Check out 20+ High Protein Ninja Creami Recipes! If you’re new to the Ninja Creami ice cream maker, or craving something new, I’ve got you covered! Whether you are looking for a Ninja Creami recipe that uses a protein shake or protein powder, I’ve got just the recipe for you! I’ve perfected basic recipes like vanilla and chocolate protein ice cream but have also created more complex recipes like mint chocolate chip protein ice cream, caramel banana chocolate chip protein ice cream, and even cottage cheese protein ice cream.
Many try to make Ninja Creami protein ice cream with just a protein shake. While it works, it doesn’t taste great and it usually doesn’t have that creamy texture that everybody wants. To make a great tasting and creamy textured protein ice cream recipe, other ingredients need to be added.
Why add protein to ice cream?
With the rise in popularity of using protein shakes and powders in Ninja Creami recipes, many think that it is necessary to achieve the creamy texture of the ice cream. It is not. Adding protein to Ninja Creami ice cream is not necessary unless you are specifically trying to increase your daily protein intake due to diet and fitness goals. Many have found that adding protein to ice cream is a good way to meet their diet and fitness goals while providing endless flavor options. Eating a bowl of ice cream instead of drinking a protein shake has proven to be a delicious way to get more protein in your diet.
How to use the Ninja Creami to make protein ice cream
- Start off by preparing your base recipe and pouring it into a Ninja Creami pint container. Be sure not to fill past the max fill line. If I’m making a base recipe that has several ingredients, I like to blend all ingredients together in a small blender before pouring them into the Ninja Creami containers. The base recipe for high-protein ice cream will be mostly liquid, either a pre-made protein shake or a combination of protein powder and dairy/non-dairy. Depending on the recipe, it will likely also have flavor extracts, stabilizer, or additional sweetener.
- Make sure the top of the mixture is level and then freeze on a level surface for 24 hours. The freezer temperature should be between -7 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on the temperature of your freezer and the ingredients used, you may be able to freeze for a shorter period of time. Some like to freeze the container without the lid to help reduce the likelihood that a frozen bump will form on the top of the frozen treat.
- Remove from the freezer and place into the Ninja Creami ice cream machine. Select the LITE ICE CREAM cycle if you are using a pre-made protein shake or protein powder mixed with low-fat milk or non-dairy milk. If you are using protein powder mixed with high fat dairy like whole milk or heavy cream, then use the ICE CREAM cycle.
- Once the process has finished, remove the container from the machine. If the ice cream is dry and crumbly (like sand), pour 1-2 tablespoons of liquid into the ice cream and then process on the re-spin cycle. You might need to complete this process more than once. You can use leftover protein shake, fruit juice, milk or cream, or even water as the additional liquid that might be needed for the respin. ***If you are going to be adding mix-ins, it’s not recommended to re-spin multiple times or add much liquid before the mix-ins process as the mix-ins process will continue to spin the ice cream and it might become too soft.
- If you would like to add mix-ins to your Ninja Creami protein ice cream, dig a hole down the center of the ice cream, if there is not already one there, and pour in your favorite mix-ins. Put the ice cream back into the machine and process on mix-ins.
If you are looking for information on how to use the Ninja Creami, answers to the most commonly asked questions, be sure to check out my full post on Ninja Creami FAQs here!
mix-in ideas for making protein ice cream
Fruit– You can add fruit like strawberries, peaches, blueberries, or raspberries during the mix-ins process. Be sure to cut the fruit into small pieces. I prefer to use fresh fruit as a mix-in, but you can use small pieces of frozen fruit or freeze dried fruit as a mix-in.
Your favorite granola– Using granola is a great way to add texture to ice cream. If you want even more protein, they even sell protein granola!
Cookies and candy– Adding small pieces of cookies and candy to a ice cream can add texture and additional flavor to any ice cream.
The flavor combinations are endless when you start adding mix-ins to protein ice cream.
