Recipe for Maple Walnut Vanilla "Bean" Ice Cream

a bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream, surrounded by banana slices, walnut pieces, cannellini beans and raspberries

Sweets A Healthy Dessert or Breakfast Topping

Although ice cream exists in many forms around the world, it’s generally not considered a health food. In this version, fruit supplies natural sweetness, beans provide a stealthy dose of fiber, and the creamy mixture still tastes delicious! What’s not to love? This yummy recipe can be enjoyed as a healthy dessert or as a topping for waffles, French toast, pancakes, granola, or cooked cereal.

Recipe courtesy of

JoAnn Rachor

Prep Instructions

Yield: 2 (1 cup) servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy

Recipe Ingredients

1/3 cup light-colored, soft-cooked beans (Great Northern, navy, cannellini)
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon maple extract
1/3-2/3 cups nondairy milk (if using a blender)
3 small or medium bananas, cut into 1/2-inch chunks and frozen

Combine all ingredients except bananas in a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. If using a food processor, you won’t need milk; if using a blender, add 1/3 cup milk. Turn off machine several times to scrape mixture back down into container.
After beans and nuts are mostly smooth, add frozen bananas and blend until smooth. Turn off machine a few times to scrape mixture back down into container.
Add more milk to the blended mixture as needed.