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Since you landed here, I am going to go ahead and assume that you either own a Ninja Creami and are looking for some fun, new, protein-packed recipes or you’re on the verge of taking the leap and want to know that you’re making a good choice.
Whatever the case may be, I’m glad you’re here because I am obsessed with my Creami and love making new delicious creations that make eating healthy and fitting treats into your macros feel like a dream.
Below are my current top 25 Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream recipes that are healthy, delicious, and simple to make. If you like these recipes, then you’re going to love Volume I of our Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream eBook (Free download below)! Inside you’ll find our top 25 Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream creations along with all of the guidance you need to make delicious Creami creations of your own!
Free eBook
Ninja Creami Creations - 25 Protein Ice Cream Recipes
Get all 25 Protein Ice Cream Recipes all in one place - a PDF download!
What’s a Ninja Creami?
If you fall into the category of someone who has seen the Creami buzz online but hasn’t made the decision to purchase one yet, here’s a brief explanation of what the Ninja Creami is.
Ninja Creami is a 7-in-1 (or there’s an 11-in-1!) ice cream maker made by the popular appliance brand, Ninja (I also have one of their high-speed blenders and it’s my favorite!). Using the Ninja Creami, you have the ability to make anything from ice cream and sorbet to milkshakes and smoothie bowls.
This machine can make all kinds of delicious, frozen treats, not necessarily just “healthy” versions. But to be honest, my obsession with the Ninja Creami stems from the fact that I can make protein ice cream that actually tastes good and helps me hit my daily goals - it’s a win, win!
Be sure to read our best protein powders for ninja creami ice cream, as I have tried them all! And, in that post, those are the ones that work / taste the best.
How to Make Ninja Creami Recipes Healthy
Before we dive into the recipes, let’s first address the elephant in the room; can ice cream really be healthy? Will it fit your macros? How?
First, let’s remember that the term “healthy” is subjective and I don’t promote labeling any foods healthy or unhealthy, however, there are certainly ways to make foods more macro-friendly and easier to fit into your meal plan than others. And by macro-friendly, I am referring to foods that are high in protein and more balanced in carbs and fats. A traditional bowl of ice cream doesn’t really fit the bill, but a Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream does!
To make your Ninja Creami creation healthy, your best bet is to pack it with protein! No matter what your nutrition goals are, hitting certain protein targets daily should be an absolute priority, yet so many people (women especially) struggle with doing so. That’s why protein shakes, bars, and now protein Ninja Creami are so popular.
A good (healthy) Ninja Creami recipe is made with some kind of protein source (powder or liquid shake) and some milk. It’s amazing how simple it is to get 20+ grams of protein in!
One important thing to note is that mix-ins are a big thing for Creami creations. The mix-in options are endless and it allows you to create a completely customized treat that includes all your favorite fun ingredients. Keep in mind that your mix-ins can make or break your macros, so make sure you’re tracking properly and using discretion to keep things on the “healthier” side.
Can You Use Frozen Fruit In Ninja Creami?
Absolutely! In fact, adding some frozen fruit to make a Creami sorbet, shake, or ice cream is highly encouraged as it will add additional nutrients to your treat. I am fond of more traditional ice cream base flavors like chocolate and vanilla, however, mixing it up every once in a while and making something fruity is never a bad idea!
If using frozen fruit to make a fruity creation, make sure you fully blend all of your base ingredients in a blender before adding them to your Creami Pint to be frozen. You will want the fruit to be fully emulsified.
Can You Use Almond Milk In Ninja Creami?
Yes! You can use almost any kind of milk you’d like, but keep in mind that different kinds of milk will produce different consistencies. I have found that using high-quality cow’s milk like Fairlife produces the best flavor and consistency, but I also recognize that cow’s milk is not an option for everyone. I have used almond milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk and have enjoyed them all. Using a milk alternative is a great way to reduce the amount of calories in your ice cream.
The Best Ninja Creami Base Recipes
You can have a good Creami pint without first perfecting your base recipe. Trust me, you’re going to want to have your base nailed down so that you can add whatever toppings and mix-ins you want to take it over the top.
I have two Ninja Creami base recipes that I use on repeat, and they’re very basic - chocolate and vanilla. From here, we can create an endless amount of Creami creations using a variety of mix-ins to make them fun and a pure joy to eat.
Chocolate Creami Base Recipe:
- 1 cup chocolate Fairlife Milk (or chocolate unsweetened almond milk as a non-dairy alternative)
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I recommend Clean Simple Eats Brownie Batter or 1st Phorm Level-1)
- Optional - cocoa powder
Vanilla Creami Base Recipe:
- 1 cup Fairlife 2% Milk (or any white milk of choice)
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I recommend Clean Simple Eats or 1st Phorm Level-1)
- Optional - vanilla extract
- *Many people like to add some sugar-free JELLO pudding mix to their pints to enhance the flavor level. Personally, I do not like sugar-free mixes as I feel like it gives a weird flavor/texture. However, you’re welcome to add some if you’d like!
