See more recipes from The Tasty Travelers on Google!
One of my all-time favorite ice cream flavors is mint chocolate chip. The trickiest part is getting just the right amount of mintiness to the ice cream. Too much, and it tastes like toothpaste. Too little and it tastes bland and flavorless. I’ve experimented with a lot of different mint flavors and amounts and have come up with just the right mint flavor! For this recipe, I used a protein shake and a sugar substitute to keep the protein high and the added sugar low. This is the perfect Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream!
This recipe comes in at 312 calories, 30 grams of protein, 4 grams of sugar, 13 grams of fat, 50 carbs, 26 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts.
Using the Ninja Creami frozen treat ice cream maker is a great way to make all of your favorite ice cream flavors! You can use just about anything to make ice cream. You can make the traditional ice creams that use whole milk or heavy cream to get a thick and creamy texture or you can use protein shakes, fruit, dairy substitutes, or sugar substitutes to make sorbets, milkshakes, and keto or low-calorie treats. Regardless of your diet, you can modify just about any recipe to fit your needs.
For this recipe, I use a protein shake and sugar substitute, but you can swap out the protein shake for dairy and the sugar substitute with real sugar.
You’ll notice that I recommend that you chop up the chocolate chips before adding them in as mix-ins. I’ve tried numerous recipes with chocolate chips and no matter the brand, they always come out VERY hard and they are hard on your teeth. I’ve used magic shell (which works GREAT!!!) as a mix-in and recently started just chopping up the chocolate chips. The chopped chocolate chips are my favorite way to get bits and pieces of chocolate mixed throughout the ice cream, while still being able to eat it without hurting your teeth. It’s quick and easy to chop them up by hand (no high speed blender or food processor needed) but it really does make a huge difference in my ice cream recipes.
What’s the Best Mint Flavor to use in Ice Cream?
There are lots and lots of different mint extracts and oils available for purchase. But, you really need to be careful with which one you are using in your ice cream. If you pick the wrong one or use too much of it, the ice cream becomes almost inedible. I prefer to use peppermint extract over spearmint or mint extract. Peppermint tastes less like toothpaste to me. I have also found great success with the Lorann Oils and they make one called mint chocolate chip. That's the one I used in this recipe and it turns out great every time! If you don't have the mint chocolate chip one, you can use peppermint extract instead. And, remember that a little goes a VERY LONG WAY! It might not look like you are using enough of the extract or oil, but always stir the mixture and taste it before adding more. You can always add more but it's very difficult to take away the flavor.
You’ll notice that some mint chocolate chip ice creams are green and some are white. And, there’s really no benefit or difference in flavor between the two. It’s a matter of preference. A lot of ice cream manufacturers have started eliminating food dyes in their recipes or just prefer white ice cream over green. So, if you like your mint ice cream to be white, don’t add the food coloring. If you like it to be darker green, add more food coloring. Feeling festive? Add blue or red food coloring!
Tips for making Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
Ice cream can be icy if there is little or no fat, dairy, sugar, or stabilizer/thickener in the recipe. If you are making a recipe that is low in sugar, fat, dairy, etc., you can let the ice cream sit on the counter for a few minutes, microwave it for a few seconds, or run the outside of the container under warm water before processing it. This can help cut down on the iciness of the ice cream.
It is recommended to freeze Ninja Creami bases for 24 hours so that it is frozen solid evenly throughout. Some have frozen for less time and have had good results. The ingredients in the base recipe could also impact the actual required freezing time. But, as a rule of thumb, 24 hours is recommended.
Yes! You can!! But, just freezing a protein shake and making ice cream out of it does not provide the best texture or flavor. I recommend adding additional things like extracts, pudding mix, guar gum, fruit, etc. to help with the flavor and texture of the ice cream.
It can be green or white, or any color really. The ice cream turns green from food coloring. There is no difference in flavor between green mint chocolate chip ice cream and white mint chocolate chip ice cream.
A lot of Ninja Creami recipes that come from the book that comes with the machine use heavy cream. When overmixed, the heavy cream starts to turn to a butter-like consistency. This results in a greasy or waxy feel on the spoon and in your mouth. To eliminate this issue, use half and half instead of heavy cream in all recipes from the book.
Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes?
Ingredients to make Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream:
Ingredient Substitutions for making Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream:
The full ingredient list is at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.
Vanilla Protein Shake– I used a premier protein vanilla shake. But, you can use any brand protein shake that you would like. I would recommend tasting the shake first to make sure you like the flavor.
Swerve Sugar Substitute (Granulated)- I use Swerve with allulose sugar substitute. You can use your favorite sugar substitute.
Mint Chocolate Chip Lorann Oil (or peppermint extract)- I recommend the lorann oil but if you don’t have access to it, you can use peppermint extract instead. Use the same amount of peppermint extract as the recipe calls for with the Lorann Oil. Do not use spearamint extract.
Vanilla Bean Paste– vanilla extract can be used instead of vanilla bean paste.
Green Food Coloring– A little goes a long way! Use as much as you would like (or none at all) to achieve your desired color for the ice cream.
Guar Gum– Guar gum is a thickener/stabilizer. You can use ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum or 2 tablespoons of cream cheese instead, although the results may not be quite the same.
Zero-Sugar Chocolate Chips (Chopped)- Regular or sugar-free chocolate chips, mini chocolate chips, or chocolate bars can be used in this recipe. Make sure that the chocolate pieces are chopped up into small pieces as they will get very hard in the cold ice cream
Unsweetened Almond Milk-You can use any milk or milk substitute. The chocolate adds more flavor but it also adds more sugar and calories. So, if you would prefer, you can use unsweetened milk.
Directions for making Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream:
Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the protein shake, sugar substitute, extract, vanilla bean paste, food coloring, and guar gum into a small blender and blend until all of the ingredients have combined together. Pour this mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container.
- Freeze on a level surface for 24 hours. Your freezer should be between 9 and -7 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid getting a bump on the top of the frozen mixture, freeze with the lid off of the container.
Directions for Processing the Ice Cream Mixture
- After 24 hours, remove the pint container from the freezer.
- Place the pint container into the outer bowl of the Ninja Creami and then process on “LITE ICE CREAM.”
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking, pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then respin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
- Dig a well down the center of the ice cream and pour in the chopped chocolate chips. Process on mix-ins.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Save for Later on Pinterest!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
Rate this Recipe
Equipment
Add Food Grade Vegetable Glycerin To Make Leftover Ice Cream Scoopable Right Out of the Freezer
Per 16 ounce pint: *Add 1 Teaspoon to full fat/full sugar bases *Add 1.5 teaspoon to high protein bases *Add 2 teaspoons to low sugar/low fat lite bases. Freeze and process per the recipe. Take the leftovers out of the freezer and scoop without having to reprocess. ***This is a guideline and adjustments may be needed based on your recipe.
Original, Breeze, Swirl, and Deluxe Ingredient Measurements
Use the multiplier below to adjust quantities based on the machine that you own. ***If you have the Original, Breeze, or Swirl machine, which use 16 ounce containers, choose the 1X option. ***If you have the Deluxe or XL machine, which use 24 ounce containers, choose the 1.5X option.
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 11.5 Ounces (326 g) Vanilla Protein Shake
- 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Swerve Sugar Substitute (Granulated-Allulose Blend)
- ½ Teaspoon (½ Teaspoon) Mint Chocolate Chip Lorann Oil (or peppermint extract)
- 1 Teaspoon (1 Teaspoon) Vanilla Bean Paste
- 4 Drops (4 Drops) Green Food Coloring
- ¼ Teaspoon (¼ Teaspoon) Guar Gum
Mix-ins
- 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Zero-Sugar Chocolate Chips (Chopped)
Optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Unsweetened Almond Milk
Instructions
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the protein shake, sugar substitute, extract, vanilla bean paste, food coloring, and guar gum into a small blender and blend until all of the ingredients have combined together. Pour this mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container.
- Freeze on a level surface for 24 hours. Your freezer should be between 9 and -7 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid getting a bump on the top of the frozen mixture, freeze with the lid off of the container.
Process the Ice Cream
- After 24 hours, remove the pint container from the freezer.
- Place the pint container into the outer bowl of the Ninja Creami and then process on "LITE ICE CREAM."
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking, pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then respin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
- Dig a well down the center of the ice cream and pour in the chopped chocolate chips. Process on mix-ins.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Optional ingredients are not included in the nutrition information.
