You may have heard of Ninja’s newest product, the Ninja CREAMi. The 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker can whip up desserts like ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, milkshakes, gelato, and margaritas. You’ve probably also seen people on TikTok take as little as one ingredient, like a mango, and turn it into the creamiest looking fruit dessert you’ve ever seen. Listed at $230, I tested out this fancy machine to see if it really is that magical and if it’s worth the price point.
What’s Included With The Ninja Creami
Transparently, I used the deluxe version, which is priced at $250 and can make 11 desserts. The kitchenware is about the size of a large blender set. Depending on how much storage you have, you may have to leave it on your kitchen counter. In addition to the motor base, blade, and the outer bowl, the set comes with two 24-ounce deluxe pints with storage lids (slightly larger than the original) and recipe booklet containing 30 recipes to help get you started. Depending on which dessert you make, there are different maximum levels marked on the pint. The Creami makes about six servings per pint and the dessert can last up to two weeks.
What I Made With The Ninja Creami
I made a dairy-free coconut vanilla ice cream recipe from the booklet, which I later turned into a milkshake with matcha powder and matcha flavored Kit-Kats, and an orange-mango sorbet. For the ice cream, I used 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 can coconut milk, 1/2 cup sugar, and 3/4 can coconut cream to add a rich texture. I mixed the ingredients together and popped it back in the freezer for another 24 hours.
As for the sorbet, I only used frozen mango and some orange juice. Originally, I only intended on mango but it is not recommended to solely use frozen fruit. So I added orange juice as my liquid. I don’t have exact measurements because I freehanded this sorbet, I will say that I poured the orange juice until the max scoopable line.
A heavily promoted feature of the Creami is that it’s easy to use because there are only three steps: prep your base, freeze overnight, and process. However, I found this process to be more tedious than marketed. Before prepping your base, you must freeze the pint 24 hours prior. The next day, I removed the empty pints and added my ingredients.
The following afternoon, I removed both frozen pints and set up the motor base. I placed the coconut pint in the outer bowl piece and secured it in place. It is important to note that you must have the bowl locked in prior to plugging in the gadget or it will not register.
Once everything was set up, I set the dial to ice cream and selected the full processing button. I’m not entirely sure what the purpose of the only top or bottom processing modes are for (only available for scoopable programs). I started the machine and it was like magic. It was a quick process, only about two or three minutes, and fascinating to watch.
My Thoughts On The Ninja Cream
I removed the pint and I was in awe. The pint looked like it was made in an artisan ice cream shop — the taste was even better. It was creamy with a perfect balance of coconut and vanilla. I will say that I would use less sugar than what the recipe called for because it was too sweet for my liking.
The sorbet also had amazing results. The flavor was fresh and tangy that reminded me of a hot summer’s day at the beach. For future use, I would use less juice and do half water instead because the orange juice overpowered the mango.
Another cool feature is the mix-in option in which you can add chocolate, fruit, nuts, and more to make complex flavors. I’ve been hyper-fixating on the matcha KitKats this summer, so I mixed the mini chocolates and matcha powder into the ice cream and made the dessert a milkshake (I am a milkshake fiend). The Creami finely processed the add-ins, which I think add-in options such as Oreos, M&Ms, or peanuts are better suited for the job.
So, Would I Recommend It?
I have mixed feelings on the gadget. I was heavily impressed by the final results, and it was very fun to watch the blending process. However, when I get a craving for frozen treats, I want it immediately, and I would get frustrated at the fact I would have to wait two days to satisfy my sweet tooth. The best way to compare this feeling is when you are heavily craving Chick-fil-A and then you are hit with the realization that it’s Sunday.
This is a good purchase for those who regularly have frozen treats in their households or are excellent meal preppers. Ice cream and milkshakes are more of an on-a-whim decision for me, so I don’t have ice cream regularly stocked in my freezer. In the rare chance that I do, I buy a small pint (unless it’s moose tracks, then give me a gallon). As for milkshakes, I’d rather go to a CookOut because the milkshakes there are absolutely divine.
It depends how you look at the product. It can be convenient due to the fact that it’s in your own home, and it gives you peace of mind to know what the ingredients are as well as the freedom to create new flavors and combinations. Many users make protein ice cream. Since the ingredients are usually pantry staples, you would save money in that aspect instead of constantly spending $7.
However, if you are like me and unsure of how much you would actually use it, then I’d say to just stick to a blender. Ninja markets the product that the results are smoother than a blender but on the off chance that I’m making a milkshake at home, I have pretty low expectations. The gadget is a pretty penny for what it is, and I’m sure that you can find tutorials online to achieve the same result with a blender.