This Ninja Creami oats recipe turns a simple pantry staple into a creamy, comforting frozen dessert. It has a naturally mild flavor, a smooth texture, and a cozy feel that works beautifully with fruit, cinnamon, nut butter, or chocolate mix-ins.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cups milk, dairy or dairy-free
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or coconut cream for dairy-free
- 2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of salt
Optional mix-ins:
- Chopped bananas
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter swirls
- Crushed nuts
- Raisins
- Diced apples
- Granola
- Brown sugar crumble
Instructions
- Cook the oats.
Add the oats and milk to a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until the oats are soft and the mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes. If you prefer, you can also soak the oats in milk overnight and then blend them for a smoother base. - Blend until smooth.
Transfer the cooked oats and milk mixture to a blender. Add the heavy cream, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon if using, and salt. Blend until completely smooth. If you want a slightly thicker texture, blend a little less so some oat texture remains. For a more refined ice cream base, blend until silky. - Taste and adjust.
Taste the mixture before freezing. Add more sweetener if you want it sweeter, or more cinnamon if you want a warmer flavor. The base should taste slightly sweeter than you want the final ice cream to taste because freezing dulls sweetness. - Transfer to the pint.
Pour the blended mixture into the Ninja Creami pint container. Make sure it stays below the MAX FILL line. Leave a little room at the top 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 result, freeze it on a level surface so the mixture sets evenly. - 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 or Lite Ice Cream setting depending on the texture you want. - Check the texture.
After the first spin, the mixture may look crumbly or a little dry. This is normal. Use a spoon to check the center before deciding whether it needs more liquid. - Re-spin if needed.
If the texture is not creamy enough, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk and run the Re-spin cycle. Repeat once more if necessary until smooth and scoopable. - Add mix-ins.
If you want extra texture, make a small well in the center of the ice cream, add your mix-ins, and run the Mix-ins cycle to distribute them evenly. - Serve.
Serve immediately for a soft-serve texture, or freeze for 30 to 60 minutes if you want a firmer scoop.
Recipe Tips
- Blending the oats very well helps create a smoother, more ice-cream-like texture.
- Cinnamon, banana, and maple syrup are especially good flavor pairings.
- If you want a richer base, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
- This recipe works well as an oatmeal-cookie-style dessert with raisins and brown sugar crumble.
- If you like a thicker result, reduce the milk slightly before blending.