Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
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My Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream is like a frozen Reese’s cup in a pint, but with a high-protein twist!
I’m back with another Ninja Creami recipe as part of my Creami Series, and this one is total dessert goals. It delivers protein and peanut butter in every bite, and still feels indulgent with a couple of mini peanut butter cups mixed in!
Best of all, it’s SO easy to make using your Ninja Creami. The hands-on time is less than 5 minutes. The hardest part is letting the pint freeze for 24 hours, so, I recommend buying extra creami pints so you can meal-prep your protein ice cream for the week! (Ice cream meal prep?! Woo-hoo!)
Table Talk with Tawnie
I recently polled my Instagram audience on what Ninja Creami ice cream recipes everyone wanted to see, and peanut butter was one of the most popular requests! As a peanut butter lover myself, I was super excited about this! What I love about this recipe, other than the fact it truly tastes like real ice cream but packed with protein, is the creamy peanut butter mixed in at the end. It takes the creamy level up a notch and of course, adds the perfect peanut butter flavor! You’ll be in heaven; I can’t wait to hear what you think!
- Powdered Peanut Butter: I like using PB2 to mix into the base for more protein, and it mixes really well into the liquid ingredients. I use it a lot in my smoothies, too!
- Milk: Feel free to use your favorite milk, but I recommend using whole milk, especially in the protein ice cream recipes, for a creamier texture. The whole milk prevents the ice cream from being icy and, honestly, gives it the best indulgent flavor!
- Protein Powder: I love using Clean Simple Eats Vanilla Protein Powder or, they have a chocolate peanut butter protein powder that is so good in this recipe, too! Use your favorite brand, one scoop is perfect (~2 Tbsp.)
- Vanilla pudding mix: The pudding mix acts as a thickening agent in the ice cream, while keeping it lower in calories overall.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter for the best results. It blends best into the ice cream. You’ll add this during the mix-in step.
- Mix-ins/toppings: Feel free to get creative, but I like adding in Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and/or Reese’s Pieces.
Step-by-Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Mix base ingredients & freeze
Add the milk, powdered peanut butter, protein powder and pudding mix to an empty CREAMi™ Pint, whisk or blend, and freeze for 24 hours.
Spin it & add mix-ins
Spin on lite ice cream, add creamy peanut butter and mini peanut butter cups and spin on the mix-in setting. That’s it!!
ENJOY!
Scoop & enjoy with more toppings as desired 😋
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.
Variations / Substitutions
- Use your favorite chocolate protein powder for a chocolate peanut butter twist!
- Make it mocha vibes by adding in a shot of espresso or 1-2 tsp. Instant coffee.
- Different mix-ins: edible cookie dough, crushed pretzels, or granola.
If your ice cream is melty after spinning…
…it probably means it got too warm before spinning! If this is the case and you let it sit out or ran it under hot water, that means you probably don’t need to let it sit as long before spinning. If your creamy is too runny, you can place it back in the freezer for a few minutes to help it thicken back up!
Storage / Freezing
- Leftovers should (not surprisingly) be stored in the freezer 😉
- If you find yourself with leftovers, use a spoon to level out the ice cream still in the pint container, top it with a lid, and place it back in the freezer.
- When ready to eat, take the pint out and re-spin on the lite ice cream setting.
FAQs
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 really weird.
My Creami is super dry and crumbly…what do I do to fix it?
If your Creami is super dry and crumbly it probably needs to soften a bit before spinning again. A few ways to avoid this is to run it under hot water for a few seconds before spinning or let it sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes before spinning. You can also add a tablespoon of milk after the initial spin before you re-spin to help get a creamy consistency. Also, don’t be afraid to re-spin 2-3 times if your base needs a little help!
My Creami is super runny and soft after spinning…help!
If your Creami is super runny and soft after spinning it probably means it got too warm before spinning. You can place it back in the freezer for a few minutes to help it thicken back up!
Why does my Ninja Creami have a “hump” on top after I freeze it?
Freezing your base with the lid on can create a “hump” on the top. To avoid the hump, place your Creami containers in the freezer on a flat surface without the lid. You want to make sure to freeze your pints with a smooth top for the best results while spinning and also to avoid any potential damage to the blades.
I’ve never used protein powder before. Do you have one you’d recommend?
I personally love the brand Clean Simple Eats and would definitely 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.
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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!
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Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter (I use PB2)
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (~2 Tbsp.)
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla pudding mix
- mix-ins: Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (3) plus more for garnishing on tops and 1-2 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter (like Skippy or Jif), Reese’s Pieces, etc.
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
- Mix the base ingredients: add the milk, powdered peanut butter, protein powder and pudding mix to an empty CREAMi™ Pint.1 1/2 cups whole milk, 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1 Tbsp. vanilla pudding mix
- Whisk: whisk ingredients together, or I like using a milk frother to incorporate it.
- 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: use a spoon to create a small hole in the center, about 1 ½ inches wide. Place your the mini peanut butter cups and creamy peanut butter in the center. Run the mix-in program one time.mix-ins: Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (3) plus more for garnishing on tops and 1-2 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter (like Skippy or Jif), Reese’s Pieces, etc.
- Enjoy: remove the pint and enjoy right away with any more mix-ins on top!
Video
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.
📸 Photos by Sierra Ashleigh Photography
