Ninja Creami Salted Chocolate Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)
This Ninja Creami salted chocolate ice cream is rich, dark, and creamy with a flaky sea salt finish that makes the chocolate taste deeper. High in protein, made in one overnight freeze.
Salted chocolate is the flavor I reach for when I want dessert to feel a little grown up, and this Ninja Creami version has been on repeat in my freezer.
Ninja Creami salted chocolate ice cream is a high-protein frozen dessert made with Fairlife chocolate milk, chocolate protein powder, instant chocolate pudding mix, and a hit of sea salt. The pudding mix keeps it creamy, the protein powder carries the chocolate, and the salt is what takes it from regular chocolate to salted chocolate. Each pint comes in around 38g of protein.
You mix the base in about five minutes, freeze it overnight, and let the Creami spin it into something smooth and scoopable.
More chocolate Creami pints if you want them: my Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream, my Cosmic Brownie Protein Ice Cream, and my Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream.
Why You’ll Love This Salted Chocolate Ice Cream
- The salt does real work. A pinch of flaky salt makes the chocolate read darker and richer, closer to a good dark chocolate bar than a kiddie chocolate cone.
- A whole pint has 38g of protein, so it lands as a dessert that works with your day instead of against it.
- It comes together with five ingredients and one overnight freeze. No ice cream maker bowl to pre-chill, no cooking, no churning by hand.
Ingredients You Need For Salted Chocolate 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 chocolate milk. Higher in protein than regular milk and already chocolatey, so it does double duty. A chocolate protein shake works too, and if you use one you can skip the protein powder.
- Unsweetened almond milk. Thins the base so it spins smooth. Any unsweetened milk works, including cashew, coconut, or oat.
- Sugar-free chocolate pudding mix. The creamy-texture trick. It stops ice crystals from forming so the pint comes out smooth instead of icy. Guar gum or xanthan gum does the same job.
- Chocolate protein powder. Most of the protein and a big part of the chocolate flavor. I use Chocolate Milkshake from 1UP Nutrition, which is easy on sensitive stomachs, and code BAILS gets you 20% off.
- Sea salt. The whole point. Fine salt in the base, flaky salt on top.
- Optional add-ins. Chocolate chips, a spoon of cocoa powder for a darker base, or a splash of heavy cream for a richer pint.
How To Make Salted Chocolate Ice Cream
- Add the Fairlife chocolate milk, almond milk, pudding mix, chocolate protein powder, and a little sea salt to your Ninja Creami pint, filling to the max line. Mix well with a handheld frother until smooth.
- Freeze the pint flat for 24 hours, until it is solid all the way through.
- Take the frozen pint out and run the bottom under hot water for about 60 seconds. Lock it into the machine, keeping the top of the base level so you do not damage the blade.
- 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.
- 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.
- Scoop, then finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt on top. That last bit of salt is what makes it taste like salted chocolate.
Tips For The Best Salted Chocolate Pint
- Salt in two places. A little fine salt in the base, then flaky salt on top right before you eat. The salt on top is what your tongue actually reads as salted chocolate, so do not skip it.
- Go slow on the salt in the base. Start with a small pinch, because you can always add flaky salt on top, but you cannot pull it back out once it is frozen in.
- Blend the base completely smooth before freezing. Any lumps now turn into icy spots later, so give it a few extra seconds with the frother.
- Do not skip the Re-spin. Protein bases almost always come out crumbly on the first pass, and a splash of milk plus a re-spin is what turns it into soft serve.
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, so run it back through a quick Re-spin with a splash of milk to bring it back to creamy before you dig in.
The base also keeps frozen and un-spun for a few weeks, so I mix up two or three pints at once and spin them fresh whenever a chocolate craving hits.
Variations
- Salted caramel chocolate. Swirl in sugar-free caramel after spinning and add a little extra flaky salt for a salted caramel chocolate mashup.
- Chocolate chunk. Add chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips on the Mix-In setting for crunch and pockets of melt.
- Mocha. Stir a teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the base for a salted mocha pint.
Ninja Creami Salted Chocolate Ice Cream (Protein Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder – I love Chocolate Milkshake from 1UP Nutrition great for sensitive stomachs – can use code BAILS for 20% off all products (see notes)
- 1 tbsp sugar-free chocolate jello pudding mix
- ¼ tsp kosher salt plus more for serving
Instructions
- Add the chocolate milk, almond milk, pudding mix, chocolate protein powder and sea salt 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, run under hot water for 60 seconds and install into your machine.
- For the first spin, press lite Ice Cream button. Remove the outer bowl lid. If ice cream is still powdery, then add back to machine and press respin 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 a bit more liquid and spin again on the respin setting.
- Add some coarse sea salt on top and your favorite toppings if desired and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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.
More Protein Ninja Creami Recipes
- Chocolate Hazelnut Ice Cream
- Snickers Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
- Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream
- Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream
- Birthday Cake Ice Cream In The Ninja Creami
- Protein Vanilla Ice Cream
If you make this Ninja Creami salted chocolate ice cream, leave a star rating and a comment below and tell me how heavy you went on the salt. And if you share a pint, tag me @basicswithbails on Instagram or pin it to save for later. I love seeing your Creami flavors.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
