Ninja CREAMi Frozen Hot Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
I’ve heard of frozen hot chocolate desserts, but the concept never really made sense until I saw a random Ninja CREAMi recipe that used hot chocolate mix in it. That sparked my curiosity, and I wanted to see if I could create something similar with a protein-base.
This Ninja CREAMi doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but definitely satisfies your sweet tooth and I think you’ll love it if you’re someone who answers “both” anytime you get asked “Chocolate or vanilla?”
Don’t skip on the marshmallows; these mini ones have healthier, thoughtful ingredients, mix-in really well, and bring the whole hot chocolate vibe together without giving you too much of a sugar rush. Stick to mini size even if you use regular marshmallows as they mix in better and are less messy than the full-size options.
ninja CREAMi frozen hot chocolate protein ice cream
ingredients
Makes one CREAMi
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1.5 cups Fairlife milk - this will get you the creamiest ice cream; don’t sub for regular milk
1 tablespoon vanilla sugar-free pudding mix
If you want a stronger chocolate flavor, use 0.5 vanilla sugar-free pudding mix and do 0.5 chocolate sugar-free pudding mix
1 tablespoon hot chocolate mix (or cacao powder for a healthier option)
Mix-ins - handful of mini marshmallows (set aside extra for topping if desired)
to prepare:
Combine all ingredients (except the mix-ins) and stir well. I just use a spoon, but some prefer to use a hand-held frother. Freeze overnight, or for at least 8 hours.
Spin “Lite Ice Cream.”
Scrape the sides and add 1-3 tablespoons of Fairlife milk (a splash or two).
Re-spin. Or if your ice cream just needs a little longer but you think the re-spin will make it too soft-serve, you can use the “Mix-In” setting.
If you want to add mix-ins, add them into the center and then press “Mix-Ins.”
Serve immediately.
I’ve found that regular/ non-protein CREAMis are still good if you re-freeze and re-spin later on, but it’s not worth it for protein-based recipes.
ninja creami protein ice cream tips:
Add the milk first and then your powders. I like to stir in the pudding mix first, and then add the protein powder afterwards. It mixes better.
To help avoid icy chunks in your CREAMi, run the pint under warm water for 30ish seconds. You might hear a crack (it’s the mixture separating from the sides). I wait to hear 2 cracks because it also makes it easier to scrape the sides after the spin.
Use a butter knife to (carefully) scrape the sides. It works better than a spoon.
Best chocolate protein powders for Ninja CREAMis: Body by Bree Chocolate Protein, Ascent 100% Whey Protein Powder Chocolate, and Active Stacks Peptides Protein Powder Chocolate
Clean Simple Eats is a really popular brand I’ve seen others use, but it contains 3 types of different types of sweeteners and I find it makes the CREAMis overly sweet with an artificial taste.
Best vanilla protein powders for Ninja CREAMis: Body by Bree Vanilla Protein, Ascent 100% Whey Protein Powder Vanilla Bean, Intek Protein Evolution Vanilla
Vanilla extract really doesn’t do much; use vanilla bean paste instead (it’s a 1:1 ratio). I typically stick to around 1 tsp max.
Instead of using cookies and cream protein powder, you’ll get a better result if you use vanilla protein powder and then mix in the cookies later on. The cookie crumbs in the protein powder just get ground out during the processing.
I highly recommend powdered peanut butter instead of actual peanut butter; it’s less messy and still gives you a great, genuine taste. The one I linked is organic with only 3 ingredients (peanuts, coconut sugar, salt) so it’s not as sketchy or processed as it sounds.
Base recipe for vanilla protein ice cream: 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1.5 cups milk, 1-1.5 tablespoons vanilla sugar-free pudding mix, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Chocolate: 1.5 cups milk, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1.5 tablespoons chocolate sugar-free pudding mix
or 1 tb vanilla sugar-free pudding mix, 0.5 tb chocolate sugar-free pudding mix for a lighter milk chocolate/ Wendy’s frosty taste
