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Ninja Creami protein ice cream is the healthy dessert hack you didn’t know you needed. Using a simple bottled Fairlife shake + instant pudding mix, you can freeze and spin a single pint in your Ninja Creami machine and get a scoopable, ultra-creamy dessert that delivers 30 grams (or more) of protein while satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether you’re tracking macros, craving something indulgent after a workout, or just love ice cream. This recipe is for you!
Recipe updated (2026):
I recently retested this recipe to help troubleshoot the most common issues readers were having and to include clearer step-by-step guidance. The method and tips have been refined so you can get that perfect creamy Ninja Creami texture every time, even if it’s your first spin!
Table of Contents
- Why you need this recipe
- Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Step-by-Step
- Pro tips for best textures & results
- Troubleshooting:
- Seasonal Flavors & Variations
- Nutrition Per Serving
- Five Mix-In / Flavor Variation Ideas
- 8. No-Protein-Shake Version (Cottage Cheese + Greek Yogurt Base)
- How to Hit Your Macros with Ninja Creami
- Frequently asked questions about Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream- FAQ
- Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream (36g Protein!) Recipe
Why you need this recipe
- Eat the whole pint and still stay aligned with your nutritional goals.
- Delivers 30 g+ protein per batch thanks to the Fairline-based base.
- Lets you satisfy your sweet tooth and stay on plan, no compromise.
- A flexible base: switch flavors, mix-ins, and macros to fit your goals.
- Uses the Ninja Creami machine to give you that real ice cream texture, no churning required.
Let’s Chit Chat!
I first shared this recipe when the Ninja Creami craze was a relatively new one and the idea of “protein ice cream” felt very niche. Since then, I’ve kept a pint in my freezer for those evenings when a regular ice cream just won’t align with my goals. I’ve even brought a batch to the gym and had a serious conversation about it, “Wait, that’s protein?!!”. The fact you’re here tells me you’re ready for a dessert that fits taste and fitness. Let’s get you there!
Ingredient Notes
Here is what you will need. Exact measurements are in the recipe card below:
- Bottled protein shake (Fairlife chocolate or vanilla) – I prefer this for convenience, great flavor, and smooth texture.
- Instant pudding mix – adds that rich, dessert-style body and keeps the texture creamy instead of icy.
- Milk or milk substitute – a splash added during spin helps achieve that premium consistency.
- Mix-ins (optional) – chocolate chips, cookie dough, nuts, whatever your heart wants.
How to Make Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Step-by-Step
This is how you can make this delicious chocolate ice cream. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full detailed instructions!
- Prep the base: Pour the bottled shake into the Ninja Creami pint container up to the fill line; add instant pudding mix and stir until smooth.
- Freeze: Cover and freeze for 24 hours on a level surface (not just 12 hrs!).
- First spin: Place the pint into the outer bowl of your Ninja Creami machine, lock the lid, and run the Lite Ice Cream setting.
- Re-spin for creaminess: If the texture is crumbly, add 2–3 tbsp milk (or extra protein shake) and run the Re-Spin setting.
- Add mix-ins: Create a small well in the center, add your mix-ins, and run the Mix-Ins setting to incorporate.
- Serve & enjoy: Scoop immediately or refreeze the pint for later.
Each pint makes ~300-150 calories, 30-36 g protein, ~6-8 g sugar (before mix-ins), ~10-12 g fat, ~25-30 g carbs.
Pro tips for best textures & results
- Freeze for a full 24 hours; a shorter freeze can lead to icy bits.
- Don’t skip the Re-spin step if your first spin comes out crumbly.
- Use a bottled shake base for ease, flavor, and smoother consistency.
- Stick to the fill line of your pint container; overfilling causes messes.
- Get creative with mix-ins, try swirl-in peanut butter, chopped Oreos, or fresh berries.
Why does this base turn into a real ice-cream texture? The bottled shake gives a creamy dairy base, the instant pudding mix acts as a stabilizer so you don’t get icy bits, and using the lite-spin + re-spin settings on the machine forces that ‘soft scoop’ consistency. Over-filled pints or short freezing times = crumbly or icy texture.
Troubleshooting:
- Machine mess or splatter? Fill at line, lock lid properly, scrape sides between spins.
- Ice crystals forming? Freeze full 24 hrs, use light-pan, don’t overfill.
- Too soft or melt-fast? Freeze full 24 hrs, use lite-spin then re-spin.
Seasonal Flavors & Variations
- Vanilla protein ice cream: Use a vanilla shake, vanilla pudding mix, and add vanilla bean paste.
- PB & J protein ice cream: Use vanilla shake, 2 tbsp powdered peanut butter, swirl in real jam as mix-ins.
- Mocha Protein Ice cream: Use chocolate shake, 1 tbsp espresso powder, and chocolate chips.
- Fruit & yogurt version: Use a strawberry shake, blend in fresh berries, and mix in a dollop of Greek yogurt for tang.
Nutrition Per Serving
Full Pint (1 Serving / The Whole Thing)
Nutrition Amount Calories 305 Protein 36g Carbs 23g Fat 16g Sugar 24g Sodium 190mg Half Pint (If You’re Sharing, Or Have Self-Control)
Nutrition Amount Calories 153 Protein 18g Carbs 12g Fat 8g Macros based on 1 bottle Fairlife protein shake + 1 tablespoon sugar-free instant pudding mix. Mix-ins will change the numbers, see flavor ideas below for adjusted macros.
Five Mix-In / Flavor Variation Ideas
Since the base recipe is a Fairlife protein shake (not protein powder), these are mix-in combos added before freezing or folded in after spinning, not entirely new recipes. This keeps them distinct from the protein powder post, which has its own flavor variations using CSE protein powders.
Variation 1: Chocolate Peanut Butter
Use a Fairlife chocolate protein shake as the base. The PB2 dissolves right into it before freezing.
What to Add:
- 1 bottle Fairlife Chocolate protein shake (as the base)
- 2 tablespoons PB2 powdered peanut butter (mixed in before freezing)
- 1 tablespoon chocolate sugar-free instant pudding mix
Estimated Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 370 |
| Protein | 42g |
| Carbs | 30g |
| Fat | 17g |
How to Make It: Whisk the PB2 and pudding mix into the Fairlife chocolate shake directly in the pint container using a handheld frother. Freeze 24 hours. Spin on Lite Ice Cream. Re-spin with a splash of the shake if it’s crumbly.
Variation 2: Vanilla Cookie Dough
The vanilla Fairlife shake is your best friend here. The edible cookie dough bites go in after spinning so they stay chunky.
What to Add:
- 1 bottle Fairlife Vanilla protein shake (as the base)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar-free instant pudding mix
- 2–3 tablespoons store-bought edible cookie dough bites (folded in after spinning)
Estimated Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 405 |
| Protein | 37g |
| Carbs | 36g |
| Fat | 18g |
How to Make It: Whisk the pudding mix into the Fairlife vanilla shake in the pint container. Freeze 24 hours. Spin on Lite Ice Cream. Once spun, fold in the cookie dough bites with a spoon. Don’t re-spin after adding them, you want pieces, not paste.
Variation 3: Cookies & Cream
Crushed Oreo Thins keep the calorie count reasonable and the cookie-to-cream ratio perfect.
What to Add:
- 1 bottle Fairlife Vanilla protein shake (as the base)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar-free instant pudding mix
- 4 Oreo Thins, roughly crushed (folded in after spinning)
Estimated Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 425 |
| Protein | 37g |
| Carbs | 38g |
| Fat | 20g |
How to Make It: Whisk the pudding mix into the vanilla Fairlife shake. Freeze 24 hours. Spin on Lite Ice Cream. Once the base is smooth, fold in the crushed Oreo Thins. Keep the pieces chunky, the crunch against the creamy base is the whole point.
Variation 4: Strawberry Cheesecake
The light cream cheese makes this one taste absurdly close to actual cheesecake. Blend it in well before freezing.
What to Add:
- 1 bottle Fairlife Vanilla protein shake (as the base)
- 2 tablespoons light cream cheese, softened
- 1 tablespoon sugar-free cheesecake or vanilla instant pudding mix
- 2 tablespoons freeze-dried strawberries, crushed (folded in after spinning)
Estimated Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 385 |
| Protein | 39g |
| Carbs | 28g |
| Fat | 19g |
How to Make It: Blend the Fairlife shake, softened cream cheese, and pudding mix together in a blender until smooth, a frother won’t fully incorporate the cream cheese. Pour into the pint container. Freeze 24 hours. Spin on Lite Ice Cream. Fold in the crushed freeze-dried strawberries after spinning for that cheesecake-topping crunch.
Variation 5: Birthday Cake
Cake batter extract is the secret weapon. A little goes a long way.