How to Make a Creami Base
One of my biggest tips for making your Creami creation smooth and delicious is to make sure you’re properly mixing your ingredients before freezing them. For our Creami base, there are only two ingredients, but we want to ensure that the protein powder is mixed fully into the milk before freezing or else the outcome won’t be as smooth and creamy as we’d like.
There are a couple of ways to go about this:
- Add your base ingredients to a blender and blend fully. This is a MUST when using any kind of frozen berry.
- Use a frother.
- Mix your base ingredients in a shaker cup.
I tend to use the shaker cup method as it requires less work than using my blender and I can mix it harder than when I use a frother.
Once your base recipe is mixed, it needs to be frozen for a minimum of 12 hours, however, I encourage you to give it 24 hrs to freeze before spinning.
25 Healthy, High-Protein Ninja Creami Recipes
Here they are! 25 of my favorite Ninja Creami Creations to date.
1. Loaded Chocolate S’Mores
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder |
2 tbsp. Marshmallow fluff |
1 tbsp. Mini chocolate chips (mix-in/topping) |
1 graham cracker sheet, crushed (mix-in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 368 |
Protein: 33g |
Carbs: 42g |
Fats: 9g |
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder |
2 tbsp. Mini Recees peanut butter cups (mix-in/topping) |
1 tbsp. Powdered peanut butter (mix-in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 420 |
Protein: 39g |
Carbs: 41g |
Fats: 14g |
3. Vanilla Berry Protein Sorbet
Ingredients: |
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1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. vanilla extract |
1 cup frozen mixed berries |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 220 |
Protein: 22g |
Carbs: 27g |
Fats: 3g |
4. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife 2% milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. vanilla extract |
1 tsp. Cashew butter |
2 tbsp. Prepared cookie dough bites (mix in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 487 |
Protein: 35g |
Carbs: 52g |
Fats: 16g |
5. Monster Cookie Crunch
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife 2% milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. vanilla extract |
1 tsp. Blue food coloring |
2 Chips Ahoy thins (mix-in/topping) |
2 tbsp. Mini M&M’s (mix-in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 445 |
Protein: 35g |
Carbs: 51g |
Fats: 13g |
6. Chocolate Birthday Cake Batter
Ingredients: |
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1 scoop cake batter protein powder (I used Clean Simple Eats- code TAMI saves you) |
6 oz Fairlife choc milk |
6 oz unsweetened almond milk |
1 tsp cake batter extract |
Sprinkles (mix-in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint *Not including sprinkles* |
Calories: 234 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 19g |
Fats: 5g |
7. Strawberry Cheesecake
Ingredients: |
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1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice |
1 tbsp. cream cheese |
½ cup frozen strawberries |
Crushed graham crackers (mix-in/topping) |
Fresh strawberries, chopped (mix-in/topping) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 264 |
Protein: 23g |
Carbs: 25g |
Fats: 9g |
8. Chocolate Mint Cookie Crunch
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder or chocolate mint protein powder |
¼ tsp mint extract |
2 grasshopper mint cookies |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 289 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 29g |
Fats: 7g |
9. Cookies & Cream
Ingredients: |
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1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk or regular milk depending on if you want your ice cream to be more chocolatey or not |
1 scoop chocolate or vanilla protein powder (again, depending on what you want) |
2-3 Oero thin cookies (mix-ins/toppings) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 314 |
Protein: 31g |
Carbs: 39g |
Fats: 5g |
10. Coconut Caramel Delight
Ingredients: |
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1 cup 2% Fairlife milk, or milk of your choice |
1 scoop vanilla or caramel protein powder |
2 tbsp. Sugar-free caramel syrup (mix-in/topping) |
1 tbsp. shredded coconut (mix-ins/toppings) |
2 Mrs. Thinster Coconut Cookies (mix-ins/toppings) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 389 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 52g |
Fats: 9g |
11. Buttered Biscoff Cookie
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla or caramel protein powder |
1 tsp. butter extract |
1 tbsp. Biscoff Cookie Butter |
2 Biscoff Cookies |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 374 |
Protein: 31g |
Carbs: 39g |
Fats: 12g |
12. Key Lime Pie
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop key lime or vanilla protein powder |
1 tbsp. lime juice (fresh or bottled) |
2 tbs. graham cracker crumbs |
2 tbsp. lite whipped topping |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 308 |
Protein: 31g |
Carbs: 45g |
Fats: 4g |
13. Cotton Candy
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop cotton candy or vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. cotton candy flavored syrup (optional) |
1 tbsp. rainbow sprinkles |
1 tbsp. sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix |
2 tbsp. lite whipped topping or spray whipped cream |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 234 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 22g |
Fats: 4g |
14. Peaches & Creami
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop peach or vanilla protein powder |
1 cup diced peaches (frozen, fresh, or canned) |
2 tbsp. lite whipped topping or spray whipped cream |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 258 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 28g |
Fats: 4g |
15. Chocolate Fudge Brownie Batter
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder |
1 tsp. cocoa powder |
2 tbsp. brownie batter pieces |
1 tbsp. sugar-free chocolate syrup |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 349 |
Protein: 32g |
Carbs: 38g |
Fats: 10g |
16. Salted White Chocolate Pretzel
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. sugar-free white chocolate pudding mix |
1 tbsp. white chocolate chips |
4 white chocolate covered pretzels |
Sea salt |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 389 |
Protein: 31g |
Carbs: 46g |
Fats: 10g |
17. Half Baked Chocolate
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder |
1 tsp. cocoa powder |
1 tbsp. edible cookie dough pieces |
1 tbsp. edible brownie dough pieces |
2 tbsp. sugar-free chocolate syrup |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 344 |
Protein: 32g |
Carbs: 42g |
Fats: 7g |
18. Butterfinger
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla or peanut butter protein powder |
1 tbsp. powdered peanut butter |
2 fun sized Butterfinger Bars |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 414 |
Protein: 35g |
Carbs: 48g |
Fats: 11g |
19. Toffee Crunch
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla or caramel toffee protein powder |
1 tsp. butterscotch pudding mix |
1 tbsp. Heath Bar Bits (or a fun sized Health Bar, crushed) |
2 Toffee Crunch Oreos |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 397 |
Protein: 31g |
Carbs: 44g |
Fats: 13g |
20. All American Cupcake
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop cake batter or vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. cake batter extract |
1 tsp. red food coloring |
1 tbsp. red, white, & blue sprinkles |
2 tbsp. lite whipped topping |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 244 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 24g |
Fats: 4g |
21. Cinnamon Toasty
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop cinnamon or vanilla protein powder |
1 tbsp. Cinnamon Toast Crunch spread |
1 tsp. Cinnamon Toast seasoning (or a blend on cinnamon & sugar) |
2 tbsp. Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 410 |
Protein: 32g |
Carbs: 50g |
Fats: 11g |
22. Vanilla Maple Shortbread Cookie
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop maple or vanilla protein powder |
1 tsp. vanilla extract |
2 tbsp. crushed suagr-free shortbread cookies (I like these ones) |
1 tbsp. sugar-free maple syrup |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 355 |
Protein: 34g |
Carbs: 37g |
Fats: 10g |
23. Double Peanut Butter Cookie
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
2 tbsp. powdered peanut butter |
2 peanut butter cookies, crushed (I like these ones) |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 430 |
Protein: 41g |
Carbs: 44g |
Fats: 11g |
24. Lemon Cookie Cream
Ingredients: |
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1 cup milk |
1 scoop vanilla protein powder |
1 tbsp. sugar-free lemon pudding mix |
2 lemon creme Oreos |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 374 |
Protein: 30g |
Carbs: 44g |
Fats: 10g |
25. Chocolate Brookie Dough
Ingredients: |
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1 cup chocolate milk |
1 scoop chocolate protein powder |
1 tbsp. edible cookie dough bites (any flavor!) |
2 tbsp. crushed Oreos |
How to Make: |
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Macros: |
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Serving Size: 1 pint |
Calories: 417 |
Protein: 34g |
Carbs: 48g |
Fats: 12g |
My Top Ninja Creami Tips & Tricks
Getting the hang of using your Creami might take a time or two before you figure out the right consistency for your liking and the best methods for your preferences. But here are my top tips and tricks for making healthy and delicious Ninja Creami creations:
1. Give your Creami ample time to freeze. Per Ninja, you need to allow at least 12 hours for your pint to freeze, however, I have found that 24 hours is a safer bet to get the best consistency. Failure to properly freeze can result in a runnier, less structured ice cream.
2. You’re probably always going to need to add a splash more milk after your initial cycle, no matter which option you choose. After your first cycle, the mixture will look powdery, just add a splash of milk to the middle and pop it back on to make sure things come out smooth and creamy.
3. You can re-freeze your leftovers and make it again another day. Can’t eat the whole pint at once? No worries! Eat what you wish, pop the top back on, and re-freeze it. You can easily put your pint back onto the machine another day.
4. Make sure your base ingredients are fully mixed so that you have the creamiest outcome. Especially when using protein powder, it’s important to make sure it’s fully blended with the liquid you use to ensure a smooth consistency.
