Have you ever wondered what to do with those conversation hearts that are so popular around Valentine’s Day? Well, I’ve got just the recipe for you! I’ll show you how to get the most out of the conversation hearts all at the same time as creating a delicious Ninja Creami ice cream!
It’s that time of year! February is the perfect time of year to create pink, heart, love, and romance related recipes. This year is even a little more special because the Super Bowl is right around the corner. With the Super Bowl this year, a little romance is added into the Super Bowl with the love story of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Now, you don’t have to be big into football, Taylor Swift, or romance to enjoy this recipe. But, why not knock out two events with just one recipe?
If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you’ll know that this recipe is named after her song “Lover.” Whether you are looking for a fun Super Bowl, Taylor Swift, or Valentine’s Day recipe, or none of the above, you should still run and get some conversation hearts so that you can make my Ninja Creami Lover ice cream!
My recipe for making Ninja Creami Lover ice cream has a sweet, cotton candy ice cream base with conversation hearts mixed in. Usually, I’m not a fan of conversation hearts. Sure, they are cute and make for a fun Valentine’s Day treat, but if I’m being honest, the flavor and texture is not great. They don’t have much flavor and can be chalky. So, what exactly are you suppose to do with them? Add them to ice cream!
I wasn’t sure how the conversation hearts were going to taste or what the texture would be like in the ice cream. After several attempts, I made the perfect ice cream base that compliments the conversation hearts! The end result is a sweet cotton candy ice cream with little chunks of sweet candy mixed in. The conversation hearts actually taste good in the ice cream! I know, it’s hard to believe! But, even the texture of the hearts works really well with the homemade ice cream.
This is a sweet recipe since it’s cotton candy flavored with sugary candies mixed in. Afterall, cotton candy is basically just sugar. If you want to cut back on the level of sweetness, you can reduce the amount of sugar added but I would not reduce the amount of cotton candy oil used as it is what really adds the flavor.
The pink coloring comes from the red food coloring. I used liquid food coloring but you could use powdered or gel food coloring if you prefer. The food coloring is optional. If you don’t want to add it, don’t. The ice cream will be white instead of pink, but will still taste great!
Tips for making Ninja Creami Lover Ice Cream:
Lover ice cream tastes like homemade cotton candy ice cream with crunchy bits of sweet candies. The ice cream base is sweet and creamy. The red food coloring turns the ice cream pink, but the ice cream is not cherry, strawberry or any pink flavor.
Conversation hearts are little heart shaped candies that have fun little sayings on them that are inspired by all things love. They don’t have a lot of flavor and can sometimes be chalky in texture. In my opinion, conversation hearts are purchased as a novelty candy and not so much as a candy that everyone loves to eat.
Since this recipe has candy mix-ins, eating the leftovers can be a challenge. If you freeze the leftovers and then process on ice cream again, the candy pieces will get pulverized by the paddle. Instead of having a smooth ice cream with candy pieces in it, you will end up with a slightly grainy/chalky ice cream with no chunks. So, for this recipe if you plan on having leftovers I would recommend thawing the leftovers on the counter or in the microwave until it’s soft enough to scoop, or add food grade vegetable glycerin to the ice cream base before freezing. See the note in the recipe card for instructions on how much to add.
If you want to cut back on the calories and fat that are in the half and half, you can use all milk if you would like. However, the lower fat in the dairy, the less thick and creamy the ice cream will be and it may have ice crystals in it.
I did not need to use the re-spin cycle for this recipe. The texture after the first spin was not smooth, but it was not sandy. Instead, it was very thick. I simply added the cut up conversation hearts and used the mix-in button. I did not add any additional liquid with the mix-ins. If you add unnecessary liquid with the mix-ins or during a respin, the consistency will become almost fluffy or like soft-serve.
Looking for more Ninja Creami Recipes?
Ingredient substitutions for making Ninja Creami Lover 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-free substitute like unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened oat milk, 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 whipping cream and ¾ whole milk.
Sugar– White sugar was used. You can use a sugar substitute that is a 1:1 ratio.
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.
Guar Gum– If you don’t have guar gum, you can use about a tablespoon of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of vanilla instant pudding mix (reduce or omit the vanilla bean paste in the original recipe), or xanthan gum.
Cotton Candy Extract/Oil- Lorann-I would highly recommend getting the cotton candy flavored oil if you want to have cotton candy flavored ice cream. I have not found a substitute for this oil.
Red Food Coloring– Optional
Conversation Hearts-Conversation hearts are easy to find around Valentine’s Day but are more difficult to find throughout the rest of the year. You can substitute with your favorite sweet candy like sweet tarts or smarties candies. Oreo sells cotton candy flavored cookies which work really great in ice cream too.
Directions for making Ninja Creami Lover Ice Cream:
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the milk, half and half, sugar, vanilla bean paste, , cotton candy flavoring, red food coloring, and guar gum 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, pour in a tablespoon or two of milk and then re-spin. If the ice cream looks more like dippin dots, (little balls of ice cream), re-spin without adding liquid. Since I was going to be adding mix-ins and the texture was very thick and not sandy looking, I did not respin. Instead, I just moved on to the mix-ins process.
- Dig a hole in the center of the ice cream and pour in the conversation hearts that have been cut in half. Process on mix-ins.
- Your ice cream is ready to eat! Top with more conversation hearts and enjoy!
Pin Ninja Creami Lover Ice Cream for later!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Lover Ice Cream
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 8 Fluid Ounces (236 ⅗ ml) Whole Milk
- 6 Fluid Ounces (177 3/7 ml) Half and Half
- ¼ Cup (50 g) Sugar
- ½ Teaspoon (½ Teaspoon) Vanilla Bean Paste
- ¼ Teaspoon (¼ Teaspoon) Cotton Candy Flavoring (Loranns Oil)
- 5-6 Drops (5-6 Drops) Red Food Coloring (Optional)
- ¼ Teaspoon (¼ Teaspoon) Guar Gum
Mix-Ins
- ¼ Cup (59 ⅐ g) Conversation Hearts (Cut in half)
Instructions
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the milk, half and half, sugar, vanilla bean paste, , cotton candy flavoring, red food coloring, and guar gum 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, pour in a tablespoon or two of milk and then re-spin. If the ice cream looks more like dippin dots, (little balls of ice cream), re-spin without adding liquid. Since I was going to be adding mix-ins and the texture was very thick and not sandy looking, I did not respin. Instead, I just moved on to the mix-ins process.
- Dig a hole in the center of the ice cream and pour in the conversation hearts that have been cut in half. Process on mix-ins.
- Your ice cream is ready to eat! Top with more conversation hearts and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.
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 […]
Comments
No Comments