Best Protein Powder for Ninja Creami

What is the best protein powder for the Ninja Creami?

The best protein powder for a Ninja Creami makes a smooth, creamy pint, tastes good frozen and doesn't need a pile of sugar to get there. Vanilla is the most flexible base, because you can turn it into strawberry, cookies and cream, coffee or peanut butter with whatever you mix in.

What to look for:

• A flavor that tastes good cold. Cold dulls sweetness and flavor, so a powder with a clear vanilla taste works better than a bland one.
• A creamy texture. Plant proteins and casein tend to thicken a base, which helps the pint turn creamy instead of icy.
• No added sugar. You control the sweetness with fruit, a little maple syrup or nothing at all.
• A short ingredient list. Good protein ice cream doesn't need a dozen additives.
• Enough protein. 20g or more per serving makes your pint a real high-protein dessert.

Here's Optimal Plant Protein, straight from the label:²

Does the Ninja Creami work with protein powder?

Yes. Protein ice cream is one of the most popular things people make in a Creami. You mix protein powder with milk, freeze it in the pint, and the machine shaves and churns the frozen block into something soft and scoopable. Plant protein works especially well because it gives the base body, which helps it turn creamy.

How do you make protein ice cream in a Ninja Creami?

Here's a simple vanilla base to start with:

1. Mix. Blend or shake 1 serving (36g) of Optimal with about 1.5 cups of milk or plant milk. Add a pinch of salt and, if you like, a tablespoon of nut butter or half a banana for extra creaminess.
2. Pour. Pour it into the pint. Ninja recommends filling at least halfway to the max fill line for the best texture, and you should never go over the line.¹
3. Freeze. Put the lid on and freeze on a level surface for at least 24 hours.¹
4. Spin. Use the Lite Ice Cream program. Ninja recommends it whenever a recipe uses a sugar substitute, and Optimal is sweetened with monk fruit.¹
5. Re-spin if needed. If the pint is crumbly or powdery, use Re-spin.¹ Many people add a tablespoon or two of milk first.
6. Mix in. Make a hole down the middle, add chocolate chips, crushed cookies or fruit, and use the Mix-in program.

Do I need protein powder for the Ninja Creami?

No. The Creami works with regular ice cream bases, sorbets, frozen yogurt and fruit. Protein powder is optional. People add it because it turns a dessert into a snack with real protein, and because it helps lower-sugar bases turn creamy. Without sugar or fat, a plain milk base freezes hard and icy. Protein gives it structure.

You can also make a high-protein pint without powder by using Greek yogurt, cottage cheese or high-protein milk, but a scoop of powder is the easiest way to add a lot of protein to one pint.

Is whey or casein better for the Creami?

Each protein behaves a little differently:

• Casein. Very thick, so it tends to make a dense, creamy pint.
• Whey. Thinner, so pints can turn out icier unless you add a thickener.
• Pea and brown rice. Naturally thick and creamy, and dairy-free. A good fit if you don't do dairy or find that whey upsets your stomach.
• Blends. Many protein ice cream fans mix proteins to get the texture they like.

If you want a dairy-free pint, use Optimal with a plant milk like oat, soy or almond.

What milk is best for Creami protein ice cream?

• Whole dairy milk. The creamiest everyday option, and it adds protein.
• Soy milk. The highest-protein plant milk, with a smooth texture when frozen.
• Oat milk. Creamy and slightly sweet. A good dairy-free choice.
• Almond milk. Light and low in calories, but pints can come out icier.
• Canned coconut milk. Very rich. Mix it with a lighter milk if you want something in between.

The more fat and protein in the base, the creamier the pint tends to be. Lighter milks usually need an extra re-spin.

What is the best protein powder for making ice cream?

For homemade protein ice cream, with or without a Creami, you want a powder with a good frozen flavor and a texture that thickens the base. Vanilla gives you the most options. Plant protein gives you a creamy, dairy-free result. A powder with 0g of sugar means you decide how sweet the dessert is.

Don't have a Creami? Blend frozen banana chunks with a serving of Optimal and a splash of milk in a food processor for a quick soft-serve.

Can you make protein ice cream without sugar?