How Much Protein Do Different Milks Have?
A good way to add even more protein to your Ninja Creami protein ice cream recipes is to switch up the dairy products that you add to the protein shake and protein powder. Fairlife milk is one of the highest in protein and coconut milk is one of the lowest in protein.
Ninja Creami Protein Recipes
For my Ninja Creami protein ice cream recipes, I use unflavored GNC Whey protein powder and pre-made Premier Protein shakes. You can use your favorite protein powder or protein shake. The taste and texture of the end product will vary based on what brand you choose.
Ninja Creami Protein
- Ninja Creami Cinnamon Green Apple Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Lemon Pie Protein Frozen Yogurt
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Pina Colada Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Blueberry Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Shortcake Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Maple Bacon Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Jamoca Almond Fudge Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Peaches and Cream Protein Frozen Yogurt
- Ninja Creami Butter Pecan Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Pistachio Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Key Lime Pie Protein Frozen Yogurt
- Ninja Creami Double Dark Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Peppermint Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami SCOOPABLE Chocolate Oreo Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami SCOOPABLE Nutter Butter Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Pumpkin Pie Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Chunky Monkey Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Chip Protein Frozen Yogurt
- Ninja Creami Vanilla Bean Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Caramel White Chocolate Mocha Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Caramel Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Banana Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Mocha Espresso Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Salted Caramel Butterscotch Chip Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream
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Recipe
Ninja Creami Protein Recipes
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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.
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
Using a premade protein shake:
- 11.5 Ounces (326 g) Premade Protein Shake (Any Flavor)
- ½ Cup (118 2/7 ml) Dairy (Dairy or Non-Dairy Milk/Cream/Half and Half/ Heavy Cream)
- Sweetener (Sugar or Sugar Substitute- 1 Tablespoon-½ Cup- Add Sweetener to Taste)
- Stabilizer (2 Tablespoons Instant Pudding Mix (with or without sugar) OR ¼ Teaspoon Guar Gum)
- Flavor (¼ Teaspoon-1 Tablespoon Flavor Extract or Oil)
Using protein powder:
- 1 Scoop (1 Scoop) Unflavored Protein Powder (33.6 Grams)
- 12 Ounces (340 ⅕ g) Dairy (Dairy or Non-Dairy Milk/Cream/Half and Half/ Heavy Cream)
- Sweetener (Sugar or Sugar Substitute- 1 Tablespoon-½ Cup- Add Sweetener to Taste)
- Stabilizer (2 Tablespoons Instant Pudding Mix (with or without sugar) OR ¼ Teaspoon Guar Gum)
- Flavor (¼ Teaspoon-1 Tablespoon Flavor Extract or Oil)
Instructions
Prepare the Ice Cream Mixture
- Pour all 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 "LITE ICE CREAM" if you are using a premade protein shake or protein powder with low-fat or non-dairy milk. If you use protein powder with high fat milk or heavy cream, process on "ICE CREAM."
- If the ice cream is dry or crumbly looking (like sand), pour in a tablespoon or two of leftover protein shake, milk, cream, juice, or water, and then re-spin. You may have to repeat this process a couple of times. If the ice cream looks like little balls of ice cream and is not overly dry, re-spin without adding additional liquid. If you plan on adding mix-ins, it's not recommended to re-spin more than once or twice as the ice cream will continue to be spun during the mix-ins process. Overspinning the ice cream or adding too much liquid during a re-spin can create a softer and less scoopable ice cream.
- If you want to add mix-ins, dig a well down the center of the ice cream and pour in the mix-ins. Process on mix-ins.
- Remove the pint from the machine and enjoy!
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.
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Sonja says
Made this with Half and half, Vital Proteins Collagen (protein powder), vanilla pudding mix, vanilla bean paste and used Monk fruit for sweetener. Tasted like real vanilla ice cream from the store but packed with protein! Amazing! Will try whole milk next time for fewer calories.