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.

Coffee ice cream is one of those flavors that is really easy to mess up. Either there’s not enough coffee flavor and it just tastes like vanilla, or there’s so much that it tastes bitter. Coffee lovers, this Ninja Creami ice cream maker recipe nails the perfect amount of coffee flavor, has a creamy smooth texture, and is the perfect treat when you want a lighter alternative to regular coffee ice cream with 30 grams of protein per entire pint.

The instant espresso powder is what gives this recipe its bold coffee flavor without ruining the texture. Do NOT try to use regular brewed espresso or coffee instead. It adds too much liquid and you will end up with an icy texture instead of the creamy ice cream you want. If you can’t find instant espresso powder, instant coffee works as a substitute, but you might need a little extra to get the same strong coffee flavor.

The Heath chips are perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth who wants real toffee crunch in every bite. They are crunchy, sweet, and hold up perfectly through the mix-ins cycle without getting soggy or super ground up. If you can’t find bagged Heath chips at your grocery store, chop up an actual Heath candy bar and use that for the mix-ins instead. You could also throw in some chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or even crumbled chocolate cookies if you want more of a sweet tooth treat.

One ingredient that confuses people is the caramel syrup. This recipe uses Torani sugar-free caramel syrup, which is the type of thin syrup that you add to coffee and drinks. It is NOT the thick caramel topping that you would drizzle on ice cream. The thin syrup blends right into the base with the rest of the simple ingredients and adds the right amount of sweet caramel flavor to balance out the espresso.

Coffee and toffee are a flavor combination that just works. The bitterness from the espresso and the buttery sweetness of the toffee balance each other out, and the Heath chips give this Ninja Creami machine recipe a really good crunch. With creamy flavor, simple ingredients, and way more protein than a protein bar, this is going to be a personal favorite in your freezer.

Ingredient tips and substitutions

The full ingredient list is at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.

• Vanilla Protein Shake: Premier Protein and Fairlife both work great in this Ninja Creami ice cream maker recipe, but if you don’t have a protein shake, use the same volume of your milk of choice mixed with whey or unflavored protein powder and adjust the flavor and sweetness based on what you use (you can add a splash of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for more vanilla flavor).
• Instant Espresso Powder: Do not use regular brewed espresso or coffee since it will add too much liquid and ruin the creamier texture, but instant coffee works as a substitute if you can’t find instant espresso powder (you may need a little more to get the same bold flavor that coffee lovers want).
• Swerve Sugar Substitute (Granulated-Allulose Blend): Use your favorite granulated sweetener that is a 1:1 ratio with sugar, or use real sugar if you prefer for this low-calorie treat.
• Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup: This recipe uses Torani sugar-free caramel syrup, which is the thin syrup added to coffee and drinks (not the thick caramel topping you put on ice cream), and any brand of sugar-free or regular caramel coffee syrup works as a substitute.
• Guar Gum: Guar gum is what gives this creamy ice cream its smooth texture on the first spin, and if you can’t find it, xanthan gum works as a substitute at a 1:1 ratio.
• Heath Chips: If you can’t find bagged Heath chips at your grocery store, you can chop up a Heath candy bar and use that for the mix-ins instead, or swap them for chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or even some chopped cookies if you have a serious sweet tooth.
• Unsweetened Almond Milk (Optional): This only gets used if the ice cream looks dry or crumbly after the first spin, and any dairy or plant-based milk works in its place like whole milk, 2% milk, heavy cream, coconut milk, cashew milk, oat milk, low-fat milk, or Fairlife milk (the higher the fat content of the dairy-free or plant-based alternative, the creamier the texture).

Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture

1. Pour the protein shake, instant espresso powder, sugar substitute, caramel syrup, and guar gum into a small blender and blend until all ingredients have completely combined with each other. Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container.
2. 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

1. After 24 hours, remove the pint container from the freezer.
2. Place the pint container into the outer bowl of the Ninja Creami and then process on “LITE ICE CREAM.”
3. If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking (like sand), pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then re-spin. If the ice cream looks like little balls of ice cream, respin without adding liquid. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
4. Dig a well down the center of the ice cream and pour in the Heath chips. Process on mix-ins.
5. Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!

Save for Later on Pinterest!

Recipe

Ninja Creami Toffee Coffee Protein Ice Cream

No ratings yet

Rate this Recipe

Servings: 1 Pint

Calories: 356.77kcal

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Freeze Time: 1 day day

Total Time: 1 day day 5 minutes minutes

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• 1 Ninja Creami
• 1 Ninja Creami Pint Container
• 1 Small Blender

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.

(Click here) This is the food grade vegetable glycerin that I experimented with.

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

 

1x1.5x2x3x

Ice Cream Base

• ▢ 11.5 Fluid Ounces (340 ml) Vanilla Protein Shake
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Instant Espresso Powder
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon (1 Tablespoon) Swerve Sugar Substitute (Granulated-Allulose Blend)
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup
• ▢ ¼ Teaspoon (¼ Teaspoon) Guar Gum

Mix-Ins

• ▢ 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Heath Chips

Optional

• ▢ 1-2 Tablespoons (1 Tablespoons) Unsweetened Almond Milk

Instructions

Make the Ice Cream Mixture

• Pour the protein shake, instant espresso powder, sugar substitute, caramel syrup, and guar gum into a small blender and blend until all ingredients have completely combined with each other. Pour the 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 (like sand), pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then re-spin. If the ice cream looks like little balls of ice cream, respin without adding liquid. 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 Heath chips. Process on mix-ins.
• Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!

Notes

What are Heath chips?

Heath chips are little pieces of toffee that is found in the center of a Heath Bar. They are crunchy, sweet, and delicious! If you can’t find Heath chips, you can cup up a Heath candy bar and use that for the mix-ins instead.

What kind of caramel syrup is used?

This recipe uses Torani sugar free caramel syrup. This is the type of syrup that gets added to coffee and other drinks. This is not the thick caramel syrup that you top ice cream with.

Why does the ice cream come out “fluffy” in texture?

Usually, if your ice cream is coming out “fluffier” than you want, it’s because too much liquid was added during a respin. To prevent this from happening, use about a tablespoon of liquid on the respin. If it’s still not creamy, respin again. You can add more liquid with the second respin, just don’t add too much.

Nutrition

Calories: 356.77kcal | Carbohydrates: 46.59g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 405.2mg | Potassium: 200mg | Fiber: 1.59g | Sugar: 19g | Calcium: 650mg | Iron: 1.82mg

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.

Have you tried this recipe? Let us know how it turned out in a comment below!

• 

  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 […]

• 

  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 […]