Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)

This Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is bright, tangy, and creamy, with a lemon-pie finish from graham cracker pieces mixed through. High in protein, low effort, ready after one overnight freeze.

I went through a serious lemon phase last summer, and this Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is the one I kept coming back to.

Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is a high-protein frozen dessert made with Fairlife milk, almond milk, vanilla protein powder, fresh lemon juice, and instant lemon pudding mix. The pudding mix is the trick that keeps it creamy instead of icy, the lemon juice keeps the flavor real and tart, and a handful of graham cracker pieces mixed in at the end takes it straight to lemon pie. Each pint comes in around 35g of protein.

You mix the base in about five minutes, freeze it overnight, and let the Creami do the rest. It spins up silky, it leans tart instead of cloying, and it actually keeps you full, which is more than I can say for the store-bought pint I used to buy.

If you are building out your Creami rotation, I have more where this came from: my Kit Kat Protein Ice Cream, my Cookie Dough Protein Ice Cream, and my 10 Ninja Creami Tips for getting every pint creamy.

Ingredients You Need For Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream

You only need a handful of things for this one. The exact measurements, nutrition info, and full recipe are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Fairlife 2% milk. Higher in protein than regular milk, which is part of how this pint hits its protein count. Skim or whole milk both work, with whole giving you a richer, smoother scoop.
• Unsweetened almond milk. Thins the base so it spins smooth. Any unsweetened milk works here, including coconut, oat, or cashew.
• Vanilla protein powder. Adds protein and rounds out the tartness so the lemon does not run too sharp. Whey isolate blends the smoothest, but use one you like the taste of.
• Fresh lemon juice. The real lemon flavor. Bottled works in a pinch, but fresh is brighter and worth the squeeze.
• Instant lemon pudding mix. The creamy-texture trick. It stops ice crystals from forming so the pint comes out smooth instead of icy. Guar gum does a similar job if you would rather skip the pudding mix.
• Graham crackers. Crushed and mixed in at the end for the lemon-pie crunch. One heads-up: standard graham crackers contain wheat, so for a gluten-free version, use gluten-free graham-style crackers and a certified gluten-free pudding mix.
• Optional add-ins. Lemon zest for more punch, a splash of heavy cream for richness, or a swirl of lemon curd folded in after spinning.

How To Make Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream

1. Add the Fairlife milk, almond milk, protein powder, lemon juice, and pudding mix to your Ninja Creami pint, filling to the max line. Mix well with a handheld frother until smooth with no lumps.
2. Freeze the pint flat for 24 hours, until it is solid all the way through.
3. Take the frozen pint out and run the bottom under hot water for 60 to 90 seconds. Lock it into the machine, keeping the top of the base level so you do not damage the blade.
4. Run it on the Lite Ice Cream setting for the first spin. Pop the lid. If it looks powdery or crumbly, put it back and hit Re-spin.
5. Check the texture. You want creamy and smooth. If it is still dry, add a tablespoon of milk and Re-spin until it gets there.
6. Dig a well in the center, add your crushed graham crackers, and run the Mix-In setting to fold them through. Scoop and eat.

Tips For The Creamiest Lemon Pint

• Blend the base until it is completely smooth before it goes in the freezer. Any lumps now turn into icy spots later, so give it an extra few seconds with the frother.
• Freeze the pint dead level. A base that freezes on a tilt spins unevenly and wears on the machine. I keep mine flat on a freezer shelf, not balanced on a bag of frozen veg.
• Do not skip the Re-spin. Lemon bases with this much protein almost always come out crumbly on the first pass, and the re-spin with a splash of milk is what turns it into soft serve.
• Add the graham crackers last and keep the pieces on the bigger side. The Mix-In setting breaks them down, so if you crush them to dust you lose the lemon-pie crunch.

Storing And Making It Ahead

Ninja Creami pints are best right out of the spin, when the texture is soft serve. For leftovers, smooth the top flat with the back of a spoon, lid it, and freeze. It firms up hard in the freezer, so either let it sit out for 5 to 10 minutes before scooping or run it through a quick Re-spin with a splash of milk to bring it back to creamy.

The base also keeps frozen and un-spun for a few weeks, so I like to mix up two or three pints at once and spin them fresh whenever a lemon craving hits.

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Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)

This Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is bright, tangy, and creamy, with a lemon-pie finish from graham cracker pieces mixed through. High in protein, low effort, ready after one overnight freeze.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Chill Time1 day d

Total Time1 day d 5 minutes mins

Course: Ninja Creami Ice Cream

Cuisine: American

Servings: 1 pint

Calories: 284kcal

Author: Bailey Campbell

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep

Ingredients 

1x2x3x4x

• 1 cup Fairlife 2% milk
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1 tbsp lemon jello pudding mix
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp powdered monk fruit
• Optional – graham cracker crumbs to mimic pie flavours

Instructions

• Add all ingredients except graham wafers to the ninja creami pint container up to the max fill line and mix well with hand held frother.
• Freeze container for 24 hours until frozen solid.
• Remove frozen pint and run it under hot water for 60-90 seconds.
  Install the pint into your machine and press the Lite Ice Cream button for the first spin.
• Check the texture. If it’s still a bit powdery, pop it back in and press the Re-Spin button.
• Check ice cream. The final product should be creamy and have a smooth texture. If your desired consistency isn’t reached you can add 1 tbsp of milk and spin again on the respin setting.
• Once it’s silky smooth, dig a hole in the center and add graham wafers. Spin once more on mix in setting and enjoy!

Notes

Can use code BAILEY at checkout on all PEScience products such as the Gourmet Vanilla protein powder.

You can use Fairlife skim milk in this recipe instead. Keep in mind the higher in fat the milk = richer, smoother, dreamier ice cream.

You don't necessarily have to wait the full 24 hours of freezing time. Yes, waiting the full 24 hours will give you the best, most consistent results. But if you only froze it for 12-16 hours and you’re desperate for a frozen treat, you’re not out of luck. Skip the respin button and instead, hit the Mix-Ins button after the Lite Ice Cream cycle. This prevents the ice cream from getting overworked and soupy, which can happen when the base hasn’t fully solidified.

If your ice cream comes out powdery or crumbly after the first spin, instead of immediately reaching for the milk, try hitting the respin button first. More often than not, that’s all you need to get it creamy.

I always pre-chop or crush your mix-ins ahead of time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pint | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 339mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g

The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.

Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on @basicswithbails

More Protein Ninja Creami Recipes

• Ninja Creami Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
• Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream
• Birthday Cake Ice Cream In The Ninja Creami
• Protein Monster Cookie Ninja Creami
• Berry Smoothie Bowl

If you make this Ninja Creami lemon ice cream, leave a star rating and a comment below and tell me how tart you took it. And if you share a pint, tag me @basicswithbails on Instagram or pin it to save for the next hot day. I love seeing your Creami flavors.