Yes. Optimal has 0g of sugar and is sweetened with monk fruit, so a base of Optimal and unsweetened milk has no added sugar at all.² Sugar normally keeps ice cream soft, so sugar-free pints freeze harder. That's why the Lite Ice Cream program and a re-spin matter. If you want more sweetness, ripe banana or a little maple syrup work well, and cold dulls sweetness, so taste the base before freezing.

Why is my protein ice cream icy or crumbly?

• It's crumbly after the first spin. This is normal for low-sugar bases. Use Re-spin.¹ A tablespoon or two of milk before re-spinning helps many pints.
• It's very hard to spin. If your freezer runs very cold, let the pint sit on the counter for a few minutes before processing.¹
• It froze at an angle. Don't process a lopsided pint. Let it melt in the fridge, whisk and refreeze on a level surface.¹
• It tastes icy. Add more body: a little nut butter, banana, Greek yogurt or a higher-fat milk.
• It tastes bland. Cold mutes flavor. Add vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, cinnamon or a little maple syrup to the base.

Protein ice cream flavors to try

Start with the vanilla base above, then add these before freezing unless noted:

• Strawberry. Blend in 1 cup of strawberries.
• Peanut butter banana. Add half a banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter.
• Coffee. Replace half a cup of the milk with cold brew. See the best protein powder for coffee.
• Cookies and cream. Spin the vanilla base, then add crushed cookies with the Mix-in program.
• Cinnamon roll. Add cinnamon to the base, then mix in crumbled graham crackers.
• Mango. Blend in 1 cup of mango and use coconut milk.
• Chocolate. Add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa and a little maple syrup.
• Blueberry cheesecake. Blend in a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt or cream cheese, then mix in blueberries.

Want it drinkable? Spin a pint, add a bit more milk and use the Milkshake program. For blended drinks, see the best protein powder for smoothies.

Can you make a protein smoothie bowl in the Creami?

Yes. Blend frozen fruit like berries, banana or mango with a serving of Optimal and just enough milk or juice to get it moving, freeze it in the pint and use the Smoothie Bowl program. Top with granola, sliced fruit and a drizzle of nut butter for a cold, spoonable breakfast with protein.

How much protein is in a Creami pint?

A pint made with one serving of Optimal gets 26g of protein from the powder, plus whatever your milk adds.² Dairy milk and soy milk add the most protein. Almond and oat milk add less. Some people use two servings in a pint for an even higher-protein dessert. If the base gets too thick, add a little more milk.

Can you use plant protein in the Ninja Creami?

Yes. Plant protein like pea and brown rice makes a thick, creamy base and keeps the pint dairy-free when you use plant milk. Because Optimal contains no gums, the texture comes from the protein itself and whatever you add. Expect a soft-serve style scoop after a re-spin or two.

Is protein ice cream healthy?

It's a dessert with a lot more protein and usually a lot less sugar than regular ice cream. That makes it a great swap if you love something sweet at night. What you add still counts. Cookies, candy and syrups can turn a light pint into a heavy one. If you're watching calories, keep mix-ins to a spoonful and use a lighter milk. For more, see the best protein powder for weight loss.

How long does Creami protein ice cream keep?

Leftovers can go back in the freezer with the lid on. They'll freeze hard again, so smooth the top flat and re-process before eating. If you added mix-ins and your recipe uses a sugar substitute, Ninja recommends processing leftovers on the Lite Ice Cream program.¹

Why we make Optimal this way

• 26g of protein per serving (36g). 150 calories and 0g of sugar.²
• Vanilla that tastes good frozen. Organic vanilla and organic monk fruit.
• Four ingredients. Organic pea protein, organic brown rice protein, organic vanilla and organic monk fruit. No gums, dairy, soy, stevia or erythritol.
• Tested. We publish our heavy metal results from Light Labs, an independent lab.
• Certified. USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten-free.

Ninja and CREAMi are trademarks of SharkNinja Operating LLC. fitppl isn't affiliated with or endorsed by SharkNinja. Always follow the instructions that came with your machine.

Sources

1. Ninja Kitchen support. NC300 Series Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker FAQs.
2. fitppl. Optimal Plant Protein Nutrition Facts.