Does anything sound better than sitting down with a pint of chocolate ice cream at the end of a long day? Actually, yes: how about a pint of healthy, high-protein chocolate brownie ice cream!
This easy Ninja Creami recipe gives you a healthy dessert that’s satisfying, creamy, and chocolatey, while packing around 30 grams (or more if you use the protein bar option as your mix-in) of protein! Using one Nature’s Bakery brownie as a mix-in, this single-serve dessert is only about 280 calories and under 7 grams added sugar, making it an ideal after-dinner dessert or high-protein snack.
Unlike most other Ninja Creami recipes out there, this one requires no blenders, pudding mix, or xanthan gum. I am very proud of this aspect, and it’s taken me quite a bit of trial and error to perfect. I hope you enjoy the final result as much as I do!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- High-protein
- Low added sugar
- Low-calorie
- Clean ingredients
- Creamy texture and great flavor
- No blender, xanthan gum, or pudding mix!
If you love this Ninja Creami recipe, try my Birthday Cake Ninja Creami, my High-Protein Biscoff Ice Cream or my High Protein Mint Oreo Ninja Creami Ice Cream!
For a full list of my single-serve desserts, click here.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love!
Products used in this recipe:
- Milk frother
- Oikos protein shake — check out Costco or Walmart if the price on Amazon is super high right now. Also check the other flavors and pack sizes.
- Levels whey protein (clean ingredients, not gritty, tastes great in recipes)
- Drink flavoring syrup (clean ingredients)
- My favorite salt
- Sweetener (this stuff lasts forever)
- Chocolate brownie protein bar — I use the Amazon Subscribe & Save to save money on these. You can also look at the other flavors, as the prices fluctuate and some flavors are cheaper than others. My favorites, besides the Chocolate Fudge Brownie, are the Chocolate Mint (tastes like Thin Mints), Peanut Butter Cup Bar, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
- My favorite measuring spoon set
Ingredients
Base:
4 oz vanilla or chocolate protein shake (I use the Oikos protein shake)
4 – 5 oz milk of choice (non-dairy works, but I usually use cow’s milk)
Half serving of vanilla or chocolate whey protein
1 tbsp drink flavoring syrup like ChocZero, compatible flavor of choice
1 tbsp cocoa powder (I recommend dutch-process)
Pinch of salt
Extra sweetener to taste (see notes)
Mix-ins:
Half of a chocolate brownie protein bar or 1 Nature’s Bakery brownie (They come in a pack of two; one is plenty for me, but you can use two if preferred.)
Directions
- Combine all your ingredients except the mix-ins in the Ninja Creami canister and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. You can use a milk frother instead; I like this one. If you do use a milk frother, make sure you mix it really well.
- Let it sit for a few minutes, then give it a good stir with a spoon to make sure all the cocoa is incorporated. Let all the foam settle before placing in the freezer.
- Freeze on a flat surface for about 24 hours.
- After it is fully frozen, remove canister from the freezer and run the outside under hot water for 60 seconds.
- Place in your NinjaCreami and run on Lite Ice Cream. Check and hit respin if it still looks crumbly. Repeat if still super crumbly after the 2nd respin (I usually only need one respin unless using a plant-based milk.)
- Remove the canister from the machine and, using a plastic knife (metal will scratch and ruin the canister), scrape down the sides until you no longer see frozen residue on the sides of the canister.
- Add half your min-ins to the middle and insert the canister into the machine again. Run on “mix-in.” Crumble the remaining protein bar or brownie on top and enjoy!
Notes
I use 1 tiny scoop of this pure stevia powder. You’ll want to make it sweeter than you think because the freezing process dulls flavor and sweetness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Mine had icy chunks, how can I prevent that?
A: Make sure you thoroughly scrape down the sides after the last respin but before the mix-in cycle. Take the tub out so you can see better, and use a plastic knife so you don’t scratch the canister. It also helps to use the knife to stab/slice around the bottom of the canister to break up any ice down there. And don’t skip running it under hot water for 60 seconds, which helps loosen the ice beforehand.
Q: What if mine has a frozen mound on top when I remove it from the freezer?
A: You can let it sit on the counter for about five minutes, then use a metal spoon to scrape the mound off.
Q: Can this be made vegan or dairy-free?
A: You absolutely can try it with a vegan/dairy-free protein shake, a plant-based milk, and vegan protein powder. Let me know how it turns out for you! I’ve had good results with almond milk.
Q: Is this gluten-free?
A: Yes; everything except the mix-ins are gluten-free. If you are gluten-free or gluten-sensitive, you could use any gluten-free brownie or a brownie- or chocolate-flavored protein bar as your mix-in! Aloha is my all-time favorite protein bar (particularly the chocolate-covered ones), and they have a great chocolate fudge brownie one. I usually keep a box of these around for a quick healthy snack on-the go! I use Amazon Subscribe & Save to save money on them.
Q: Can I use other protein shakes, like Fairlife or Core Power?
A: Yes, pretty much any protein shake should work! You may just need to adjust the sweetness.
