Check out my recipe for making Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream! I’ll show you how to make the thickest, creamiest, and most flavorful blueberry ice cream in your Ninja Creami. There’s a couple of extra steps that go into making it, but it’s definitely worth it!
You can make blueberry ice cream with just a few ingredients, but it’s what you do with those ingredients that makes a huge difference when it comes to flavor and texture.
I have found that making a blueberry sauce and adding it to the ice cream base provides 100 times more flavor than adding uncooked blueberries to that same base. It takes just a couple of minutes to make your own blueberry sauce.
I love blueberries! They are one of my favorite fruits to eat. If they are ripe, they are super sweet and flavorful and go really well with so many things. It makes sense that blueberries would taste great in ice cream! For this recipe, I decided to cook the blueberries into a sweet sauce. I’m so glad I did. If you just add blueberries to the ice cream base you won’t get nearly as much flavor as you will if you make a blueberry sauce. Mixing the sauce with the other base ingredients, before freezing, creates a wonderful purple ice cream that has a ton of blueberry flavor throughout.
Not only does Ninja Creami ice cream taste amazing, but the texture is PERFECT! I’ve made this recipe over and over again and every time the texture is super thick and creamy. If you ask me, the thicker the ice cream is, the better it is.
However, there are some folks that prefer more of a soft serve consistency. If the ice cream is too thick for you, just add a little more milk and re-spin. The more milk you add, the softer and fluffier looking it will get.
Tips for making Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream:
Vanilla bean paste is a thick syruplike vanilla flavoring. The vanilla bean paste is a combination of vanilla pods (the little seed-looking things inside the bean) and vanilla extract. The flavor is more intense but has less of an alcohol and artificial taste. Vanilla bean paste is used just like vanilla extract, it’s a 1:1 ratio. The result is a rich vanilla flavor with vanilla bean speckles throughout. You can buy vanilla bean paste at most grocery stores (even Home Goods and TJ Maxx sell it now!!) near the vanilla extract and on Amazon.
If you have made ice cream and it just isn't quite as creami as you would like, you can very easily get it super creami by using the re-spin function on the Ninja Creami. After the initial process, if the ice cream is dry and crumbly, pour in one tablespoon of milk or cream and then simply place the pint into the outer bowl and snap it into place. Choose the RE-SPIN function. Once the cycle completes, remove the pint and enjoy! Your ice cream should be nice and creamy .
Some people put frozen berries along with the dairy and other ingredients into the Ninja Creami container and then process, without freezing the mixture first. I DO NOT recommend doing this. If you want to do that, then just use a blender. The Ninja Creami is not made to process hard frozen chunks (frozen fruit) that are suspended in liquid (dairy and other ingredient). Processing frozen fruit with liquid (without freezing the mixture first) can damage the machine and may void the warranty.
My #1 go-to cream cheese substitute for cream cheese is guar gum. Instead of using cream cheese, you can use ¼ teaspoon per 16 ounce container. The guar gum is flavorless and very small in volume.
If your Ninja Creami ice cream is very dray and looks like sand, it likely does not have enough fat or sugar in it. It might also be because of your freezer temperature being too cold, or a combination of those things. After the first spin, if the ice cream looks like sand, pour 1-2 tablespoons of liquid (milk, cream, juice) and re-spin. You might have to do this a couple of times. Be sure to add the liquid on the first re-spin. If you keep re-spinning and then add liquid on the 3rd or 4th re-spin it’s more difficult to get the ice cream to become creamy. If the ice cream looks like little balls of ice cream (like dippin’ dots) after the initial spin, just respin it without adding any liquid.
Looking for more Ninja Creami Recipes?
Ingredient substitutions for making Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Milk– I used whole milk in this recipe. You can use a dairy substitute or lower fat milk if you prefer but the lower the fat content, the less creamy the result will be.
Half and Half– If you don’t have half and half, you can use a mixture of ¼ heavy cream and ¾ whole milk.
Sugar– White sugar was used. You can use a sugar substitute that is a 1:1 ratio.
