Looking for a healthier ice cream option? We LOVE making Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream for dessert!
Who doesn’t love ice cream?? My boyfriend and I ordered a Ninja CREAMi as a Christmas gift to ourselves after seeing what his sister could make with hers! Let’s just say, we are HOOKED!
While I can eat almost anything without stomach irritation, my boyfriend isn’t as lucky – he’s VERY SENSITIVE to dairy. Since he tries to eat mostly dairy-free, we often look to try ALL the alternatives at the grocery store. Unfortunately, we find that most dairy-free or vegan foods are loaded with tons of crap to make the food taste like it would if it actually had dairy, eggs, or meat in it. I am also always trying to up my protein which is how we concocted the perfect protein ice cream with our Ninja CREAMi!
If you’re looking for healthy Ninja CREAMi recipes, you are sure to love our favorite Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipe!
Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream
What is a Ninja CREAMi?
Chances are if you found this article, you may already own a Ninja CREAMi! If you haven’t heard of the CREAMi, it’s a magical ice cream machine that allows you to make homemade ice cream at home with almost ANY ingredient.
Aside from eliminating preservatives and a lot of extra sugar from your favorite dessert, the best part is that the texture of the ice cream is truly similar to what you would find at an ice cream shop!
The Ninja CREAMi is quite versatile and works to make ice cream, milkshakes, gelato, and smoothie bowls. We love that you can truly make any possible sweet treat! You can find the CREAMi on the Ninja website or on Amazon. If you’re lucky, you can even find this bad boy at Costco on sale!
Ingredients for Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream
We like to keep it simple with as minimal ingredients as possible! Choose your protein powder of choice. We love Isagenix Plant-Based Chocolate Protein Shake! It’s loaded with 18 grams of protein and is a full meal replacement – so why not make it into ice cream?!
If we’re looking for something that is higher in protein (but not dairy free) we’ll choose Isagenix Amped Tri-Release Protein which includes 25 grams of protein. While this is NOT a full meal replacement protein powder, it makes for the perfect high-protein snack!
You’ll also need 4 bananas that are starting to turn brown. The goal is mushy bananas to help thicken your ice cream so the browner, the better. I’ll be honest, I don’t love bananas, but they do taste better in ice cream form! If you are wondering, using 4 bananas will add another 5 grams of protein to your ice cream.
The final ingredient is almond milk– you can use cashew milk or oat milk as well, whatever dairy alternative you prefer! I know it’s tempting to use water, but the Ninja CREAMi is sensitive and the frozen water could actually ruin the machine. The CREAMi requires a cream-based liquid, something with sugar or fat. These liquids freeze differently than water and will help provide the right texture for your ice cream!
Sometimes I like to add in peanut butter powder, I am a sucker for PBFit All-Natural Peanut Butter Powder! Let’s be real, I am a sucker for anything that tastes like a peanut butter cup! If you’re looking to pump up the protein in your ice cream, this will add another 8 grams of protein!
You can also include any other toppings or mix-ins that you love with your ice cream! We might include chocolate chips (dark chocolate doesn’t have dairy) or walnuts. You should choose whatever toppings you enjoy! Just be mindful that if you are trying to make this a “healthy” Ninja CREAMi recipe, any extra toppings can add extra sugar, fat, or calories.
F3 Ice Cream Must-Haves
How to Make Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream
Mix It All Together!
- Mash the 4 bananas together in a bowl or the CREAMi pint-sized canister.
- Mix together 2 scoops of IsaLean Protein Powder and 1/4 cup of almond milk. I prefer to do this in a blender! You can also mix in a tablespoon of peanut butter if you wish as well!
- Pour the liquid protein concoction into the pint canister with the mushed bananas and mix. Make sure you don’t go above the max line!
- Place in the freezer for 24 hours. We haven’t deviated from the 24-hour rule, but if you can’t wait that long, let us know how your ice cream turns out!
- Add a little almond milk to the canister, put it in the Ninja CREAMi machine, and press ICE CREAM.
- If you have HARD toppings, dig out one scoop of ice cream and put your toppings in the hole. Put it back in the machine and press RE-SPIN.
- Scoop whatever you want into your bowl and add your favorite soft toppings like hot fudge or whipped cream!
- Freeze until next time! Make sure to add a little almond milk and RE-SPIN the next time you go to eat ice cream!
How to Store Leftovers
While you absolutely CAN eat the entire pint, you can also save your leftovers! Just pop the lid back on the container and stick it back in the freezer. They can stay in the freezer for up to 6 months- but who really lets their ice cream last that long?!
When you’re ready to eat your ice cream next time, just add a little almond milk to the container and re-spin. Perfectly creamy in seconds!
Ninja CREAMi Tips & Tricks
1. Don’t Overfill the Container!
That max fill line is there for a reason, trust me! If you go over, you aren’t going to be able to spin it with the CREAMi machine.
2. Make Multiple Pints at Once
The WORST part about the Ninja CREAMi is that you have to wait 24 hours to spin your ice cream. I don’t always think to prepare ahead of time, so freezing a few containers at once means I can always make ice cream when I’m in the mood!
3. Don’t Mix Your Bases with Water
As I mentioned, mixing your powders with water instead of a cream-based liquid will NOT mix well with your Ninja CREAMi machine. In fact, the ice can actually break your machine so be careful!
4. Freeze Upright on a Level Surface
Make sure your ice cream freezes with a flat top so nothing freezes above the max fill line!
Health Benefits of Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream
This Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipe uses minimal ingredients. It’s gluten-free, soy-free, and high in protein. It can be dairy-free if you use plant-based protein. It’s the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth while helping you to build muscle and burn fat.
Protein ice cream can be helpful for weight loss because it is low in calories. Just be mindful of your toppings if weight loss is your goal!
This delicious Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream recipe is healthy yet just as creamy and smooth as traditional ice cream!
If you’re looking for healthy Ninja CREAMi recipes, this one is truly a fan favorite in our house. It’s the perfect boost of protein post-workout to keep your metabolism in action to burn fat while helping you build more muscle. Whether you are looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle or achieve some health and fitness goals, you are sure to love making protein ice cream with your Ninja CREAMi! Let me know your favorite toppings for your protein ice cream!
