Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
This rocky road protein ice cream is made in the Ninja Creami with Fairlife chocolate milk and chocolate protein powder — 40g of protein per pint with marshmallows, almonds, and a rich, fudgy chocolate base.
Rocky road is the original “loaded” ice cream flavor — chocolate ice cream studded with mini marshmallows and crunchy almonds. This Ninja Creami protein version delivers all that classic flavor with 40g of protein per pint and only 10g of sugar. The base uses Fairlife chocolate milk, chocolate protein powder, and chocolate pudding mix for triple-chocolate depth without needing any cocoa powder.
If you love high-protein Ninja Creami recipes, also try my Moose Tracks Protein Ice Cream, Snickers Chocolate Protein Ice Cream, or my full 33 High Protein Ninja Creami Recipes roundup.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 40g of protein per pint with only 10g of sugar
- Triple-chocolate base — chocolate milk + chocolate protein + chocolate pudding mix
- 5 minutes of prep — the Ninja Creami does the work overnight
- Classic rocky road flavor with mini marshmallows and crunchy almonds
Ingredients
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Fairlife chocolate milk — 14g of protein per cup plus chocolate flavor in the base. Whole chocolate milk works for a richer texture.
- Unsweetened almond milk — keeps the base light. Coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk all work as swaps.
- Sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix — the secret to that soft-serve creaminess and an extra layer of chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate protein powder — I use a chocolate whey protein powder. Use a protein powder you actually like the taste of.
- Salt — just a pinch to balance and round out the chocolate flavors.
- Mini marshmallows — added at the mix-in stage. Sugar-free marshmallows work too.
- Sliced almonds — adds the classic rocky road crunch. Slivered almonds also work.
How to Make Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
Step 1: Add the Fairlife chocolate milk, almond milk, chocolate pudding mix, chocolate protein powder, and salt to the Ninja Creami pint container up to the max fill line. Whisk vigorously with a handheld frother until completely smooth and lump-free.
Step 2: Freeze the container upright on a level surface for 24 hours until completely solid. Freeze with the lid off to avoid a peak forming in the middle.
Step 3: Run the frozen pint under hot water for 60-90 seconds before installing in the machine. This creates the creamy edge the Ninja Creami needs to spin properly.
Step 4: Install the pint into the Ninja Creami and press the Lite Ice Cream button.
Step 5: Check the texture. If powdery, hit Re-Spin. Still powdery? Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and re-spin again.
Step 6: Once the base is smooth and creamy, dig a small hole in the center and add the mini marshmallows and sliced almonds.
Step 7: Press the Mix-In button. Eat immediately for that perfect soft-serve consistency.
Pro Tips
- Use the frother, not a spoon. A handheld frother fully dissolves the pudding mix and protein powder. Without it, you’ll get clumps that don’t smooth out.
- Don’t skip the hot water bath. Running the frozen pint under hot water for 60-90 seconds is what creates that smooth, creamy texture. This is the #1 mistake people make.
- Re-spin before adding more milk. If your first spin is powdery, hit Re-Spin first. Often that’s all it takes.
- Add mix-ins only at the mix-in stage. Adding marshmallows and almonds to the liquid base before freezing destroys their texture.
- Crank up the chocolate (optional). If you want deeper, richer chocolate flavor, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder (or dark cocoa powder) to the base. Most top rocky road recipes use this trick.
- Eat immediately for soft-serve texture. If you let it sit in the freezer, it’ll firm up and you’ll need to re-spin.
For more Ninja Creami techniques, see my 10 Ninja Creami Tips For The Best Protein Ice Cream.
Variations
- Add chocolate chips — fold in 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate chips at the mix-in stage for the classic 3-mix-in rocky road experience
- Toasted almonds — toast the sliced almonds in a dry pan for 3-5 minutes before adding for deeper, nuttier flavor
- Peanut butter rocky road — swirl in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter at the mix-in stage
- Higher protein — use 2 scoops of protein powder for ~50g protein per pint
- Dairy-free — swap Fairlife chocolate milk for unsweetened chocolate oat milk and use plant-based protein powder
Storage and Make-Ahead
Once spun and mixed, the ice cream is best eaten immediately for that soft-serve texture.
For leftovers, smooth the surface with the back of a spoon, lid on tight, and freeze. When you want to eat it again, run the pint under hot water for 60-90 seconds and re-spin (note: marshmallows and almonds will get chopped finer with each re-spin).
Make-ahead tip: The frozen base keeps in the pint container for up to 2 weeks before spinning. Add the mix-ins the day you spin and eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes rocky road ice cream “rocky road”? Classic rocky road is chocolate ice cream with mini marshmallows and nuts (traditionally almonds or walnuts). Some versions add chocolate chunks or chocolate ribbons for a third mix-in. The “rocky” texture from the loaded mix-ins is where the name comes from.
Can I use a chocolate protein shake instead of milk + protein powder? Yes — use 1.5 cups of chocolate Fairlife protein shake to replace both the chocolate milk and the protein powder. You may need to adjust the sweetener since protein shakes are often pre-sweetened.
Why does my ice cream come out powdery? This is normal for the first spin on protein bases. Always re-spin. If still powdery after the second spin, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and re-spin again.
Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fairlife chocolate milk
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp sugar-free chocolate jello pudding mix
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp mini marshmallows
- 2 tbsp sliced almonds
Instructions
- Add the chocolate milk, almond milk, pudding mix, chocolate protein powder and 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.
- Make a small hole in the center of the ice cream and add your mini marshmallows and crunchy almonds. Mix again using the “mix-in” button. Enjoy!
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 Ninja Creami Recipes
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream
- Chocolate Hazelnut Protein Ice Cream
- Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Wendy’s Frosty
- Brownie Batter Protein Ice Cream
- Salted Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
If you tried this rocky road protein ice cream, leave a star rating and a comment below. Tag @basicswithbails on Instagram or share on Pinterest using #basicswithbails.
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…
