Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
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The newest recipe for my Ninja Creami series is this Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream!
I know I keep saying it, but this is one of my favorite flavors I’ve made yet! It’s creamy, ultra refreshing, studded with chocolate chips, has the perfect amount of minty flavor, and is packed with protein. It’s always a bonus when your dessert tastes good, but is also good for you, too!
My Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream, made using the churn method with an ice cream machine, is another option, and I even have no-churn directions available in the recipe notes if you don’t own an ice cream machine.
It’s the perfect summer treat to chill out on that’s silky-smooth and luscious!
Table Talk with Tawnie
After years of seeing people online make delicious ice cream, frozen yogurt, protein ice cream, and sorbet in their Ninja Creami machines, I finally decided to pull the trigger and get one for myself this year. It has totally been worth the hype and I am having so much fun with it! This flavor is truly SO good. I love using the vanilla protein powder from Clean Simple Eats, but they also have a mint chocolate protein powder too that is really delicious too! Just know, your ice cream won’t be green if you use the mint chocolate, it will be a chocolate color! 😉 My biggest tip for this ice cream is to not add too much peppermint extract, a little goes a long way! And be sure not to use mint extract, but specifically peppermint extract. Mint extract tastes like toothpaste! 😂 Happy ice cream making!!
- Milk: I used whole milk for the most creaminess, but any milk of choice works! I love using Fairlife milk for even more protein.
- Peppermint Extract: Be sure to use peppermint, and not mint extract. And remember, just a few drops are all you need! It will be plenty minty.
- Protein powder: I prefer the vanilla protein powder from Clean Simple Eats, but if you have a different favorite brand of protein powder, go for it!
- Sweetener of choice: You can use granulated sugar, monk fruit, stevia, Swerve, whatever you prefer. Some protein powders are sweeter than others, so feel free to adjust the amount of sweetener to your preference.
- Vanilla jello pudding mix: Sugar-free or regular (whichever you prefer). The pudding mix acts as a thickening agent in the ice cream, while also helping keep calories lower overall.
- Mix-ins: Chocolate chips or Mint Creme Oreos go great with this one! Or use whatever you love.
- Green food coloring: add as much or as little to get the green color you prefer, or leave it out altogether!
Step-by-Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Mix the base ingredients
Add them all into an empty pint and mix! So easy!
Freeze then spin!
Freeze for 24 hours, then spin on lite ice cream. Voila!
Add your favorite mix-ins & dig in!
Doesn’t get better than this on a warm summer day!
Expert Tips
- Don’t skip the freezing: Make sure to allow your pint at least 24 hours to freeze before spinning. This step is crucial to the process! I have tested after 8-12 hours frozen, and while it does work, the consistency is not as thick and creamy.
- Freeze with no lid: It’s important to freeze the pint on a level surface and without the lid. If you freeze it with the lid on, it can form a hump on the top which can damage the blade when you put it in the machine to spin
- Re-spins: If your ice cream isn’t smooth and creamy after the first re-spin, you can re-spin until you get your desired consistency.
- Don’t overfill the container: Make sure not to overfill the pint container. The ice cream will expand in volume as it spins, so don’t worry if it looks like the pint isn’t initially full.
Storage / Freezing
- If you don’t finish the pint (good luck😉), use a spoon to smooth and level out the top and place back in the freezer with the lid.
- When ready to eat, re-spin on Lite Ice Cream.
Ninja Creami 101: The Ultimate Guide
If you still have questions, I created a whole guide so you can easily find tips, tricks, and solutions to any of your Ninja Creami questions!
Variations
- Mint Mocha Chip: Use chocolate milk, chocolate protein powder, and a pinch of espresso powder for a mint mocha flavor.
- Thin Mint Vibes: Use my homemade thin mints for the ultimate mix-in!
FAQ
Do I have to use pudding mix in this recipe?
A lot of Creami recipes use pudding mix because it acts as a thickening agent. If you don’t want to use pudding mix, you can also use guar gum, cottage cheese, or xanthan gum as thickening agents. If using guar gum or xanthan gum just be sure to use only a very small amount, as too much can make the texture weird.
Do I have to add protein powder to this recipe?
No, you don’t have to add protein powder if you aren’t a fan! The protein powder helps add sweetness and flavor, so if you’re skipping the protein powder, you may need to add more jello pudding mix or sweetener. I always recommend taste testing your base after mixing everything together so you can adjust to your preference before freezing!
What kind of protein powder do you recommend?
I love the brand Clean Simple Eats and would recommend it! Everyone has different opinions on protein powder, so you might just have to try a few before you find the one that’s right for you. One great tip when you’re picking a protein powder is to find stores that sell individual packets so you can try different brands without committing to a huge container.
Why do I have to dig a hole in the Creami before adding the mix-ins?
Digging a hole in the Creami before adding your mix-ins allows you to place the mix-ins exactly where the blade will spin during the Mix-In cycle. If you sprinkle them on top or around the edges, they won’t get incorporated as well and will just stay close to the top.
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Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 scoop vanilla or mint protein powder (I use Clean Simple Eats)
- 3 Tbsp. full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp. sweetener of choice (monkfruit, sugar, etc.)
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla pudding mix (regular or sugar free)
- 2-4 drops peppermint extract (not mint extract, use more or less depending on how minty you want your ice cream )
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 2-4 drops green food coloring
- chocolate chips or mint creme Oreos (optional for mix ins)
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Add the base ingredients: add the milk, protein powder, yogurt, sweetener of choice, pudding mix, peppermint extract, vanilla, salt, and food coloring to an empty CREAMi™ Pint.1 1/2 cups whole milk, 1 scoop vanilla or mint protein powder, 3 Tbsp. full-fat Greek yogurt, 1 Tbsp. sweetener of choice, 1 Tbsp. vanilla pudding mix, 2-4 drops peppermint extract, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, pinch of salt, 2-4 drops green food coloring
- Whisk: whisk ingredients together, or I like using a milk frother to incorporate it. (If the ingredients ever look clumpy, try mixing the milk and protein powder first, then the remaining ingredients).
- Freeze: freeze the pint on a level surface in the freezer, with the lid off, for 24 hours. (freezing with the lid on creates a hump at the top of the ice cream, which can damage the blade, so be sure to leave it off).
- Assemble: Remove the pint from the freezer, place it in the outer bowl, and lock the lid on top. Place the bowl assembly on the motor base, twist the handle right to raise the platform, and lock it in place.
- Spin it! Select Lite Ice Cream. It shouldn’t need another respin.
- Mix-ins: you can just top the ice cream with your favorite mix-ins or use the mix in setting: use a spoon to create a small hole in the center, about 1 ½ inches wide. Place your favorite mix-ins in the center. Run the mix-in program one time.chocolate chips or mint creme Oreos
- Enjoy: remove the pint and enjoy right away with any more mix-ins on top!
Video
Notes
- If you don’t finish the pint (good luck😉), use a spoon to smooth and level out the top and place back in the freezer with the lid.
- When ready to eat, re-spin on Lite Ice Cream.
- If you need more Ninja Creami help, check out my troubleshooting and Ninja Creami 101 blog post!
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
📸 Photography by Marie-Catherine Dubé
