Easy Ninja Creami Chocolate Protein Ice Cream (Dairy Free)

The next time you're craving homemade ice cream using your Ninja Creami machine, you need to make this Chocolate Protein Ice Cream! This creamy ice cream is a chocoholic's dream and will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but will also provide you with an extra boost of protein all while being refined sugar free and dairy free. Made with just 5 wholesome, simple ingredients, this recipe is the perfect base for making all kinds of dairy-free ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker.

It doesn't get much better than a bowl full of simple chocolate ice cream when you're in the mood for a decadent treat. Unless of course you've made this protein-packed, healthy ninja creami recipe, then it DOES get better because you're also packing additional protein into your day. Plus, it's hard to find good low sugar options when it comes to ice cream, but this recipe is sweetened only with dates so it is refined sugar free and a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth when the craving strikes. It's even delicious as a topping for this 3 Ingredient Cake Mix Mug Cake!

A great way to make sure your healthy ninja creami ice cream cravings are always covered is to have this handy post filled with all of the best dairy free, protein packed Ninja Creami recipes bookmarked to come back to! It features recipes like this simple Vanilla Protein Ice Cream, Strawberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, and even a dairy free Dole Whip, too. You can also make this Chocolate Cookies and Cream recipe using this chocolate protein ice cream base!

You might also enjoy this Single Serve Chocolate Protein Ice Cream made with 3 ingredients that packs 56 grams of protein into one pint!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It is delicious. Not only does this homemade chocolate ice cream have the perfect, creamy texture despite being dairy free, its rich chocolate flavor will make you swear you're eating ice cream straight from the shop!
• It is better for you. Made using dairy free milk, gluten free protein powder and sweetened with only dates, enjoy a decadent treat without sacrificing your goals.
• It is easy. Made in the Ninja Creami, it's one of the easiest ways to enjoy a healthier dessert.
• It is super customizable. Guys, this recipe is the base recipe for ALL of my dairy free ninja creami ice cream recipes, so once you've mastered this you can experiment with so many different flavors! You can add fruit, chocolates and candies, nut butters, nuts, etc. You can also swap out the chocolate protein powder for vanilla protein powder and now you have homemade vanilla ice cream.

Ninja Creami Chocolate Ice Cream Recipe Ingredients & Tested Substitutions

• Almond Milk. My preference is to use unsweetened almond milk; I like Califia Farms new 3 ingredient organic almond milk, however you may use sweetened almond milk or your favorite chocolate milk if you like.
• Full-fat Coconut Milk. I find the canned coconut milk that works the best has a little bit of guar gum, which is a plant-based thickener. Thai Kitchen and Whole Foods in house brand coconut milk are my personal favorites, but if you’d like to stay away from gums, Trader Joe’s has a great option. I do not recommend using low fat coconut milk as it will make the ice cream base less creamy. 
• Medjool Dates. For added sweetness, I use Medjool dates. You may replace them with 1-2 tablespoon of real maple syrup instead if you do not have any on hand.
• Dark Cocoa Powder. I love using a rich, dark unsweetened cocoa powder to deepen the rich chocolate flavor of the ice cream.
• Chocolate Protein Powder. It’s important to note that you should 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. My personal favorite is their grass fed beef isolate protein because it mixes super well and creates an incredibly creamy texture. You can use PRETTYDELISH to save 15% off your first order.
• Sea Salt. This is optional, but I always like to add a pinch of Celtic sea salt to the ice cream base.

Ninja Creami Dairy Free Chocolate Ice Cream Step By Step Instructions

1. Make the ice cream base. Add the almond milk, coconut milk, dates, protein powder, cocoa 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 pint 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. Follow the instructions for placing the frozen pint of the base mixture in your Ninja Creami. For your first spin you will press the “Lite Ice Cream” button.

4. Respin. Once the first spin is complete, you will need to respin the ice cream mixture in order for it to become the perfect texture. 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. Place the outer bowl lid back on, fitting the bowl into the machine, and press the "re-spin" button.

5. Add mix ins. If you’d like you can add your favorite mix-ins by adding them to the pint container and pressing the mix-in button, or simply enjoy the chocolate ice cream as is.

Expert Tips, Tricks & Favorite Mix-Ins

• Add-Ins. Add peanut butter or peanut butter powder like I do in my Ninja Creami Peanut Butter Protein Ice Cream, to the ice cream base for a delicious nut butter flavored ice cream. Add chocolate chips, gluten free Oreos, crumble up these Monster Cookie Protein Bites or add this Protein Buncha Crunch as mix ins. I LOVE making my Ninja Creami Protein Dairy Free Oreo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream or my Ninja Creami Dairy Free Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream with this easy chocolate ice cream base.
• Easy Wendy Frosty Copycat. If you like soft serve ice cream, add at least a tablespoon of milk when you respin to make the ice cream super creamy, almost like a Wendy's frosty (but better and protein-packed)!
• 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.
• Leftovers: If you don't finish your pint, simply 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!

Homemade Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes FAQS

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.

Is this chocolate ice cream recipe gluten-free?

Yes! In fact, all my Ninja Creami ice cream flavors are gluten free! The base ingredients are naturally gluten-free; just be sure to double check the labels on your specific protein powder and any fun mix-ins you decide to add to ensure they fit your gluten free dietary needs.

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

Don’t panic! 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 will turn magically creamy!

Why do I need to "respin" the ice cream?

Dairy-free Ninja Creami recipes can sometimes look a little crumbly or powdery after the first spin. This is totally normal! Adding a 2-3 teaspoons of almond milk and hitting "respin" is my favorite trick to transforming that texture into the silky-smooth ice cream you see in the photos.

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 for vanilla or chocolate protein powder.

How do I store the leftovers if I don't finish the pint?

Simply smooth out the top of the remaining ice cream with the back of a spoon, pop the storage lid back on, and keep it in the freezer. When a craving hits, you will just need to run the frozen leftovers back through the exact same spinning steps.

How To Store Ninja Creami Chocolate Protein Ice Cream

If you do not 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. 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, the machine will end up pulverizing them!

If you liked this Ninja Creami recipe, you should try these Creami recipes too:

• Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Ice Cream
• Ninja Creami Protein Chocolate Cookies and Cream Recipe
• Ninja Creami Peach Cobbler Protein Ice Cream (Dairy Free)
• 3 Ingredient Ninja Creami Raspberry Sorbet Recipe
• Dairy-Free Ninja Creami Coconut Protein Ice Cream
• Ninja Creami Dairy Free Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
• 3 Ingredient Protein Watermelon Sorbet (Ninja Creami)
• Ninja Creami Dole Whip Recipe (Dairy Free, Protein)
• Ninja Creami Cherry Pineapple Swirl Protein Dole Whip

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!