This Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream recipes uses only two ingredients and the results are thick, creamy, loaded with protein, and tastes just like your favorite chocolate soft serve. All you need is your favorite protein shake and some instant pudding mix (to add extra flavor and improve texture).
The Ninja Creami appliance lets you make ice-creams, sorbets, and soft serve with unconventional ingredients! With a traditional ice cream maker you add the ice cream base for a frozen canister that churns the ice cream while mixing. But with a Ninja Creami, you freeze the entire base and then it chops and blends it up (similar to a blender, but gives a much creamier texture). Another recipe to try is this Ninja Creami Peach Sorbet, Ninja Creami Vanilla Soft Serve, or Ninja Creami Wendy's Frosty recipe.
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Why I Love It:
- Two-Ingredients - You only need a protein shake and instant pudding mix (for texture and added flavor).
- Tastes Like Soft Serve - This combo really tastes like your favorite chocolate soft serve. Many say it tastes similar to a Wendy's Frosty.
- High in Protein - I'm a believer that you shouldn't feel guilty about eating regular ice cream, but this recipe is a great option if you want a healthier, high protein option. Also check out this high protein Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt made with Greek Yogurt.
Ingredients
- Chocolate Protein Shake - I used one of the Fairlife Core Chocolate Protein Shakes.. I love how these taste on their own.
- Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix - You can use regular or sugar-free. There are two reasons for adding a little bit of this. The first is to serve as a stabilizer that gives the ice cream a thicker, creamier texture. The second is to add more chocolate flavor. If you just use a protein shake, then the flavor will be very mild.
Variations
- Other Flavors - You can use other flavors of protein shakes and instant pudding mix (such as a vanilla shake with vanilla pudding mix). The key is to use a protein shake that you like the flavor of normally.
- Mix-Ins - To take your chocolate protein ice cream up a notch, try using the mix-in function on your Ninja Creami! I love adding mini chocolate chips or Oreo cookies.
Step by step instructions
Making protein ice cream in your Ninja Creami is easy and is one of the main recipes that makes people want to buy the appliance! Just mix the two ingredients together, freeze, and blend!
- Mix Base in Pint Container - I like to use a milk frother to do this, but you can also mix well with a fork or small whisk.
- Freeze - Place the pint in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours so it is fully solid. Make sure you place it on a level surface in your freezer.
- Prep for Blending - Remove the frozen pint from the freezer. If you have a 'peak' in the center, it's best to scrape most of it away with a spoon.
- Blend - Insert into the outer bowl, add the lid, and lock into position. Blend on 'Lite Ice-Cream'
- Add Liquid and Re-Spin - Make a little well in the center, add the extra liquid, and re-spin on the same lite ice cream setting.
- Enjoy - After the second spin, your protein ice cream should be thick, creamy and ready to enjoy!
Leftovers and Storage
If you can't eat the entire pint in one sitting, you have two options for storing:
- Save for Re-Blending: Use a spoon to smooth out and level the top in the Ninja Creami pint container and put back in the freezer. Freezing with the level top will let you re-spin it in the Ninja Creami when you want to eat it again. This method will give you that same creamy texture.
- Store and Thaw Slightly Before Enjoying: If you want to free up your Ninja Creami pint container, you can transfer the leftover ice-cream to another container and freeze. For this method, you won't be able to re-spin it but I find that letting it thaw on the container for a bit or zapping it in the microwave for just 5-10 seconds softens it and the texture is almost as good as the freshly spun ice cream.
Recipe Tips
- Powdery after the First Spin is Normal - It's normal and expected for the mixture to be crumbly after the first spin. The second spin (especially when you add a little more liquid) is when the magic happens!
- The Machine is Loud -If this is your first time using your Ninja Creami, be aware that it is loud when it is spinning. I find the noise level to be similar to a blender. Might not be the best option during nap time 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
Freezing your favorite protein shake and blending up with the Ninja Creami is a great and easy way to make a healthier ice cream.
The instructions say to freeze your base for 24 hours before blending because it insures that it is frozen completely solid. The exact freeze time will vary based on your freezer - your base likely can be frozen completely solid in less time. The Ninja Creami will not work properly if it isn't completely frozen.
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PrintRecipe
Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream
This Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream recipes uses only two ingredients and the results are thick, creamy, loaded with protein, and tastes just like your favorite chocolate soft serve. All you need is your favorite protein shake and some instant pudding mix (to add extra flavor and improve texture).
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 1-2 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Ninja Creami
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 11.4 oz Chocolate Protein Shake, I used Fairlife Nutrition Plan
- 1 tablespoon Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix, I used regular but sugar-free works too
- 1-2 tablespoons liquid for re-spin, milk, chocolate milk, or even water
Instructions
- Mix Base in Pint Container - To the included Ninja Creami plastic pint container add the protein shake and pudding mix. Mix to combine. I like to use a milk frother to do this, but you can also mix well with a fork or small whisk.
- Freeze - Place the pint in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours so it is fully solid. Make sure you place it on a level surface in your freezer. I also like to freeze it without the lid on as I find it helps prevent the 'volcano peak' in the middle, but the peak is easy to scrape away before blending if you prefer to freeze with lid on.
- Prep for Blending - Remove the frozen pint from the freezer. If you have a 'peak' in the center, it's best to scrape most of it away with a spoon. It doesn't need to be perfectly even, but you want it to be as level and even as possible so the blade doesn't go off kilter.
- Blend - Insert into the outer bowl, add the lid, and lock into position. Blend on 'Lite Ice Cream'
- Add Liquid and Re-Spin - It's normal for the ice cream to be a little powdery and crumbly after just one spin. Make a little well in the center, add the extra liquid, and re-spin on the same lite ice cream setting.
- Enjoy - After the second spin, your protein ice cream should be creamy and ready to enjoy!
Notes
Liquid for Re-Spin: This is optional, but I do find adding just a little bit of liquid helps it get creamier. I typically use chocolate milk or regular milk, but even a little water will do the trick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pint
- Calories: 203
- Sugar: 11.5 g
- Sodium: 477.9 mg
- Fat: 2.8 g
- Trans Fat:
- Carbohydrates: 16.3 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 30.3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream, Protein Ice Cream, Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
Katie says
Love this protein ice cream so much! Can't believe how thick and creamy it gets. I'll make this one a lot!
★★★★★