This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ninja Creami tastes like the sweet cinnamon cereal milk left at the bottom of the bowl, except I turned it into a thick, creamy, high-protein ice cream.
The base is ridiculously simple: fat-free cottage cheese, a vanilla protein shake, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and salt. I blend everything smooth, freeze it, spin it on Lite Ice Cream, and then mix Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal into the finished pint.
The vanilla protein shake alone has 30 grams of protein, and the cottage cheese adds even more. Then I finish mine with extra cereal on top because the fresh crunchy pieces are probably the best part.
Try These Next
If cereal-inspired Creamis are your thing, try my Fruity Pebbles Ninja Creami next.
You can also browse my High Protein Ninja Creami Recipes when you need another pint to make.
Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ninja Creami
High protein: The protein shake provides 30 grams before you even count the cottage cheese.
Simple ingredients: You don't need a huge list of ingredients or a complicated ice cream base.
Cereal milk flavor: Cinnamon, vanilla, and sweetener give the base that flavor you get from the milk at the bottom of a Cinnamon Toast Crunch bowl.
Actual crunchy cereal: I add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch during the Mix-In cycle instead of freezing it into the base.
No heavy cream: Cottage cheese gives the Ninja Creami ice cream plenty of body without using a traditional heavy-cream base.
Easy dessert or snack: Eat the full pint as a big high-protein dessert or split it into smaller servings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
- 1 vanilla Pure Protein shake, or similar vanilla protein shake
- about 160 calories
- about 30g protein
- ¼ cup zero-calorie sugar alternative
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
- ¼ cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
- Extra Cinnamon Toast Crunch for topping, optional
Ingredient Notes
Fat-Free Cottage Cheese
The cottage cheese is what gives this base most of its thickness.
Once it is blended completely smooth, you don't have cottage cheese curds floating around in your ice cream. It turns into a thick dairy base that works really well for low-fat Ninja Creami recipes.
It also contributes a significant amount of protein without needing another scoop of protein powder.
Vanilla Protein Shake
I use a ready-to-drink vanilla protein shake that has around 160 calories and 30 grams of protein.
You can use another similar shake.
Changing brands can change the sweetness, protein, and consistency of the final product, so taste the milk mixture before freezing it.
Cinnamon
I use a full teaspoon because I want this to taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch protein ice cream, not generic vanilla ice cream with a hint of spice.
The cinnamon becomes a little less noticeable after freezing, so I like the base fairly cinnamon-forward before it goes into the freezer.
Sweetener
I use a zero-calorie sugar alternative.
Stevia, monk fruit, or another sweetener can work, but amounts vary depending on how concentrated the product is.
You could even use brown sugar if you aren't worried about keeping the calories lower. Brown sugar would work really well with the cinnamon, but it will obviously change the nutrition.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
I use ¼ cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal as the mix-in.
Then I usually throw more on top.
The cereal that goes through the Mix-In cycle softens a little, while the cereal on top stays crunchy.
That's why I like using both.
Why Cottage Cheese Works in Ninja Creami Ice Cream
Cottage cheese sounds a little weird until you blend it.
Once smooth, it basically turns into a thick, creamy dairy base.
That extra body is especially helpful here because this is a low-fat recipe. A base made from only skim milk or almond milk can freeze pretty hard and icy.
The cottage cheese helps create a smoother texture without adding heavy cream.
It also means I don't need sugar-free vanilla Jell-O pudding mix to thicken this recipe.
A lot of Ninja Creami recipes use pudding mix, and there is nothing wrong with that, but this base already gets plenty of thickness from the cottage cheese.
How to Make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ninja Creami
1. Blend the Base
Add the cottage cheese, vanilla protein shake, sweetener, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to a blender.
Blend until completely smooth.
Take a few extra seconds here. You don't want any visible cottage cheese curds in the milk mixture.
2. Taste It
Taste the base before freezing.
If you want it sweeter, add more sweetener.
Frozen foods taste less sweet than they do at room temperature, so I want the unfrozen mixture to taste plenty sweet before it goes into the freezer.
