Satisfy your sweet tooth with this healthy protein ice cream that tastes like you're eating real cake batter! Made in the Ninja Creami, this easy low-sugar ice cream will keep you full for hours with 35g of protein.
The Ninja Creami machine truly lives up to the hype. The flavours and textures that you're able to achieve with protein ice cream changes the game for creating healthy desserts.
This Ninja Creami Cake Batter Protein Ice Cream contains just 6 simple ingredients— milk, protein powder, some flavor extracts, and sprinkles. Once frozen and creamified in the Ninja Creami, it creates a delicious soft-serve textured ice cream that literally tastes like you're eating birthday cake batter. You will not believe you are eating 35g of protein in this ice cream recipe.
Get a couple extra Ninja Creami pints and meal prep your protein desserts for the week. Enjoy it for breakfast, a snack, or satiating dessert.
Note that I have the Ninja Creami Deluxe model, which has 50% larger pints than the regular Ninja Creami. It also has 11 different modes and some new features compared to the original. I've scaled this recipe to serve 1-2 people, with quantities that will fit in the pint cups of any Ninja Creami machine so everyone can make it.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like a decadent dessert, yet the entire pint has 350 calories and 35g of protein!
- Made with 6 simple ingredients.
- Healthier than store-bought ice cream.
- Super quick and easy to make. Stir the ingredients, freeze, then blend in the Ninja Creami.
- Tastes like you're eating funfetti cake batter!
- Creamy soft-serve texture.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free, easily nut-free, and vegetarian.
Looking for more protein desserts? Try my Orange Creamsicle Protein Ice Cream, Protein Powder Hot Chocolate, Frozen Protein S'mores, or High Protein Banana Pudding.
Ingredient Notes
Here are the ingredients you'll need to make this Ninja Creami protein ice cream:
- Milk—I typically alternate between 2% or skim milk. Use skim milk to decrease the calories slightly. I also enjoy using a milk with increased protein, like Fairlife.
- Almond Milk—This recipe calls for a combination of regular milk and almond milk. almond milk is not only very low in calories, but the nuttiness helps amplify the cake batter flavor!
- Vanilla Extract & Almond Extract—The combination of both flavors creates the perfect cake batter flavor!
- Vanilla Protein Powder—I like to use the Premier Protein Whey Protein Powder in Vanilla Milkshake. It is creamy and provides 30g protein per serving, plus it doesn't have any weird flavours. Any vanilla protein powder you like will work.
- Sprinkles—I recommend long sprinkles vs the circular nonpareils, since the color tends to bleed less.
Substitutions
- Dairy-Free—Use entirely almond milk and plant-based vanilla protein powder.
- Nut-free—Use all dairy milk.
- The Ninja Creami is also great for adding more mix-ins like m&ms, chocolate chips, Oreo cookies, fruit chunks, etc. Blend on Lite Ice Cream first, Re-Spin if you want it softer, then add your mix-ins and blend on Mix-In.
- Sweetness—If you like your ice cream sweeter, add 1-2 teaspoon of your favourite sweetener like maple syrup, honey, agave, or a sugar free alternative.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full recipe and nutrition facts. Note that I have the Ninja Creami Deluxe model, as photographed below. I've scaled this recipe to also fit in the smaller original models.
(1) Add all ingredients except the sprinkles to the Ninja Creami pint container. Stir and freeze overnight.
Run the pint under warm water for 30 seconds then dry it off. Place in the outer bowl.
(2) Blend on “Lite Ice Cream”, then add 1-2 tablespoon extra milk and “Re-spin”.
(3) Add the sprinkles and blend on "Mix-In" mode. Enjoy immediately!
Make Ahead
The base of this protein ice cream must be made ahead of time, as it needs to freeze for at least 12 hours. If you want to meal prep your protein ice cream, you can buy additional Ninja Creami pints for your machine on Amazon, then mix and freeze several pints at once to always have protein ice cream at the ready.
Storing Leftover Protein Ice Cream
The quantity of this recipe makes a good snack serving for 1 person, or I usually like to split it with my partner for a healthy protein dessert. It's quite filling!
Should you have leftover protein ice cream, smooth the top flat with a spoon, then place the pint cup back in the freezer. Blend on Lite Ice Cream the next time you want to enjoy it.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips for perfect protein ice cream in the Ninja Creami :
- While I'm not sure 24 hours is truly necessary like Ninja suggests, the mixture must freeze for at least 12 hours before blending.
- A lot of recipes will call for a pinch of xanthan gum or instant pudding mix to help the texture and creaminess of low-fat protein ice creams. I find it adds too much of an unpleasant flavour, even in small quantities. Pudding mix can also be hard to find. I don't recommend it, nor do I think it needs it. Most protein powders have some thickeners already in them, and the Ninja Creami has a really powerful blade.
- Higher fat milk will make this protein ice cream even creamier.
- You can make this recipe entirely plant-based if you prefer, though I do think whey protein powder will give the best taste and texture.
- The Lite Ice Cream setting is meant for low fat mixtures like this protein ice cream. If you like your protein ice cream softer, you can Re-Spin a few times.
Frequently Asked Questions
This loosens the frozen sides and bottoms before blending to prevent an icy texture.
After the first spin, a lot of protein ice creams will have a powdery texture due to the low fat content. Just run a Re-Spin cycle or 2 until you have your desired texture.
You could try freezing milk and almond milk into cubes, then adding the other ingredients and blending, but you won't get as thick of a texture as with the Ninja Creami.
You could try using entirely dairy free milk and a plant-based protein powder.
Trust me, getting a Ninja Creami will change your protein game! This healthy cake batter ice cream recipe is so simple to make and actually tastes like a decadent dessert. Start meal prepping your ice cream for the week and check out all of my protein ice cream recipes!
More Ninja Creami Recipes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
- Ninja Creami Orange Creamsicle Protein Ice Cream
Have you made this cake batter protein ice cream? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!
Recipe
Ninja Creami Cake Batter Protein Ice Cream
Equipment
- Ninja Creami
Ingredients
- ¾ cup milk of choice I use 2% or skim
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 serving vanilla whey protein powder (35g) or any vanilla protein powder
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except the sprinkles to the Ninja Creami pint. Stir and freeze overnight.
- Run the pint under warm water for 30 seconds then dry it off. Place in the outer bowl.
- Blend on “Lite Ice Cream”, then add 1-2 tablespoon extra milk and “Re-spin”. Add the sprinkles and blend on "Mix-In" mode. Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Protein content will depend on the brand of protein powder and milk used.
- Use all almond milk and a plant-based vanilla protein powder if you are vegan or dairy-free.
- Run the pint under warm water to soften the sides and reduce ice crystals.
- If you cannot finish the entire pint, flatten the top and re-freeze. Spin on "Lite Ice Cream" next time. The color of the sprinkles may bleed but it will still taste delicious!
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