The Ninja CREAMI Craze (You’ll Scream for This Ice Cream)
You can make an affiliiate purchase of the Ninja CREAMI Deluxe and the set of 4 additional containers used in the article, from the Recommended Gear Page or from below.
This article was originally written for the Ninja CREAMI Deluxe, but the recipes can be used with a Ninja CREAMI that uses pint-sized containers (usually the 301-series). Simply reduce each ingredient by 1/3 to get the correct amount. Those that find a recipe on the internet for the pint-size CREAMI that would like to move it to their Deluxe model, simply mutiply each ingredient by 1.5.
You can follow along in our cooking tutorial video Make Ninja CREAMI Protein Ice Cream.
I love ice cream – so dessert is an easy choice – but it makes my healthy lifestyle challenging. Working more than a spoonful of my beloved Blue Bell into my diet is tough. When I tried self-control and willpower, I ended up pulling the old pint-of-Häagen-Dazs-in-front-of-the-TV trick. Sitting on the couch with an empty ice cream container was disheartening so I looked for a solution.
I tried several “lite” ice creams but they ranged from terrible to okay. I wanted something that tasted like Moo-lenium Crunch or Cookies ‘n Cream but without the impact on my girlish figure. I’d heard stories about protein ice creams that were smooth, creamy and rich but, like the pony I asked for every Christmas, I’d never seen one.
My search ended when I got a Ninja CREAMI Deluxe for my award-winning performance as Nurse Ratched during Henry’s hip replacement.
Once again, I cracked the books and made the necessary calculations. After lots of trial and error – and making sure the public wasn’t in danger – I came up with a handful of fabulous-tasting recipes. Each of them makes two servings of base ice cream. They’re high in protein, low in sugar, carbs and fat and they’re so tasty you’d feel guilty if you didn’t know better. You can even mix different goodies into the top or bottom half of the finished ice cream. This thing was made for ice cream freaks like me.
All you need is a food scale, some measuring spoons, a container to mix it in and an immersion blender. I use an old Tupperware 4-cup measuring pitcher, so the mixing bowl doubles as the measuring cup for the milk and water, and the built-in spout makes it easy to pour the finished recipe into the container.
Order an extra set of containers when you buy yours. You’ll use the same utensils to make each recipe so, if you’re going to wash dishes, you might as well make more than one flavor at a time. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll have trouble keeping it in stock.
To make a two-serving container of protein ice cream from any of the recipes below:
Measure the liquid ingredients into a 4-cup, or larger, mixing bowl.
Add the dry ingredients, saving the Jell-O for last because, once it gets wet, the gelatin activates.
Mix with the immersion blender.
Pour into a Ninja CREAMI container.
Put the lid on and freeze for at least 24 hours.
Protein ice cream is as hard as a rock after it’s been frozen, so take it out of the freezer at least fifteen minutes before spinning it. We take it out when we start making dinner and it works perfectly.
For containers that are only half full, follow the steps below, substituting BOTTOM for FULL. If it’s been processed before, we usually spin it once. Do a full, four-minute spin if you want it creamier, or a two-minute RE-SPIN for thicker ice cream.
To spin a full container of protein ice cream:
Put the container into the outer bowl.
Lock the lid and paddle in place over the outer bowl, slide it into the machine and rotate counterclockwise until it locks.
Turn on the Ninja CREAMI, select Full and turn the selector knob to the Lite Ice Cream setting.
Push in on the knob and the CREAMI will spin the ice cream for four minutes.
Unlock the outer bowl and remove it from the machine.
Remove the lid and check on the ice cream. It will look grainy but we’ve never added more liquid. A re-spin is enough.
Reinstall the lid and lock the bowl in the machine.
Select Full, then twist the dial to the Lite Ice Cream setting.
Press the RE-SPIN button (directly below the selector knob) and the Ninja will spin the ice cream for two minutes.
It should be finished, but if you’d like a creamier texture, re-spin for another two minutes.
Serve the ice cream, if it’s finished, or use the MIX-IN function to add items.
I skip MIX-IN and do it by hand because the ice cream is so cold it hardens anything I add and takes away some of the flavor. Give it try and see what you think.