5. Have fun with it! There are so many different ways to use your Ninja Creami and so many different ingredient combinations to enjoy! What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Try making that in your Creami! Love smoothie bowls but hate the high cost? Make your own at home! Have fun with it.
6. How long to freeze - I recommend freezing for 24 hours, however, you can get away with as little as 12.
7. Preventing Ice Crystals - You might notice that the sides of your frozen Creami pint tend to get stuck and create a hard, ice crystal. To minimize this, run your Creami pint under warm water or leave on the counter for a few minutes before adding to the machine.
8. Which Creami function to use - In this recipe book, we're focused on Creami protein ice cream creations, and for these you'll want to use either the "Ice Cream" or the "Light Ice Cream" modes. Light ice cream will produce more of a "soft serve" texture and ice cream will be a tad harder.
9. Getting the right consistency - After your initial "spin," you're almost certainly going to need to "re-spin" again in order to get the right consistency. You can add in a tablespoon or two of liquid and then re-spin once. Or, you can simply re-spin multiple times (without adding anything) until the consistency is right. This may take a few spins.
10. Mix-In Function vs. Manual Mixing In - The Creami has a "mix-in" function which works great if you want bits of your mix-in chopped up and distributed throughout your creation. You can also just add your mix-ins to the top of your Creami once it's ready and mix in by hand. I prefer this method when I want to keep my mix-ins intact and not pulverized.
11. Re-freezing - If you don't eat your entire Creami pint at once, you can scoop out your desired serving and put it back in the freezer to be used at a later time. If you plan to do this, be cautious of using the mix-in function on your whole pint as some of your mix-ins might not re-freeze well. Add your mix-ins as toppings if not using the whole pint at once.
12. Labeling Your Creations - If you're prepping multiple Creami bases at once (highly recommended just make sure you grab some additional pints!), I highly recommend using a labeling system to indicate what's in each Creami container as it can be tough to determine once frozen.
Recommended Protein Powders That Mix Very Well With The Ninja Creami
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Wrapping Up!
I hope this post gives you some inspiration to get creative with your Ninja Creami and make some delicious and healthy treats! Or, if you’ve been debating whether or not to get one, maybe these flavor combos will give you the nudge you need to snag one!
Ever since I got my Ninja Creami, I have made it a priority to pre-log my healthy Creami dessert into Macros First right away and then work the rest of my day around it. With my protein ice cream logged, I know I have something sweet and satisfying to look forward to at the end of my day.
Come on over and follow me on Instagram where I’m always sharing my latest healthy Ninja Creami Recipes along with all of our other easy, macro-friendly meals that the whole family will enjoy. And don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly macro meal plans (Sign up is below)!
Free eBook
Ninja Creami Creations - 25 Protein Ice Cream Recipes
Get all 25 Protein Ice Cream Recipes all in one place - a PDF download!
Join our Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Community
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About the author, Tami Smith
Hi, I'm Tami, a certified macro coach, nutritionist and personal trainer! I love creating and sharing quick and easy macro-friendly recipes, and working out in my garage gym!
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Hi. I just got a creami and am excited to try some of these recipes!! What is the brand of edible cookie dough and brownie pieces do you use? Thank you!
Reply
Hi Sarah! I can’t wait for you to get started with your Creami! I use whatever brand I can find to be honest. Target usually has some great options! I like Ben & Jerry’s a lot and I can usually find those at Target. Hope that helps!
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Thank you for coming up with —and sharing—all these yummy recipes! I love all these flavors, but I’m too OCD to experiment. Thanks for doing it for me! Oh, and thanks for the cotton candy pro powder tip! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
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Hi Jackleen! Happy to hear you’re enjoying these recipes! I have so much fun experimenting with them 🤎
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Hi!! These all sound amazing!! Just confused on measurements… 1cup of liquid isn’t enough to fill the cup? Can’t wait to try these add ins though.
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Hi Ashlyn! Do you by chance have the Deluxe version of the Creami? Those containers are much larger…
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Hello. I put my name and email to get the free e book of these recipes and it didn’t send it. Tried it twice. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Reply
Hi Annie! I’m sorry you’re having trouble receiving the eBook! I will send to your email personally!
Reply
It did not work for me either
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Hi Brittany! Sometimes they go to spam. I’ll send it over myself! 🙂
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Does the pint only look a 1/3 of the way full before you put it in the freezer? Doesn’t seem full enough? I see people freeze their ingredients when its too the fill line but wouldnt that be multiple servings? I’m confused haha
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Hi April! Do you by chance have the Deluxe version of the machine? Those contains are a lot bigger and could be the reason why!
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Question- if your recipe calls for milk can I use almond milk? If so would I also add something else to make up for the fat?
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Hi Lauren! Absolutely, I use almond milk all the time. Up to you if you want to add anything to increase fat content. If you’re tracking your food, I would just log the almond milk!
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