Orange Pistachio Nice Cream with Cardamom 

Healthy pistachio ice cream with orange and cardamom. Less fat than regular ice cream.

By the Gracious Vegan

This nice cream is a refreshing, dairy-free dessert that combines the creamy texture of bananas with the nutty richness of pistachios. Zesty orange flavor pairs beautifully with the aromatic notes of cardamom, creating a unique treat. Blended until smooth, this "nice cream" is a healthy alternative to traditional ice cream, offering natural sweetness without added sugars. It’s an ideal recipe for those looking to enjoy a wholesome, delicious treat. I like to freeze this nice cream in half-cup containers for easy defrosting when I’m ready to indulge.

Makes 4 half-cup servings

Prep the bananas at least 4 hours ahead of time. Peel and slice the bananas, then put them on parchment paper on a sheet pan in a single layer and freeze them for at least 4 hours. (Or you can slice each one and put the slices in a sandwich bag in a single layer.) This can be done up to 2 weeks ahead of time.

  • 3 medium ripe bananas 

Roast the pistachios. If the pistachios are not roasted, spread them out on a baking pan and roast them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, until you smell the pistachio aroma and they are slightly darker. Let cool. 

  • 1/2 cup unsalted pistachio meats (add 1-2 Tablespoons more if you want to add in chopped pistachios at the end—after they are cool, roughly chop them) (I use this brand of pistachios)

Make the nice cream. In a food processor, process the pistachios into a fine powder.

  • 1/2 cup roasted pistachios

Add the following ingredients and process everything until you get the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. You may need to add more milk, stop to wipe down the sides, and/or break up clumps of frozen bananas.

  • The frozen banana slices (pro tip: let the frozen slices sit on the counter 10 minutes before proceeding with the recipe)

  • 1/3 cup unsweetened plant-based milk

  • 1 teaspoon cardamom (or more or less)

  • 1-2 teaspoons orange zest

Stir in the reserved chopped pistachios by hand. Serve the nice cream immediately or freeze it like regular ice cream. If you hard-freeze it, take out of the freezer 45-60 minutes before serving or soften it in the microwave (20-30 seconds, then in 15-second increments between stirrings as needed).