I love ice cream! That probably comes as no surprise since my father owned ice cream stores in my hometown for most of my life. You could say I grew up with a pretty high standard for a good scoop of ice cream.
These days, ice cream from specialty shops, and even many of the brands at the grocery store, has become downright bougie and expensive. And when you look at the ingredient list, you may find more sugar and added ingredients than you really want in your dessert.
Enter the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker. This little appliance has made it incredibly easy to make creamy, indulgent ice cream at home, and you can customize it to fit the way you like to eat. Want low-sugar or sugar-free ice cream? You can do that. Want to pile in your favorite mix-ins and create a flavor you won’t find at the ice cream shop? Absolutely!
These five Ninja Creami ice cream flavors prove that homemade ice cream doesn’t have to be boring. With plenty of mix-ins and flavor combinations to choose from, you can go far beyond basic chocolate and vanilla and create your own seriously bougie scoop right at home without the specialty-shop price tag.
After some trial and error, I’ve created five delicious flavors, including lower-sugar options, along with a few tips for getting that creamy texture we all crave. If you own a Ninja Creami, you may have noticed that your first spin sometimes produces a powdery or crumbly texture rather than smooth, creamy ice cream. Don’t worry; it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong!
One of my favorite tricks is to add a tablespoon or two of half-and-half to the Creami container and give it a second spin. This simple step can transform that powdery texture into the smooth, creamy consistency you expect from a good scoop of ice cream, while also helping prevent those pesky ice crystals.
Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream
2 Cups half and half
3/4 cup 100% Pumpkin puree
1-1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 packet Simply Delish Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
10 packets Sweet ‘n Low (or other sweetener of your choice)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tsp. cinnamon
Mix-In (Optional)
2 Tbsp. half and half4-5 Simply Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thin Cookies
1-2 Tbsp. chopped pecans
In a bowl, combine the 2 cups half and half and pudding mix together.
Add the pumpkin, pumpkin pie spic, sweetener, salt and cinnamon.
Whisk until combined, but not completely thickened.
Pour into the Creami container.
Attach the lid to the container and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove the lid from the container and attach the container to the Ninja Creami appliance.
Press the Power button; then, press the Ice Cream button.
After it spins, add the 2 tablepoons of half and half.
Press the Respin button.
After it spins, use a spoon to push the cookie and pecans towards the bottom of the container and throughout the ice cream.
Press the Respin button again.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream
2 cups half and half
1 packet Simply Delish Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Mix-In
2 Tbsp. half and half
Sugar-Free or Gluten Free chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (I used Loren’s gluten-free cookie dough)
In a bowl, combine the 2 cups half and half and pudding mix together.
Add the vanilla extract.
Whisk until combined, but not completely thickened.
Pour into the Creami container.
Attach the lid to the container and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove the lid from the container and attach the container to the Ninja Creami appliance.
Press the Power button; then, press the Ice Cream button.
After it spins, add the 2 tablepoons of half and half.
Press the Respin button.
After it spins, use a spoon to push the cookie dough towards the bottom of the container and throughout the ice cream.
Press the Respin button again.
Banana Pudding Pie Ice Cream
2 cups half and half
1 packet Simply Delish Instant Banana Pudding Mix
Mix-Ins
2 Tbsp. half and half
1/2 Fresh banana, chopped
4 Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins Cookies, lightly crushed
In a bowl, combine the 2 cups half and half and pudding mix together.
Whisk until combined, but not completely thickened.
Pour into the Creami container.
Attach the lid to the container and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove the lid from the container and attach the container to the Ninja Creami appliance.
Press the Power button; then, press the Ice Cream button.
After it spins, add the 2 tablepoons of half and half.
Press the Respin button.
After it spins, use a spoon to push the apple and cookie towards the bottom of the container and throughout athe ice cream.
Press the Respin button again.
Butterscotch Apple Fritter Ice Cream
1-1/2 cups half and half
1/2 cup apple cider
3 Tbsp. Swerve brown sugar (or other brand)
2 Tbsp. Simply Delish Instant Butterscotch Pudding Mix
1 tsp. cinnamon
Mix-Ins
2 Tbsp. half and half
4 Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins Cookies
1/2 apple, peeled and chopped fine
In a bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups half and half, apple cider and pudding mix together.
Add the Swerve brown sugar and cinnamon.
Whisk until combined, but not completely thickened.
Pour into the Creami container.
Attach the lid to the container and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove the lid from the container and attach the container to the Ninja Creami appliance.
Press the Power button; then, press the Ice Cream button.
After it spins, add the 2 tablepoons of half and half.
Press the Respin button.
After it spins, use a spoon to push the cookie and apple mix-ins towards the bottom of the container and throughout the ice cream.
Press the Respin button again.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
2 cups half and half
1 packet Simply Delish Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
Pinch sea salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. sweetener of your choice
Mix-Ins
2 Tbsp. half and half
3 Tbsp. powdered Monk Fruit
1/2 cup sugar-free creamy peanut butter
In a bowl, combine the 2 cups half and half and pudding mix together.
Add the sea salt and vanilla extract.
Whisk until combined, but not completely thickened.
Pour into the Creami container.
Attach the lid to the container and freeze for 24 hours.
In a bowl, combine the powdered Monk Fruit Sweetener and sugar-free peanut butter.
Mix until well combined.
Remove the lid from the container and attach the container to the Ninja Creami appliance.
Press the Power button; then, press the Ice Cream button.
After it spins, add the 2 tablepoons of half and half.
Press the Respin button.
After it spins, use a spoon to push the peanut butter mixter towards the bottom of the container and throughout .
Press the Respin button again.
All of these ice creams are delicious. The directions above help avoid the ice crystals many Creami users report with their ice cream creations.