Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (2024)

Ninja Creami protein ice cream is a game-changer when it comes to making low-calorie dessert recipes thatactually taste good.

If you don't have aNinja Creamiyet, what the heck are you waiting for?? Seriously, it's some of the best money I've ever spent..and not justin the"kitchen appliance" category😜

Okay, maybe that's a little overboard. But, if you know me, you know how much I LOVE ice cream. I've been making my OG protein ice cream recipe for a long time and although it's still a great recipe if you only have access to a blender, ithonestly justdoes not do the Ninja Creami justice. This machine is legit magic!

Okay okay, I'll stop raving about it and get to the Ninja Creami low-calorie recipe! (I have no affiliation to Ninja, by the way—I'm just in love with this machine).

P.S.I've linked several products throughout this post so you have easy access to what I personally use and recommend.Anything in pink is a link! 😄

How to Make THE BEST Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipe

A few quick notes about the recipe (DON’T SKIP THIS!!):

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1. Protein Powder

Unlike my OGprotein ice cream recipe,you have a bit more flexibility with thetype of protein powder youcan use to make this high-protein, Ninja Creami ice cream. HOWEVER, you must pay attention to the directions I've laid out for you in the recipe below in order to get the best consistency and trueice cream texture!

With all that being said, there are definitely some protein powders that I've found to yield the best results compared to others.

Here are a few of my current favorite protein powders to use for best flavor and consistency:

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (2)

2.Consistency

If you find that the consistency you're getting with the protein powder and/or milk used is not up to your ice cream standards, a few additions you can try include:

  • Add 2% or whole milk in place of fat-free milk or nut milk (or do half and half)
  • 50-100 grams fruit (strawberries, blueberries, sliced bananas, etc.)
  • 6-10 grams sugar-freeInstant pudding mix
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese
  • 1-2tablespoonsheavy cream
  • A small pinch ofxantham gumorguar gum

*Note: some additionsabove will obviously add extra calories (I.e., cream cheese, heavy cream, pudding mix)

3. Sweetness/Flavoring

Depending on the brand/flavor of protein powder you use, you may find that adding a bit of extra sweetness/flavoring takes your high-protein, ninja creami ice cream to a whole other level 😋

These are my current favorite ways to bring the flavor up a notch:

4. Useful gadgets

  • HandheldImmersionBlender- this is a great kitchen appliance to have in general, but especially for making Creamis! You can use a regular blender to mix everything together and then transfer to the Creami pint, but that just means more dishes to clean (no thank you!). And yes, you could just use a plain old whisk, but I've found it hard to really get all the ingredients incorporated.
  • Stainless Steel Insulated Bowl- I typically just wrap the Ninja Creamipint with a paper towel and eat it right out of the container, but I've recently been scooping it intothisstainless steel bowl. It keeps it from melting and also keepsmy hands warm! You could also use a small Yeti cup!
  • Extra Ninja CreamiPints - A must-have if you live with others who want to get in on the Ninja Creami action or if you're like me and want to have lots of different options when you open the freezer for your nightly Creami fix 😜
    • Dry-Erase Markers- Pro tip: You can write on the lids with a dry-erase marker to keep track of your flavors and then just wash it away when you're ready for the next one!
  • Long Handle Ice Cream Spoons - Nota necessity, but definitely a "nice-to-have" and makes you feel like you're eating ice cream at an old-school ice cream shop!
  • Creami Koozie- keeps your hands warm and slows down melting time while you enjoy your protein ice cream 😋

5. Ninja Creami vs Blender

I said it before, but I'll say it again—your everyday run-of-the-mill blender isn't going to cut it for this recipe. You're going to need a legit Ninja Creami. It's a game-changer for making ice cream in the kitchen.

Here are a few of the notable differences:

  • The Ninja Creami isn't trying to be a blender. It's trying to make frozen treats, and it does so with a "creamifying" technique rather than a blending technique.
  • All the ingredients in your Ninja Creami need to be frozen before mixing.
  • Ninja Creami turns your ingredients into ice cream in 3 minutes, whereas typical blenders (and even other ice cream makers) take 20+ minutes.