Cream Cheese- I use regular cream cheese, not whipped. If you prefer not to use cream cheese, you can use ¼ teaspoon of guar gum instead or any other Ninja Creami ice cream stabilizer that you would like.
Vanilla Bean Paste- I prefer to use vanilla bean paste because it adds a deeper vanilla flavor and I find that it tastes less like alcohol. You can substitute the vanilla bean paste with vanilla extract.
Blueberries– I prefer to use fresh blueberries, but you can use frozen if that’s all that you have available. You could even change it up and use raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries. You may want to run the cooked berry mixture through a mesh sieve if you use blackberries due to the larger seeds.
Lemon Juice- Fresh or bottled work the same for this recipe. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can use lime juice instead. I would not recommend substituting with an extract or flavor oil.
Directions for making Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream:
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- In a small saucepan, combine the blueberry sauce ingredients; blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the blueberries have burst and turned into a saucy consistency. This should take about 5 minutes. Allow to cool while making the ice cream base.
- Pour the ice cream base ingredients into a small blender and blend until all ingredients are fully combined. Pour the cooled blueberry sauce into the blender and mix together with the rest of the ice cream base. 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 “ICE CREAM.”
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking, pour in a tablespoon or two of milk and then re-spin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Pin Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream for later!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Blueberry Ice Cream
Rate this Recipe
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
- 1 Cup (236 ⅗ ml) Milk
- ½ Cup (121 g) Half and Half
- 1 Teaspoon (1 Teaspoon) Cream Cheese (Room Temperature- If you don't like cream cheese, you can use ¼ teaspoon of guar gum instead.)
- 1 Teaspoon (1 Teaspoon) Vanilla Bean Paste
Blueberry Sauce
- 1 Cup (148 g) Blueberries (Fresh)
- ¼ Cup (50 g) Sugar
- ½ Teaspoon (½ Teaspoon) Lemon Juice
Instructions
Prepare the Blueberry Sauce
- In a small saucepan, combine the blueberry sauce ingredients; blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the blueberries have burst and turned into a saucy consistency. This should take about 5 minutes. Allow to cool while making the ice cream base.
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the ice cream base ingredients into a small blender and blend until all ingredients are fully combined. Pour the cooled blueberry sauce into the blender and mix together with the rest of the ice cream base. 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 "ICE CREAM."
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking, pour in a tablespoon or two of milk and then re-spin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
- 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!
-
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 […]
-
Ninja Creami Recipes With 3 Ingredients or Less
I like keeping a few Ninja Creami recipes in my back pocket that don’t need a long grocery list, and this collection is exactly that. Sometimes the simplest base ends up being the one I make the most. Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Pineapple Sorbet Ninja Creami Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Ninja Creami Italian Ice Ninja Creami Peaches and Cream Ice Cream Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Ninja Creami Banana Chocolate Chip Lite Ice Cream Ninja Creami Peach Sorbet Ninja Creami Mango Sorbet Ninja Creami Watermelon Sorbet Comments Four of the nine recipes here are straightforward fruit sorbets, including Pineapple Sorbet, […]
-
Is It Normal for the Ninja Creami Paddle to Feel Wobbly?
If the paddle in your Ninja Creami processing lid feels a little loose or wobbly, you’re probably wondering if something is wrong. Nothing is wrong. Here’s why it’s like that and how to know your paddle is actually installed correctly. Is it normal for the Ninja Creami paddle to feel wobbly? Yes. A loose or wobbly paddle is completely normal on all Ninja Creami machines. It is designed that way. It will not affect how your ice cream processes and there is nothing wrong with your machine. Why Is the Paddle Loose? The Creamerizer paddle needs a small amount of […]
-
Ninja Creami Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream
If you love the combination of cherries and chocolate, you have to make this Ninja Creami black cherry chocolate chunk ice cream. It has real fresh cherry flavor, chunks of dark chocolate in every bite, and the most amazing creamy texture. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Black Cherry Chocolate Chunk 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 Cherries and chocolate are one of those classic flavor combinations that just works. […]
-
Can You Use Generic or Knock-Off Ninja Creami Containers?
