Fall isn't quite here yet, but I'm already thinking about apple cider, and this Ninja Creami apple cider ice cream is how I get a head start. It's sweet, spiced, and made with just 5 simple ingredients, no waiting for the first cold snap required. It comes together quickly in the Ninja CREAMi, so it's an easy one to bookmark now and make the second cider season actually starts.
If you're an apple lover, you'll also want to try my Apple Pie Ice Cream and Apple Cinnamon Rolls.
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I love apple cider, whether hot or cold, it's comforting either way. But why stop there when you can creamify it?
This recipe is a great way to use apple cider once the season actually gets here, or to freeze a batch now if you've got some on hand early. Apples are the whole point, and this is one of the more interesting ways to use them.
If you're craving more cozy flavors, check out my chai ice cream, pumpkin spice, or eggnog ice cream. My matcha and thai tea ice cream recipes are good year-round if you want something outside the fall flavor lineup.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This
- What is Apple Cider?
- Ingredients
- Substitution and Additions
- How To Make Apple Cider Ice Cream
- Mix-in or Topping Suggestion
- Make It High Protein
- Make It Less Sugar
- Make It Non-Dairy or Vegan
- Variations
- Equipment Used
- Rose's Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- More Fall-Inspired Ninja Creami Flavor
- Did you try this recipe?
- Ninja Creami Apple Cider Ice Cream
Why You'll Love This
- Fall Flavors in Every Bite: Sweet, spiced, and unmistakably autumn.
- Easy to Make: Blend, freeze, process, and done.
- Makes Great Use of Apple Cider: Whether you've got leftovers or bought extra just for this.
- A Genuinely Different Way to Use Apples: Not another pie or crisp.
- Customizable Mix-Ins: Add caramel, nuts, or cookies for extra flavor.
What is Apple Cider?
Apple cider is made from fresh-pressed apples. It's sweet, tangy, and naturally flavorful, different from apple juice, which is filtered and pasteurized to be clearer and shelf-stable. Make sure you're grabbing apple cider, not apple cider vinegar, they're shelved nowhere near each other, but the names get mixed up more often than you'd think.
My favorite is Honeycrisp apple cider, so sweet it feels like dessert. You can enjoy it warm or cold, depending on your mood, and in this recipe, it becomes the base of the whole ice cream.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- Honeycrisp Apple Cider: Sweet, tangy, and full of fall flavor.
- Half and Half: Adds creaminess and a smooth texture.
- Muscovado Sugar: Rich, caramel-like sweetness.
- Cream Cheese: Enhances the creaminess and gives a velvety feel.
- Cinnamon Powder: Warm spice that rounds out the apple flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitution and Additions
- Muscovado Sugar: Swap for brown sugar if you want a milder taste.
- Apple Cider: Any variety works if Honeycrisp isn't available, just expect a slightly different sweetness depending on the apple.
- Half and Half: Heavy cream makes it richer; whole milk makes it lighter, though less creamy.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash adds extra warmth.
- Spice Blend: Use a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for a deeper, more layered spice flavor.
How To Make Apple Cider Ice Cream
- Blend the base: In a blender, combine apple cider, half and half, muscovado sugar, cream cheese, and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.
- Freeze the mix: Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container. Freeze for 24 hours.
- Process in Ninja Creami: Use the "Ice Cream" function to process the frozen base.
- Customize: Add mix-ins like caramel or nuts, then re-spin.
Mix-in or Topping Suggestion
- Caramel Swirls: A gooey caramel swirl for extra indulgence.
- Chopped Nuts: Walnuts or pecans add crunch and flavor.
- Apple Chunks: Stir in fresh or cooked apple pieces.
- Granola: A hearty, crunchy mix-in.
- Crumbled Pie Crust: Mimics an apple pie in every bite.
- Whipped Cream: A light, fluffy topping for extra sweetness.
- Cinnamon Sugar: Sprinkle on top for extra spice.
- Maple Syrup Drizzle: Adds a touch of earthy sweetness.
- White Chocolate Chips: Creamy and sweet, a nice contrast to the tart cider.
- Candied Ginger: A spicy-sweet topping that adds some real bite.
Make It High Protein
- Add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to the mix.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese for extra protein.
- Stir in chopped walnuts for a protein-packed crunch.
Make It Less Sugar
- Use unsweetened apple cider for a lighter option.
- Replace muscovado sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
- Add a bit more cinnamon so you can cut back on sugar without losing flavor.
Make It Non-Dairy or Vegan
- Use oat milk or almond milk instead of half and half.
- Swap cream cheese for a plant-based cream cheese alternative.
- Double check your apple cider is vegan-friendly, some brands add honey.
Variations
- Caramel Apple Cider Ice Cream: Mix in caramel for extra indulgence.
- Spiced Apple Cider Ice Cream: Add nutmeg and cloves for a deeper spice.
- Apple Crumble Ice Cream: Stir in crumbled cookies or granola.
- Bourbon Apple Cider Ice Cream: Add a splash of bourbon for a grown-up version.
Equipment Used
- Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: The star of the show, perfect for creating creamy, smooth ice cream.
- Blender: To blend the ingredients into a silky base.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: The pint container is essential for freezing and churning your ice cream mix.
Rose's Tips
- Use Fresh Apple Cider: It gives the best, most concentrated flavor.
- Don't Skip the 24-Hour Freeze: It's essential for the right texture, the base needs to freeze completely solid.
- If It's Crumbly After Spinning: Add a tablespoon of apple cider or milk and hit re-spin. Repeat if needed, it should smooth out.
- Let It Sit Before Scooping: If it's too hard straight out of the freezer, a few minutes on the counter softens it up.
Recipe FAQs
No, muscovado sugar is less processed and retains more molasses than regular brown sugar, giving it a richer flavor and stickier texture. Brown sugar is refined white sugar with added molasses, making it milder in taste.
Muscovado sugar contains trace minerals like calcium and potassium due to minimal processing, but it’s still sugar and should be consumed in moderation. While slightly more nutritious than white sugar, it’s not a significant health food.
More Fall-Inspired Ninja Creami Flavor
Did you try this recipe?
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Thank you!
Ninja Creami Apple Cider Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker
- 1 Blender
- 24 oz Ninja Creami Pint Container
Ingredients
- 1½ cups Honeycrisp apple cider
- ⅓ cup Half and half
- ⅓ cup Muscovado sugar or brown sugar
- ⅓ cup Cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Blend the base: In a blender, combine apple cider, half and half, muscovado sugar, cream cheese, and cinnamon. Blend until smooth.1½ cups Honeycrisp apple cider , ⅓ cup Half and half , ⅓ cup Muscovado sugar or brown sugar, ⅓ cup Cream cheese , ½ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
- Freeze the mix: Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container. Freeze for 24 hours.
- Process in Ninja Creami: Use the "Ice Cream" function to process the frozen base.
- Optional re-spin: If needed, re-spin for a creamier texture.
- Customize: Add mix-ins like caramel or nuts, then re-spin.
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