/recipe/homemade-coconut-whipped-cream/)
- Place frozen sliced bananas in the food processor (I have a very small food processor so I did only 2 bananas and 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea in 3 different batches, but if you have a large food processor you can do it all in one batch) Add matcha green tea to the frozen banana slices and pulse until it looks like finely ground sand. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add only 1 teaspoon, at a time, of iced cold dairy-free milk of choice and stop the food processor occasionally to scrape down the sides so that everything gets blended well. Add up to 5 teaspoons of iced cold water for 6 frozen bananas. Once the food processor just starts to get going around, keep pulsing and blending until the frozen bananas turn from granules of sand into a smooth and creamy soft serve ice cream consistency. (You will know you are getting close as the frozen bananas will turn from a dark green to a lighter green colour.)
- Immediately scoop the matcha banana ice-cream on top of your strawberries and fill the cup. Garnish with coconut whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping. Enjoy!
hotlyspiced says
Amazing that this is a three ingredient dessert. And so good for you too. The cherry blossoms are gorgeous xx
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Charlie, lately time has been very little and having simplify all my recipes and of course lighten them up so we can fit into those bikinis soon... LOL
Kumar's Kitchen says
We loved loved loved the frozen treat...utterly delicious,melt in mouth soft,fruity,icy and healthy...what else could we ever ask for...if only every dessert had all of this in, the world would have been happier....this is a winner,thanks 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
I am so delighted that you tried this fun and easy dessert! Have a super weekend.
The Gourmet Gourmand says
Yum yum yum!! This looks so tasty and refreshing! Haven't tried matcha yet, but I keep seeing recipes lately and I'll need to try it sometime soon 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you! The great part of this recipe is that you do not have to use matcha you could just whip the bananas plain or add cocoa powder or maybe some peanut butter and enjoy. I does taste just like soft serve ice cream.
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
What a fun concoction 🙂 I love banana soft serve. These remind me of the grinch! Wouldn't they make a fun Christmas dessert for kids, especially in a tropical or Southern climate??
Healthy World Cuisine says
Michelle, that is such a hoot! Now that I think of it, they do look like little grinch that stole Christmas cups. We will have to remember that around Christmas time.
ashley says
Love the matcha in these! I got some for Christmas and need ways to use it up!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Ashley! Matcha, green tea is full of antioxidants. I love to use matcha when making breads, pancakes, soy latte's and so many other ways. I think you will really love this delicately sweet and healthy dessert.
Eha says
As you probably remember my meals stop before dessert is served 🙂 ! But this sounds so fresh and interesting and I am dying to taste the green tea flavour: shall try before the holidays are over. Here they have begun . . .and for you too: am thinking of you and hoping you will truly be able to enjoy these coming days . . .
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Eha, this is a dessert you can feel good about eating. It is holiday time here in HK as well, Easter is not really celebrated but they do celebrate the Ching Ming festival- grave sweeping festival. So we have a 5 day long weekend so that is good. The family is home all together and I could not be more pleased. Wishing you a very safe and happy holiday weekend.
shashi at runninsrilankan says
So glad to hear your son got to Stop and Smell the Sakura or Hanami! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in doing what I am doing, I forget to stop and take in the beauty that surrounds me - reminds me of this one morning, my daughter and I were tired and so not ready for an early start - but we went outside together to let the dogs out (usually we just open the door and let the dogs out on their own) and looked up for some reason - the moon was still up and there were a million starts twinkling - it was so gorgeous - so glad we saw that!
Though, I am so sorry to hear that you don't have Lactose free ice cream there - but this whipped banana and matcha treat sounds way tastier and healthier!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Shashi, I see great minds think alike and you have a wonderful matcha pancake recipe I am dying to try as one of your new posts. Taking time out to enjoy the beauty is not something we often do but it is really good for your mental health and just taking a moment to reset the clock to a slower but more deliberate pace in our crazy lives. Just today, I took a moment just to enjoy the wonderful breeze coming in through my kitchen. Next month it will be like a sauna so enjoying the cooler weather while it still lasts. Happy Easter to you and your family. Take care
nancyc says
This is a great yummy and healthy dessert! I'd like to try it with the matcha! Pinning on my healthy food board! 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Nancy, it would be even more awesome if you and I had a Vitamix...but until then, the food processor works just fine. Thanks so much for the pin. Happy Easter!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says
This reminds me of the Tropicana Strawberry Bananas juice I used to drink when I was younger! YUM! 😀
Healthy World Cuisine says
I remember that drink too! Food memories are the strongest! Have a super holiday week.
kitchenriffs says
I'm not surprised that food memories are our strongest! They sure are for me. 😉 And I'd have good memories of this, if I were lucky enough to enjoy it. Guess I'll have to make it myself, huh? You're just a bit too faraway for me to come over and enjoy it at your place! Really nice recipe -- thanks.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello John, you will just have to get your self on a plane and come and visit us in HK. We would love it! Food memories are the very strongest for me too. I might not remember an event but if I ate something there or along the way I can remember my experience better.
The Foodie Affair says
My mom introduced me to matcha a couple of months ago and I've been waiting for it to go on sale. Now I have a recipe to use it in too! So excited to try this guilt free treat. Whipped coconut is sooo good! Love this recipe, Bobbi!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Sandra. I am so glad you have a little matcha at home, it is really good for you and there are loads of recipes to try it in and this one is a great one to start with as it is super easy and fuss free. Don't you just loved whipped coconut cream, me too.
Dawn says
YUM!!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks Dawn
allthatsjas says
I'm seeing lots of recipes with matcha...your dessert made me put matcha on my shopping list to see how my taste buds will react to it, lol. I love frozen bananas mixed with almond or peanut butter and like finding new flavor combinations. Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things, hope to see you next week again! Happy Easter!
Healthy World Cuisine says
If you have not tried matcha before, just go very easy on your addition to your recipes, just a little bit at first. Matcha alone can be quite bitter. However, if it is balanced with a little sweet it is amazing. I really miss the traditional tea ceremonies in Japan and they always serve with a little sweet treat with something with sakura, strawberries or matcha. It is the time of the year we really celebrate Japan and it traditions. Happy Easter!
bentodays says
This looks amazing! I wish I could enjoy hanami too, the cherry blossoms must be out in full bloom now in Japan!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Jean. Don't you wish you could be in Japan this week and enjoying the sakura?!!! Do you have Sakura in Singapore?
Jasline @ Foodie Baker says
Hi Bobbi, this looks so easy, and so delicious! I've read so many recipes on using frozen bananas as the base for ice cream. I hope my stick blender is up to the task of making this ice cream! Have a lovely week ahead 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Jasline. I always have frozen bananas in my freezer as my eldest loves smoothies. When the bananas are starting to get past their prime, instead of making banana bread, I just freeze them. Give your stick blender a try when your shipment arrives and let me know how it goes. Take Care