3. Freeze the Ninja Creami Pint
Pour the mixture into your Ninja Creami pint container.
Stay below the MAX FILL line.
Freeze the Ninja Creami container on a flat, level surface until the base is completely solid.
4. Spin on Lite Ice Cream
Place the frozen pint into the outer bowl and secure the outer bowl lid.
Process using the Lite Ice Cream button.
Because this is a low-fat, high-protein base, Lite Ice Cream is my first choice instead of the standard Ice Cream button.
5. Re-Spin if Needed
The first spin may look powdery or crumbly.
That's normal.
Put the pint back into the machine and press the Re-Spin button.
I would always try Re-Spin before automatically pouring more liquid into the pint.
If it is still dry after that, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk and Re-Spin again.
You should end up with a much smoother consistency.
6. Add the Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Make a hole down the center of the finished ice cream.
Add ¼ cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
Return the pint to the machine and press the Mix-In button.
The Mix-In cycle distributes the cereal without completely destroying it.
7. Add More Cereal
Top the final product with extra Cinnamon Toast Crunch if you want more crunch.
I definitely recommend this.
How to Get the Best Texture
The biggest thing with high-protein Ninja Creami ice cream is not panicking after the first spin.
A powdery first spin does not necessarily mean anything went wrong.
Run a Re-Spin first.
If you immediately dump several tablespoons of milk into a pint that didn't need it, you can take a thick Creami and turn it into something closer to a milkshake.
If your freezer runs especially cold, another option is running hot water around the outside of the Ninja Creami container for about 20–30 seconds before processing.
Don't pour hot water into the ice cream itself.
I usually try Lite Ice Cream and Re-Spin first, but warming the outside of the pint slightly can help if you constantly get a hard icy ring around the edges.
Can I Make It With Fairlife Milk and Protein Powder?
Yes, but that would be a variation rather than the exact recipe I made.
Instead of the ready-to-drink shake, you could use something like 1 cup Fairlife skim milk plus a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
That would still make a high-protein ice cream base.
Protein powders absorb liquid differently, though, so the finished texture may not be identical to this version.
For this recipe, I like the convenience of pouring in one premade protein shake and being done.
Can I Use Unsweetened Almond Milk?
You can experiment with unsweetened almond milk, but it won't behave exactly like a protein shake.
Almond milk is thinner and contains much less protein.
If you replace the shake with almond milk, I would expect both the protein count and final texture to change.
For the smooth texture I want here, I prefer the protein shake and cottage cheese combination.
Do I Need Sugar-Free Vanilla Jell-O Pudding Mix?
No.
Some high-protein Creami recipes use sugar-free vanilla pudding mix to add sweetness, flavor, and thickness.
This recipe doesn't need it.
The cottage cheese already gives the base a thick consistency, and the vanilla protein shake provides plenty of vanilla flavor.
That's one of the reasons I like this recipe: the ingredient list stays really simple.
What Does Cinnamon Toast Crunch Protein Ice Cream Taste Like?
The easiest way to describe it is cereal milk ice cream.
Cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch all combine into that flavor you get from the milk left over after eating the cereal.
The cottage cheese mostly disappears into the background once everything is blended and frozen.
Then you get soft pieces of Cinnamon Toast Crunch throughout the pint and fresh crunchy cereal on top.
That's what makes it actually taste like Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead of just cinnamon ice cream.
Should I Soak the Cereal in the Base?
I don't.
Some cereal milk recipes soak cereal directly in milk before straining it.
That's another way to get cereal flavor into ice cream, but I wanted actual Cinnamon Toast Crunch pieces in mine.
The cinnamon and vanilla already give the base the flavor I'm looking for, so I save the cereal for the Mix-In cycle.
It also keeps the recipe much easier.
Can I Use the Regular Ice Cream Button?
You can experiment with it, but I use Lite Ice Cream.
The standard Ice Cream setting is generally more appropriate for richer ice cream bases with more fat and sugar.
This recipe is low-fat and high-protein, so Lite Ice Cream is the setting I use first.
