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If you have a Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream Maker and you’re looking for great recipes to make, you can’t go wrong with this basic Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream, which can be used as a base to make all kinds of different chocolate variations.
» You might also like this Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream recipe.
We reviewed the Ninja Creami recently when we were given one to try out. I started making ice cream the first day I unboxed it and I have to admit that my freezer is now full of different variations. It all started with the basic Ninja Creami Vanilla ice cream and blossomed from there, once I realized how simple it was to do.
If you have a Ninja Creami, or are thinking about getting one, this chocolate ice cream is a great place to start. Read through the recipe below and you’ll see how simple it is. Just 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time will give you a pretty great ice cream. You can even use this ice cream to make this chocolate milkshake recipe.
From this chocolate base, you can make all kinds of variations. You can add in any toppings you want after you’ve mixed it, like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or toffee bits. I even blended in a Kind bar.
Ingredients You Need
- Cream cheese (softened) – This is the base of the original Ninja Creami recipe. It only takes a tablespoon, and if you forget to soften it, that’s no probably because you can zap it in the microwave quickly.
- White sugar – You can also use a substitute sugar like allulose to make a sugar-free version.
- Vanilla extract – Use a high quality extract for the best flavor. You can also use vanilla bean paste, if you want.
- Cocoa powder – I use this Ghirardelli 100% unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Heavy whipping cream or half and half – heavy cream produces the creamiest result, but you can cut the calories and fat a bit by using half and half and it’s just as good (only a little less creamy)
- Whole milk – Best to stick with whole milk, lest the ice cream turn out more like snow.
Equipment Needed
Ninja CREAMi Deluxe
There are two version of the Ninja Creami, but I’d suggest going with the Deluxe because it adds more features and churning power.
Make completely customizable ice cream, slushies, Italian Ice, Creamiccinos, sorbet, milkshakes, and frozen yogurt functions.
How to Make This Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Put the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. If it’s not room temperature and soft, you can microwave it for 5-10 seconds to softened it.
Add the sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder to the bowl. Whisk it together until it’s smooth.
Pour in the heavy cream and milk. Whisk again to combine everything together.
Pour the mixture into the Creami pint jar. Cover it with the lid and freeze it for 24 hours.
When ready, remove the pint jar from the freezer and secure it in the blending jar. Turn on the Ninja Creami. Slide the blending jar into the machine and lock it in to the right.
Select top, bottom, or full, depending on how much of the pint jar you want to mix. Select the ice cream setting with the dial. Press the dial in to start. It will take 2 minutes to blend.
When done, push the button on the left of the machine to release the blending jar, then slide it out of the machine and remove the lid.
If you want add-ins, create a hole in the center of the ice cream, plop in your add-ins. Put the blending jar back into the machine and press the add-ins button.
Tips for Making Great Ice Cream
- If your ice cream turns out powdery the first time, it’s because the ice cream is very cold. Put it back in the machine and run the Re-Spin cycle. This will make the ice cream creamier.
- The higher the quality of the ingredients you use, the better the ice cream will turn out. The quality of the vanilla extract and the cocoa powder has the highest impact on the flavor.
- I’ve used half and half instead of whole cream a few times and it’s turned out really good, though not quite as creamy. You can try it both ways to see how you like it best.
Ninja Creami Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really need to freeze it for 24 hours?
The manufacturer’s guidelines suggest that 24 hours is the optimal time to freeze your base. I’ve tried it after 20 hours and that worked well for me, possibly because my freezer is colder than some. The unit is designed to process bases that are between 9F and -7F. I would try to stick with the 24-hour requirement as closely as possible so it has time to reach this range.
What if my ice cream or treat turns out powdery?
I believe this happens because the mixture is very cold. If you let it sit for 10 minutes and stir it again, it will blend better and be more creamy. However, the best way to deal with this issue for me has been to respin it immediately. The respin always fixed the issue.
How much of my add-in ingredients should I add?
Ninja recommends adding a total of 1/4 cup of your favorite crushed candies, frozen fruits, chopped nuts, chocolate pieces, or whatever add-ins you want. You can mix and match, as you like. I like to blend the top with 1/8 cup of one add-in, then blend the bottom with 1/8 cup of another add-in, for variety.
What do I do with leftovers?
It’s quite possible you will have leftovers, since the Deluxe pints hold 3 cups. Ninja recommends storing leftovers in the pint jar so that it can be processed again. Some treats re-freeze very hard and need to be processed again in order to enjoy leftovers. If you move them to a different container, you can’t reprocess.
Do I have to make the whole pint each time?
There is no minimum fill line. You should try to fill the pint at least half way to the MAX FILL line to achieve the best output texture, but filling below this level will not harm the machine. For me, making half a recipe has turned out just fine.
» If you love ice cream as much as I do you will love these 50 Homemade Ice Cream Recipes for the Ice Cream Maker!
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Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese softened
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Put the cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Microwave for 10 seconds if it’s not yet softened.
- Add the sugar, vanilla extract, and cocoa powder. Whisk together until smooth.
- Pour in the heavy cream and milk. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the mixture into the Creami pint jar. Cover with the lid and freeze for 24 hours.
- When ready, remove the pint jar from the freezer and secure it in the blending jar. Turn on the Ninja Creami. Slide the blending jar into the machine and lock it in to the right.
- Select top, bottom, or full, depending on how much of the pint jar you want to mix. Select the ice cream setting with the dial. Press the dial in to start. It will take 2 minutes to blend.
- When done, push the button on the left of the machine to release the blending jar, then slide it out of the machine and remove the lid.
- If you want add-ins, create a hole in the center of the ice cream, plop in your add-ins. Put the blending jar back into the machine and press the add-ins button.
Equipment Needed
- Ninja Creami
Notes
- If your ice cream turns out powdery the first time, it’s because the ice cream is very cold. Put it back in the machine and run the Re-Spin cycle. This will make the ice cream creamier.
- The higher the quality of the ingredients you use, the better the ice cream will turn out. The quality of the vanilla extract and the cocoa powder has the highest impact on the flavor.
- I’ve used half and half instead of whole cream a few times and it’s turned out really good, though not quite as creamy. You can try it both ways to see how you like it best.
Nutrition
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Laura is a home cook, with 25 years experience behind the stove, who spends an extraordinary amount of time in the kitchen cooking. She loves making new recipes and finding wonderful new things to eat, both at home or abroad. She spends a lot of time researching, crafting, and perfecting her recipes.
Hello Laura,
This turned out delicious! My husband says it’s like eating gelato yummy
Thank you very much for the recipe.
So glad you liked it, Michelle! Be sure to try some of our other Ninja Creami recipes too!
Not enough to fill line.
Misprint on 1/2 cup heavy cream? Should be 3/4 cup?
This recipe doesn’t fill the container. We save some room for adding extras at the end. But if you want it filled, you can add more cream if you want.