Birthday Cake Batter Protein Ninja Creami Ice Cream (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

Remember the absolute joy of licking the mixer beater when your mom made a boxed Funfetti cake? I'm bringing that exact energy back, but making it work for your macros. This Birthday Cake Batter Protein Ninja Creami is a nostalgic, sprinkle-loaded dream that just happens to be entirely gluten-free, dairy-free, and packed with protein. It’s the ultimate proof that you don't need a birthday as an excuse to eat cake batter for breakfast.

I knew I had to create this Ninja Creami ice cream recipe because my traditional Dairy Free Birthday Cake Ice Cream has been such a massive hit on the blog lately. I wanted to capture that exact same nostalgic flavor vibe, but I needed a version that was protein packed and using my favorite kitchen equipment, the Ninja Creami. When I am balancing macro goals with a gluten free and dairy free lifestyle, I need desserts that work hard for me without sacrificing that classic bakery taste. This pint of homemade ice cream hits every single mark.

If you are as obsessed with your Ninja Creami machine as I am, you may want to look at my full list of Ninja Creami recipes for more high protein ice cream ideas. And if you are mostly looking for a nostalgic birthday cake flavor, I have some recipes for that too: MyViral Dot Gluten Free Cake and my Easy 3 Ingredient Funfetti Mug Cake are both entirely gluten free and perfect for those sudden cravings. But for now, let's grab a spoon and dive into this amazing birthday cake batter ice cream.

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Why You’ll Love This Ninja Creami Recipe

• It is packed with protein and satisfies cravings: Making this homemade ice cream one of the absolute best protein desserts to crush those late-night sweet cravings.
• Easy prep: Just toss everything into a blender, freeze for 8-24 hours, and let the Creami do the hard work!
• It is bright and colorful. With the addition of cake pieces, Golden Oreos, and rainbow sprinkles, this ice cream is truly happiness in one bite.
• It is unbelievably creamy and delicious! No need to explain this.... you just need to try it yourself!

Birthday Cake Ninja Creami Ingredients (and Substitutions)

Almond Milk. If you have access to it, my first choice for almond milk is Califia Farms Organic almond milk. It does not contain any gums or sweeteners which I prefer. If you're in the US you'll likely be able to find it at your local grocery store but if you can't find this brand that's okay, use your favorite almond milk instead. Alternatively you may substitute this for oat milk for an even creamier texture, soy milk, coconut milk, or your favorite plant-based milk.

Full-Fat Coconut Milk. I recommend using full fat coconut milk for best results when it comes to the creamy ice cream texture due to the high fat content. I also don't recommend omitting this unless you have an allergy or you're trying to keep the fats low. In that case, you may simply use additional almond milk in its place.

Medjool Dates: Used to naturally sweeten the base and keep it refined sugar-free. You can absolutely substitute this with 1-2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup.

Vanilla Bean Paste (or Extract). I like using vanilla bean paste because it enhances the vanilla flavor, however vanilla extract would be a perfectly fine substitute if that is what you have on hand. You could leave it out entirely but I find it enhances the flavor of the strawberries and overall adds nice flavor.

Birthday Cake Extract. This extract is necessary to get that classic birthday cake ice cream flavor especially if you use vanilla protein powder instead of cake batter protein powder.

Vanilla (or Cake Batter) Protein Powder. It’s important to note that you should genuinely enjoy the taste of your protein powder, or you won’t enjoy the taste of this ice cream! If you don’t have a protein powder you are loyal to, I recommend trying Equip Foods because it mixes super well and creates an incredibly creamy texture.

Sea Salt. Just a pinch to balance the sweetness! If you don't have sea salt, regular table salt will also do the job and still taste amazing!

Rainbow Sprinkles. I personally like to use natural, dye free sprinkles but any rainbow sprinkles would work for this cake batter ice cream.

Gluten Free Golden Oreos. I like the flavor and texture added from gluten free Golden Oreos in this ice cream but this is totally optional! If you do not need to make this gluten free, regular Golden Oreos work great too!

Leftover Yellow Cake. I mean, Birthday Cake or Cake Batter ice cream just screams to have cake in it, but it is totally optional because you only need around 1 cup of baked cake scraps.

Ice Cream Step by Step Instructions

1. Make the ice cream base. Add the almond milk, coconut milk, dates, vanilla, birthday cake extract, protein powder and sea salt to a blender. Blend until smooth. You may find that a few small bits of the dates remain if your blender is not high speed; this is ok. You can strain them out or leave them in, it's up to you.

2. Freeze the ice cream base. Pour base into the ninja creami container right up to the max fill line. Place storage lid on the container and freeze for a minimum of 8 hours. Ninja recommends at least 24 hours but I don't have that kind of patience and find that 8 hours is plenty.

