If you own a Ninja Creami, you probably know that it’s a powerhouse when it comes to frozen treats like ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, and smoothie bowls. But what really makes the Ninja Creami stand out is its versatility. “You can tailor the base to your exact dietary needs, which is great for people with food allergies or restrictions—and fun for kids, too,” says Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliance and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou.
Since it’s a bit of an investment—not to mention a fairly bulky countertop appliance—you may be wondering: What else can this thing do? If scroll TikTok and Reddit, you’ll find fans of the appliance are using the Ninja Creami to recreate everything from fast-food favorites like Blizzards to protein-packed, better-for-you desserts and breakfasts. I was curious to find out what else could work, so I stocked up on ingredients and started experimenting.
Before you experiment, learn the basics of your Ninja Creami
✔️ Start with the official recipes: “My advice would be to start with the recipes in the included recipe booklet,” says Papantoniou. “They’ll help you understand how to start using the machine and you’ll develop an understanding of what your results should look and taste like. Then you can tweak based on your preferences.” You will find tons of recipe options in the included recipe booklet, as well as on the Ninja Test Kitchen’s website.
✔️ Understand how the Creami works: While the Creami can produce similar results to those of a blender, the appliance works differently. “When you process [the ingredients], a blade spins and breaks through the base layer by layer and eventually makes it all the way through,” explains Papantoniou. This differs from a blender, which creates a vortex that pulls ingredients downwards towards the blades.
✔️ Stick to recipes with enough liquids: Because the Creami functions differently than a blender or food processor, it struggles with very dense ingredients. Trying to process denser foods like nuts–e.g. for homemade nut butter–can require multiple cycles, which wastes time and could dull or damage the blades. Instead, it’s better suited for something with more liquid, like a pudding or blended overnight oats.
The most unexpected things I’ve made—and loved—in my Ninja Creami Breeze
There were a few fails (turns out, achieving the perfect frappe is trickier than expected)—but also some creative surprises.
Blended Overnight Oats
• Convenient and delicious: This trendy take on the classic oatmeal involves blending everything—oats included!—to create a smooth, spoonable consistency that falls somewhere between a smoothie and pudding. Because it requires blending and storing in a jar, I figured, why not try it in the Ninja Creami?
• Worth the experiment: I am so happy I did. Everything came together in one pint (read: with minimal cleanup) and I blended it all the night before, allowing the oats to soak overnight and sparing my husband the sound of the Creami turning on at 6 a.m.
• An added bonus: The container was the perfect size for adding my favorite toppings and digging into with a spoon.
To make Ninja Creami blended overnight oats: In the Creami pint, combine 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries, 1 tablespoon each chia seeds and flaxseeds, 1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup milk of choice, and 1 teaspoon each maple syrup and vanilla extract. Blend using the Smoothie Bowl function, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours. Serve topped with chopped walnuts, extra berries and drizzle of maple syrup.
Coffee Creamer Affogato
• Think outside of the box: This idea came from Good Housekeeping Chief Food Director Kate Merker, who asked: What happens if you freeze coffee creamer in the pint?
• The affogato of your dreams: The result is a scoopable sweetened creamer that melts beautifully under a shot of freshly-brewed espresso. It’s creamy, sweet, and basically a next-level affogato.
Frozen Protein “Shake”
• TikTok inspo: I’ve heard so many people rave about the magic that happens when you use protein powder in your Ninja Creami. (Type the phrases Ninja creami, protein powder, and Fairlife into your search bar, and you’ll see what the buzz is about.)
• Whey protein works best: Whey protein binds with water in a way that helps create smaller ice crystals during freezing, resulting in a smoother, creamier texture. Plus, many protein powders contain stabilizers like xanthan gum or guar gum, which also help improve consistency and mouthfeel.
• Switch up your smoothie routine: I’m a big fan of Ka’Chava, a nutrient-dense meal replacement, and usually drink it in liquid form. But some mornings, I don’t feel like sipping my breakfast. So, I mixed the chocolate Ka’Chava with milk, froze it in a pint, and used the Smoothie Bowl function to blend.
• Sweet, sweet success: The result? It tasted like I was eating ice cream for breakfast. The dream.
Lemon Ice
• A one-ingredient wonder: With just one ingredient—store-bought lemonade—you can whip up a dessert that’s strikingly similar to classic Italian ice (or water ice, if you’re from Philly). The flavor will vary depending on the brand you use, but mine turned out refreshingly citrusy with an ideal sweet-tart balance.
• Getting the texture right is key: After freezing the lemonade and processing it in the Ninja Creami using the Sorbet function, fluff the mixture with a fork rather than a spoon to preserve its signature icy, granular texture.
• Switch up the flavor: Want to take it up a notch? Experiment with strawberry lemonade, or add a sprig of basil and a pinch of flaky sea salt.
Banana Ice Cream
• No perfect time required: When frozen and blended, banana turns into a creamy dairy-free soft serve—sometimes called “nice cream.” While you can achieve this by freezing banana chunks and throwing them into a food processor, I have found that the Ninja Creami simplifies the process (i.e. you don’t have to stress the timing of freezing your fruit).
• Customize with your favorite flavors: It tastes like banana, of course, but you can switch the flavor up a bit by adding a splash of cold brew, instant coffee powder, a spoonful of peanut butter, cocoa powder, caramel sauce, you name it.
• Add some crunch: The Ninja Creami’s mix-in function allows you to throw in everything from chocolate chips and peanut butter cups to chocolate-covered espresso beans, walnuts, and Oreo cookies.
One-Ingredient Froyo
• Turn this breakfast staple into dessert: I wondered what would happen if I simply spooned in some flavored Greek yogurt and froze it. Turns out, you get a perfectly tart, creamy frozen yogurt dessert with almost zero effort. No measuring. No mixing. Just freeze, spin and enjoy.
The Ninja Swirl™ by CREAMi® l turns almost anything into ice cream, soft serve, and much more at the touch of a button. Customize flavor, control ingredients, and create classic scooped or swirled treats.
• Give it a swirl: P.S. If you own the new Ninja Swirl by Creami, you can take things one step further and create a soft-serve-style treat that rivals your favorite frozen yogurt shop. “After I froze Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt in the included pint container, processed and dispensed it, I was seriously impressed,” says Papantoniou. “It rivaled some of the best frozen yogurt I’ve ever had.”
Ice Cream Floats
• Back to basics: Let’s circle back to one of the Ninja Creami’s best-known talents: making delicious homemade ice cream. If you’ve got a few pints ready to process, why not turn them into a full-on dessert experience?
• Make it interactive: Set up a DIY ice cream float station inspired by a retro soda shoppe. Lay out several pints of different ice cream flavors, a variety of sodas and syrups, plus glasses and striped paper straws. You can also lean into a classic sundae bar vibe with hot fudge, sprinkles and all the fixings. Or, bake a few batches of cookies and let everyone build their own ice cream sandwiches on the spot.
What do you like to make in your Ninja Creami? Let us know in the comments below!