This question comes up constantly in the Ninja Creami community. Can you use generic or knock-off containers? Here’s the honest answer, along with what I found when I actually measured them myself and where to find the real ones. Can you use generic or knock-off Ninja Creami containers? Technically, yes. Generic containers CAN work. But they can also cause the containers to get scratched, or cause the machine to malfunction. And using non-Ninja approved accessories can void your warranty. So yes, you can use knock-offs. But at your own risk. Many people swear that their Temu or Amazon third-party containers […]
-
Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Protein Ice Cream
If you’re looking for something a little different from your typical strawberry ice cream, you have to try this Ninja Creami strawberry basil goat cheese protein ice cream. It’s light, refreshing, and the goat cheese gives it this amazing tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with the fresh basil and sweet strawberries. Trust me, the goat cheese is what makes this one really special. This recipe comes in at 284 calories, 36 grams of protein, 8 grams of sugar, 9 grams of fat, and 18 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Strawberry Basil Goat […]
-
Can You Use Ice in the Ninja Creami?
One of the most important rules for keeping your Ninja Creami safe is this: no ice. That means no ice cubes, no crushed ice, and no pure frozen water. Here’s what that actually means, what counts as ice, and why water as part of a recipe is a completely different thing. Can you use ice in the Ninja Creami? No. You cannot put ice cubes or crushed ice into the Ninja Creami container. Pure water frozen alone is essentially ice and has the same problem. The machine is not designed to process ice and doing so can damage the paddle […]
-
Ninja Creami Strawberry Coco-Nut Protein Ice Cream
If you love the combination of strawberry, coconut, and chocolate, you have to give this Ninja Creami strawberry coco-nut protein ice cream a try. It’s creamy, packed with real strawberry flavor, and the toasted coconut goes surprisingly well with chocolate chips and walnuts. This recipe comes in at 374 calories, 36 grams of protein, 4 grams of sugar, 19 grams of fat, and 19 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Strawberry Coco-Nut Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for Making the Ice Cream […]
-
Is It Normal for the Ninja Creami Spindle to Stick Out?
If you look at your Ninja Creami and notice the spindle poking out of the bottom of the machine, you might wonder if something is wrong. Nothing is wrong. Here’s why it looks like that and what to expect. Is it normal for the Ninja Creami spindle to stick out? Yes. The spindle sticking out of the bottom of the machine when it is off is completely normal and exactly how it is supposed to look. It sticks out about an inch when the machine is not in use. It should not go all the way back up into the […]
-
Ninja Creami Super Strawberry Protein Ice Cream
If you love strawberry ice cream, this Ninja Creami super strawberry protein ice cream is going to blow your mind. It has fresh strawberry flavor from FOUR different ingredients, a creamy texture, and a really bright pink color. Trust me, you’re going to love this recipe. This recipe comes in at 215 calories, 35 grams of protein, 6 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fat, and 12 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Super Strawberry Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for Making […]
-
How to Get Rid of Ice on the Outside of Ninja Creami Ice Cream
Sometimes a layer of ice forms around the inside walls of the Ninja Creami container during freezing, sitting between the outer edge of the frozen base and the container. If that ice gets mixed into the ice cream when you process it, it can affect the texture and make it icier than it should be. Here’s how to fix it so that the ice cream is creamy instead of icy. Why does ice form around the outside of the frozen base? When the base freezes, moisture from condensation or from the base itself can collect between the frozen mixture and […]
-
Ninja Creami Taffy Apple Protein Ice Cream
Taffy apples are one of my favorite fall treats, and this Ninja Creami taffy apple protein ice cream tastes just like one. You get that sweet caramel flavor, real green apple, and chopped peanuts in every bite. It’s creamy, sweet, a little tart, and so much fun to eat. This recipe comes in at 293 calories, 33 grams of protein, 17 grams of sugar, 8 grams of fat, and 26 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Taffy Apple Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions […]
-
