This Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream is creamy, bright, and bursting with real cherry flavor, the kind of fruity dessert that tastes like summer in a bowl. It’s also ridiculously easy: no pudding mix, no gums, and no weird ingredients you have to Google in the grocery aisle.
If you love fruit-forward Creami pints, make sure to try my blueberry ice cream, strawberry ice cream, and blackberry ice cream next, basically the whole berry-and-cherry dream team.
Save This Recipe 💌
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Cherry season is still going strong, which is great… unless you’re about to pit a whole pile of cherries for ice cream. I love homemade, but I’m not standing over the sink popping seeds one by one like it’s my new personality. So I took the shortcut that actually makes sense: a big bag of frozen, pitted cherries from Costco.
They blend up smooth, taste bright and fruity, and save a ton of time which is exactly the vibe when you’re making Ninja Creami desserts.
And here’s the best part: if it’s not cherry season, you can totally use jarred cherries instead for a surely sweet, no-fail cherry flavor. No guessing, no sour surprises, just a creamy cherry pint that works every time.
Jump to:
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.
- Creamy Texture: Smooth and indulgent, perfect for a refreshing treat.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cherries: Fresh or frozen, pits removed. They provide vibrant color and natural sweetness. Make sure it's sweet! Use jarred ones if your cherry is not sweet!
- 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.
- Agave: A natural, zero-calorie sweetener that keeps the ice cream guilt-free. You can also 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.
- 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 & Topping Ideas
- Mini chocolate chips
- Crushed almonds or pistachios
- Fresh sliced cherries
- Whipped cream
- Toasted coconut
- Caramel or chocolate drizzle
- Crumbled biscotti or graham crackers
Flavor Variations to Try
- Chocolate Cherry – Add cocoa powder or chocolate chunks
- Cherry Almond – Swap vanilla for almond extract
- Cherry Cheesecake – Blend in cream cheese + graham crumbs
- Cherry Coconut – Use coconut milk for a tropical twist
- Cherry Pistachio – Fold in chopped pistachios after spinning
- Spiced Cherry – Cinnamon or nutmeg for cozy vibes
- Cherry Banana Split – Add banana + classic toppings
- Cherry Lychee – Sweet, floral, and super refreshing
Ninja Creami Tips & Troubleshooting
- Crumbly after spinning? Totally normal. Hit Respin once.
- Too soft? Freeze 10–15 more minutes and respin.
- Grainy texture? Blend longer before freezing next time.
- Icy result? Make sure you froze a full 18–24 hours and didn’t skimp on fat.
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.
Recipe FAQs
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:
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE? Share the love by leaving a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. Stay updated on the newest recipes by subscribing to my newsletterand following on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
Recipe Card
Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
- 1 Ninja Creami Pint Container
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sweet Cherries Fresh or frozen pits removed
- 1 cup Half and Half
- ¼ cup Cottage Cheese
- ½ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit You can also use agave honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit or regular sugar.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
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.1 cup Sweet Cherries Fresh or frozen, 1 cup Half and Half, ¼ cup Cottage Cheese, ½ cup Sweetened Condensed Milk, 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit You can also use agave, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 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
Save This Recipe 💌
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Notes
- Make sure your cherries are nice and sweet. If they’re tart, go with store-bought jarred cherries like maraschinos.
- If your mixture is still crumbly after the first spin, just hit the "Respin" button and keep going until it’s nice and creamy. Adding a tablespoon of cream or milk can help speed things up.
- Normally, if you let it sit out for 5 to 10 minutes after taking it out of the freezer, it usually won't need any spin.
Chong says
Wow, this cherry ice cream looks absolutely mouthwatering!
🍒 I love that it's made without pudding mix or gums—sounds way healthier and
more natural. I wonder if adding a splash of almond
extract could enhance the cherry flavor even more?
Can't wait to try this recipe!
My site :: Puravive supplement