3. Mix the ice cream. Once the base is frozen, follow the instructions for placing the pint container in your Ninja Creami. For your first spin you will choose the "Lite Ice Cream" function.

4. Respin. Once the first spin is complete, you will need to respin the ice cream mixture in order for it to become super creamy. My best creami prep tip is to add about 2-3 teaspoon additional almond milk, just enough to cover the top of the pint, before you respin.

5. Add mix ins. Break gluten free Golden Oreos up and sprinkle on top of the ice cream base. Add half of the sprinkles and save the other half to sprinkle on top. Replace the lid, put the creami base back into the machine and press the “mix in” function to fully incorporate. Then add the leftover yellow cake and stir by hand.

6. Sprinkle & Enjoy. Sprinkle the rest of the sprinkles and grab a spoon and enjoy!

Ninja Creami Recipe Expert Tips & Tricks

• Leftovers: If you don't finish your pint, go ahead and smooth out the top so it is flat, put the lid back on, and store it in the freezer. You will just need to run it through the "Lite Ice Cream" spin again when you're ready to enjoy your leftover protein desserts!
• Respin. Ninja's instructions state that you cannot use the "respin" feature followed by the "mix in" feature. I ALWAYS respin my dairy free ice cream, because it needs this in order to be creamy, and I use the mix in function after with no trouble.
• Add Milk Before Respin: Before respinning, I recommend always adding a little bit more almond milk, or dairy free milk of choice. Just enough to almost cover the top of the pint container is perfect, about 2-3 tsp. This will help ensure the final result is super creamy.

FAQs of Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream

Do I really need to freeze the base for the full 24 hours?

While the official Ninja Creami instructions recommends waiting a full 24 hours, I don't have the patience for that so I have found that eight hours is typically plenty of time to get a solid, even freeze for this specific dairy-free base.

Can I use the respin and mix-in functions back-to-back?

Okay so hear me out, standard Ninja Creami instructions advise against running these cycles back to back, but I always respin my dairy-free ice cream with a couple teaspoons of almond milk because it needs it to be truly creamy (instead of that powdery ice cream texture). I use the mix-in function right after with no trouble at all.

Will this ice cream base taste like dates?

Honestly, you cannot taste the dates at all. The dates add a natural sweetness to the base without overpowering the base ice cream flavor. If you prefer, you can easily swap them out for 1-2 tbsp. of real maple syrup (but I find that can compete with this flavor profile more than dates). Using dates or maple syrup keeps this recipe refined sugar free if you do it this way. This also avoids the grainy texture that you might get in a Ninja Creami ice cream recipe because undissolved sugar tends to be the reason for that unpleasant texture.

Why is my ice cream powdery or crumbly after the first spin?

This is completely normal, especially for dairy-free and lower-fat Ninja Creami recipes. Because there is less sugar and fat than traditional ice cream, the first spin often looks like powdery snow. You just need to add 2-3 teaspoons of almond milk to the pint and run the "Respin" function. It is my best tip to success!

Can I use a low-fat milk instead of full-fat coconut milk?

I recommend using the full-fat canned coconut milk; the fats from the coconut milk are what give this dairy-free ice cream that rich, velvety texture we all love from dairy-filled ice cream. By using a low-fat or "lite" version of the coconut milk, it can result in a more icy, less creamy consistency once it’s spun.

Can I make this homemade ice cream without a blender?

Since this recipe uses Medjool dates as the sweetener, a blender is pretty essential to get that base smooth and creamy. If you don't have a blender, you can swap the dates for 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup and whisk the ingredients together in a bowl before freezing!

What is the best protein powder to use for Ninja Creami recipes?

My golden rule of making protein desserts in the Ninja Creami is to use a protein powder you actually enjoy the taste of! Since it makes up a big part of the flavor profile, a high-quality brand is key. Both whey and plant-based protein powders work beautifully in this recipe, though plant-based proteins sometimes absorb a bit more liquid and may require an extra respin. I like Equip Foods best, but any protein powder should work for this recipe!

How To Store Dairy Free Birthday Cake Batter Protein Ice Cream

If you don't finish your pint in one sitting, smooth over the ice cream that is left in the container with the back of a spoon. Place the lid back on and freeze again. You will need to run the leftovers back through the same steps in the Ninja Creami when you are going to enjoy it again. Note that if you added mix ins (sprinkles, cake pieces, and Oreos), the machine will end up pulverizing them!

If You Liked This Birthday Cake Ice Cream Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy These:

• Dairy Free Birthday Cake Ice Cream (with ice cream churner)
• Strawberry Ninja Creami
• Strawberry Cheesecake Ninja Creami
• Copycat M&M McFlurry
• Cinnamon Toast Cereal Milk
• or you should really try any of these other Ninja Creami ice cream recipes

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!