When to Use Re-Spin vs. Processing on Ice Cream Again in Ninja Creami
Re-Spin and the Ice Cream function on the Ninja Creami are not interchangeable. Using the wrong one at the wrong time will not give you the result you’re looking for and can even damage your machine. Here’s exactly when to use each one. What is the difference between Re-Spin and processing on Ice Cream? Ice Cream (and other processing functions) are designed to process a frozen solid base. Re-Spin is designed to further smooth a base that has just been processed, but came out with a texture that isn’t quite right. They are two different functions for two different situations. […]
-
Ninja Creami Caramel Cookie Supreme Protein Ice Cream
Caramel ice cream loaded with chunks of sugar cookie dough and pieces of Werther’s Original candies? Yes please!!! This Ninja Creami caramel cookie supreme protein ice cream is creamy, sweet, and tastes like a no-bake sugar cookie wrapped up in caramel ice cream with 30 grams of protein in the ENTIRE pint. This recipe comes in at 308 calories, 30 grams of protein, 7.5 grams of sugar, 7 grams of fat, and 31 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Caramel Cookie Supreme Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? […]
-
Ninja Creami Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream
Caramel, cheesecake, and chocolate chips all in one ice cream? Yes please!!! This Ninja Creami caramel chocolate chip cheesecake protein ice cream is thick, creamy, and has so much real caramel flavor with bits of Werther’s Original candies and chopped chocolate chips throughout every single bite. This recipe comes in at 315 calories, 30 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, 9.5 grams of fat, and 37 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions […]
-
Ninja Creami Cotton Candy Protein Ice Cream
If you love cotton candy, you have to try this Ninja Creami cotton candy protein ice cream. It tastes EXACTLY like the cotton candy you’d get at a carnival, has 31 grams of protein per pint, and it comes out pink, white, and blue right in the same container. You would never know it’s a protein ice cream! This recipe comes in at 357 calories, 31 grams of protein, 16 grams of sugar, 11.5 grams of fat, and 53 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Cotton Candy Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja […]
-
Ninja Creami Strawberry Pretzel Pie Protein Ice Cream
If you have ever had strawberry pretzel pie at a summer BBQ or potluck, you know how good those flavors are together. This Ninja Creami strawberry pretzel pie protein ice cream takes that same combination of sweet strawberry, cheesecake, and crunchy pretzel and turns it into a thick and creamy frozen treat. I promise you would never know it has 33 grams of protein! This recipe comes in at 359 calories, 33 grams of protein, 10 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fat, and 50 carbs for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Strawberry Pretzel Pie […]
-
Ninja Creami Coffee Toffee Protein Ice Cream
If you love coffee ice cream, you have to try my recipe for Ninja Creami toffee coffee protein ice cream. It has the perfect amount of coffee flavor, a thick and creamy texture, and a really good crunch from the Heath chip mix-ins. I promise you would never know it’s a protein ice cream! This recipe comes in at 357 calories, 30 grams of protein, 19 grams of sugar, 13 grams of fat, for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Toffee Coffee Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipes? Ingredient tips […]
-
Ninja Creami Baseball Nut Protein Ice Cream
If you loved Baskin Robbins Baseball Nut ice cream as a kid, you have to try this Ninja Creami baseball nut protein ice cream. It’s a creamy vanilla base loaded with chopped cashews and homemade raspberry sauce throughout, and I promise you would never know it’s a protein ice cream. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Baseball Nut Protein Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Protein 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 Baseball Nut from Baskin […]
-
Ninja Creami Peach Cobbler Cottage Cheese Protein Ice Cream
I will be the first person to tell you that I HATE cottage cheese. I cannot stand the texture, the flavor, none of it. So when I tell you that this Ninja Creami Peach Cobbler Cottage Cheese Protein Ice Cream does not taste like cottage cheese, I mean it! I promise! This recipe comes in at 297.59 calories, 38.2 grams of protein, 21.11 grams of sugar, 4.23 grams of fat, and 27.68 grams of carbs for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami […]
Paige says
This blueberry ice cream was s fantastic!!!!
Lauren Cardona says
I’m so glad you liked it!!