Satisfy your sweet tooth with this healthy protein ice cream that tastes like a real chocolate-covered strawberry! Made in the Ninja Creami, this easy low-sugar ice cream will keep you full for hours with 45g of protein in the entire pint.
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 Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Ice Cream contains just 7 simple ingredients—strawberries, milk, protein powder, and a homemade chocolate magic shell topping. Once frozen and creamified in the Ninja Creami, it creates a delicious soft-serve textured ice cream that literally tastes like you're eating a chocolate-covered strawberry, right down to the crunchy shell. You will not believe that you are eating 45g 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. This recipe is perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day!
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 45g of protein!
- Creamy strawberry ice cream with a crackly chocolate magic shell topping!
- Made with simple ingredients.
- No pudding mix required!
- 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 a chocolate covered strawberry!
- Creamy soft-serve texture.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free, nut-free, and vegetarian.
Looking for more protein desserts? Try my Orange Creamsicle Protein Ice Cream, Protein Powder Hot Chocolate, Cake Batter Protein Ninja Creami, 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:
- Strawberries—You can use fresh or frozen. If using frozen, ensure that they are thawed. I recommend using fresh strawberries particularly for the mix-in.
- 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 or this Lactantia UltraPur.
- 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.
- Vanilla Extract—Emphasizes the flavors!
- Maple syrup—I find that this recipe needs a little extra sweetness to bring out the fruity flavor. You can use maple syrup, honey, or a sugar-free sweetener like Stevia.
- Chocolate chips & coconut oil—This creates a homemade "magic shell" topping that you can crack on top of the protein ice cream! The coconut oil thins out the chocolate so you get the perfectly thin crackly topping.
Substitutions
- Change up the fruit—Raspberries, blueberries, or pitted cherries would be delicious instead of the strawberries.
- Dairy-Free—Use almond milk and plant-based vanilla protein powder.
- 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, increase the maple syrup or use your favorite sweetener like 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 ⅔ cup strawberries to your Ninja Creami pint container. Microwave for 30-60 seconds. Mash with a fork until soft.
Add the milk, protein powder, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to the container. Whisk thoroughly, cover, and freeze for at least 12 hours.
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” if necessary.
(3) Add the diced strawberries and blend on "Mix-In" mode.
While mixing, microwave the chocolate chips and coconut oil in 30 second increments, stirring until melted.
Push the strawberry ice cream down in the container and flatten the top.
(4) Pour the chocolate topping over the ice cream and freeze for 3 minutes.
Once ready, use a spoon to crack the topping and enjoy!
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
This recipes makes a good dessert for 2 people. It's quite filling! Either scoop into two bowls, or share straight from the pint.
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. The chocolate magic shell will turn into little chocolate specs throughout!
Tips and Tricks
Here are some of my top tips for perfect protein ice cream in the Ninja Creami :
- If you prefer, you can blend the ice cream base in a blender instead of mashing the strawberries.
- 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 until you have your desired texture.
You could try freezing the milk into cubes, then adding the other ingredients including frozen strawberries and blending, but you won't get as thick of a texture as with the Ninja Creami.
You could try using dairy free milk and a plant-based protein powder.
Trust me, getting a Ninja Creami will change your protein game! This healthy chocolate strawberry 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
- Ninja Creami Shamrock Shake Protein Ice Cream
- Mini Egg Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
- Cookies and Cream Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
- Ninja Creami Cake Batter Protein Ice Cream
Have you made this chocolate strawberry 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
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Creami
Equipment
- Ninja Creami
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup strawberry slices (80g) fresh or frozen
- 1 cup milk of choice I use 2%
- 1 serving vanilla whey protein powder (35g) or any vanilla protein powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ cup fresh diced strawberries
- 1½ tablespoon chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Add ⅔ cup strawberries to your Ninja Creami pint container. Microwave for 30-60 seconds. Mash with a fork until soft.
- Add the milk, protein powder, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to the container. Whisk thoroughly, cover, and freeze for at least 12 hours.
- 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” if necessary. Add the diced strawberries and blend on "Mix-In" mode.
- While mixing, microwave the chocolate chips and coconut oil in 30 second increments, stirring until melted.
- Push the strawberry ice cream down in the container and flatten the top. Pour the chocolate topping over the ice cream and freeze for 3 minutes. Once ready, use a spoon to crack the topping and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use fresh or frozen strawberries. Ensure they are thawed.
- Protein content will depend on the brand of protein powder and milk used.
- Use 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 chocolate topping will become specs of chocolate throughout the pint!
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