Recipes that use allulose:
Allulose is a low calorie sweetener that your body doesn't fully digest, so it provides only 0.4 calories per gram instead of 4. That's why the calorie total doesn't match what you'd expect from the carb count. Calories from allulose are calculated based on metabolized carbohydrates. Allulose contributes fewer calories than standard carbohydrates.
Leave a comment and rate this recipe!
Keep scrolling to see my newest recipes!
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Mango Cheesecake Ice Cream
This Ninja Creami low calorie mango cheesecake ice cream is one of those recipes that sounds simple but tastes amazing. It’s made with just 4 ingredients, has a smooth and creamy texture, and tastes just like mango cheesecake in ice cream form. You would never know this one is low calorie. This recipe comes in at 274 calories, 25 grams of protein, 25 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fat, and 32 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Mango Cheesecake Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie Recipes? Ingredient tips […]
-
Fall Ninja Creami Recipes with Pumpkin, Apple, Maple, and More
Fall flavors work really well in the Ninja Creami! Pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, caramel, maple, cranberry, and pecans all show up here in different ways, with everything from rich ice cream and gelato to protein ice creams, lower-calorie options, and fruit sorbets. There are plenty of familiar fall flavors, along with a few combinations that are a little more unexpected. Jump to: What makes these fall Ninja Creami recipes different? How to process a Ninja Creami base Fall mix-in ideas for these flavors Top Tips Ninja Creami Pumpkin Pie Gelato Ninja Creami Apple Cobbler Ice Cream Ninja Creami Caramel Apple Sorbet-Low […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Cherry Almond Ice Cream
Cherry and almond go really well together. You see the combination a lot in things like biscotti, cherry almond bark, and tarts because the nutty flavor of almond pairs so nicely with the sweet-tart cherry. This Ninja Creami ice cream brings that same flavor combo together in a low calorie frozen treat. This recipe comes in at 271 calories, 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of sugar, 14 grams of fat, 70 carbs, and 22 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Cherry Almond Ice Cream Looking […]
-
Ninja Creami Peanut Butter Ice Cream Recipes
Peanut butter is one of the flavors I return to most for the Ninja Creami, and this list rounds up every version I have made so far. A few keep it simple with banana or protein powder added in, others layer on chocolate, and one swaps in a dairy free base entirely. Jump to: Why Peanut Butter Works So Well in the Ninja Creami How I Keep the Peanut Butter Flavor Consistent Throughout Mix-In Ideas Beyond What’s Already in This List Top Tips Ninja Creami Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Ninja Creami Vegan Peanut Butter Gelato Ninja Creami Chocolate […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Marshmallow Ice Cream
This Ninja Creami low calorie marshmallow ice cream tastes just like a big fluffy marshmallow in ice cream form. It’s rich, creamy, and has little pieces of marshmallow fluff throughout every bite. And the best part… it’s low calorie and low sugar so you can pretty much eat as much as you want! This recipe comes in at 270 calories, 9 grams of protein, 13 grams of sugar, 17 grams of fat, 64 carbs, and 16 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Marshmallow Ice Cream Looking […]
-
Ninja Creami COFFEE Recipes
Coffee works really well in the Ninja Creami, but there are a few different ways to add the coffee flavor depending on the recipe. Most of my coffee ice cream recipes use instant espresso powder because it adds a lot of coffee flavor without adding extra liquid, but the Coffee Smoothie Bowl actually uses brewed coffee. This roundup has everything from coffee and mocha protein ice creams to a low-calorie espresso sorbet and a thick coffee smoothie bowl. Jump to: What Kind of Coffee Works Best for Ninja Creami Recipes? How to Make a Coffee Base for the Ninja Creami […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream (Tastes like Nutella!)
