This creamy Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream is bursting with vibrant cherry flavor and is super easy to make. Perfect for hot summer days or adding a fruity twist to your dessert, it’s made without any pudding mix or gums.
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Cherry season is still upon us, but I didn’t want to spend time removing seeds from each cherry for my ice cream. Instead, I grabbed a convenient bag of frozen cherries from Costco with the pits already removed!
Just like my Dole Whip ice cream, strawberry ice cream, or peach and cream, where you can use frozen fruits to saves time while still delivering a delicious, fruity dessert. If you’re a fan of refreshing sorbets, you’ll love experimenting with flavors like watermelon sorbet and raspberry sorbet. And for something more adventurous, try my dragon fruit ice cream or lychee ice cream. If you prefer a classic treat, don’t miss my banana split ice cream or red velvet cake batter ice cream even mango ice cream! With the Ninja Creami, making all these fruity flavors is a breeze!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- Ingredients
- How to Make Cherry Ice Cream Using Ninja Creami?
- Mix-in or Topping Suggestion for Cherry Ice Cream
- 💪🏼Make It High Protein
- 👍🏼Make It Less Sugar
- Variations
- Equipment Used
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Quick and Easy Desserts
- Recipe Card
- Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- Convenient: Uses pre-pitted frozen cherries for easy preparation.
- Delicious Flavor: Packed with vibrant cherry goodness in every bite.
- Simple Recipe: Quick to make with your Ninja Creami.
- No Pits: Saves time and effort by eliminating the need to remove cherry pits.
- Creamy Texture: Smooth and indulgent, perfect for a refreshing treat.
- Similar to Blueberry Ice Cream: If you loved that recipe, you’ll enjoy this fruity variation too!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cherries: Fresh or frozen, pits removed. They provide vibrant color and natural sweetness.
- Half and Half: Adds a creamy texture without being too heavy. You can use heavy cream too!
- Cottage Cheese: A good protein source that blends smoothly for added creaminess.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the cherry flavor with a hint of warmth.
- Condensed Milk: Sweetens the ice cream and adds a smooth, rich texture.
- Monk Fruit: A natural, zero-calorie sweetener that keeps the ice cream guilt-free. You can also use agave, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit or regular sugar.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cherry Ice Cream Using Ninja Creami?
- In a blender, combine cherries, half and half, cottage cheese, vanilla extract, condensed milk and monk fruit. Pour the blended mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, making sure it does not exceed the max fill line.
- Place the pint container in the freezer and freeze for at least 18-24 hours.s
- Step 3: After freezing, remove the pint container from the freezer and place it into the Ninja Creami machine. Attach the pint holder lid and lock it into place. Select the "Ice Cream" setting and let the Ninja Creami process the mixture. *see notes
- Scoop the cherry ice cream into bowls and top with your favorite toppings!
Mix-in or Topping Suggestion for Cherry Ice Cream
- Chocolate Chips: Add a sweet and creamy contrast to the cherry flavor.
- Crushed Nuts: Almonds or walnuts for a crunchy texture.
- Fresh Cherries: Top with fresh, sliced cherries for an extra burst of fruitiness.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream for a classic touch.
- Toasted Coconut: Adds a hint of tropical flavor and texture.
- Caramel Sauce: Drizzle with caramel for a rich, sweet addition.
- Crumbled Biscotti: Adds a delightful crunch and hint of vanilla.
💪🏼Make It High Protein
- Add Protein Powder: Mix in a scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder to boost the protein content without altering the flavor.
- Incorporate Collagen: Stir in a tablespoon of collagen powder to add a protein boost without affecting the flavor or texture.
👍🏼Make It Less Sugar
- Replace Condensed Milk: Substitute with evaporated milk and a low-calorie sweetener like monk fruit, stevia, or erythritol to lower the sugar content.
- Adjust Sweetener: Use a natural sweetener like monk fruit, and feel free to decrease the amount according to your taste to keep the dessert light on sugar.
Variations
Here are some delicious variations you can try for your Cherry Ice Cream using the Ninja Creami:
- Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream: Add 2-3 tablespoons of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup to the mix. It creates a rich, chocolatey twist that complements the tart cherries perfectly. For extra indulgence, fold in some chocolate chips or chunks of dark chocolate after the ice cream has been processed.
- Cherry Almond Ice Cream: Enhance the flavor by swapping vanilla extract for almond extract. The subtle nuttiness of almond pairs beautifully with cherries. Top with toasted almond slices for added crunch.
- Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream: Blend in a few tablespoons of cream cheese with the cottage cheese to give the ice cream a tangy cheesecake vibe. Add in some graham cracker crumbs after processing for a fun texture.
- Cherry Coconut Ice Cream: Substitute half and half with coconut milk to create a tropical cherry ice cream. The coconut flavor adds an extra layer of creaminess, making this version dairy-free and full of flavor.
- Cherry Vanilla Swirl: Make a batch of vanilla ice cream and swirl it with your cherry mixture. It creates a visually appealing two-tone effect and gives you a mix of flavors in each bite.
- Cherry Pistachio Ice Cream: Add crushed pistachios to your ice cream after it’s been processed for a nutty contrast to the sweet cherries. You can also swap the cottage cheese for Greek yogurt for a lighter base.
- Spiced Cherry Ice Cream: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice for a warm, spiced flavor that makes this cherry ice cream feel perfect for cooler months. These spices blend beautifully with the cherries' natural sweetness.
- Cherry Banana Split Ice Cream: Mix in mashed ripe bananas for a cherry-banana combo reminiscent of a banana split. Top with whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup after freezing for the full experience.
- Cherry Lychee Ice Cream: Add a few pieces of canned or fresh lychee to the cherry mixture before processing. The tropical sweetness of lychee pairs beautifully with cherries, creating a refreshing and exotic twist.
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 cherries, cottage cheese and ingredients into a silky base.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: The pint container is essential for freezing and churning your cherry ice cream mix.
When choosing between the Deluxe and Regular Ninja Creami, it’s important to consider your needs. The Deluxe version often comes with extra features like more preset functions and larger pint containers, making it ideal for those who like to make larger batches or experiment with different textures. However, if you’re mainly using it for simple ice creams and sorbets, the Regular version might be all you need—compact and efficient without the extras.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you prefer a lighter version, you can use whole milk or any dairy-free alternative such as oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, but the texture may be less creamy.
Substitute the half and half, cottage cheese, and condensed milk with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk, coconut milk, and coconut cream. Adjust the sweetness as needed.
Absolutely! Frozen fruit is ideal for making sorbets, ice creams, and other frozen treats in the Ninja Creami. Just be sure to cut the fruit into small pieces before freezing to protect the blades.
Yes, it’s recommended to freeze the mixture for 24 hours to ensure it solidifies properly before processing. This ensures the best creamy texture when blending.
More Quick and Easy Desserts
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe Card
Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
- 1 Ninja Creami Pint Container
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cherries Fresh or frozen pits removed
- 1 cup Half and Half or heavy cream
- ½ cup Cottage Cheese
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Condensed Milk
- 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit You can also use agave honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit or regular sugar.
Instructions
- In a blender, combine cherries, half and half, cottage cheese, vanilla extract, condensed milk and monk fruit. Pour the blended mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, making sure it does not exceed the max fill line.
- Place the pint container in the freezer and freeze for at least 18-24 hours.
- After freezing, remove the pint container from the freezer and place it into the Ninja Creami machine. Attach the pint holder lid and lock it into place. Select the "Ice Cream" setting and let the Ninja Creami process the mixture. *see notes
- Scoop the cherry ice cream into bowls and top with your favorite toppings
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