Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami Recipe | Feasting on Fruit (2024)

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A dairy-free spin on the Ninja Creami trend! Rich vegan chocolate ice cream sweetened with dates, healthy and high-protein, ready in minutes!

So after seeing enough swirly instagram posts of Ninja Creami creations, I finally justified to myself and my husband that this magical machine was something we NEEDed in our lives. And I have used it almost every day since the box showed up, so I think I was right. Finding the right dairy-free ratios started out a little bumpy (literally), but after a few weeks I figured out a recipe to get consistently creamy results! It had to be:

  • CREAMY – not too icy or powdery (part of this is about technique too!)
  • High-protein – you’ll notice a common theme with Creami recipes and that is protein powder, which is part of why I wanted the machine in the first place. A bedtime snack that tastes like ice cream but also packs 30+ grams of protein? YES PLEASE. And yes it is possible to do with plant-based protein too
  • Healthy-ish – not too high in sugar or fat, I wanted that eat-the-whole-pint experience
  • Easy – prep every morning in just a few minutes easy
  • Dairy-free – almost every Ninja Creami recipe you’ll see on the internet starts with “fairlife milk”, so I wanted to bring a dairy-free option to the Creami recipe scene

I started with the classic: chocolate! With chocolate chips mixed in. But don’t worry, I have plenty more flavors in the works…

Creating The Perfect Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami

Just a handful of simple ingredients you probably already have on hand, one blender, and 8ish hours of chilling time. The Ninja Creami instructions do say “freeze overnight”, but I have found that if I pop it in the freeze by about 9am I am usually good to go by post-dinner Netflix time (8-9pm).

Dairy-Free Creami Ingredients

  • Cashew milk. Almond milk will work too, but cashew has a little extra creaminess that is even better here.
  • Coconut milk. Or coconut cream if you want it extra rich, you can sub with dairy-free yogurt or dairy-free creamer.
  • Chocolate protein powder. Your favorite brand or variety, I personally like Sprout Living Chocolate Maca Epic Protein.
  • Medjool dates. For natural sweetness, and a little extra thickness too
  • Cocoa powder. We want it extra chocolatey of course.
  • Vanilla and salt. Both add extra flavor balance and make it taste more like store-bought ice cream.

Ninja Creami Tips

  1. The RE-SPIN function! If there is one tip/secret/key I can give any new Ninja Creami owner, it’s the re-spin button on your machine. The first time you run almost any ice cream recipe, it’s going to come out powdery. But do not lose hope there! Just give it a little stir, add a splash of milk, and re-spin. Still not perfectly creamy? Re-spin again, this time without milk. And then add your mix-ins. It makes ALL the difference.
  2. Use enough fat. Yes we are going for a healthier ice cream, but you still need some fat/richness to get a creamy satisfying texture that isn’t icy. The majority of the base is cashew milk, which is mostly water, so you need the coconut milk for that extra fat. Or if you want to skip the coconut milk, add a tablespoon or two of nut butter.
  3. Sweeten with dates. I’ve made batches with maple syrup too, but blending in dates as the “sugar” adds extra thickness and creaminess too. Win win!
  4. Don’t over-fill your Creami cups. I stay a 1/4 inch or so below the max fill line even. You will still end up with plenty of volume, and it tends to blend better in my experience.
  5. Have fun with mix-ins! Once you get a go-to base recipe down, the fun part is MIX-INS. Chocolate chips, sprinkles, brownie chunks, cookie dough, m&ms, granola, endless possibilities…

More Ice Cream Recipes You’ll Love

  • Vegan Pistachio Ice Cream
  • SunButter Soft Serve
  • Watermelon Mint Ice Cream
  • Dairy-Free Rocky Road Ice Cream

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Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami Recipe | Feasting on Fruit (11)

Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami Recipe

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  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Chilling Time: 8 hours
  • Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving 1x
  • Category: ice cream
  • Method: frozen
  • Cuisine: american
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Description

A dairy-free spin on the Ninja Creami trend! Rich vegan chocolate ice cream sweetened with dates, healthy and high-protein, ready in minutes!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Blend all the ingredients until smooth.
  2. Pour into a Ninja Creami container and freeze overnight.
  3. Process on the “light ice cream” setting, it will be powdery at this point.
  4. Add a splash of milk (preferably coconut) and “re-spin” once or twice as needed.
  5. Add mix-ins of choice, and process on the “mix-in” setting. Enjoy!

Keywords: dairy free, chocolate, ice cream, soft serve, vegan, high protein, snack, dessert, medjool dates

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Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami Recipe | Feasting on Fruit (12)

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Dairy-Free Chocolate Creami Recipe | Feasting on Fruit (2024)

FAQs

What replaces milk in vegan ice cream? ›

Kaminsky says that you'll get the best results from dairy-free counterparts that are higher in fat such as canned coconut milk. She typically uses almond milk as her base, but other non-dairy milks can work (steer clear of rice milk because it tends to be too watery).

