Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Name: Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup (236ml) whole milk; ¾ cup (177ml) heavy cream; 1 Tablespoon cream cheese; 5 small vanilla beans; ⅓ cup (67g) sugar

Jump to Recipe

With this Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe, it’s incredibly easy to make flavorful, ultra creamy, and utterly delicious vanilla ice cream right at home!

Suitable for gluten free and vegetarian diets.

the completed Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice cream inside a glass pint container with a spoon scooping some out.

Want to save this Recipe?

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Along with recipes & tips every week!

You will love how easy it is to make this Ninja Creami vanilla ice cream recipe! All you need are 5 simple ingredients and your beloved Ninja Creami ice cream maker to whip up this flavorful, creamy, and utterly delicious vanilla ice cream treat.

Making vanilla ice cream Ninja Creami is different than the traditional at-home ice cream methods since you prep and freeze the base first. Once the mixture is frozen, simply pop it in and let the Ninja Creami work its magic to transform it into a smooth and creamy frozen delight. And if you want a healthier version, I also show you how further below.

And like my Ninja Creami chocolate ice cream, this homemade vanilla ice cream is a frozen treat that you can whip up and have on hand to indulge in any time the mood strikes.

This is exactly why you’ll want to check out my entire collection of delectable Ninja Creami recipes!

Why Make This Recipe

Easy – Simply combine the ingredients, freeze, and process. Homemade ice cream has never been easier!
Affordable – Whip up this high-quality dessert with just a handful of pantry and refrigerator staples.
Customizable – Swap the ingredients to make this recipe non-dairy or sugar-free, or add some mix-ins and flavorings to create the ice cream of your dreams.
You can also check out the equally delicious Ninja Creami strawberry ice cream.

a spoon removing a portion of vanilla ice cream from a glass container

Ingredient Notes

Whole Milk and Heavy Cream – the combination that creates a perfect ice cream base.
Cream Cheese – the secret to getting ultra rich and creamy ice cream.
Sugar – use granulated white sugar for best results.
Vanilla Beans – fresh vanilla beans add delectable vanilla flavor. You can use a teaspoon of vanilla extract instead.

the ingredients needed to make this Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Make Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

the first step for this vanilla ice cream recipe

Step 1. Add cream cheese to a large bowl and microwave for 10 seconds. Mix in the sugar, then slowly add the milk and heavy cream, stirring until fully combined.

Step 2. Slice the vanilla beans open lengthwise and use the knife blade to scrape out the caviar. Add to the mixture, using a fork to combine.

the vanilla ice cream inside the Ninja Creami pint container

Step 3. Pour the mixture into your Ninja Creami pint, put the lid on, and place in the freezer for 24 hours.

the vanilla ice cream being processing in the Ninja Creami machine

Step 4. Remove from freezer, take off lid, and follow the instructions for processing using the Ice Cream setting. When complete, remove from machine and serve immediately.

a spoon scooping out some of the completed vanilla ice cream from a glass container.

Tips For Success

Be sure to allow the mixture to freeze for the full 24 hours. It must be fully frozen in order to process correctly.
Prep and freeze several recipes at once so you’ll always have a frozen pint ready to process!
Use the re-spin function if your ice cream isn’t creamy enough.
If after respinning it’s still not the right texture, add a splash of cream or milk and re-spin again.
Using mix-ins? Pre-freeze them before adding them to the recipe.

the completed vanilla ice cream recipe in a glass pint container

Delicious Variations

Make it Vegan – Use unsweetened oat milk instead of whole milk, coconut cream, and vegan cream cheese to make delicious vegan ice cream.
Lighten Up – Simply replace the sugar with ½ teaspoon of stevia and 2 ½ tablespoons of raw agave nectar, then process using the Lite Ice Cream program.
Vanilla Milkshake – Use the Ninja Creami milkshake setting to turn this ice cream into a delectable milkshake.

a scoop of the homemade vanilla ice cream served in a white dish.

Prep and Storage

Prep Ahead – make your ice cream base and let it freeze for at least 24 hours before adding it to the machine.
Storage – keep in a sealed container in the freezer for several weeks, up to 1 month.

a spoon removing some of the vanilla ice cream from a clear container.

FAQs

Do I really have to wait 24 hours for Ninja Creami?

Yes, and having to wait 24 hours for Ninja Creami is probably the most difficult part of the process. To get the proper texture, it is critical that the ice cream base be a frozen solid. This ensures that smaller ice crystals form, which provides that super creamy texture we all love.

Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream so icy?

If your Ninja Creami ice cream is icy, you have a few options.

1. The freezer is too cold. Try letting your frozen ice cream sit on your counter for about 10 minutes to warm up a little it before processing.
2. The base does not have enough fat content – try adding in some extra dairy with high fat content.
3. The base does not have enough sugar. Try adding a bit more, granulated sugar, honey, or corn syrup and re-spinning.t.

Can I put frozen fruit in my Ninja Creami?

I do NOT recommend using frozen fruit in the Ninja Creami, since it is not made to process hard frozen fruit, and this will likely damage your machine. Allow the fruit to thaw before using.

If starting with frozen fruit, you may need to blend them separately in a high powered blender before adding the mix into your Creami.

How long can you keep Ninja Creami in freezer?

You can keep Ninja Creami ice cream in the freezer for several weeks. Smooth out the processed mixture so it’s flat, place the lid on, and put it in the freezer. When you are ready to enjoy it again, simply run it on the same setting used the first time.

top down view of a spoon scooping some of the vanilla ice cream out of the pint container.

Similar Recipes

Recommended Tools

The awesome Ninja Creami is a must!
A good set of Mixing Bowls to combine ingredients with ease.
Measuring Cups and Spoons to ensure you use the correct amounts.
And for the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my Vanilla Ice Cream Ninja Creami recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Get The Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe:

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote