See more recipes from The Tasty Travelers on Google!
Did you know that you can make a custard base using the Ninja Creami machine? Well you can! The Ninja Creami ice cream maker doesn’t have a custard setting but it does have a gelato option. Using the gelato option for the custard base recipes provides a super thick and creamy “gelato.” For this recipe, we are adding in black cherries to a vanilla custard like base.
This recipe was submitted by a member of our Community!
This recipe was submitted by a member of our community, either directly through this website or through one of our Facebook Communities! We have so many great members and recipes in our communities! And now, we are sharing them with all of you!
Since this recipe (ingredients and instructions) was submitted by a member of the community, The Tasty Travelers™ has not tested or verified the recipe. General tips and tricks, extra information, and wording have been modified or added to fit the format of the post.
One of the most important things about making gelato or custard, is the texture of the ice cream base. It needs to have a SUPER creamy texture with no icy bits. The creamier the better! For this recipe, we are using eggs and cooking the base which helps create a super creamy treat!
This is not a diet or low calorie recipe. It is a full fat and sugar recipe. While you can try to make it a little “healthier” by using lower fat milks, I wouldn’t recommend trying to go too low fat or low calorie with this recipe because usually, the lower the fat and calories, the more likely the base is to get ice and less creamy in texture. You could try to substitute some of the high fat dairy with non-dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk, etc., but I would not substitute all of it.
While it does take a little extra work and a bit of extra time to make the custard-like base, it’s worth it! Eggs act as a stabilizer/thickener and really help create the best texture! Now, you’ll see a lot of recipes that use raw eggs without cooking them. For me, it’s a personal choice and I feel better about using eggs that have been cooked in the base, instead of raw eggs.
Looking for another homemade cherry ice cream recipe? Check out the recipe for making Ninja Creami Cherry Garcia Ice Cream.
Tips for making Ninja Creami Black Cherry Gelato:
Frozen, black cherries were used in this recipe. You can use fresh or frozen cherries. Jarred maraschino cherries could also be used if that's all you have on hand, but they are much sweeter and taste more like sugar than fresh or frozen cherries.
Gelato is generally made with more milk, less fat, and more sugar than traditional ice cream. Sometimes, but not always, gelato also has eggs in the recipe. The biggest difference between gelato and ice cream is the texture. Gelato is very smooth and almost dense. Whereas, ice cream has more air in it so it is lighter and not as smooth.
Usually, if your gelato comes out dry or crumbly it's due to one of the following reasons:
*Your freezer is too cold. Try to adjust your freezer to be a little warmer or let your ice cream sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before processing it.
*Your recipe does not have enough fat in it. Try adding in a little bit of a higher fat dairy product to your recipe next time.
*Your recipe may not have enough sugar in it. The less sugar in the recipe, the icier and crumblier the ice cream will be. Regular sugar, honey, or corn syrup can be used to increase the sugar content if desired.
To solve this problem, re-spin if the ice cream looks like tiny balls of ice cream, or add a tablespoon or so of liquid and then re-spin if the ice cream is very dry and powdery.
It depends. If you are keeping the ice cream in the Ninja pint container with the lid sealed tightly and are freezing it in a cold freezer (between 9 degrees F and -7 degrees F), your ice cream will keep for several weeks, even months. However, if you transfer your ice cream to another container or freeze it in a freezer that is not quite as cold (or that is accessed a lot/door opened and closed often), the lifetime of your ice cream will decrease greatly to just a few days and you will likely end up with freezer-burned ice cream.
If you want to mix things up a little bit, try adding chocolate chips as mix-ins. The combination of cherries and chocolate chips work really well together. How good does cherry chocolate chip ice cream sound? Just add the chocolate chips when you add the cherries and push the mix-in button.
Ingredients substitutions for making Ninja Creami Black Cherry Gelato:
The full ingredient list is at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.
- Egg Yolks- Large eggs were used in this recipe. 4 large egg yolks equal approximately ¼ cup of egg yolks. If you use a different-sized egg, use a total of ¼ cup of egg yolks.
- Corn Syrup- Light corn syrup was used for this recipe. It is not recommended to use dark corn syrup as it will drastically change the flavor of the gelato. Agave nectar or honey can be used as a substitute for light corn syrup.
- Sugar- Regular granulated sugar was used for this recipe. You can use any sugar substitute that you would like. The amount that will be needed and the end result will vary based on which sugar substitute you use.
- Heavy Cream– If you don't have heavy cream (heavy whipping cream), you can use a combination of milk and butter instead. To make 1 cup of heavy cream, combine ¼ of melted butter with ¾ cup of milk. Mix thoroughly.
- Milk– Whole milk was used for this recipe. You can use lower-fat content milk but the end result may be less rich and creamy due to the lower fat content.
- Almond Extract- Almond extract was used for this recipe. If you don't have almond extract, vanilla extract is a good substitute. The almond extract has a stronger flavor than vanilla, so you will need to almost double the amount of vanilla extract if you use that instead.
- Black Cherries- Frozen, black cherries were used in this recipe. You can use fresh fruit or frozen fruit as long as the frozen fruit is thawed. . Jarred maraschino cherries could also be used if that's all you have on hand, but they are much sweeter and taste more like sugar than fresh or frozen cherries. I would not use canned cherry pie filling for this recipe as the extra cherry gel that’s in the filling will make the gelato quite soft and will overpower the flavor of the ice cream base.
Directions for making Ninja Creami Black Cherry Gelato:
Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture
- In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, corn syrup, and sugar. Cook on medium heat while whisking continuously. Do not let the milk mixture burn. Cook until the mixture starts to look a little frothy. Do not boil the mixture.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Temper the eggs by slowly pouring small amounts of the hot milk mixture into the eggs. Pour a couple of tablespoons at a time and whisk continuously.
- Once all of the milk mixture has been added to the eggs, pour the milk and egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes or until it reaches 165 Degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture should start to thicken slightly, just enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat.
- Add the almond extract and stir.
- Allow the ice cream base to cool before freezing.
- Pour into an empty Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
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 “Gelato.”
- Dig a well down the center of the ice cream, pour in the cherries, and process on mix-ins.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Pin Ninja Creami Cherry Gelato for later!!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Black Cherry Gelato
Rate this Recipe
Equipment
- Stove
- Medium Bowl
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
- 8 Fluid Ounces Heavy Cream
- 3 Fluid Ounces Whole Milk
- 4 Egg Yolks (Large)
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Syrup (Light)
- 5 Tablespoons Sugar (Granulated)
- 1 Teaspoon Almond Extract
Mix-Ins
- 1 Cup Black Cherries (Frozen, thawed and quartered)
Optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons Whole Milk
Instructions
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- In a small saucepan, combine the heavy cream, milk, corn syrup, and sugar. Cook on medium heat while whisking continuously. Do not let the milk mixture burn. Cook until the mixture starts to look a little frothy. Do not boil the mixture.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Temper the eggs by slowly pouring small amounts of the hot milk mixture into the eggs. Pour a couple of tablespoons at a time and whisk continuously.
- Once all of the milk mixture has been added to the eggs, pour the milk and egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes or until it reaches 165 Degrees Fahrenheit. The mixture should start to thicken slightly, just enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat.
- Add the almond extract and stir.
- Allow the ice cream base to cool before freezing.
- Pour into an empty Ninja Creami pint container and freeze for 24 hours.
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 "Gelato."
- Dig a well down the center of the ice cream, pour in the cherries, and 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 Vanilla Pudding Ice Cream
Ummmm…this Ninja Creami low calorie vanilla pudding ice cream has the BEST texture and great flavor! It’s smooth, creamy, sweet, and just 4 simple ingredients. If you love vanilla pudding, you HAVE to try this one. This recipe comes in at 168 calories, 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fat, 51 carbs, and 13 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Vanilla Pudding Ice Cream Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie Recipes? Ingredient tips and substitutions Directions for Making the Ice […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Pear Cherry Sorbet
Pears are one of those fruits that don’t get nearly enough attention, but this Ninja Creami low calorie pear cherry sorbet is going to change that. It’s smooth, has a delicate pear flavor with a pop of fresh cherry, and it’s made with just 3 simple ingredients. This recipe comes in at 197 calories, 1 gram of protein, 34 grams of sugar, 0 grams of fat, 78 carbs, and 34 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja Creami Low Calorie Pear Cherry Sorbet Looking for more Ninja Creami Low Calorie […]
-
Dairy-Free Ninja Creami Recipes for Sorbet, Gelato, and More
You do not need regular milk or heavy cream to make a good Ninja Creami pint. These dairy-free Ninja Creami recipes include simple fruit sorbets, chocolate and coffee options, Italian ice, Dole Whip, a smoothie bowl, and vegan peanut butter gelato. Jump to: What counts as dairy-free? Why sorbet works so well in the Ninja Creami Check mix-ins and toppings Top Tips Ninja Creami Peach Sorbet Ninja Creami Pina Colada Sorbet (Dairy Free) Ninja Creami Blueberry Sorbet Ninja Creami Low Calorie Tropical Triple Layered Sorbet Ninja Creami Honeydew Sorbet-Low Calorie Ninja Creami Watermelon Sorbet (Low Calorie) Ninja Creami Chocolate Sorbet-Low […]
-
Ninja Creami Low Calorie Strawberry Ice Cream
This Ninja Creami low calorie strawberry ice cream is one of those recipes that you’ll want to make on repeat. It’s got a seriously creamy texture, tons of real strawberry flavor from fresh strawberries, and it’s low calorie all at the same time. This is the kind of strawberry ice cream you’ll want to eat straight out of the container. This recipe comes in at 280 calories, 10 grams of protein, 23 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat, 90 carbs, and 26 net carbs (total carbs minus allulose carbs) for the ENTIRE pint. Jump to: Tips for making Ninja […]
-
Easy Ninja Creami Apple Recipes for Ice Cream, Sorbet, and More
If you love apple desserts, there is a lot more you can make in the Ninja Creami than basic apple ice cream. I have an apple cobbler ice cream with plenty of texture, a lighter caramel apple sorbet, and two protein ice creams that taste completely different from each other. Jump to: Why applesauce works in Ninja Creami recipes Canned filling or fresh apples? How to add fresh apple mix-ins Top Tips Ninja Creami Apple Cobbler Ice Cream Ninja Creami Caramel Apple Sorbet-Low Calorie Ninja Creami Cinnamon Green Apple Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Taffy Apple Protein Ice Cream Comments […]
-
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 […]
Lauren Cardona says
Hi Lisa- you fold the cherries in at the very end after processing. It’s step 11 in the recipe card.