Ninja Creami Shamrock Shake Protein Ice Cream

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.

You know spring is on its way once the Shamrock Shake is back at McDonald's! This Ninja Creami Shamrock Shake Protein Ice Cream contains just 6 simple ingredients and no pudding mix!— milk, protein powder, vanilla & peppermint extracts, maple syrup and fresh spinach for a natural green color. Once frozen and creamified in the Ninja Creami, it creates a delicious soft-serve textured ice cream that literally tastes like a milkshake. Top it off with some whipped cream and lucky charms and you will not believe you are eating 44g of protein in one pint of this ice cream recipe.

Get a couple extra Ninja Creami pints and meal prep your protein desserts for the week. This Shamrock Ninja Creami will change your protein game! The perfect way to celebrate spring and St. Patrick'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.

Don't have a Ninja Creami machine? Try my Protein Shamrock Shake recipe, made in a blender!

Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make your own shamrock shake protein ice cream:

• Milk—I like to use a combination of 2% milk and skim milk. This ensures the ice cream is creamy while keeping the calories low. You can use just one type of milk and it will turn out fine. Higher fat milk will yield a creamier texture. I also enjoy using a milk with increased protein, like Fairlife.
• 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.
• Spinach—This adds a ton of vitamins to the ice cream while naturally turning the base a bright green color. If you don't want to include spinach, you could use a few drops of green food coloring.
• Vanilla Extract—To enhance the flavor of the ice cream base.
• Peppermint Extract—I find pepper mint flavor emulates the taste of a McDonald's shamrock shake more than another mint extract like spearmint.
• Maple syrup—I find that this recipe needs a little extra sweetness to complement the peppermint flavor. You can use maple syrup, honey, or a sugar-free sweetener like Stevia.
• Optional lucky charms—I find a dollop of whipped cream and some lucky charms marshmallows are the perfect festive topping for this protein shamrock shake ice cream.

Substitutions

• Dairy-Free—You can use almond milk and plant-based vanilla protein powder to make the base dairy free. Note that the texture will likely not be as creamy.
• The Ninja Creami is also great for adding more mix ins like m&ms, chocolate chips, fruit chunks, cookie bits, peanut butter, etc. Blend on Lite Ice Cream first, Re-Spin if necessary, then add your mix-ins and blend on Mix-In.
• Food Coloring—This recipe uses fresh spinach to naturally dye the creami green for St. Patrick's Day. If you don't have spinach, you can use a few drops of green food dye.

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 lucky charms to the bucket of a high power blender. Blend until the spinach is pulverized.

Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container. 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” if necessary.

(3) Top with whipped cream and lucky charms if desired. Enjoy immediately!