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This Ninja Creami frozen yogurt is going to be one of your favorite recipes of the summer. Not only is it delicious, but it also makes the creamiest homemade frozen yogurt with loads of protein in it. Perfect for those who are looking for a guilt-free dessert to enjoy all season long. It is made with simple ingredients like plain greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract but can also be tweaked to use ingredients that you have at home or prefer.
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I’ve always loved froyo! It’s creamy, refreshing, and way more satisfying than regular ice cream, especially in the summer. But store-bought versions can be loaded with sugar and extra ingredients, which is why making a high-protein frozen yogurt at home feels like such a win.
Using simple ingredients like Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla and letting the Ninja Creami do the work is honestly incredible. You get that classic froyo texture and flavor, but in a version that actually fits into a balanced lifestyle and keeps you feeling good. This is one of those recipes I make on repeat all season long.
Since you are here, make sure to check out this Ninja Creami Cookies and Cream Recipe, this No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream, this Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Recipe and this Easy Ninja Creami Pineapple Sorbet.
Table of Contents
- Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?
- Why this Ninja Creami frozen yogurt works
- Ingredients for this Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Recipe
- How to make this Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Recipe
- Recipe Variations
- Why you need to make this recipe!
- Troubleshooting Your Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt
- Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
- Mix-ins Ideas
- Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?
The main difference is the base, Ninja Creami froyo uses Greek yogurt while ice cream starts with a custard made from milk, cream, and egg yolks. This means froyo is tangier, lower in fat, and higher in protein than ice cream.
Froyo also requires 24 hours in the freezer before spinning, while ice cream only needs 8-12 hours. And you’ll re-spin froyo more (3-5x) vs ice cream (1-2x) for the best consistency.
But both treat options are deliciously creamy, endlessly customizable, and ready in minutes with the Ninja Creami! You can make them healthier with natural sweeteners and wholesome mix-ins too.
Why this Ninja Creami frozen yogurt works
- Simple sweeteners: Honey or low-calorie alternatives balance tanginess without overpowering the yogurt flavor.
- Greek yogurt base: Higher protein and lower water content means a creamier frozen yogurt that’s less icy.
- Ninja Creami technology: The re-spin function breaks down frozen yogurt into a smooth, scoopable texture.
Ingredients for this Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this creamy ice cream. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements.
- 2% Greek Yogurt: I like this type for two reasons. First, it has more protein than regular yogurt since it’s Greek-style and has less water so it won’t be as icy. Second, the 2% is the perfect middle point that gives you creaminess and flavor without the extra calories. But please feel free to use whatever your favorite yogurt is as the base. Just know that full-fat will give you more flavor and thicker consistency of the frozen yogurt with more calories, and fat-free will give you the opposite in both regards. Life’s all about sacrifices and compromises LOL.
- Honey: Since I’m using unflavored yogurt, I am using honey to sweeten the yogurt which also helps to complement and balance out the sour tartness as well. If you do decide to use yogurt that is already flavored you can omit this step.
- Vanilla Bean Paste: is great for adding a touch of soft and subtle flavor. Or you could also use a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead.
How to make this Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full step-by-step instructions!
- In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla bean paste. Stir until well combined.
- Pour the yogurt mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container and secure the lid. Be sure not to overfill past the max fill line. Freeze for at least 24 hours.
- Remove the frozen pint container from the freezer, place pint in the Ninja Creami machine, and secure the outer bowl lid. Select the “frozen yogurt” function and process the mixture.
- Re-spin if the mixture is crumbly. I had to re-spin mine twice to get it to that perfect creamy texture consistency.
- Scoop the frozen yogurt into bowls and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Customize your Ninja Creami frozen yogurt with these delicious flavor options! Simply add the extra ingredients to the base recipe and follow the same freezing/spinning instructions. Each variation makes 2 servings.
Strawberry
- Blend in 1/2 cup hulled, chopped strawberries. I do this using a blender or immersion blender before freezing.
- Omit vanilla bean paste
Mango
- Blend in 1/2 cup chopped mango
- Reduce honey to 1 tbsp
- Omit vanilla bean paste
Blueberry Lemon
- Blend in 1/2 cup blueberries
- Add 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Add 1 tsp lemon zest
- Omit vanilla bean paste
Peach
- Blend in 1/2 cup chopped peaches
- Add 1/4 tsp almond extract
- Omit vanilla bean paste
For an extra protein boost, add 1 scoop of your favorite vanilla or unflavored protein powder to any variation.
Why you need to make this recipe!
- It has more grams of protein, less calories, and less fat than traditional ice cream.
- It’s the perfect sweet treat to satisfy your taste buds and is one of the easiest ways to cool off on a hot summer day.
- It’s an easy recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients that you can easily find at a grocery store.
- It gives you complete control of your sugar intake and is an easy way to stay healthy while having a sweet tooth.
Troubleshooting Your Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt
- Why is my froyo icy? Icy froyo usually means there’s too much water. Use a thicker, higher fat yogurt like whole milk Greek yogurt. Avoid regular yogurt or low-fat varieties.