Nutella has SO much flavor, but it’s not exactly something you can eat a big bowl of without thinking twice. This Ninja Creami chocolate hazelnut ice cream gives you that same chocolate hazelnut flavor, and it’s low calorie and easy to make. I promise you won’t be missing the real jar of Nutella one bit. This recipe comes in at 263 calories, 12 grams of protein, 18 grams of sugar, 7 grams of fat, 83 carbs, and 35 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Chocolate Hazelnut Ice […]
-
Ninja Creami Cherry Chocolate Chip Sorbet
Cherry chocolate chip is a classic combination and this Ninja Creami low calorie cherry chocolate chip sorbet nails it. It’s packed with a TON of real cherry flavor, has mini chocolate chips mixed throughout, and it’s low in calories. It’s sweet, refreshing, and so easy to make. This recipe comes in at 264 calories, 2 grams of protein, 25 grams of sugar, 8 grams of fat, 91 carbs, and 43 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Cherry Chocolate Chip Sorbet Looking for more Ninja Creami Low […]
-
Ninja Creami Coconut Recipes
If you love coconut, there are a lot of different ways to use it in the Ninja Creami! Some of these recipes use coconut milk or coconut cream to make the base creamy, while others use coconut extract or shredded coconut to add more coconut flavor. There are everything from Almond Joy ice cream and coconut cream pie frozen yogurt to several versions of piña colada, Dole Whip, protein ice creams, and a few recipes where coconut is paired with fruit, chocolate, or peanut butter. Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Almond Joy Ice Cream Ninja Creami Almond Joy Protein […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Frosted Lemonade (Chick-fil-A Copycat)
This Ninja Creami low-calorie frosted lemonade is a copycat version of the famous Chick-fil-A frosted lemonade, but made at home with a fraction of the calories. It’s sweet, tart, and has that perfect frosty, drinkable texture that you would expect. You would never know it’s low-calorie. This recipe comes in at 263 calories, 12 grams of protein, 21 grams of sugar, 7 grams of fat, 81 carbs, and 33 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Frosted Lemonade Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie Recipes? […]
-
Ninja Creami Banana Recipes
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Tropical Triple Layered Sorbet This one is a little different because the banana, mango, and dragon fruit stay in separate layers instead of being blended together before freezing. It’s only three ingredients, and when you scoop it you get all three tropical fruit flavors together. GO TO RECIPE Photo credit: The Tasty Travelers Ninja Creami Dole Whip This Dole Whip combines pineapple, banana, coconut milk, lime juice, and a little powdered sugar. The banana helps make it thick and creamy, and you can definitely taste some banana along with the pineapple and coconut flavors. GO TO […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Tropical Triple Layered Sorbet
This Ninja Creami low-calorie tropical triple-layered sorbet is one of the most fun recipes I’ve made in the Ninja Creami. It has THREE different tropical fruit layers (banana, mango, and dragon fruit) that come together to look just like a sunrise or sunset. It’s beautiful, easy, and only 3 ingredients. This recipe comes in at 261 calories, 3 grams of protein, 47 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fat, and 64 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Tropical Triple Layered Sorbet Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie Recipes? Ingredient tips and […]
-
Ninja Creami Blueberry Recipes
Blueberries work really well in the Ninja Creami because there are so many different ways to use them. Some of these recipes use fresh blueberries, some cook them down first for a stronger blueberry flavor, and others use them as a mix-in. I’ve got everything from regular blueberry ice cream and frozen yogurt to protein ice cream, sorbet, and a few more unique flavor combinations. Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Blueberries and Sweet Cream Ice Cream Ninja Creami Blueberry and Vanilla Bean Frozen Yogurt Ninja Creami Blueberry Coconut Frozen Yogurt Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream Ninja Creami Blueberry Pie […]
-
How to Clean the Ninja Creami Spindle
Cleaning the spindle on your Ninja Creami is simpler than most people expect. Most of it takes care of itself. You only need to clean the inch that sticks out at the bottom. Here’s what you actually need to clean and how to do it. Does the Ninja Creami spindle need to be cleaned? Only the very tip does. Most of the spindle is self-cleaning, and you do not need to touch it. The only part that needs to be cleaned after each use is the small metal tip at the bottom, the inch that sticks out and makes contact […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Chocolate Frozen Yogurt
This Ninja Creami low-calorie chocolate frozen yogurt is rich, creamy, and tastes like a real chocolate dessert. With just 4 simple ingredients, it comes together so easily and satisfies any chocolate craving without making you feel like you’re missing out. This recipe comes in at 257 calories, 30 grams of protein, 6 grams of sugar, 5 grams of fat, 88 carbs, and 24 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Chocolate Frozen Yogurt Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for […]
