7 Ninja Creami Recipes You’ve Got to Try This Summer

• What’s In It: sweetened condensed milk, Cool Whip (or other frozen whipped topping), chocolate milk
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes*, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

For those times when you’re craving the drive-thru but don’t want to leave the house, turn to this recipe. Sweetened condensed milk is the key ingredient to most no-churn ice cream recipes, adding sweetness and preventing large ice crystals from forming as the mixture freezes, ensuring a softer, creamier texture. Combine that with Cool Whip—for fluffiness—and you’ve got a treat that’s on par with the real deal. And, some might say, even smoother.

• What’s In It: frozen strawberries, frozen mango, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, orange juice
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

OK, this is the most advanced recipe of the bunch, but it’s well worth the effort. After all, the Ninja CREAMi comes with two pint containers, so you might as well make the most of ‘em, right?!

This recipe leans into the soft serve margarita trend, giving it a Dole Whip-like twist that’s so right for summer. Yes, you’ll need a piping bag and large star tip to really complete the effect, but if you opt for serving it by the scoop, I doubt anyone would complain.

• What’s In It: milk, Cake Batter flavored protein powder, birthday cake-flavored sandwich cookies, rainbow sprinkles
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein

As a diehard Coldstone Creamery Birthday Cake Remix fan, I was immediately drawn to @CleanSimpleEats’s Cake Batter CREAMi recipe. Each serving packs 31 grams of protein at 300 calories while delivering an ultra-creamy texture and indulgent flavor. 

• What’s In It: egg yolks, light corn syrup, sugar, heavy cream, milk, vanilla extract, coffee liqueur, espresso
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

Put that gelato setting to good use! This recipe calls for whipping egg yolks to create a custard base, which provides the fat content and richness that you associate with scoopable, velvety-smooth ice cream. (Like sweetened condensed milk, it prevents the treat from turning icy.) You could whip up a double batch and serve in coupes or clear mugs at your next dinner party—have everyone pour in their own shot of espresso—or eat it straight out of the container, like our recipe developer did.

• What’s In It: key lime yogurt, plain Greek yogurt, milk, vanilla protein powder, lime, water
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein

As you delve into Ninja CREAMi recipes, you’ll see there’s a robust community around making virtually every flavor of ice cream into a protein-packed indulgence. It’s hard to play favorites, but come summertime, can you imagine a more refreshing treat? It’s sweet, tart and tangy—and clocks in at 37 grams of protein per serving.

• What’s In It: vanilla protein shake (we used Fairlife), cookies and crème pudding mix, vanilla protein powder, Oreos
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, high protein

After being burned by a broken McFlurry machine one too many times, PureWow’s food team took matters into their own hands, creating their own riff on the Oreo McFlurry. It leans into the protein CREAMi trend, though you could swap out the protein shake for milk instead. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the Oreo pieces.

• What’s In It: pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, milk, Baileys Irish cream, cheesecake pudding mix, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, ground ginger, sugar cookie pieces
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy

Wait, you thought frozen treats were just for summer? Think again. Whether you’re getting in on summerween or planning ahead for fall, you’ll want this surprisingly easy recipe in your back pocket. It calls for an added boost of cinnamon and ginger to really amp up the flavor (so it can hold its own against the tanginess of the cheesecake base). The end result is more satisfying than a PSL.