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (3)

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipe

Prep Time:5 mins

FreezeTime: 16-24 hours (overnight)

Churn Time: 5 mins

Makes1Serving

Recipe Ingredients

  • 240 mL (~1 cup) milk of choice (I use unsweetened cashew milk because it’s lower in calories and I like to save those calories for mix-ins 😉 but you can use regular milk or whatever you prefer)
  • 1 scoop protein powder (my favoriteslinked above)
  • dash of salt
  • ~1-2 gramsliquid monk fruit, stevia, or sweetener of your choice (linked above)

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (4)

Method

  1. Pour milk of your choice into the Creami pint base. Then, add your protein powder, salt, and sweetener.
  2. Use a handheld mixer or whisk to mix it up really well (I use an immersion blender mentioned above)
  3. Freeze overnight (the Ninja peeps say it HAS to be for 24 hours but I’ve done as little as 16 hours and it still comes out great).
  4. Remove from the freezer and run the outside of the base container under hot water for 20 seconds.
  5. Put the container in the machine contraption thingy, lock it in, and press LITE ICE CREAM.
  6. When it’s finished, remove the lid and you’ll notice it’s very chalky/crumbly - don’t panic! 😜 Add a splash of milk, put it back in the machine, and hit RE-SPIN.
  7. Now, here’s the kicker - sometimes you’ll only need one re-spin and sometimes you’ll need a second re-spin (depending on what type of protein powder and milk you use). If it’s still a little crumbly after the first re-spin cycle, repeat the process one more time: add another splash of milk, put it back in the machine, and hit RE-SPIN.
  8. You should now have a perfect pint of low-calorie, high-protein ice cream 😋
  9. If you’re adding mix-ins (see my favorites below), now’s the time to do it! With a spoon, make a hole in the middle of the ice cream (if it's not already made by the machine), drop in your mix-ins,return to the machine, andhit the MIX-IN button.
  10. Devour! (..And probably go put some of your investment money in Ninja products like I did 🤣)

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (5)

Ninja CreamiLow-Calorie Recipe Mix-ins & Toppings

Feel free to add mix-ins and toppings of your choice to spruce it up a bit! My personal favorite mix-in is my Protein Cookie Dough Bites Recipe

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (6)

Other favorites include:

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (7)

Caloriesand macros will vary depending on specific ingredients used, mix-ins, and toppings.

Average Nutrition Per Serving (without mix-ins or toppings):150Calories, 4g Fat, 24g Protein, 5g Carbs

You can even get this down to just about 100 calories if you use a 1/2 scoop of protein powder. The flavor combos, mix-ins, and topping possibilities are endless.

You'll be eatinghigh-protein, low-calorie GUILT-FREE ice cream every single night! Seriously, my dreams have come true 😝

Almost ALL of my Flex Fam ladies have invested in a Ninja Creami and they love it just as much as I do! ⬇️

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Other flavor inspiration and mix-in combos below:

Basic Vanilla 100-Calorie Base

CSE Vanilla Protein makes this taste exactly like a McDonald's vanilla cone!

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (9)

Oreo Cookie Dough

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (10)

Strawberry Vanilla

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (11)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (12)

I'm testing out more recipes without protein powder that include different types of fruit, milk, and other ways toenhance the consistency even more (sneak peek below).

If you want to be notified when I release more, make sure to join my weekly newsletter!

Want more awesome recipes like this and nutrition/fitness advice to hit your goals? Joinmywomen's-only fitness programand group coaching membership!

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (13)

Cinnamon Vanilla Chip

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (14)

Mixed Berry Sorbet

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (15)

Chocolate WhipNinja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (16)

Strawberry Vanilla Sorbet

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (17)

VanillaCookie Dough

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (18)

Pistachio

UsingPhormula-1 Vanilla protein powder.

Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (19)

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Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Low-Calorie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream too fatty? ›

Why is there a greasy feel to my Ninja Creami ice cream? The heavy whipping cream has a tendency to turn greasy or almost butterlike when there is too much added or it is over-mixed. To prevent this from happening, use less heavy whipping cream or substitute it with half and half or milk.

What if you don't finish your creami? ›

If you don't finish the full pint, you can save the rest for later! Use a spoon to smooth and level out the top of the remaining ice cream in the Ninja Creami container and place back in the freezer. When ready to eat, re-spin the frozen pint until desired consistency.

Can you add collagen powder to Ninja Creami? ›

This Ninja Creami protein ice cream is made without pudding mix and the reason for this is we use unflavored collagen! This is a magic healthy ingredient that adds protein and the perfect smooth and creamy texture. I love using the Clean Simple Eats unflavored collagen powder but you can really use any collagen powder.

Can I put frozen fruit in the Ninja Creami? ›

Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker

We love our Creami. To use your frozen fruit, follow your instructions from the recipes that came with your Creami. If you want to make fruit ice cream thaw your fruit, place in a food processor and mix it with the vanilla ice cream recipe.

Why is my Ninja Creami icy and not creamy? ›

The presence of too much water in your ice cream mix can cause iciness. This could be from using high-water content ingredients or from not blending your mix sufficiently. Try to balance out water-heavy ingredients with those high in fat, fiber, or sugar, and blend your mix thoroughly before freezing.

What happens if you don't freeze Ninja Creami for 24 hours? ›

Texture is key: The 24-hour freeze time results in smaller ice crystals and enhances the dessert's creaminess. For the most creamy ice cream and smoothest sorbet, this matters! Otherwise, the texture may be more slushie-like.

Why do people put pudding mix in Ninja Creami? ›

While you can use gums like guar gum or other thickeners and stabilizers, one of the easiest ways to improve the ice cream texture and add flavor at the same time is to use your favorite instant pudding mix. You can use sugar-free pudding mix or regular to make your Ninja Creami sweet treat.

What is the thickener in Ninja Creami? ›

Enter guar gum, a natural thickener imparting a classic creamy body to your ice cream. Add just 1/2 teaspoon to your Ninja Creami recipes for optimal results.

Why does Ninja Creami go powdery? ›

A powdery Ninja Creami is common after the first spin when making light or high protein Ninja Creami ice creams. Ninja Creami protein ice cream and light ice creams typically need 1 or 2 Re-Spin cycles. If it's really powdery, try adding a tablespoon of protein shake, milk, or cream before you Re-Spin.

Can I use store bought ice cream with Ninja Creami? ›

If adding mix-ins to store-bought ice cream, you do not have to process the ice cream on another program first. Just scoop the store-bought ice cream into the tub, make a hole, and add the mix-ins.

Can you refreeze ice cream from the Ninja Creami? ›

Yes, you can refreeze Ninja Creami bases if you don't eat or serve the entire pint after processing it. The brand recommends flattening the top of your frozen treat before refreezing it, which I do with the back of a spoon.

Can you crush ice in Ninja Creami? ›

You don't use this machine for crushing ice or blending loose ingredients. Rather, with Ninja's “creamify” technology, you churn frozen, liquid-based mixtures, typically made of cream or milk, into silky-smooth treats.

Why does my ice cream taste fatty? ›

If your ice cream tastes greasy and leaves an unpleasantly cloying film in your mouth, then the butterfat content is probably too high. Try using less cream and more milk.

What happens if there is too much fat in ice cream? ›

Too much fat will make your ice cream too greasy, too consistent and warm to the palate. Too little fat will result in non-creamy ice cream that is cold to the palate.

Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream waxy? ›

Ninja CREAMi Community | Using too much heavy cream or over-mixing heavy cream can create a waxy or greasy feel on the spoon | Facebook.

Why does my ice cream feel greasy? ›

As we've already discussed, too much butterfat will give your ice cream a greasy mouth-feel that leaves an unpleasant, oily film in your mouth. It also increases the chance of "buttering" where small globules of fat become detectable by the tongue.

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