Our favorites mix-ins are chocolate, caramel and peanut butter morsels, butterscotch chips, Heath Bar bits, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, mini-marshmallows and marshmallow crème. You can chop up candy bars like PAYDAY, Snickers® or a plain Hershey’s bar. My husband loves malts so I put malted milk in each of his but it can be mixed in later. Pour chocolate or caramel sauce over the top and, of course, don’t forget whipped cream and the cherry on top!
To use the MIX-IN function:
Use the TOP, BOTTOM or FULL setting depending on how many servings you have in the container and where you want your mix-ins to go.
To make two separate mixes in a full container, first select TOP and press MIX-IN to mix the items into the top half of the container.
Scoop the finished ice cream out of the top half, then choose BOTTOM and press MIX-IN to blend different goodies into the remaining base.
Use FULL when the container has two servings and you want the same items in the top and bottom.
All the recipes start with milk, coconut water, water, Greek yogurt, protein powder and pudding mix with variations and additions depending on the flavor.
The are enough flavors below to fill the two containers included with the Ninja CREAMI Deluxe and the set of four I recommended above.
Time to get busy- that ice cream isn’t going to make itself.
You Got Your Chocolate in My Peanut Butter
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream
20 grams legion® Whey+ Peanut Butter Fudge protein powder
10 grams PBfit™ Classic roasted peanut powder
10 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® chocolate pudding mix
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
10 fluid ounces fairlife® chocolate 2% reduced fat milk
4 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
4 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 198; Protein 19.1 g; Carbs 22.4 g; Fat 3.8 g
Kangaroo Coconut Cheesecake
Coconut Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream
In honor of the Kangaroo Court Cheesecake from The Original Mexican Restaurant on San Antonio’s historic Riverwalk.
20 grams legion® Whey+ Coconut Cream protein powder
15 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® cheesecake pudding mix
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
12 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
1 teaspoon McCormick® coconut extract
2 fluid ounces coconut water
4 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 158; Protein 22.2 g; Carbs 12.5 g; Fat 0.5 g
Fudgy Wudgy Was a Bear
Peanut Butter Fudge Protein Ice Cream
33 grams legion® Whey+ Peanut Butter protein powder
25 grams PBfit™ Classic roasted peanut powder
10 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® vanilla pudding mix
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
12 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
2 fluid ounces coconut water
4 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 196; Protein 29 g; Carbs 13.7 g; Fat 2.1 g
Patience Grasshopper
Chocolate Mint Protein Ice Cream
28 grams legion® Whey+ Dutch Chocolate protein powder
10 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® chocolate pudding mix
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
10 fluid ounces fairlife® chocolate 2% reduced fat milk
4 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
3 grams fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon McCormick® pure mint extract
2 fluid ounces coconut water
2 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 189; Protein 24 g; Carbs 17.5 g; Fat 2.8 g
Molto Bene Malto
Chocolate Malt Coconut Protein Ice Cream
20 grams legion® Whey+ Coconut Cream protein powder
10 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® chocolate pudding mix
3 tablespoons Nestlé® Carnation® malted milk
1 tablespoon Penzeys natural high fat cocoa
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
8 fluid ounces fairlife® chocolate 2% reduced fat milk
4 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
1 teaspoon McCormick® coconut extract
4 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 212; Protein 21.9 g; Carbs 23.1 g; Fat 4.9 g
Mustachio Pistachio
Pistachio Coconut Protein Ice Cream
20 grams legion® Whey+ Coconut Cream protein powder
10 grams Zero-Sugar Jell-O® pistachio pudding mix
1 ounce Fage® Total 0% milkfat plain Greek yogurt
10 fluid ounces fairlife® fat free milk
1 teaspoon McCormick® coconut extract
6 fluid ounces water
Serves 2; Per Serving: Calories 108; Protein 18.1 g; Carbs 6.3 g; Fat 0.6 g
Ice cream was an indulgence until now. These taste decadent while keeping your diet on track. Life is good.
So, scoop, sit back and chill out with a frosty treat!
Regards,
Eva
We’re often asked about gear, so we put together a list of things we’ve used in our gym and kitchen that we’ve recommended to clients and friends over the years. While this page contains affiliate links, we’ve purchased most of the items, or similar, for our own use. “As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.” We’ve tried to make sure we’ve stated that fact in the product description. We’re adding to it as we discover new things and, as always, please let us know how they work out!
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