Ninja Creami Mint Cookie Ice Cream

This Ninja Creami Mint Cookie Ice Cream is my personal favorite and was inspired by the Breyers Mint Cookie Ice Cream you find at the grocery store, but it is much lower in calories. If you have tried to make mint ice cream before and it constantly comes out tasting more like toothpaste, then you will love this recipe.

Flavoring

What makes this Ninja Creami mint cookie ice cream so delicious is that it has the perfect chocolate mint flavor without tasting like toothpaste. To achieve this, make sure you purchase LorrAnns Oils Mint Chocolate Chip Extract; it is a game changer. Regular mint extract and even fresh mint does not produce that perfect mint cookie flavor.

Another game changer was using Cookies & Cream pudding mix instead of vanilla. This added that perfect creamy flavor that brought it all together.

Stabilizers

All Ninja Creami ice creams need ingredients to stabilize the mixture and make it nice and creamy (not icy). This is especially true if you are using low-fat ingredients. For this ice cream, the cottage cheese, pudding mix, and optional collagen all work as stabilizers, creating a creamy ice cream.

Tips & Tricks

This ice cream is a little tricky. My first few attempts came out closer to soft serve ice cream or a McFlurry. Be sure to read the notes below if you want that perfect firm ice cream texture.

• After doing for first spin on the ice cream setting, it is completely normal for the ice cream to look a little powdery, like in the picture shown above. For this recipe, you do NOT want to overmix your ice cream. Instead of using the re-spin setting, you are only going to use the mix-in setting.
• Add any additional sweetener during the mix-in. Give the ice cream a little taste after the first spin. If you think it’s not sweet enough for your taste, add a 1/2 tablespoon of agave, monk fruit, or your preferred sweetener. For me, 1/2 tablespoon was the perfect amount.
• When you use a blender, it incorporates air into the mixture. Let your mixture rest on the counter or in the refrigerator for a few minutes to settle, then give it a quick stir and place in the freezer.
• To adapt a standard Ninja Creami recipe (16 oz pint) for the Deluxe model (24 oz tub), you should increase the recipe by 1.5 times. 
  

Sweetener

This mint cookie ice cream will be sweet from the use of the pudding mix and additional monk fruit sweetener. However, it will not be as sweet once it is mixed. Give the ice cream a taste after the first spin and add any additional sweetener when you go to do the mix-in. I found that 1/2 tablespoon of agave was the perfect amount. The cookies will not add enough sweetness, but that is only if you want them to have the same taste as store-bought ice cream.

Optional Toppings

If you don’t mind adding a few calories, I like the extra crunch from sprinkling one chopped Mint Oreo Thin on top of the ice cream. It also adds a nice splash of color.

Alternatives

To keep this ice cream lower in calories, I use Fairlife milk instead of a protein shake, which saves 40 calories.

• You can make this recipe using any type of sweetener; these are just my preferences to get the most natural flavor while keeping the ice cream low-calorie. I am not a fan of the aftertaste left by most sugar alternatives.
• In order to achieve that perfect mint chocolate flavor and avoid your ice cream tasting like toothpaste, use the correct extract; it will make a huge difference.
• Feel free to use any milk brand you would like. I use Fairlife because it adds double the amount of protein and is lower in sugar.
• If you are lactose intolerant, they make lactose free cottage cheese.
• If you are vegan, sub the cottage cheese for Violife Vegan Cream Cheese, any milk alternative, and then add 1/4 tsp guar gum.

More Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes

All of my Ninja Creami recipes are designed for maximize flavor while still being low in calories and high in protein. I try to find a happy medium and experiment with different ingredients to achieve the perfect balance.