I always pick up fresh strawberries from Costco. If we don't finish them in two days, they go straight into the freezer for smoothies.
Now, with the Ninja Creami, they're turning into ice cream instead. Blend the strawberries into a simple base, freeze it, spin it, and you've got something smoother and more strawberry-forward than anything from a tub.
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If you're looking for more flavors to try, you'll love pistachio ice cream, or something more unexpected like Milo ice cream or avocado ice cream. If you're feeling adventurous, don't miss peach and cream ice cream, azuki red bean ice cream, or watermelon sorbet.
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Ingredients
- Fresh or Frozen Strawberries: The base of the whole recipe. Frozen works fine if you thaw them first.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Gives the base its richness.
- Milk: I use evaporated milk, but any milk or milk alternative works.
- Lemon Juice: Just a small squeeze. It brightens the strawberry flavor and keeps the ice cream from tasting flat or one-note.
- Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the sweetness.
- Sweetener: I use agave syrup, but honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit, or regular sugar all work.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitution and Addition
- Milk alternatives: Oat milk, coconut milk, or almond milk in place of evaporated milk for dairy-free.
- Cream swap: Half and half instead of heavy whipping cream for a lighter texture.
- Sweetener swap: Any of the options above work in equal amounts, adjust to taste.
- Extra strawberry flavor: Stir in freeze-dried strawberries after spinning for more concentrated flavor and a bit of texture.
How to Make Strawberry Ice Cream in Ninja Creami
- In a blender, combine strawberry, heavy whipping cream, milk, sweetene, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. 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 "Lite Ice Cream" setting and let the Ninja Creami process the mixture.
- Scoop the strawberry ice cream into bowls and top with your favorite toppings, such Trader Joes' Freeze Dried Strawberries.
Topping Suggestions
- Fresh Strawberry Slices: Extra strawberries on top, or freeze-dried for more concentrated flavor (what I used in the photo).
- Whipped Cream: Adds a light, airy contrast to the creamy base.
- Chocolate Sauce: A drizzle for richness.
- Crushed Nuts: Almonds, pecans, or walnuts for crunch.
- Granola: For crunch and texture in every bite.
- Mint Leaves: A fresh, cooling finish.
- Sprinkles: For the kids, or anyone who wants them.
Variations
- Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream: Swirl in softened cream cheese before spinning, then top with crushed graham crackers.
- Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream: Fold in crumbled shortbread or pound cake after spinning.
- Strawberries and Cream: Skip the sweetener adjustments and add an extra splash of heavy cream for a richer, less-sweet version.
- Strawberry Banana Ice Cream: Blend in half a ripe banana with the strawberries for natural sweetness.
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Ice Cream: Swirl in melted chocolate or mini chocolate chips after spinning.
Rose's Top Tips
- Freeze the pint on a flat surface. An uneven freezer shelf can make it process unevenly once you spin it.
- Blend until completely smooth. Any strawberry chunks left in the base turn into icy bits once frozen, so don't rush this step.
- A crumbly texture after the first spin is normal. Hit Re-Spin, and add a splash of milk or cream if it needs help coming together.
- Taste your strawberries before you sweeten. Ripe, in-season berries need less sweetener than early or out-of-season ones, so adjust to taste rather than following the amount blindly.
Recipe FAQs
Store any leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer. To maintain the best texture, consume within a week.
If the ice cream is too hard, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and use the respin function on your Ninja Creami to soften it up.
Yes, you can substitute dairy milk with plant-based alternatives like soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk to make a dairy-free version.
Absolutely! You can substitute strawberries with other fruits like mangoes, blueberries, or peaches to create different flavors.
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Ninja Creami Strawberry Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Blender
- 1 Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh or frozen Strawberries chopped
- ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream You can also use half and half.
- ¾ cup Evaporated Milk Any type of milk or milk alternative can be used such as oat milk, or cow's milk, depending on your dietary preferences.
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 3 tablespoon Agave Syrup or any sweetener of your choice such as honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit or regular sugar.
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- In a blender, combine strawberry, heavy whipping cream, milk, sweetener and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth. Pour the blended mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, making sure it does not exceed the max fill line.1 cup Fresh or frozen Strawberries, ½ cup Heavy Whipping Cream, ¾ cup Evaporated Milk, 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, 3 tablespoon Agave Syrup , 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 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 "Lite Ice Cream" setting and let the Ninja Creami process the mixture.
- Scoop the strawberry ice cream into bowls and top with your favorite toppings, such Trader Joes' Freeze Dried Strawberries.
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Notes
- Blend the strawberries in completely, no chunks left, or they'll turn into icy bits once the base freezes.
- Don't skip the lemon juice. It's a small amount, but it's what keeps the strawberry flavor from tasting flat.
- Freeze the pint on a flat surface in your freezer for the most even spin.
- A crumbly texture after the first spin is normal. Hit Re-Spin, and add a splash of milk or cream if it needs help.
- Store in the pint container with the lid on. Best eaten within 1 week for the creamiest texture.
