A few years ago, I started seeing this ice cream maker all over my social media feeds and people sharing tons of recipes using it. What intrigued me most was seeing how you could basically take a healthy protein shake and turn it into delicious ice cream that you would never guess wasn’t the real full-fat, sugar-overloaded thing… I had to try it!
I’ve spent a little over a year tweaking my version of the “perfect” vanilla protein ice cream recipe using the Ninja Creami, and after many requests from you guys on Instagram, I’m breaking it down and sharing all the details with you today. The ingredients I use and why, tools that make the job easier, the macro count (in case you track them like I do), and how to get the creamiest, protein-packed, healthy treat you can feel good about eating!
First things first, this is the exact Ninja Creami model I have. It comes with one pint jar to make your ice cream in, but you’ll want to get a set of a few more. This way, you can mix up several pints at one time while you have all the ingredients out and freeze them till you’re ready for some ice cream.
Psst… If you don’t yet own one and want to try the Ninja Creami, it is currently a Prime Day Deal on Amazon!
SHOP EVERYTHING YOU NEED HERE:
The machine has several different settings for milkshakes, sorbet, etc. but I’ve only used it for one thing so far – my beloved ice cream.
Making the ice cream does take a few steps, but it’s as simple as pushing a button. When you first pull a frozen jar from the freezer, you’re going to spin it once on the “Lite Ice Cream” setting. This will mix everything together and turn it into an icy powder.
You’re going to add about 2 tablespoons of milk (I’ll go into more detail on the specific ingredients and measurements below) and spin it a second time on the “Re-Spin” setting. This is what turns the icy powder into a creamy, ice cream-like mixture. Some icy spots may still be in there, but the next step will take care of that.
For the third spin, you’re going to add any toppings you’d like (try some chocolate, cookies, nuts, or candy) and use the “Mix-In” setting. This will gently fold your toppings throughout the ice cream, and then it’s ready to eat!
I left this one plain for photos so you could see the full beauty of this simple, protein-packed vanilla ice cream. Any questions? Get the recipe below!
- 1 ½ cups (350 grams) milk + 2 tablespoons
- 1 serving vanilla protein powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons (7 grams) sugar-free vanilla instant pudding mix
- ½ teaspoon (2 grams) vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- Add all ingredients to a Ninja Creami pint jar, and mix until well combined and smooth. Cover and freeze for 24 hours.
- Remove jar from the freezer, and insert into the Ninja Creami machine. Spin once on the "Lite Ice Cream" setting.
- Add 2 tablespoons milk, and spin again on the "Re-Spin" setting.
- If desired, add any toppings (like chocolate, nuts, cookies, or candy) and spin one more time on the "Mix-In" setting. Enjoy immediately.
The exact serving size varies between protein powders, so check the label on yours to see how many grams to add for 1 serving. Right now I prefer to use a grass-fed whey protein isolate, which is higher in important nutrients, supports sustainable farming, and is lower in fat, carbs, calories, and lactose. This brand I've been using is 39 grams per serving.
The pudding mix adds flavor, sweetness, and acts as a stabilizer, making the ice cream perfectly thick and creamy. Some of the ingredients in common pudding mix brands are questionable, so I try to look for more natural versions like this one when I can. If it's not something you're super concerned with however, regular old instant pudding mix like this is just fine – look for the sugar free kind!
I usually only eat ½ a pint at a time, and you can re-freeze the ice cream once you've already made it. Just scoop out half into a bowl, and smooth the remaining ice cream down to the bottom of the jar. Place back in the freezer, and repeat the same process with the Ninja Creami machine when you're ready to finish it.
MACROS:
Full pint – 288 calories | 17g carbs | 0g fat | 49g protein
– I usually only eat ½ pint at a time
YOU WILL NEED:
Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
Ninja Creami pint jars
kitchen scale – optional, but makes adding ingredients quicker/easier
handheld whisk/frother – optional, but makes mixing everything right in the pint jars so much easier
SHARING IS CARING! IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, TAG @LIZLOVEGROWSWILD ON INSTAGRAM!
Leave Your Comments