Can I use almond milk in Ninja Creami reddit? ›

For us, the basic recipe that works everytime is 4 parts milk (we use almond milk), 1 part heavy cream, half a packet of flavored pudding mix (we use sugar free), and sugar/splenda to taste (we use 1-2 tablespoons). You can get creative from there but that always yields a really good ice cream base.

What do they put in dairy-free ice cream? ›

Dairy-less frozen desserts replace milk and cream with alternatives like coconut, soy, oat, cashew, or almond milk. Many other ingredients remain the same between the dairy and dairy-free versions. And, just like dairy ice cream, non-dairy ice cream can vary widely in terms of sugar, fat, and calorie content.

Is dairy-Free ice cream healthier than regular ice cream? ›

Ice creams made from lighter plant-based milk, such as almond milk, can be much lower in calories. Ice creams that use plant-based milk are also usually lower in other nutrients, such as fat, protein, and micronutrients.

How do you thicken non-dairy ice cream? ›

Plant-based fats are the best way to thicken vegan ice cream. Coconut cream, full-fat coconut milk and coconut oil will give the creamiest and thickest results. Cornstarch and tapioca starch can also be used to thicken but the end result will be a little more icy and a little less creamy.

What makes non-dairy ice cream creamy? ›

The secret is nothing more than coconut milk. Full-fat, creamy coconut milk. Other vegan milk substitutes, like almond milk or soy milk, just don't cut it when it comes to ice cream. You need the fattiness and unctuousness that can only be found in a can of coconut milk.

Can I put frozen fruit in my Ninja Creami? ›

Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker

We love our Creami. To use your frozen fruit, follow your instructions from the recipes that came with your Creami. If you want to make fruit ice cream thaw your fruit, place in a food processor and mix it with the vanilla ice cream recipe.

What kind of milk for creami? ›

I use 1 cup of full. fat milk, 3/4 cup heavy cream and cocoa powder.

Why is ice cream crumbly in Ninja Creami? ›

Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream crumbly? According to the Ninja Creami recipe pamphlet, the base comes out crumbly when it's too cold. The re-spin function was designed to address this. Simply re-install the pint and spin it again.

Is there such thing as dairy-free ice cream? ›

Non-dairy is the fastest-growing segment of the frozen dessert category. Over the last two years, plant-based ice cream experience 66.7% sales growth. That's a lot of people enjoying dairy-free ice cream! There's power in numbers, and it looks like the numbers are giving dairy-free ice cream a double thumbs up.

What is in Arctic Zero dairy-free? ›

It's non-dairy and puts a whole new spin on “going green”. Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Allulose, Sugarcane Fiber, And/Or Vegetable Fiber, Faba Bean Protein Concentrate, Gum Blend (Acacia, Tara, Guar), Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Spirulina Extract, Turmeric, Monk Fruit Concentrate.

What is like ice cream but made without milk? ›

One of the first frozen treats ever developed were ices (or sorbets), which essentially are a mixture of smooth ice, sugar, flavoring and other refreshing ingredients like fruit purees. A sorbet does not contain any dairy products and is more acidic, which results in tart flavors.

Does Ben and Jerry's have dairy-free ice cream? ›

You dared us to go dairyless—and we did! Our Non-Dairy flavor creations are made with almond milk, 100% certified vegan, and boldly loaded with chunks and swirls. You'll get Ben & Jerry's euphoria in every bite. These flavors deliver everything… but the cow.

What is the healthiest ice cream I can eat? ›

We asked dieticians, nutritionists and doctors to recommend the healthiest ice creams sold at grocery stores, and they provided these eight suggestions, all available nationwide.
  • Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream.
  • Halo Top Ice Cream.
  • Talenti Gelato.
  • Arctic Zero Ice Cream.
  • Alec's Ice Cream.
  • Cado Avocado Frozen Dessert.
Mar 21, 2024

Is there a difference between lactose-free and dairy-free ice cream? ›

Lactose-free is not the same as dairy-free. The main difference between the two is that lactose-free products can be made from real dairy milk while dairy-free products are made from plant sources such as nuts and grains. While all dairy-free products are lactose-free, not all lactose-free products are dairy-free.

What is a substitute for whole milk in ice cream? ›

Don't worry too much if you don't have whole milk or heavy cream. Nearly any milk will work, and you can substitute half-and-half for the cream. Ideally you want ingredients with a high fat content because these will create a creamy texture when cooled.

How do you stabilize vegan ice cream? ›

This can be achieved by adding stabilizers/thickeners and following proper churning techniques. Common stabilizers used in vegan ice cream include xanthan gum, agar-agar, or guar gum.

What is the closest non-dairy alternative to milk? ›

Soy Milk. Soy milk is the OG of non-dairy milk and is made by soaking soybeans (which have been hulled and ground) in water. Soybeans contain essential amino acids, high levels of protein, and iron, and soy milk has lower fat and cholesterol levels than cow's milk. Soy milk has a subtly sweet, creamy, and mild flavor.

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