Ninja CREAMi Protein Ice Cream Essentials

I’m obsessed with my Ninja CREAMI Deluxe ice cream maker and love how it makes it so easy and convenient to have healthy, protein-packed sweet treats whenever I want. I’ve had my Ninja for over a year and a half now, and while I love making gelato or smoothie bowls, protein ice cream recipes will always be my go-to. I’ve tried tons of mix-ins, protein powder brands, and recipes and finally have all of the essentials down to a science. Macro-friendly ice cream doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor or texture, and these Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream essentials will ensure you get the best, creamiest ice cream every single time.

ninja CREAMi protein ice cream essentials

fairlife milk

Fairlife Ultra Filtered Milk is the base of all great Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes. You can get 2% or Fat-Free; I’ve used both interchangeably just depending on what my local grocery store has in stock and there’s no noticeable difference between the two as far as texture or flavor goes. One cup gives you 13 grams of protein, so it’s definitely macro-friendly and helps you hit your protein goals. It’s creamy yet lactose-free; I like it much more than coconut milk (creamy but less macro-friendly), almond milk, or regular milk. It might be a little inconvenient to get different milk for Ninja CREAMis, but it’s worth it.

PS: I’ve also drank this milk by itself and it’s really good, so it’s not like you’re buying it just for Ninja CREAMis.

protein powder

Arguably the most important part of a Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipe, you want to choose a protein powder that will blend seamlessly without creating texture issues, helps you hit your macros, and doesn’t have bad ingredients. Clean Simple Eats is a really popular protein powder brand that I’ve seen others use in their recipes, but it contains 3 types of different types of sweeteners and I find it makes the CREAMis overly sweet with an artificial taste.

The best protein powders for Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes:

  • Ascent 100% Whey Protein Powder in Chocolate and Vanilla Bean - If you want a great-tasting protein powder that won’t break the bank, Ascent is my go-to brand. You can find it at Costco or Amazon, and it gives a creamy, authentic flavor in protein ice cream, whereas some other brands end up tasting artificial or sugary sweet.

  • Active Stacks Peptides Protein Powder Chocolate - The richest chocolate protein powder on the market, this also has collagen in it (and generally clean ingredients). It’s pricey, but the quality is unreal. If you’re a chocolate lover, this is really worth the investment.

  • Body by Bree Chocolate Protein and Vanilla Protein - If you sometimes feel nauseous after digesting protein powder, give Body by Bree a try. Something people don’t really talk about with Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes is that they’re nutrient-dense and can sometimes leave you feeling really full! When I want to ensure I’m going to hit my macros without feeling too full afterwards, I go for Body by Bree protein powders.

  • Just Ingredients Vanilla Bean and Chocolate - Love how clean this brand is. Their powders are casein-free, and you get 24g of protein per scoop. Not chalky at all, this tastes great and I love that you can subscribe on Amazon to save a little extra money. I tend to stick to just vanilla and chocolate protein powders and use extra ingredients to create fun ice cream flavors, but if you want to experiment with unique protein powder flavors (like Mint Chocolate or Snickerdoodle), I recommend the Just Ingredients brand above others.

  • ProMix Nutrition Whey Protein Isolate Powder Dutch Chocolate - Not my favorite, but if clean ingredients are your priority, Promix is a top choice. There are zero artificial sweeteners in Promix protein powder, though you do need a bigger scoop to hit 20g of protein.

Another tip: Instead of using cookies and cream flavored 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.

sugar-free pudding mix

I know not everyone is crazy about using it, but sugar-free pudding mix really helps give your protein ice cream that ice cream texture and bind all of the ingredients together. You don’t need much (never more than 2 tablespoons), so it’s worth it to me. There is a healthier alternative brand with slightly cleaner ingredients that works just as well, but isn’t as convenient to find in stores, so I recommend buying it on Amazon.

As far as flavors go, I always have at least a few packages of vanilla, chocolate, and cheesecake on hand. I’ll sometimes get specialty flavors like pistachio or banana cream when I want those flavors, but the core 3 are the most versatile and will give you tons of different Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream flavor options.

If you’re looking for an alternative to pudding mix, I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard that 1/4 teaspoon of guar gum helps bind your protein ice cream ingredients. Just be careful to not use too much or it can break the machine!

vanilla bean paste

One of the biggest Ninja CREAMi hacks, I recommend using vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract. It’s a thicker consistency so it blends better and you get a much more genuine vanilla flavor, whereas I’ve found that the extract can be overpowered by the protein powder, pudding mix, and any other mix-ins you add. If you love vanilla bean or sweet cream flavors, you’ll love incorporating vanilla bean paste into your Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes. As far as recipe conversions go, the ratio is 1:1 for vanilla extract to bean paste. I typically stick to around 1 teaspoon max in all of my Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream creations, including my Ninja CREAMi Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Recipe.

powdered peanut butter

I was the biggest skeptic of powdered peanut butter; it sounded ultra-processed and just not good. However, once I tried it, I realized how much better it is in Ninja CREAMi recipes than normal peanut butter. It’s way less messy and still gives you a great, genuine taste. This one is organic with only 3 ingredients (peanuts, coconut sugar, salt) so it’s not as sketchy or processed as it sounds. You get the peanut butter taste you love without messing with the texture of the ice cream, and it’s also less dense, as sometimes the regular peanut butter can make you feel too full if you eat the entire pint.

extra pint containers

While the Ninja CREAMi machines come with a few containers, I highly recommend buying a few extra pint containers (these are my favorite on Amazon). I personally like to batch 2-3 recipes at a time, and having the extra containers makes it much simpler, especially in the summertime when you want a sweet treat. They’re also helpful for entertaining or having family over. Everyone is curious about the Ninja CREAMi, and being able to sample a few flavors is part of the fun.

mix-ins

To be honest, most of my Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes are good enough to eat on their own, but I think the mix-in part is so much fun. While they’re not all macro-friendly, a little goes a long way so they’re worth it to me. Some of my favorite mix-ins are:

  • Cookies - Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Nutter Butters, wafer cookies, etc.

  • Cookie dough - we’ll either buy some at the grocery store and break it up into smaller pieces, or use my homemade (and healthy) edible peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough

  • Graham crackers

  • Candy - peanut butter cups, M&Ms

  • Mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs

  • Protein bar pieces (especially the Barebell bars)

  • Nuts - walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, etc.

  • Fruit - strawberries, blueberries, banana, etc.

  • Peppermint pieces

  • Brownies

  • Chocolate/ caramel syrup or hot fudge topping

  • Mini marshmallows (just a few, they’re better as toppings)

top 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.

  • If you find that the re-spin makes your ice cream too runny or melted, try pressing “Mix-Ins” for the second spin instead.

  • 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

top ninja creami protein ice cream recipes

I’m always experimenting and trying to come up with new Ninja CREAMi protein ice cream recipes. Whether you want something light, fruity, sweet, or just a macro-friendly of your favorite regular ice cream flavor, these are my favorite recipes.

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