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:
Lemon ice cream is one of those flavors that you don’t see at every ice cream shop, but it should be. It’s so refreshing and so different from the usual chocolate or vanilla. This Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is bright and tart from real lemon, but still creamy and smooth like a classic ice cream should be. It’s somewhere between a lemon ice cream and a sorbet.
This recipe uses THREE different types of lemon to get that bright, real lemon flavor. Fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and pure lemon extract all work together to make every bite taste like real lemon. The lemon zest is what really takes the flavor up because the peel has all of those intense lemon oils that you can’t get from juice alone.
A combination of skim milk and half and half gives this ice cream a really nice creamy texture without being super heavy. The half and half adds enough fat to keep it creamy, while the skim milk keeps it light enough that the lemon flavor really shines through. If you want it even creamier, you can swap the skim milk for whole milk or use all half and half.
The cream cheese in this Ninja Creami ice cream recipe acts as a stabilizer and gives you that thick, scoopable texture without making the ice cream taste like cheesecake. Make sure it’s at room temperature before adding it to the blender so it blends in smoothly without leaving any lumps.
If you want to take this lemon ice cream up a notch, there are so many fun ways to dress it up. A spoonful of lemon curd or canned lemon pie filling swirled in would be amazing. Crumbled graham crackers or shortbread cookies as a mix-in would give you a lemon pie vibe. Fresh blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries would also be really good if you want to add a little fruit on top after scooping.
Tips for making Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream
Lemon zest is small shavings of the lemon peel. The peel contains a lot of intense lemon flavor and provides great texture! To easily get the zest from a lemon, I recommend using a zester, which can be found at any kitchen store. If you don’t have a zester, you can use a vegetable peeler, but make sure to only peel off a thin layer and then chop it finely. You do not want to get the white part of the peel.
Usually, dry or crumbly ice cream is from one of these three things: your freezer is too cold, your recipe doesn’t have enough fat, or your recipe doesn’t have enough sugar. To fix it, add 1 tablespoon of dairy to the pint after processing and re-spin.
Yes, store-bought lemon juice works fine if you don’t have fresh lemons. Fresh lemon juice has a brighter flavor, but the difference isn’t huge once it’s frozen and blended with the other ingredients.
You can, but I really don’t recommend it. The lemon zest is where most of the bright, real lemon flavor comes from. Without it, the ice cream will still be lemony but the flavor won’t be as strong or as fresh tasting.
Not with this exact recipe since it has dairy and cream cheese in it. If you want a lemon sorbet, you would need a totally different recipe that uses water, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar with no dairy.
Looking for more Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes?
Ingredient tips and substitutions
The full ingredient list is at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.
- Skim Milk: You can use any dairy or non-dairy milk in place of skim milk, just know that the higher the fat content of the milk, the creamier the ice cream will be.
- Half and Half: Heavy cream can be used in place of half and half for an even richer ice cream, or you can use more skim or whole milk if you prefer a lighter version.
- Granulated Sugar: You can use your favorite granulated sweetener in place of regular sugar, just make sure it’s a 1:1 ratio with sugar (allulose works great).
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice gives you the brightest flavor, but store-bought lemon juice will work in this recipe too.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so it blends in smoothly, and if you don’t have cream cheese, you can use 2 tablespoons of sugar-free instant pudding mix or ¼ teaspoon of guar gum in its place.
- Lemon Zest: Fresh lemon zest is a must for that real lemon flavor, and you’ll need a zester or a fine vegetable peeler to get just the yellow part of the peel without any of the bitter white part.
- Pure Lemon Extract: Make sure to use pure lemon extract and not imitation since pure extract has a much better flavor (the imitation version can taste a little fake).
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla bean paste can be used in place of vanilla extract at a 1:1 ratio.
- Milk (Optional): This only gets used if the ice cream looks like sand after the first spin, and any dairy or non-dairy milk works in its place like whole milk, 2% milk, half and half, heavy cream, coconut milk, oat milk, or Fairlife milk.
Directions for Making the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the ice cream base ingredients into a small blender and blend until all ingredients are fully combined. 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.
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 “ICE CREAM.”
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking (like sand), pour in a tablespoon or two of 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.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Save for Later on Pinterest!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Lemon 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
- ⅔ Cups (157 ¾ ml) Skim Milk
- ⅔ Cups (161 ⅓ g) Half & Half
- 3 ½ Tablespoons (3 ½ Tablespoons) Sugar (Granulated )
- 1 Tablespoon (1 Tablespoon) Lemon Juice (Fresh )
- 1 Tablespoon (1 Tablespoon) Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)
- ⅔ Tablespoon (⅔ Tablespoon) Lemon Zest (Zest of ⅔ of a lemon)
- 1 ⅔ Teaspoons (1 ⅔ Teaspoons) Pure Lemon Extract
- ⅓ Teaspoon (⅓ Teaspoon) Pure Vanilla Extract
Optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons (1 Tablespoons) Milk
Instructions
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 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 (like sand), pour in a tablespoon or two of 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.
- 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 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 as much as I do, this list is going to be a good one for you! From tropical drinks turned into ice cream to a coconut cream pie protein frozen yogurt, I’ve packed in a lot of different textures and flavors here. Whether you’re craving something rich like Almond Joy Ice Cream or something lighter like Pina Colada Sorbet, there’s a coconut recipe here for you. Jump to: Top Tips Ninja Creami Almond Joy Ice Cream Ninja Creami Almond Joy Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Banana Chocolate Chip Lite Ice Cream Ninja Creami Blueberry Coconut Frozen […]
-
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
Banana might be the single most reliable fruit I use in the Ninja Creami, mostly because of what it does to texture once it has been frozen solid and processed. I have gathered every banana base I have made so far in one place, from dessert style flavors to protein forward versions. Whatever kind of banana craving you are working with, there is a base here that should match it. Jump to: Easy Mix-Ins for Banana Ice Cream Why Frozen Bananas Make Ice Cream So Thick and Creamy Why Banana Recipes Often Use Less Added Sugar Top Tips Comments Banana […]
-
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
I go back and forth between fresh and frozen blueberries depending on the season, and both work fine as long as you thaw frozen ones before blending them into the base. Blueberries and Sweet Cream Ice Cream and Blueberry Ice Cream both keep things simple, letting the fruit do most of the work. 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 Ice Cream Ninja Creami Blueberry Protein Ice Cream Ninja Creami Blueberry Sorbet […]
-
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
I have three cheesecake versions in this roundup, Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream, Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Protein Ice Cream, and Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream, and they all land in a different place even though they start from the same idea. Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Protein Ice Cream is the one that goes savory, which isn’t something I do often, but it works. 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 […]
-
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 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 […]
Comments
No Comments