Then Re-Spin as needed.
Can I Use Vanilla Protein Powder Instead of the Shake?
Yes, but you'll need liquid too.
A common alternative would be milk plus 1 scoop vanilla protein powder.
Again, that becomes a variation rather than the exact recipe here.
The benefit of the bottled protein shake is that the protein, liquid, sweetness, and vanilla flavor are already combined.
Storage Tips
This Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ninja Creami is best right after the Mix-In cycle.
If you have leftovers, smooth the surface of the ice cream into an even layer and store it directly in the Ninja Creami container in the freezer.
It will freeze solid again.
When you're ready for more, put the pint back into the machine and process it again.
Use Lite Ice Cream and Re-Spin as needed until you get back to a smooth texture.
I would add fresh Cinnamon Toast Crunch after re-spinning.
The cereal that sits frozen inside the pint won't stay crunchy forever.
Is This a Dessert or a High-Protein Snack?
Either.
The full pint makes a big dessert, but you can easily split it into two servings for a smaller snack.
That's one reason I like Ninja Creami recipes so much.
You can make something that feels like a huge bowl of ice cream while building a lot more protein into it than you would get from regular cereal ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it taste like cottage cheese?
Not much once everything is blended completely smooth.
The vanilla shake, cinnamon, sweetener, vanilla extract, and cereal provide most of the flavor.
Why is my Ninja Creami powdery after the first spin?
That's common with low-fat high-protein bases.
Press the Re-Spin button before adding extra liquid.
Can I add milk before Re-Spinning?
You can, but I don't automatically do it.
Re-Spin first.
If the final product is still dry, then add a tablespoon or two of milk.
Can I use another cereal?
Sure.
Another cinnamon cereal would be the closest substitution, but then obviously it would no longer be Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream.
Can I add extra Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
Absolutely.
Just remember that extra cereal will increase the calories and carbohydrates.
Do I need protein powder?
Not for this version.
The ready-to-drink protein shake and cottage cheese already give you plenty of protein.
Can I use stevia?
Yes.
Just adjust the amount based on how concentrated your stevia product is.
Can I make this without cottage cheese?
You could develop a version without it, but I wouldn't simply remove it from this recipe.
The cottage cheese contributes a lot of the volume, protein, and creamy texture.
Nutrition
Using typical nutrition for 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese, a 160-calorie vanilla protein shake with 30g protein, and ¼ cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch, the full pint should land around:
Approximately 360–380 calories
Approximately 58–60g protein
The exact carbohydrates and fat will depend on the brands you use.
Additional Cinnamon Toast Crunch added on top is not included in that estimate.
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Final Thoughts
This is one of the easiest cereal Creamis I've made.
You don't need pudding mix, heavy cream, or a bunch of separate ingredients.
Blend cottage cheese with a vanilla protein shake, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetener, and salt. Freeze it. Spin it. Add Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
That's pretty much it.
The final product is thick, sweet, cinnamon-heavy, loaded with protein, and tastes a lot like cereal milk ice cream with actual Cinnamon Toast Crunch mixed throughout.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Ninja Creami (High Protein)
Ingredients
- 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
- 1 vanilla protein shake about 160 calories and 30g protein
- 1/4 cup zero-calorie sugar alternative adjust to taste if needed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- salt dash
- 1/4 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for mix-in
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal additional, for topping if desired
Method
- Add the cottage cheese, vanilla protein shake, sweetener, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt to a blender.
- Blend until completely smooth and no cottage cheese curds remain.
- Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, staying below the MAX FILL line.
- Freeze the pint on a flat, level surface until completely solid.
- Place the frozen pint into the Ninja Creami and process using the Lite Ice Cream setting.
- If the first spin looks powdery or crumbly, run a Re-Spin. If it is still dry afterward, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk and Re-Spin again.
- Make a hole down the center of the ice cream and add 1/4 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
- Run the Mix-In cycle until the cereal is distributed throughout the ice cream.
- Top with additional Cinnamon Toast Crunch if desired and serve immediately.
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