This Ninja Creami ice cream recipe is a simple way to make a smooth, creamy dessert at home with very little effort. It’s easy to customize with your favorite flavors and mix-ins, and it gives you that fresh homemade ice cream texture without needing an ice cream maker or complicated steps.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Optional mix-ins:
- Chocolate chips
- Crushed cookies
- Chopped nuts
- Caramel sauce
- Fruit pieces
- Peanut butter swirls
- Brownie chunks
- Candy pieces
Instructions
- Mix the base.
In a medium bowl, combine the whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture looks smooth. If you want a richer vanilla flavor, you can let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes before pouring it into the pint. - Check the sweetness and texture.
Taste the base before freezing if you want to adjust the flavor. Add a little more sugar if you prefer a sweeter ice cream, or a touch more vanilla if you want a stronger vanilla taste. The mixture should taste slightly sweeter than you want the final ice cream to taste because freezing dulls sweetness. - Pour into the pint.
Transfer the mixture into the Ninja Creami pint container. Make sure the liquid stays below the MAX FILL line. Leave some room if you plan to add mix-ins later. - Freeze completely.
Place the lid on the pint and freeze it upright for at least 24 hours. For the best results, freeze it on a level surface so the base sets evenly from top to bottom. - Spin in the Ninja Creami.
Remove the pint from the freezer and place it into the outer bowl assembly. Attach the lid and process it using the Ice Cream setting. Let the machine fully complete the cycle before opening it. - Check the texture.
After the first spin, the ice cream may look a little crumbly or powdery. This is normal. Use a spoon to check the texture before deciding whether it needs more liquid. - Re-spin if needed.
If the ice cream is not creamy enough, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk and run the Re-spin cycle. If needed, repeat once more until the texture becomes smooth and scoopable. - Add mix-ins.
If you want to add mix-ins, make a small well in the center of the ice cream without going all the way to the bottom. Add your chosen mix-ins, then use the Mix-ins setting to fold them in evenly. - Serve.
Serve immediately for a soft-serve style texture. If you prefer a firmer scoop, place the finished ice cream back in the freezer for 30 to 60 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Whole milk and heavy cream give the creamiest result.
- If you want a lighter version, you can swap in lower-fat milk, but the texture may be less rich.
- A pinch of salt helps bring out the vanilla flavor.
- For extra creaminess, try adding a tablespoon of pudding mix to the base before freezing.
- This recipe works well as a base for almost any flavor, including chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream.