This vanilla protein ice cream is made in the Ninja Creami and has a thick, smooth and creamy texture. It's made with coconut cream and almond milk, sweetened with honey and flavored with vanilla protein powder. This Ninja Creami vanilla protein ice cream recipe is dairy free, paleo and made without pudding.
I held off for quite a while, but finally decided that I "needed" a Ninja Creami! Thankfully it's my birthday month, so it is the perfect time to get one.
Needless to say, I was STOKED to open my birthday gift and try it out. One of the first recipes I tested was this paleo vanilla protein ice cream. And wow, it's everything I hoped for - thick, creamy and delicious!
While so many Ninja Creami protein recipes call for pudding, cream cheese or cow's milk, my version is completely dairy free and paleo friendly. It's made with coconut cream and almond milk, paleo protein powder and sweetened with raw honey.
Why You'll Love this Vanilla Protein Ice Cream
- paleo and dairy free - made with almond milk and coconut cream
- no pudding and no cream cheese - you don't need either of these ingredients to achieve a thick, creamy texture
- not icy - unlike many dairy free protein ice creams, this one is actually thick and creamy
- easy to make - just blend ingredients, freeze and then spin on "Lite Ice Cream" in the Ninja Creami
- versatile - there are many was to adapt this recipe by changing up the flavors or adding mix-ins.
Ingredients
The full recipe can be found in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this dairy free protein ice cream:
- almond milk - use unsweetened almond milk, or swap it with another nut milk like coconut or cashew.
- coconut cream - you'll need to melt the white cream from a can of full fat coconut milk so that it blends in easily with the other ingredients. I don't have a good swap for the coconut cream, as it's needed to get the right texture.
- honey - raw honey is used to sweeten the ice cream and help with the texture. I like it better than maple syrup for this recipe, but maple syrup does work. Make sure your honey is runny so that it blends with the other ingredients. If it's too thick or has crystalized, then warm it in the microwave for a few seconds.
- vanilla protein powder - I used Equip vanilla beef protein isolate for this recipe. It makes the ice cream extra creamy and gives it more flavor. I have tested collagen in place of the protein powder and it works great, so that's an acceptable swap. Other brands of beef protein isolate should work, as well as whey protein powders.
- vanilla extract - adds to the vanilla flavor.
How to Make Protein Ice Cream in the Ninja Creami
You'll need a Ninja Creami, one pint container for the Creami and the required ingredients to make this vanilla protein ice cream. Here are the steps:
- Blend all ingredients in a Creami pint container. Freeze for 24 hours.
- Defrost ice cream for 10 minutes, level the top, then place in the Ninja Creami machine.
- Blend on Lite Ice Cream.
- Re-spin if desired or enjoy as-is!
Tips and Tricks
- Don't fill above the max fill line: make sure not to overfill the container, as the ice cream expands when it's blended.
- Fully freeze: You want your pint to be fully frozen for the best texture.
- Defrost and level: Before blending, let your pint defrost for 10 minutes and scrape off the top so that the surface is level. If the surface of your ice cream isn't level to start, then it will break your blade.
- Re-spins: If your ice cream isn’t smooth and creamy, you can re-spin until you get your desired consistency.
Storage
Store leftovers in the Creami pint, with the lid on top. Be sure to level off the ice cream before freezing so that you can re-spin it for next time.
If your leftovers are icy after a re-spin, then add a dash of almond or coconut milk and re-spin.
FAQ
I have only tried this recipe with Equip beef protein isolate and Vital Proteins collagen peptides, but I image most animal based protein powders will produce similar results.
Flavor wise, I prefer this recipe with honey. However, I've tested this ice cream with maple syrup and without any sweetener and both work - the texture comes out just as creamy. So, any liquid sweetener (or none at all) should work well for this recipe.
More Frozen Paleo Desserts
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Ninja Creami Vanilla Protein Ice Cream (No Pudding, Paleo)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Freeze Time: 24 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 24 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 Creami pint 1x
Description
This healthy Ninja Creami vanilla ice cream is thick and creamy with a bold vanilla flavor. It's paleo friendly, dairy free and made without pudding or cream cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups almond milk (or coconut milk)
- ⅓ cup coconut cream, melted*
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 scoop Equip vanilla protein powder**
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in your Ninja Creami pint. Blend with a frother until well combined. If the protein powder doesn't fully blend into the liquid don't worry - it will still work!
- Place the lid on the Creami pint and set it in the freezer for 24 hours.
- Remove the pint from the freezer and let it defrost for 10 minutes. If there's a hump in the middle of the pint, level it off with a spoon.
- Plug in the Creami. Place the pint in the outer bowl and lock the lid, then place the bowl on the motor base and twist into position.
- Turn on the Creami and select "Lite Ice Cream". It should turn out smooth and creamy, but if not, then blend it again on "Re-spin".
Notes
*just the thick white cream from a can of full fat coconut milk
**I have also tested this recipe with other Equip flavors (Mint Chocolate and Caramel) and collagen peptides (28 grams). All of these swaps have worked great! I image most animal based protein powders will work for this recipe.
Katie
My family and I love this paleo Ninja Creami recipe and we hope you all do too! Enjoy!