Indulge in this Ninja Creami cherry ice cream! It is a high-protein ice cream that blends the rich flavors of chocolate and cherry into creamy and thick ice cream. It not only satisfies your sweet tooth but is packed with protein! It’s perfect for a post-workout snack or a delicious way to cool down on a hot day. The classic combination of cherries and chocolate chips is reminiscent of Cherry Garcia ice cream. This recipe is simple to prepare and sure to become one of your favorite frozen treats made with the Ninja Creami.

Why You Will Love This Cherry Ice Cream

This ice cream is high-protein! You can use a pre-mixed protein shake or make your own.
This ice cream has a delicious chocolate cherry flavor from the fresh cherries and mini chocolate chips.
The Ninja Creami machine makes the ice cream thick and creamy.
It’s easy to make! Simply freeze the mixture and let the Ninja Creami do the rest!
You only need a few ingredients to make this cherry ice cream.

What Is Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream?

This Ninja Creami cherry ice cream is a frozen treat that combines the flavors of chocolate and cherry, reminiscent of the classic Cherry Garcia ice cream flavor. This ice cream is made using a Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker. The base of this high-protein ice cream is a vanilla protein shake. We added fresh pitted cherries and mini chocolate chips for the ultimate combination of flavors.

Ingredients Needed

Vanilla Protein Shake: Use your favorite pre-mixed vanilla protein shake. Or, you can make a protein shake with milk and protein powder.
Cherries: Use fresh cherries for this recipe. Pit the cherries and then chop them into smaller pieces.
Chocolate Chips: Add mini chocolate chips for a burst of chocolate flavor.
Pudding Mix: As an option, for a thicker protein ice cream, add instant pudding mix.
Milk: Before spinning the ice cream again in the Ninja Creami add an optional splash of milk.

How To Make Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream

Step 1: Use a pre-mixed protein shake. Or, make one by combining your milk of choice with protein powder.

Step 2: Wash and dry the fresh cherries. Then, remove the stems and pits from the cherries. You can use a cherry pitter. Or, press a large straw through each cherry to remove the pit.

After that, chop the pitted cherries into smaller pieces.

Step 3: Add the pitted chopped cherries to a Ninja Creami pint container. Then, pour the protein shake into the container. As an option, thoroughly mix in the optional instant pudding mix. Next, place the lid on the container and freeze it for at least 24 hours.

It’s helpful to place a lid that fits inside the container, such as the lid to a Mason jar, before securing the pint container lid and freezing the mixture to prevent any peaks from forming when it freezes.

Step 4: Once frozen, remove the pint container from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Then, remove the lid from the container and scrape off any peaks with a spoon so it has a level surface.

Cherry ice cream in Ninja Creami machine

Step 5: Place the container in the Ninja Creami machine. Then, press the Lite Ice Cream button. After the first spin the mixture may be powdery, so add an optional splash of milk and spin it again on Lite Ice Cream.

The mixture should be thick and creamy after two spins, if not, spin again.

Step 6: Use the mix-in feature on the Ninja Creami to mix in the mini chocolate chips. Or, mix them in with a spoon. Then, serve this cherry ice cream and enjoy!

How To Serve

After spinning the frozen mixture in the Ninja Creami machine to turn it into ice cream, serve it and enjoy! If you want, you can add more pitted chopped cherries or mini chocolate chips on top.

Expert Tips

Pitted Cherries: Make sure to remove the pits from all the fresh cherries. It’s easy to pit the cherries by pressing a large straw through them to remove the seed. From there, chop the pitted cherries into smaller pieces.
Mix In Chocolate Chips: Use the mix-in feature on the Ninja Creami machine to mix in the mini chocolate chips. Or, you can add them on top when ready to serve.
Let It Freeze: Ensure that you let the mixture freeze for at least 24 hours before using the Ninja Creami machine to turn it into ice cream.
Level Surface: Scrape off any peaks that may appear after freezing the mixture before placing it in the Ninja Creami so it doesn’t break the machine. To help prevent any peaks from forming in the first place, you can add a Mason Jar lid or lid that fits in the container on top of the mixture before freezing.
Spin The Mixture Again: I recommend spinning the mixture at least twice in the Ninja Creami machine. It may appear powdery after the first spin. Just add an optional splash of milk and spin it again.

Variations

Protein Shake Flavor: You can use a chocolate protein shake instead of vanilla for even more chocolate flavor.
Chocolate To Use: If you don’t have mini chocolate chips, use regular-sized chocolate chips or chocolate chunks instead. Or, you can use sugar-free chocolate chips or roughly chop some sugar-free chocolate.
Frozen Cherries: You can use frozen pitted cherries if you don’t have fresh cherries.
Make This Recipe Vegan: This cherry ice cream is vegan and dairy-free if you use a vegan protein shake, vegan chocolate chips, and a splash of plant-based milk.
Add A Thickening Agent: Adding a thickening agent is optional, but it can help achieve a more thick and creamy ice cream texture. Some options are one tablespoon of instant pudding mix, one teaspoon of sugar-free instant pudding mix, 1/4 teaspoon of guar gum, or 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum. You could even add a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese for extra thickness and creaminess.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cherry Ice Cream Healthy?

This cherry ice cream is a healthier alternative to traditional ice cream. The base of this ice cream is a protein shake, which makes it a high-protein dessert option. The flavor comes from the fresh pitted cherries and chocolate chips. This cherry ice cream is made with simple ingredients and you can even make it vegan.

What Protein Shake Should I Use?

For this recipe, use your favorite pre-mixed vanilla protein shake. Some options are Fairlife, Orgain, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, OWYN, or Premier Protein. Or, if you don’t have a pre-mixed protein shake you can make one by combining 1 cup of your milk of choice and 1 tablespoon of vanilla or chocolate protein powder.

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