Healthy Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream — Base Recipe Template
This healthy Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream recipe is perfect if you're craving a sweet treat that’s also higher in protein. This customizable recipe template walks you through how to make your own homemade protein ice cream right in your kitchen—no fancy ingredients required. Simply mix together ingredients like milk, protein, optional fruits, sweeteners, and flavor boosters. Then, blend together with any add-ins of your choice!
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Ingredients
- 1 cup liquid of your choice, (e.g., dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, protein shake, kefir, chocolate milk, matcha tea, cooled brewed coffee, etc.)
- 1-2 servings protein of your choice, (1 scoop or 3 tablespoons protein powder, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons cottage cheese, 2 tablespoons cream cheese, 2 tablespoons nuts, 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter, or 1-2 tablespoons nut butter, etc.)
- If Desired: 1/2 cup fruits of your choice, (banana slices, berries, diced avocado, etc.)
- If Desired: 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of your choice, (jello mix, honey, maple syrup, agave, or 1 medjool date chopped, etc.)
- If Desired: 1/4-1/2 teaspoons flavor boosters of your choice, (vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, cocoa powder, instant espresso, etc.)
- 1 pinch salt
Up to 1/4 cup mix-ins of your choice (Added After First Spin):
- Mini chocolate chips, dark, milk, or white
- Granola, any variety for crunch
- Crushed nuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, etc.
- Nut butter, drizzled in for extra creaminess
- Crushed graham crackers, for a pie-inspired treat
- Cocoa nibs, for a deeper chocolate flavor and crunch
- Chopped dates or dried fruit, apricots, cranberries, or raisins
- Mini marshmallows, for a s’mores or rocky road-style treat
- Shredded coconut, toasted for extra flavor
- Crushed pretzels, for a salty-sweet combo
- Caramel or chocolate sauce, swirled in after re-spinning
- Crushed Oreos or cookie crumbles, for a cookies & cream twist
- Chia seeds or flaxseeds, for extra fiber and texture
- Espresso beans, chopped (for a mocha kick)
When spinning the 2nd time: 1 tablepoon liquid of choice from initial recipe
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except mix-ins into a blender and blend until smooth. Then, pour into your Ninja Creami Pint.
- NOTE: If using mainly liquid ingredients, you can just mix them directly in the Ninja Creami pint using a fork or milk frother.
- Place the Creami pint in the freezer on a level surface and freeze for at least 24 hours until fully solid.
- After 24 hours, remove from the freezer and process using the "Lite Ice Cream" setting. This will take about 2-3 minutes. After this spin, the texture will most likely look crumbly and airy, similar to snow. This is normal!
- Use a spoon or knife to carefully scrape around the sides of the pint. Then, create a small hole in the center reaching the bottom and add up to 1/4 cup of mix-ins and 1 tablespoon of the same liquid used in the base recipe.
- Re-spin using the "Mix-In" setting to fully blend the mix-ins and achieve a smooth, creamy texture.
- Enjoy immediately or if you end up with extras, you can store in the freezer for later. For the best storage results, use a spoon to press the ice cream into a flat, even surface before refreezing.
Notes
Leftovers Note: If you have leftovers, store them in the freezer and you can re-spin up to 3 times after refreezing. However, I personally prefer just letting the Ninja Creami pint sit out at room temperature for 20-25 minutes, instead of re-spinning. If you’re feeling impatient, you can also microwave the pint for 10-15 seconds for a quick thaw!
Tried this recipe?Tag us @cheerfulchoices and let us know how it was!