- Why is my froyo too hard? Froyo that’s hard as a rock hasn’t spun enough. After the first spin, re-spin 2-3 more times until you get a creamy soft-serve consistency. Let it soften 5-10 mins at room temp if needed.
- How many re-spins should I do? For the creamiest froyo, re-spin at least 2-3 times. Check the consistency and keep re-spinning if it’s not perfectly smooth and creamy yet. 4-5 re-spins is normal.
- When do I add mix-ins? Add any mix-ins (fruit, chocolate chips, etc.) after the first spin. Pour them in, then re-spin 2-3x to fully incorporate. Don’t add before freezing.
- What are the best Greek yogurt brands to use? Use a thick, high fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest results. Our favorites are Fage Total 5%, Chobani Whole Milk, Trader Joe’s brand, and Wallaby Organic Greek.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Use a high fat, low moisture Greek yogurt for the creamiest frozen yogurt. Whole milk varieties from Fage, Chobani, TJ, and Wallaby Organic work great.
Regular yogurt has more water and will make icy froyo. Stick with Greek yogurt, or strain regular yogurt overnight to remove moisture.
Of course! Vegan yogurts made from almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk are an easy transition and will give you a similar end result. The major difference in texture will come from the fat content, so decide if you want to use a dairy-free yogurt with more fat or less. The second difference would be flavor. You won’t get that tanginess from the Greek yogurt, but it will still be delicious!
Yes, you can add mix-ins. Fresh fruit, chopped nuts or peanut butter, or chocolate chips would taste great. It would feel and taste like a smoothie bowl or as if you were at your favorite froyo place. Adding them during the final churn cycle / Mix-in cycle in the Ninja Creami is best to ensure even distribution without it getting too hard or icy.
There are so many options available that it really depends on your preference or even just what you have on hand. Unflavored, granulated sweeteners like raw sugar, monk fruit sweetener, or stevia powder will sweeten without changing the flavor. While syrup sweeteners like maple syrup or agave nectar would sweeten while balancing out the natural tangy flavors of the yogurt.
Of course, you don’t have to follow this recipe to a tee. That’s the best part about this. You can adjust the amount of sugar to your liking. To do so, add more or less sweetener to the yogurt mixture before freezing.
Of course! I used honey, so it does add a little sugar to the frozen dessert, but you could also use monk fruit or stevia-based sweeteners to make it sugar-free.
Another option is to use a sugar-free yogurt as a base to keep it keto-friendly.
Yes, flavored yogurt is an easy and super effective way to add an extra layer of delicious flavor to your frozen yogurt. Just be mindful of the added sugars in flavored yogurts as they can be quite high.
Because we are using yogurt in this recipe, yes. It tends to be really hard when frozen so you might have to respin it 2-3 times.
You could also add a splash of milk after the first spin to make this process faster but I prefer thicker froyo so I keep re-spinning it until I reach my desired consistency and that is the tip I think everyone should follow for the best results!
You should try out cocoa powder, fruit purees, or flavored syrups to create different flavors. Fresh fruits or fruit jams work great too. For example, you could add blueberry jam to create a flavorful blueberry ice cream, or add cherry jam to create a creamy cherry pie ice cream.
Freeze yogurt for a full 24 hours before spinning for the best consistency.
The base recipe has 288 calories and 23g protein per serving. Mix-ins will add calories.
It’s a healthier treat than ice cream! Homemade froyo has more protein, less fat, and no artificial ingredients. Use natural sweeteners and wholesome mix-ins to make it even more nutritious.
Yes, simply add a scoop of the protein powder to the mix. No other changes needed! It boosts the protein content so much more if that’s wha tyou’re going for.
Mix-ins Ideas
- Chocolate Chips
- Rainbow Sprinkles
- Chopped Oreos or Any Other Chopped Up Cookies
- M&M’s
- Granola
- Mango chunks, Strawberry Pieces, or Your Favorite Fruits
- Peanut Butter Cups
Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt
Ingredients
- 16 oz 2% greek yogurt Can also use whole milk greek yogurt
- 2-3 tablespoon honey to taste
- 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla bean paste. Stir until well combined.16 oz 2% greek yogurt, 2-3 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- Pour the yogurt mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container and secure the lid. Freeze for at least 24 hours.
- Remove the frozen pint container from the freezer and place it in the Ninja Creami machine. Select the "frozen yogurt" function and process the mixture.
- Re-spin if the mixture is crumbly. I had to re-spin mine twice to get it to that perfect consistency.
- Scoop the frozen yogurt into bowls and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
there is no “frozen yogurt” function on my creami
I would do light ice cream then.
Excellent info!!! Can’t wait to try your suggestions!
These are my go-to every summer!
When I make my protein ice cream, it comes out smooth.
However, when you taste it, I feel like tiny ice that’s melts right away.
Is there something I’m doing wrong?
I place my ice-cream on the counter for 15 mins and run hot water on the outside before processing.
Thanks
I always scrape the edges and do a re-spin when that happens, and it usually fixes it. Hope this helps!
what if I don’t have a ninja. I have ice cream makers but they are just axstircand freeze basically.
You should still be able to make this recipe base and then follow the instructions of your ice cream maker 🙂