-
Strawberry Ninja Creami Recipes
There are so many different ways to use strawberries in the Ninja Creami! This roundup has everything from classic Strawberry Ice Cream and Strawberry Frozen Yogurt to protein ice creams, cheesecake flavors, and combinations like strawberry banana, strawberry coconut, and even strawberry basil with goat cheese. If you like strawberry, there are plenty of options to choose from! Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Low Calorie Strawberry Whip Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Ninja Creami Strawberry Coco-Nut Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami […]
-
How to Add Big Flavor Without Extra Sugar to Ninja Creami Ice Cream
If you want big flavor in your Ninja Creami ice cream without adding a lot of sugar or calories, skinny syrups are one of the easiest ways to do it. They mix right into your base before freezing and give you tons of flavor options without adding sugar. What are skinny syrups? Skinny syrups are flavored syrups that have zero calories and zero sugar. They get their sweetness from sugar substitutes instead of regular sugar, which means you get the flavor and sweetness without the calories or the sugar content. They were originally designed to flavor coffee and drinks, but […]
-
Ninja Creami Watermelon Basil Frosé
Frosé season is here, and this Ninja Creami watermelon basil frosé is the only recipe you need. Just 3 ingredients (fresh watermelon, rosé, and basil) come together to make the perfect wine slushy. It’s refreshing, easy, and tastes like summer in a glass. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Watermelon Basil Frosé Looking for more Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture Directions for Processing the Ice Cream Mixture Save for Later on Pinterest! Recipe Comments Frosé has been so trendy the past few years, and for good reason. It’s […]
-
Chocolate Ninja Creami Recipes For Ice Cream, Protein, and More
Chocolate is one of my favorite flavors to work with in the Ninja Creami, since it holds up well no matter what direction you take it, whether that’s a rich protein base, a low-calorie sorbet, or something built around pudding instead of custard. It never gets old finding a new way to make it work Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream Ninja Creami Chocolate Lovers Ice Cream Ninja Creami Chocolate Sorbet-Low Calorie Ninja Creami Jamoca Almond Fudge Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Chocolate Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Frozen Hot Chocolate Ice Cream Ninja […]
-
Use Magic Shell Instead of Chocolate Chips as a Ninja Creami Mix-In
If you’ve been adding chocolate chips to your Ninja Creami ice cream as a mix-in and ending up with little frozen rocks in your ice cream, there’s a better way. Magic Shell is the easiest way to get little chocolate bits throughout your ice cream…without hurting your teeth. Here’s why it works so much better and how to use it. Why are chocolate chips a problem in Ninja Creami ice cream? Chocolate chips freeze hard. Really hard. When you add them to the ice cream, they turn into hard little solid chunks that are really hard to chew. In frozen […]
-
Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream
If you love lemon desserts, you’re going to love this Ninja Creami lemon ice cream. It’s bright, refreshing, and has the most perfect balance of sweet and tart from real lemon juice, lemon zest, and lemon extract. This is the kind of ice cream that’s perfect for a hot summer day…or any day! Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture Directions for Processing the Ice Cream Mixture Save for Later on Pinterest! Recipe Comments Lemon ice cream is […]
Husky mama says
Made this and even added less mint flavoring and the mint was so strong I couldn’t even take a full bite of it and mint everything is my favorite!
Lauren Cardona says
Hi there. How much mint flavoring did you use and did you use peppermint flavor, spearmint flavor, mint flavor, or mint chocolate chip Lorann oil?
Molly says
Where do I access my favourites?
Lauren Cardona says
On the bottom right of the screen you should see a pink heart. Click on the heart and then it will prompt you to login with your email address.
Carole says
In step one, the directions say to add pudding mix. I don’t see any pudding mix listed in the ingredients list. Can you clarify that? I can’t wait to try this but want to do it right the first time.
Lauren Cardona says
Hi Carole- There is no pudding mix in this recipe. Originally, there was a typo that included pudding mix but that has been corrected. Try refreshing the page as it was updated a couple of days ago and should no longer include pudding mix in the instructions.
Jenifer Aragon says
Hi. The narrative of the recipe says to add pudding mix but it is not in the ingredient list. Please clarify
Lauren Cardona says
Oops. That was a typo. I’ve updated the recipe. There is no pudding mix in this recipe. Instead, I used guar gum and Lorann oils to thicken and flavor the ice cream.
Karri says
What flavor pudding mix? And how much of it? It’s not included in the ingredient list.
Lauren Cardona says
Oops. That was a typo. I’ve updated the recipe. There is no pudding mix in this recipe. Instead, I used guar gum and Lorann oils to thicken and flavor the ice cream.