Chocolate Cherry Protein Ice Cream

Creamy chocolate cherry ice cream made with protein powder in the Ninja Creami for a delicious, yet healthy dessert.

If you’re looking for a delicious, soft serve like chocolate cherry ice cream that is on the healthier side, give this recipe a try.

Please note, this is not a low-carb recipe. It uses maple syrup as a sweetener, so it’s a great option for those trying to avoid large amounts of artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. The protein powder that I used does have a small amount of xylitol (4g) and stevia, but you can use an unflavored protein powder if you would like to completely eliminate the artificial sweetener and stevia if you’re sensitive to it. Sometimes stevia tastes bitter to some individuals.

Ingredients

• Milk – I used Fairlife whole milk because that’s what I had on hand at the time, but I’ve also used 2% Fairlife and raw cows and goat milk to make this recipe. It’s one of my favorites so I’ve made it a bunch of times, experimenting with different milks.
• Maple Syrup – I used maple syrup that I got from a local farm during my travels, but you could also substitute with honey or agave nectar as well. You might need to adjust the amounts to your desired sweetness.
• Cocoa Powder – I used a basic unsweetened cocoa powder from the grocery store. If you want a darker chocolate taste, try using dutch cocoa powder or cacao powder. Just realize that if you use either of these, you may need to increase the amount of sweetener you use because they are a tad bit more bitter.
• Protein Powder – I used Now Foods Chocolate Whey Protein Powder for this recipe. As I stated earlier in this post it does contain xylitol and stevia, so if you are trying to avoid these types of ingredients, you can opt for an unflavored whey protein powder, and just add a bit more cocoa powder to the recipe to make up for the lack of chocolate coming from the flavored protein powder. I’ve used Naked Whey in the past, and it’s a great quality grass-fed, unflavored protein powder.
• Cherries – I have used both freshly pitted cherries and frozen pitted cherries for this recipe. Both work perfectly, so it’s about convenience or freshness for which you use for this recipe.

Tools Needed

• Ninja Blender – I use the personal-sized smoothie blender because it’s the perfect size to blend the ingredients for this recipe.
• Ninja Creami ice cream maker – I use the original Ninja Creami for this recipe, not the deluxe or breeze.
• Ninja Creami Pints – I opted for these pints because they were about half the price as the ones being sold by Ninja Creami, but be weary if you need them quickly; it took about three weeks to get here.

How to make this recipe

1. Add all ingredients to a small blender and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture to a Ninja Creami pint container and secure the lid tightly.
3. Freeze the pint for 24 hours. 
4. After 24 hours, remove the pint from the freezer, remove the lid, and add it to the Ninja Creami pint holder.
5. Lock the pint holder into the Ninja Creami and run on the “ice cream function.”
6. You will need to use the “respin” function 1-2 times for the best texture.
7. Remove from the pint holder and enjoy.

Macros for this recipe

• Macros for the whole pint: 574 calories, 9.6g fat, 84g carbs, 8.2g fiber, 43g protein
• Per 1 serving (1/2 pint): 287 calories, 4.8g fat, 42g carbs, 4.1g fiber, 21.5g protein

More Ninja Creami Recipes

If you’re looking for more delicious and easy ice cream recipes to make in your Ninja Creami, check out the following:

• Pumpkin Ice Cream
• Dole Whip
• Pistachio Ice Cream
• Cookies and Cream Ice Cream