Moose Tracks Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
This moose tracks protein ice cream is made in the Ninja Creami with Fairlife milk and vanilla protein powder — 40g of protein per pint, classic vanilla base with peanut butter cup chunks and chocolate fudge swirls.
If you grew up loving classic Moose Tracks ice cream — vanilla base swirled with chocolate fudge and packed with peanut butter cups — this Ninja Creami protein version gives you the same flavor with 40g of protein per pint and only 24g of sugar.
The base uses Fairlife milk, vanilla protein powder, and vanilla pudding mix for that creamy vanilla foundation. Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups and a homemade chocolate fudge swirl get folded in at the mix-in stage.
If you love high-protein Ninja Creami recipes, also try my Butter Pecan 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 24g of sugar
- Classic Moose Tracks flavor — vanilla base, peanut butter cup chunks, chocolate fudge swirl
- 5 minutes of prep — the Ninja Creami does the work overnight
- Easy mix-ins — chocolate fudge takes 30 seconds in the microwave
Ingredients
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Fairlife skim milk — 14g of protein per cup. Whole milk works for a richer texture, but Fairlife is what keeps this recipe so high-protein.
- Unsweetened almond milk — keeps the base light without adding sugar. Coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk all work as swaps.
- Vanilla protein powder — I use 1UP Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream (code BAILS for 20% off). Use a protein powder you actually like the taste of — chalky protein = chalky ice cream.
- Sugar-free vanilla instant pudding mix — the secret to that soft-serve creaminess. Don’t substitute regular vanilla pudding here unless you want extra sugar.
- Monk fruit sweetener — adds sweetness without adding sugar. Allulose or brown sugar also work.
- Salt — just a pinch to balance and round out flavors.
- Dark chocolate chips — melted to create the fudge swirl. Sugar-free chocolate chips work too.
- Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups — the classic Moose Tracks mix-in. Sugar-free Reese’s or any mini peanut butter cup brand works.
How to Make Moose Tracks Protein Ice Cream
Step 1: Add the Fairlife milk, almond milk, protein powder, pudding mix, monk fruit sweetener, and salt to the Ninja Creami pint container up to the max fill line. Whisk vigorously with a handheld frother until completely smooth.
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: While the ice cream is spinning, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until smooth.
Step 7: Once the ice cream base is creamy, dig a small hole in the center. Pour in the peanut butter cups and drizzle in the melted chocolate.
Step 8: 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.
- Make the fudge while the ice cream spins. Time it so the melted chocolate is ready exactly when the base finishes spinning — too hot and it’ll melt the ice cream, too cold and it won’t drizzle.
- Soft fudge trick: add 1 tsp of coconut oil or refined olive oil to the melted chocolate chips. This keeps it soft when it hits the cold ice cream so you get actual fudge swirls instead of chocolate chip pieces.
- Re-spin before adding more milk. If your first spin is powdery, hit Re-Spin first. Often that’s all it takes. Add liquid only if the second spin is still powdery.
- Chop the peanut butter cups slightly for more even distribution. Whole minis can clump in one spot.
- 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
- Chocolate base — use chocolate protein powder + 1 tablespoon cocoa powder instead of vanilla for a chocolate moose tracks
- Caramel moose tracks — add 1 tablespoon caramel sauce at the mix-in stage along with the peanut butter cups
- Brownie chunks — fold in chopped brownie pieces along with the peanut butter cups
- Higher protein — use 2 scoops of protein powder for ~50g protein per pint
- Dairy-free — swap Fairlife for unsweetened 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: the peanut butter cups and fudge 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 is moose tracks ice cream? Moose tracks is a classic ice cream flavor created by Denali Flavors in 1988 — vanilla ice cream with mini peanut butter cups and chocolate fudge ripples throughout. This protein version recreates that flavor with a high-protein base.
Can I use store-bought hot fudge instead of melting chocolate chips? Yes — about 1-2 tablespoons of hot fudge sauce works as a swap. Sugar-free hot fudge keeps the recipe lower in sugar.
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.
Moose Tracks Protein Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fairlife skim milk
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder I love 1UP Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream protein powder- use code BAILS at checkout to save money on all products
- 1 tbsp sugar-free vanilla jello pudding mix
- 1 tbsp monk fruit sweetener
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate chips
- 3 tbsp mini peanut butter cups
Instructions
- Add fairlife skim milk, almond milk, protein powder, pudding mix, monk fruit sweetener, 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 of liquid and spin again on the respin setting.
- While ice cream is mixing, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals until a chocolate fudge is created.
- Make a small hole in the center of the ice cream and add your peanut butter cups and chocolate fudge. Mix again using the “mix-in” button. 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 Ninja Creami Recipes
- Peanut Butter Cup Protein Ice Cream
- Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream
- Banana Cream Pie Protein Ice Cream
- Biscoff Protein Ice Cream
If you tried this moose tracks 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…
