Check out my recipe for making Ninja Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream!
Strawberry and banana go so well together! The creaminess of the banana works really well with the sweet and sometimes tartness of the strawberries. At some point, just about everyone will have had or made a strawberry banana smoothie! And, what's better than a strawberry and banana smoothie....ice cream!
This recipe comes in at 292 calories, 32 grams of protein, 20 grams of sugar, and 8 WW points. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts.
There's just something so amazing about bananas when you mix them with other things in the Ninja Creami. They create the most wonderful thick and creamy texture ever! Seriously, you don't need much more than just a ripe banana to make something delicious with the PERFECT texture!! So, it was no surprise that my Ninja Creami Strawberry Protein Ice Cream turned out wonderfully! I had high hopes for this one and it did not disappoint!
A lot of people ask if they can use frozen bananas in their Ninja Creami creations. The topic of frozen fruit in the Ninja Creami is discussed all the time. And, it's because there is no solid yes or no answer. Can you use frozen fruit? Yes. You can, but..... There are some buts with this one. You cannot put a bunch of frozen fruit into a Ninja Creami container, freeze it, and then process it. There cannot be open gaps between ingredients in the containers. But, you also cannot fill those gaps with water because there will be sections where it's only water and that will turn to ice. The Ninja Creami should not process ice.
So, what do you do? There are a couple of options. The easiest one is to just thaw the fruit before using it. Or, blend the fruit with a liquid. That liquid can be water. Just as long as it is fully blended together to create a cohesive mixture.
So, the answer is yes, you can use frozen bananas for this recipe. But....you need to either thaw the bananas or blend them really well with the other ingredients. Some blenders don't blend frozen fruit really well so you'll need to make sure you're using a high-powered blender that can handle frozen fruit.
How do I eat Ninja Creami leftovers?
Leftovers with the Ninja Creami are a bit tricky as they get very hard once they are frozen again. Usually, the ice cream is not scoopable after freezing again. To help with this, you can store the leftovers in a shallow, freezer proof container, cover the top of the ice cream with plastic wrap or parchment to prevent freezer burn, with the lid on. When ready to eat, let the ice cream sit on the counter to thaw for about 15 minutes. You can even try microwaving the ice cream for 10-20 seconds.
While this process SHOULD make the ice cream a bit more scoopable, the texture never seems to be the same as it was when it was first processed.
If the leftover ice cream has mix-ins that have been added to it, the mix-ins will completely incorporate with the ice cream if it is respun after being frozen again. If there are no mix-ins, or if you don't mind if they get fully mixed in the ice cream, I'd recommend reprocessing the leftover ice cream on the original function that you used.
If your ice cream is coming out like soft-serve ice cream, check the temperature of your freezer. The proper temp is 9F to -7F. If your freezer is too warm, the ice cream will not fully freeze and it will be too soft to scoop.
Tips for making Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream
Yes! You can! But the protein shake will lose some of its flavor when frozen. And, it will likely be quite icy. So you need to add additional flavors and thickeners/stabilizers to get the right taste and consistency.
Taste your ice cream before freezing. When things are really cold and frozen they don't have as strong of a flavor. So, you want to make sure that the base mixture is sweet enough and flavored enough. Remember that it will lose some of its flavor when you eat it cold so it's ok to add a little extra sweetener and flavorings.
You don't need to add both. Instant pudding mix usually already has guar gum in the package. So, you can use instant pudding mix when you want to add the flavor of the pudding or use guar gum when you are only looking to modify the texture of the ice cream.
You can use any type of milk that you want in ice cream. You can use dairy milk that is fat-free, skim, 2%, whole, or cream. You can also use non-dairy milks like almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. But, milks with lower fat contents tend to me less creamy and more icy.
Never miss a recipe! Subscribe to have FREE recipes sent straight to your inbox!
Looking for more recipes?
I've created a post with the 57+ BEST Ninja Creami recipes all in one place! Here's the link.
Don't have a Ninja Creami? No problem!
I've also pulled together 100 of the BEST Ninja Foodi recipes! You'll find Ninja Foodi recipes to make appetizers, side dishes, main courses, and even desserts! Here's the link to 100 recipes!
Check out some of my newest recipes!
Looking for more of the best Ninja Creami Recipes? Check out all of our Ninja Creami ice cream recipes here!
Ingredients to make Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream:
Ingredient substitutions and tips for making Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Sugar and dairy substitution suggestions can be found here.
Strawberry Protein Shake- I used a Premier Protein strawberries and cream protein shake. If you can't find this flavor, any strawberry protein shake should work. Just be sure to taste it to make sure you like the flavor before adding it to the recipe.
Banana- 1 small banana or half of a large banana. If you are using frozen bananas, thaw before adding to the mixture.
Strawberries- Frozen thawed strawberries can be used for the ice cream base but I would recommend using fresh strawberries for the mix-ins.
Optional
Unsweetened Almond Milk- Any dairy or dairy substitute can be used. You may not need it. If the ice cream is dry and crumbly after processing, you'll need to add a tablespoon or two of liquid.
Steps for making Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream:
Prepare the mixture:
Steps for making Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream:
Process the mixture:
Directions for making Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream:
1. Pour the strawberry protein shake, 1 banana, and 1-2 strawberries into a small blender and blend together until the all ingredients are fully combined. Pour the mixture into the 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.
3. After 24 hours, remove the pint container from the freezer.
4. Place the pint container into the outer bowl of the Ninja Creami and then process on "LITE ICE CREAM."
5. If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking, pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then respin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times.
6. Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
Pin Ninja Creami Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream on Pinterest for later:
Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
Original and Deluxe Ingredient Measurements
Use the multiplier below to adjust quantities based on the machine that you own. 1X=Original 16 ounce 1.5X=Deluxe 24 ounces
Ingredients
Ice Cream Base
- 11.5 Ounces (326 g) Strawberry Protein Shake
- 1 (1) Banana (1 small banana or half of 1 large banana)
- 1-2 (1-2) Strawberries (Fresh or Frozen(thawed))
Mix-Ins
- ½ Cup (118 2/7 ml) Fresh Strawberries (Diced)
Optional
- 1-2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Unsweetened Almond Milk
Instructions
Make the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour the strawberry protein shake, 1 banana, and 1-2 strawberries into a small blender and blend together until the all ingredients are fully combined. Pour the mixture into the 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, pour in a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk and then respin. 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 chopped up strawberries. 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.
Looking for more recipes? Be sure to check out some of our favorites below!
Lauren Cardona
Tasty Traveler #1
Hi, I’m Lauren but you can call me Tasty Traveler #1!
I have always had a passion for food, cocktails, and travel. It has become more pronounced over the last several years since I have had the opportunity to do so many of the things that I love. One of my favorite co...
Read More
Luis Cardona
Tasty Traveler #2
Hi, I’m Luis! (I like to think of myself as Tasty Traveler #1 but Lauren says I’m Tasty Traveler #2!)
I too have a love for food, travel, and all things in between! Over the past several years I have found more time to be adventurous with things that I eat, the plac...
Read More
Leave a Reply