Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream – High Protein & Sugar-Free
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Enjoy the bright & fresh citrus flavor in this healthy protein Ninja Creami lemon ice cream! This simple ice cream recipe is protein-packed and sugar-free; a sweet escape with a guilt-free edge. Creamy, tart, and oh-so-satisfying, you’re going to love this one!
If you’re a lemon lover like me, this is bound to become your new favorite flavor for the Ninja Creami. There’s something so refreshing and satisfying about lemon!
I also appreciate simple flavors that speak for themselves, and I believe lemon is one flavor that does that. This is the perfect way to reach your protein goals whether it’s a hot summer day, or if you just *wish* it was (pretty cold day here in Minnesota right now, but I’ll take my Ninja Creami lemon ice cream any time!)
This recipe aims to make a high-protein and relatively low-calorie treat. To do that, we increase the protein content and omit heavy cream & whole milk.
For just 309 calories, you get a full pint of protein ice cream that packs over 47 grams of protein. What could be better? This flavor will have you dreaming of spring!
Want More Recipes Like This One?
If you love my Ninja Creami recipes and want some more fun flavors like S’Mores, Pistachio, Monster Cookie, Black Forest Cake, or even Moose Tracks, check out my Ninja Creami Recipe eBook!
The recipe book is available for instant download and offers delicious recipes in an easy-to-access eBook without any ads.
Purchase my 20 High-Protein Ninja Creami Recipes eBook on Etsy. Feel free to reach out to me (holly@thesweetsimplethings.com) with any questions!
Ingredients
This Ninja Creami lemon ice cream is made from some of my favorite ingredients for my protein Ninja Creami base recipe.
2% Cottage Cheese – Use whatever brand you like. You can also use a no-added-sugar Greek yogurt if needed (choose plain, vanilla, or lemon flavored).
Good Quality Vanilla Whey Isolate – I use 1 1/2 scoops of vanilla protein powder. I love the Legion brand, but it is sweetened with stevia. If you don’t like stevia, you can use any brand you like, but the quantity in the recipe card is specifically for a whey isolate. You may need more or less with other types of protein.
Allulose – Allulose is a low-calorie rare sugar found in natural foods. This is my low-calorie sweetener of choice due to its neutral flavor and safety profile. You can use whatever sweetener you prefer, but note that the quantity may need to be adjusted for different types of sweetener.
Lemon Juice – A little bit of fresh lemon juice is used to add some sour flavor to our Creami.
Lemon Extract – Without the lemon extract, the lemon flavor just isn’t strong enough. Lemon extract is pretty easy to find at most large grocery stores and is cheap!
Coconut Milk – Choose an unsweetened coconut milk beverage (not canned coconut milk). You can also use skim milk. Almond milk is another option, but I like the creamy texture you get from coconut milk and skim milk best.
Lemon – For zesting–optional. I recommend adding zest after you spin your ice cream, not before freezing, to avoid bitterness.
For equipment, you need the Ninja Creami ice cream machine and an immersion blender. If you do not have an immersion blender, you can use a drink frother or blender cup–just don’t blend too long because you don’t want to make it foamy.
Instructions
To make this tart & creamy treat, follow the instructions below.
1. Mix Ingredients
Add the cottage cheese, protein powder, allulose, lemon juice, lemon extract, and just enough coconut milk to get you a hair under the max fill line of the pint container. I recommend stopping a tad short of the line because I have noticed adding lemon juice causes more expansion in the freezer. Then, use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
2. Freeze
Put a lid on your container and place pint on a level surface in your freezer for at least 24 hours.
3. Spin
Remove the pint from the freezer. Place the lid assembly on your pint container (or put it in the outer bowl), and place bowl assembly and/or the pint container in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. The exact steps for this will vary based on the instructions for your model. Press “Lite Ice Cream” for your first spin.
4. Re-Spin
Check your ice cream to see how smooth it is. Likely you will want to do a respin. Place the outer bowl lid back on the bowl assembly, install it back in the Ninja Creami machine, and press “Re-Spin.” Your ice cream should be ready to eat after your re-spin!
If needed, do a 2nd re-spin, but that has never been necessary for me.
And just like that, you have a delicious frozen dessert made with minimal effort. Top your Ninja Creami lemon ice cream with lemon zest and fresh fruit such as raspberries. Ooooh, the lemon-raspberry combo is divine!
Tips & Variations
Creami Prep Tip: Prior to blending, you can run warm water on the sides of the pint container to loosen the edges for blending if desired, but this is optional. It can help loosen the sides so they blend a little more cleanly.