What to Add:
- 1 bottle Fairlife Vanilla protein shake (as the base)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar-free instant pudding mix
- ½ teaspoon cake batter extract
- 2 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles (folded in after spinning)
Estimated Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 380 |
| Protein | 36g |
| Carbs | 34g |
| Fat | 17g |
How to Make It: Whisk the pudding mix and cake batter extract into the Fairlife vanilla shake in the pint container. Go easy on the extract, ½ teaspoon is enough. Freeze 24 hours. Spin on Lite Ice Cream. Fold in the rainbow sprinkles after spinning. Don’t freeze them in or they’ll bleed into the base and turn it grey.
8. No-Protein-Shake Version (Cottage Cheese + Greek Yogurt Base)
This version is for anyone who doesn’t keep Fairlife shakes around or wants a whole-food protein source instead. The cottage cheese blends completely smooth, you genuinely cannot taste it. If you’re looking for the protein powder version instead, check out my Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream with Protein Powder.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup low-fat cottage cheese (2%)
- ¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup milk of choice (whole milk for creamier, almond milk for fewer calories)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar-free vanilla instant pudding mix
- Pinch of sea salt
Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 340 |
| Protein | 30g |
| Carbs | 38g |
| Fat | 6g |
Instructions:
- Blend it smooth. Add the cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and milk to a blender and blend on high for 60 seconds until there are zero curds visible. Then add the maple syrup, vanilla, pudding mix, and salt. Blend another 15 seconds.
- Freeze it. Pour into the Ninja Creami pint container. Make sure it’s below the max fill line. Seal and freeze for 24 hours on a flat surface.
- Spin it. Remove the lid, place the pint in the outer bowl, and lock it into the Ninja Creami. Run the Lite Ice Cream function. This base freezes harder than the Fairlife version, so you’ll likely need a Re-Spin. Add 1–2 tablespoons of milk through the hole, then Re-Spin until smooth.
Flavor ideas for this base: Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder for chocolate, 2 tablespoons PB2 for peanut butter, or ¼ cup mashed ripe banana for banana cream. Adjust macros accordingly.
How to Hit Your Macros with Ninja Creami
Whether you’re bulking, cutting, or maintaining, the Fairlife protein shake base is already macro-friendly, but here’s how to push it in either direction.
Bulking Version (Higher Calorie)
When you need more calories and want to get them from something that doesn’t feel like a chore to eat.
Adjustments to the Base Fairlife Recipe:
- Add 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter (mix in before freezing, use a blender, not a frother) → +190 cal, +7g protein
- Use chocolate pudding mix and drizzle 1 tablespoon honey on top after spinning → +60 cal
- Fold in ¼ cup dark chocolate chips after spinning → +140 cal
Estimated Bulking Macros (Full Pint):
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 695 |
| Protein | 43g |
| Carbs | 55g |
| Fat | 36g |
Cutting Version (Lower Calorie)
Strip it down to the essentials. The Fairlife shake is already pretty lean, this just tightens it up.
Adjustments to the Base Fairlife Recipe:
- Skip the instant pudding mix (saves ~25 cal and some carbs, texture will be slightly icier, so plan on an extra Re-Spin)
- No mix-ins, just the straight Fairlife shake, frozen and spun
- Use the vanilla Fairlife (slightly fewer calories than chocolate depending on the line)
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 280 |
| Protein | 36g |
| Carbs | 20g |
| Fat | 16g |
How to Adjust Protein Up or Down
To increase protein:
- Use 1 & ⅓ bottles of Fairlife in the large Ninja Creami Deluxe pint (the recipe already calls for this for the larger container) → bumps protein to ~48g per pint
- Mix in 2 tablespoons PB2 before freezing → +6g protein, minimal calories
- Fold in a crushed protein bar after spinning → +15–20g protein depending on brand
To decrease protein (for a lighter snack):
- Use only ½ bottle of Fairlife and fill the rest with almond milk or oat milk
- Skip the pudding mix
- Think of it as a lighter frozen treat rather than a full-macro dessert
Quick Protein Reference by Base:
| Base | Protein (Full Pint) | Calories (Full Pint) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bottle Fairlife + pudding mix (base recipe) | 36g | 305 |
| 1 bottle Fairlife, no pudding mix | 36g | 280 |
| 1⅓ bottles Fairlife (Deluxe pint) | ~48g | ~405 |
| Fairlife + 2 tbsp PB2 | 42g | 370 |
| Cottage cheese + Greek yogurt (no shake) | 30g | 340 |
Frequently asked questions about Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream- FAQ
Fairlife protein shakes are the go-to for this recipe because they’re already thick, creamy, and high in protein (30g per bottle for the Core Power line). The chocolate and vanilla flavors both work great. You could also use Premier Protein or Muscle Milk shakes, just check the macros since they vary. The key is using a bottled shake that’s already blended and smooth, not a powder you mix yourself. If you want to use protein powder instead, I have a whole separate recipe for that: Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream with Protein Powder.
