I’m ten years late, but I have a new favorite obsession: the Yonanna soft serve dessert maker and creamy banana ice cream.
It’s a toss up between a warm chocolate chip cookie and a bowl of ice cream as my favorite dessert. But if our current fitness challenge provides any evidence, I might be leaning toward ice cream. But maybe that’s just because it’s the summer. But I wouldn’t be alone in loving ice cream. The average American eats almost five gallons a year! That’s…a lot of heavy cream.
Enter the Yonanna soft serve dessert maker to save me from myself.
E2M allows you one “treat” meal a week and I could (and have!) taken advantage to get my ice cream fix but I’m not going to lie, I miss a daily dessert fix. I like the way it triggers my brain that this is it. No more food, the kitchen is closed, after this. I didn’t so much like the fat and sugar bombs I was dropping into my gut.
The Yonanna has helped hit that craving with a 100% fruit treat that feels, tastes, and looks like soft serve ice cream. Is it exactly like ice cream? Of course not. But it’s pretty darn close. It has the satisfying thick texture of a cup of frozen yogurt and was naturally sweet because of the banana.
What is the Yonnana Soft Serve Dessert Maker?
If you missed out when this as-seen-on-TV appliance had a moment ten years ago, you might be wondering what this miracle machine is. It is a small kitchen appliance that uses enclosed blades to turn the frozen fruit into a fat-free, dairy free, and sugar-free dessert. It’s available on Amazon for approximately $50.
Could you do this with a high-speed blender or food processor already in your closet? Probably. The Yonanna is a bit of a luxury. It’s a uni-tasker but it does it’s job really well. When I tried to replicate the ice cream in my Vitamix it took significantly more planning and effort.
Why bananas?
Bananas are a great base for a healthy dessert because they have less fat, sugar, and calories.
A banana has only about 100 calories and consists almost exclusively of water and carbs. Bananas have very little protein or fat. The carbs are converted to sugar as the banana ripens, though still low on the glycemic index. Bananas are also rich in fiber, antioxidants and several vitamins and micronutrients.
Finally, ripe bananas have high amounts of starch or pectin which help you feel more full and reduce your ongoing appetite. You won’t reach for a second helping!
Yonanna Tips & Tricks
The Yonanna machine comes with (an actual) helpful recipe book and much of this is covered in the book but I’ll reiterate here as these are the things I’ve found most helpful in getting the most out of my Yonanna machine.
- Wait for your bananas to be appropriately ripe. The Yonanas booklet calls them “cheetah spotted,” which is an apt description. Just like banana bread, the browner, the better, really, to make the ice cream sweet.
- Freeze the bananas and the other fruits separately so they are not touching. The feeder tube on the machine is tall and narrow. You don’t want big chunks.
- Let the frozen fruit thaw slightly (5ish minutes) before sending through the machine. This will yield the best, most soft serve like end result.
- Don’t be afraid to try different mix-ins or add-ins. Our family has enjoyed a little peppermint, vanilla or almond extract, and spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie mix to perk up flavors without added sugar. If you’re okay with a little indulgence, you can try peanut butter, mini chips, or broken up Oreos.
- If you are using bananas and other fruits, first send one banana through, then the other fruit, then the second banana. The flavors will partial mix in the machine but not all the way, you’ll likely have to stir together to fully incorporate. Or just enjoy the mix as-is.
- Don’t miss out on the extra! Like licking the spoon when baking, be sure to scrape out the inside of the machine to get any last bits. You won’t want to waste nanna ice cream!
Summary
Even though Yonanas Soft Serve is an expensive uni-tasker, I believe it is worth the price. This is especially true if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies. With the Yonanna machine you have total control over the ingredients. And those alternative ice creams filling up grocery store aisles aren’t cheap!
Clean up is simple and easy. Unscrew and rinse off the parts or stick all the relevant parts right in the dishwasher.
You can even get the kids involved (no exposed blades) and be happy they are enjoying a fun, creative healthy dessert.