Sometimes people add a tablespoon of milk at the respin. I believe it is unnecessary until you want to go for a frosty-like consistency. If you want to keep your ice cream firm, do not add extra liquid at the re-spin.
Other Ninja Creami Recipes
Try out some of my other popular Ninja Creami Recipes. Here are some of my favs!
- Ninja Creami Dole Whip is super easy to make, delicious, and high in protein.
- Vanilla Protein Ice Cream is a great base recipe for any Creami creation.
- Ninja Creami Mint Chocolate Chip is a classic favorite.
- Ninja Creami Chocolate Peanut Butter is like a Reese’s Cup in ice cream form!
- Ninja Creami Cinnamon Ice Cream is like a Snickerdoodle in a pint cup. Topped with apple is the best!
- Creamy & Indulgent Chocolate Protein Ice Cream is a classic.
- Coconut Protein Ice Cream is a tropical flavor that is perfect for summer.
- Ninja Creami Coffee Ice Cream is a great flavor for breakfast ice cream!
Recipe Notes & Serving Suggestions
If you do not eat the whole pint at one time, make sure you flatten the top before putting it back in the freezer so that you can re-spin it without damaging your machine.
This delicious frozen treat is a better choice than traditional ice cream if you’re trying to get more protein in your diet. Enjoy this on hot days, cold days, honestly, is there a bad time to enjoy lemon ice cream? Not in my book!
If you want to try another sweet-tart protein ice cream, you’ll love my raspberry protein ice cream recipe.
Nutritional Information
For the whole pint: 309 calories, 47.5 grams protein, 6.3 grams fat, and 34.8 (10 net) carbs.
FAQ
Your Ninja Creami may not be creamy because you have substituted too many ingredients. In my experience, when you’re trying to make ice cream that is low-fat and sugar-free, your saving grace is protein. Without enough protein to make up for the loss of creaminess from low-fat ingredients, you’re likely to get some iciness.
You should wait the full 24 hours for the Ninja Creami for best results and to avoid the risk of potentially voiding your warranty. It will be tempting to blend your Ninja Creami earlier, but 24 hours is recommended to make sure it’s evenly frozen through the center.
Yes, I believe the Ninja Creami ice cream machine is a great value, especially if you want to make high-protein ice creams! Nothing you can buy at the store even comes close to the deliciousness you can make yourself.
Need to Troubleshoot?
If you’re having issues with your Ninja Creami machine, check out my Ninja Creami Troubleshooting Guide.
If you’d like to learn more about making perfect Ninja Creami recipes, check out my post on essential components of the perfect Ninja Creami protein ice cream base.
Leave a Rating & Review!
If you give this a try, leave a rating & review! I really appreciate it.
I hope you love this delicious ice cream as much as I do! Have any flavor requests? Let me know in the comments!
Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream – Protein Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker
Ingredients
- 100 grams 2% Cottage Cheese about 1/2 cup
- 50 grams Vanilla Whey Isolate about 1 1/2 scoops
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Lemon Extract
- 2 tbsp Allulose
- 1 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Instructions
- Into the Ninja Creami pint container, add all of the ingredients except the lemon zest. Stop a tad short of the max fill line (lemon juice causes a little bit more expansion in the freezer). Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.100 grams 2% Cottage Cheese, 50 grams Vanilla Whey Isolate, 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, 1/2 tsp Lemon Extract, 2 tbsp Allulose, 1 cup Unsweetened Coconut Milk
- Place lid on the pint container. Freeze for 24 hours on a flat, level surface.
- When ready to eat, install the pint container into your Ninja Creami as specified per the instructions for your model.
- Spin once on "Lite Ice Cream." Check the texture after the spin to see if it's ready.
- If needed, put the ice cream container back in the machine and press "re-spin."
- Garnish with lemon zest if desired. Enjoy!
Video
Yum! This was great! I get tired of making the same flavor over and over, fun to try some new ones.
Me, too! Glad you liked it.
Delicious and guilt-free, this lemon ice cream was fantastic! I’ll definitely be making it again! I crumbled a couple of shortbread biscuits over the top.
Can you try to make an orange version? Like an orange sherbert? I expect it would need a little orange juice and some orange extract. I might try it over the weekend and let you know if it works.
That’s a great idea! 🙂 Let me know how yours goes–I’ll see what I can come up with, too! Orange sherbet would be so nostalgic and delicious, yummm.