The base recipe using one bottle of Fairlife protein shake has 36 grams of protein for the entire pint. That’s before any mix-ins. If you use 1 & ⅓ bottles in the larger Ninja Creami Deluxe container, you’re looking at around 48g of protein per pint. You can bump it even higher by mixing in PB2 or folding in a crushed protein bar after spinning.
This recipe uses a pre-made Fairlife protein shake, not protein powder, so casein doesn’t directly apply here. But if you want to add a scoop of casein powder to the Fairlife shake before freezing, it’ll actually make the texture thicker and more gelato-like. Just blend it well with a frother or immersion blender so there are no clumps. Reduce the shake amount slightly (use about ¾ of the bottle) to make room in the pint and keep it under the max fill line.
This is the most common issue and it’s almost always fixable. After the first spin, if it looks crumbly or icy, add 1–2 tablespoons of Fairlife protein shake (or regular milk) through the top and hit the Re-Spin function. You can Re-Spin 2–3 times if needed. For prevention: always add the tablespoon of instant pudding mix, the starches act as a stabilizer and help prevent ice crystals. Also make sure you’re freezing on a flat surface for a full 24 hours. If the sides are especially icy, pop the storage lid back on and run the sides of the container under hot water for about a minute before re-spinning.
24 hours minimum. The pint needs to be completely frozen solid, no slushy center. If the middle is still liquid, the Ninja Creami blade can’t shave it properly and you’ll end up with an uneven, icy texture. My move is to prep 3–4 pints on a Sunday night and freeze them all so I have protein ice cream ready to go all week. Once spun, eat it within 15–20 minutes for the best soft-serve texture. If you have leftovers, level the ice cream flat in the pint, refreeze, and Re-Spin when you’re ready to eat it again.
Here’s how I look at it, 36g of protein and 305 calories for an entire pint of ice cream is genuinely hard to beat. A pint of Ben & Jerry’s is over 1,000 calories with a fraction of the protein. Even the trendy “healthy” pints at the grocery store (Halo Top, etc.) are in the 280–360 calorie range with only 20g of protein. This Fairlife version matches or beats them on macros and it’s cheaper to make at home. Is it a vegetable? No. But if you’re active, tracking your protein intake, or just trying to make better choices without giving up dessert, this is one of the smartest swaps you can make.
It’s normal on the first spin. Use the Re-Spin setting (sometimes twice) after adding 2 tbsp extra liquid.
Use whatever you enjoy, but for the best result, texture, add mix-ins after the first spin, and run the mix-ins setting. Some ideas are: smooth or crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, hot fudge sauce, caramel sauce, Oreo pieces, cookie dough chunks, chocolate sprinkles, mini marshmallows, toasted coconuts, or even Reese’s peanut butter cups!
Keep the pint sealed in the freezer for up to 1 week. For best scoopability, let it soften 3-5 minutes before serving.
If your goal is protein and lowered sugar in an ice-cream texture, yes! It’s feels indulgent but supports your goals 🙂
Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream (36g Protein!)
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Fairlife protein
- favorite mix-ins
- 1 tablespoon vanilla or chocolate instant pudding mix optional but adds creaminess
Instructions
- In your ninja creami pint container add the fair life protein shake. Add about 1 & 1/3 bottle in full pint and only 1 protein shake bottle for the smaller size ninja creami. Just make sure that you are following the max life.1 bottle Fairlife protein
- Mix in the instant pudding with a hand held frother to combine.1 tablespoon vanilla or chocolate instant pudding mix
- Close the container with a lid and freeze on a flat surface for 24 hours.
- Once you are ready for your ice cream place the pint container in the outer bowl of the device, top with the outer bowl lid and lock in your machine.
- Press the lite ice cream function in your machine and allow it to blend the ice cream.
- If the ice cream appears to be crumbly you you can add 1-2 tablespoon of milk or fair life protein shake and spin it again. Feel free to respin it as necessary to reach your desired consistency. Enjoy as is or add in some mix-ins, resin and enjoy.favorite mix-ins
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
