Homemade Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is a creamy banana ice cream full of chopped walnuts and chocolate, that tastes just like Ben and Jerry’s!
I love making homemade ice cream, and I made a homemade banana ice cream with peanut butter before, so this time I decided to try a Chunky Monkey Copycat! Just like Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey Ice Cream, this homemade version is a delicious rich banana ice cream full of chopped walnuts and chocolate fudge chunks.
This banana ice cream is a custard ice cream, which seems really intimidating at first, but it makes it so rich, creamy, and delicious! This might be the best possible ice cream you can make made with the iconic flavors of chocolate and banana.
What makes Chunky Monkey Ice Cream so special?
Because its custard its made with egg yolks, which are tempered in with the hot heavy cream mixture. Its then blended up with the ripe bananas, slightly brown is best, to give the ice cream that fresh delicious banana flavor with all natural flavors. You’ll then mix the ice cream up in your ice cream maker, add in the chocolate and walnuts when its almost done, just so they get folded throughout. The ice cream will be a nice soft serve ice cream consistency. But at this point I like to freeze it up to make it scoopable. Are you a fan of the Ben and Jerry’s Banana Ice cream flavors? Keep reading!
The flavor of the bananas really shines in this ice cream. And its paired perfectly with the crunchy walnuts, and the chocolate pieces as well as the vanilla extract. The crunchy pieces balance perfectly with the smooth creamy ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented Chunky Monkey ice cream?
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream coined the ice cream flavor “Chunky Monkey” in 1988. It was a taste sensation and gained popularity quickly. The self-proclaimed nuttiest chocolatey-chunkiest concoction is delicious, and if you haven’t tried it, it’s a must. But this recipe is also absolutely fantastic too. The New Hampshire company frequently lists this flavor as one of their top 10 ice cream flavors. For more accurate product information, check out their official site.
What does Chunky Monkey ice cream taste like?
Chunky Monkey ice cream tastes like what it would be like if you took a monkey’s dream, mixed it with amazing ice cream, and then you have a delicious homemade chunky monkey ice cream recipe. In fact, this is one of the best homemade ice cream recipe you can make.
Does this recipe have tree nuts?
Yes, this chunky monkey does have tree nuts (walnuts). To see accurate nutrition information and specific details for this recipe scroll down to the recipe card and you can see the ingredients list as well as the steps to create this delicious ice cream recipe. Follow the recipe closely to make sure that you get the best experience possible!
How does this recipe compare to the original?
Taste wise, we believe it is at least as good, but they are both worth trying! The original has things like guar gum, coconut oil, soy lecithin, skim milk, and other ingredients needed to keep it stored. Our recipe is more basic because it can be eaten fresh! Check out the full recipe below.
Anyone else want to dive right in to a big bowl of this right now? Everyone is going to want their own bowl of chunky monkey ice cream with the smooth banana ice cream, crunchy tree nuts (walnuts!), and huge chocolate chunks.
Chunky Monkey Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 TBS vanilla extract
- 4 oz semi sweet or bitter chocolate, chopped (about 3/4 cup when chopped)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Instructions
- Combine heavy cream, whole milk and sugar in a large stock pot. Heat over medium high heat until your mixture starts to bubble.
- In a large bowl, whisk your egg yolks.
- Slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the cream mixture into your egg yolks, while whisking the mixture vigorously.
- Pour another 1/2 cup, and then another half cup whisking while adding them, and after each addition.
- Pour the egg mixture back into the sauce pan with the remaining cream mixture.
- Continue to heat for about 5 minutes until the mixture is thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Strain mixture into a large bowl.
- Add about 1 cup of custard to a blender or food processor with the bananas. Puree until smooth.
- Pour back in with the rest of the custard mixture.
- Mix in the vanilla.
- Put the bowl into an ice bath (a larger bowl filled with ice and water) and allow to set to chill for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for about 2 hours, up to overnight.
- Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and mix according to maker instructions.
- Add in chocolate chunks and walnut chunks and allow to mix about 5 minutes until mixed throughout the ice cream. Enjoy now for soft serve ice cream.
- Scoop ice cream into a bread loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap.
- Freeze about 6 hours up to overnight before serving if you want scoopable ice cream.
Nutrition
alphamailman says
I just tried this recipe after looking to replicate B and J’s classic flavor but home made. The original has eggs (yolks I believe) and so I went with this one, since it also does. It came out great! I made the following revisions knowing my own tendency to feel that recipes often skimp on flavors and textures I like: I put 3 ripe bananas in not 2 and I used a cup of chopped walnuts not a half cup and about 6 ounces chopped chocolate rather than the 4 ounces listed in the recipe. Made it last night and I don’t like to have it in the soft servy form so just snuck a spoonful this morning to see what it tastes like after its had time to firm up. Awesome- great banana flavor and perfect consistency! Thanks for the recipe!
Aimee says
Glad you made it work! I always love lots of chunks in my ice cream too, especially if you’re going after Ben and Jerry’s 🙂
Kaylene Wolfe says
Hi how long does this icecream stay good in the freezer?
Aimee says
It may get icy if its not stored well after a few weeks, but should be edible for up to 3 months.
S. P. says
I’m planning to make this recipe this weekend. It’s one of my favorites from Ben & Jerry! . How does it taste without all the eggs? Can I cut them out completely and not do the custard base?
Aimee says
Hi! You should be fine leaving out the eggs, the taste will mostly stay the same, but the ice cream will be a little less creamy. Let me know how it turns out!
Aley says
Does this make two quarts of ice cream? Looks delicious.
Aimee says
Yes, it should make about 2 quarts.
Chris says
This was so delicious!!! I made it without the nuts and added some banana extract along with the vanilla. Getting ready to make it again!!
STELLA CHAMP says
Hello, I would like to make your recipe for chunky monkey ice cream. What do you mean by “strain mixture into a large bowl in step 7?”
Aimee says
You pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer to remove any egg pieces, and have it go through the strainer into a large bowl. Let me know how it turns out!
Matti Garrow says
Just made this crazy good ice cream today and I think it just might taste BETTER than the Ben & Jerry’s version! I used a vanilla bean (just because I had one) and BOY Oh BOY I’m not even sure I am going to share! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe….this happens to be my hubby’s favorite B&J’s flavor.
Aimee says
Yay! I’m so glad you loved it! Its a favorite over here too.
Cevyn Wiggins says
Is it okay if I use this recipe in a book I’m writing? The main character owns an ice cream parlor so I wanted to include some ice cream recipes. I would give full credit to you at the beginning and end of the recipe but I understand if you say no. Have a good day! 🙂
googer says
delish!
Ellen says
Thanks for the 5 star rating.
Alexa says
Best ice cream recipe I’ve ever used. I was suspicious about it at first but was pleasantly surprised with how much it tastes EXACTLY like Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
Aimee says
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear!
Hiba says
Hi!
How can I make this recipe without an ice cream maker?
Thank you!
Ellen says
I personally have never tried to make this ice cream without an ice cream maker but there are options to make ice cream without one. On our post Vanilla Ice Cream – https://lmld.org/vanilla-ice-cream/ we give you other options. These are ice cream in a can and ice cream in a bag.They both work but your ice cream will be creamier if it is made in an ice cream maker because it freezes faster. There are still a few other options which this post can help you with – https://bakingbites.com/2012/07/do-i-need-an-ice-cream-maker-to-make-homemade-ice-cream/. If you try it please let me know how it turns out.
Linda Laugher says
What I’ve cream maker do you have?
Aimee says
I have a 2qt cuisinart ice cream maker.
Ellen says
I did dive right in and it was so good. Really banany and the walnut pieces were just right. Loved it!