I wanted this to taste like banana cream pie, not just banana protein ice cream. The fresh banana gives it real flavor, the cottage cheese thickens the base, and the banana cream pudding mix helps it spin creamy instead of icy.
A plain protein shake on its own freezes too hard and usually comes out crumbly. Blending it with cottage cheese gives the base more body before it ever goes into the freezer. Once it spins, the texture is thick, creamy, and much closer to pie filling than a basic protein pint.
This one comes in at 420 calories and 42g of protein for the pint, so it works as a full dessert or a high-protein snack when you want something more filling.
If you're looking for other High Protein hits, try my:
A protein shake by itself usually freezes too icy. There is not enough thickness in the base, so the Creami has to work with a hard block of flavored ice.
Cottage cheese fixes that. Once it is blended smooth, it makes the base thicker and creamier before it freezes. That gives the machine a better texture to work with when it spins.
The banana cream pudding mix helps too. It thickens the base and brings more banana cream pie flavor without needing a ton of extra ingredients.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Real Banana Cream Flavor: Fresh banana gives this a better flavor than using only pudding mix or extract.
42g Protein: The protein shake and cottage cheese make this much more filling than regular ice cream.
Thick Texture: Cottage cheese and pudding mix help the pint spin creamy instead of icy.
Pie Crust Crunch: Vanilla wafers, Biscoff, or graham crackers give it the banana cream pie feel.
What makes a High Protein Banana Cream Pie Ninja Creami special?
Banana cream pie works because it has soft banana flavor, creamy filling, and a little crust texture. This pint uses the same idea.
The banana and pudding mix give the base that banana cream flavor. The cottage cheese makes it thick and creamy once blended. Then the cookies added at the end bring the pie-crust crunch.
That mix of creamy base and crunchy mix-ins is what keeps it from tasting like plain banana protein ice cream.
Key Equipment Focus
Beast Blender: You absolutely must completely pulverize the cottage cheese. If you leave any curds intact, they will freeze into hard pebbles and ruin the texture of the ice cream. A high-powered blender ensures the base is completely smooth.
Digital Kitchen Scale: Consistency is critical when filling your pint. Weighing the banana and cottage cheese ensures you do not overfill the container past the max fill line, which can damage your machine.
Ingredient Deep Dive & Strategy
Core Power Vanilla Shake: Adds vanilla flavor, liquid, and protein to the base.
Non-Fat Cottage Cheese: Makes the base thicker and creamier once blended smooth.
Sugar-Free Banana Cream Pudding Mix: Adds banana cream flavor and helps the pint spin less icy.
Fresh Banana: Gives the recipe real banana flavor instead of only artificial banana flavor.
High Protein Banana Cream Pie Ninja Creami Step by Step Instructions
1. Blend the base:
Add the Core Power vanilla protein shake, 1 cup of non-fat cottage cheese, the 1/2 packet (0.5oz) of sugar-free banana cream jello mix, and the whole fresh banana into your blender. Blend on high for 60 seconds until the mixture is completely uniform and absolutely smooth.
2. Fill the pint:
Pour the blended liquid base directly into your Ninja Creami pint container. Ensure the liquid does not exceed the max fill line on the side of the cup.
Ensure the top of the ice cream mixture is perfectly level before freezing. A flat surface is required for the blade to descend evenly without causing intense vibrations.
3. Freeze the mixture:
Place the lid tightly onto the pint and set it flat in the coldest part of your freezer. Allow it to freeze undisturbed for a minimum of 24 hours.
4. Run the first spin:
Remove the pint from the freezer, take off the lid, and lock the container into the outer bowl assembly. Secure it into the machine and select the “Lite Ice Cream” function. Let the machine run its full cycle.
5. Evaluate and Re-spin:
Remove the outer bowl and check the texture. If it appears slightly powdery or crumbly, place it back into the machine and run the “Re-spin” cycle.
If your freezer is exceptionally cold, the mixture may need a tablespoon of warm water or an extra splash of vanilla protein shake added before the respin to help the blade catch and cream the base.
6. Incorporate the mix-ins:
Once the ice cream is smooth and thick, use a spoon to dig a 1.5-inch wide hole straight down the center of the pint. Drop your vanilla wafers or Biscoff cookies into the hole. Lock the pint back into the machine and press the “Mix-In” button.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
Why is my banana ice cream icy or crumbly after the first spin?
This is the most common issue with low-fat recipes. It means your freezer is set very cold (-4°F or lower). Do not panic. Simply add one tablespoon of warm water or a splash of unsweetened almond milk to the top, lock it back in, and hit the re-spin button. The friction from the second pass will melt the microscopic ice crystals and pull everything into a creamy texture.
Can I use vanilla protein powder instead of a pre-made shake?
Yes. If you prefer to use a powder, mix 1 scoop of a high-quality vanilla protein powder with 1 cup of fairlife milk or unsweetened almond milk to replace the 26g Core Power shake. Be sure to blend it thoroughly before adding the other ingredients.
Does this recipe work in the Ninja Creami Breeze or Deluxe?
Yes, this base works perfectly in the standard, Breeze, and Deluxe models. If you are using the larger Deluxe pints, you may need to increase the ingredient quantities by about 50% to reach the fill line, or simply process it as a smaller batch.
Can I add vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste?
Absolutely. While the vanilla protein shake provides a solid flavor foundation, adding a half teaspoon of high-quality vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste will elevate the bakery-style aroma of the pie profile.
What happens if I don't wait the full 24 hours?
If the center of the pint is still liquid, the blade will push the slush around instead of shaving it, resulting in a watery, soupy mess that cannot be fixed. Always wait 24 hours.
Can I put fresh fruit in as a mix-in?
I do not recommend using fresh fruit as a mix-in on the final spin because the machine will puree it, adding unwanted water and turning your ice cream into a smoothie. Stick to dry ingredients like cookies, graham cracker pieces, or peanut butter chips.
Substitutions Table
Component
Swap Options
Core Power Vanilla Shake
1 cup Fairlife milk + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder.
Non-Fat Cottage Cheese
Plain Greek yogurt or low-fat ricotta cheese.
Sugar-Free Banana Cream Jello Mix
Sugar-free vanilla pudding mix (you will rely entirely on the fresh banana for flavor).
Vanilla Wafers / Biscoff
Graham cracker squares, golden Oreos, or shortbread.
Storage
If you do not finish the entire pint in one sitting, use a spoon to flatten the top surface completely, snap the lid back on, and return it to the freezer. Because this is a low-fat, high-protein dessert, it will freeze solid again. When you want to eat the rest, simply run it back through the machine on the “Lite Ice Cream” setting. Do not attempt to scoop it directly from the freezer without processing it first.
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If you're trying to hit your protein goals with delicious desserts, you'll want to see these three from the archive.
This banana cream pie Creami is thick, high-protein, and actually tastes like banana cream pie. The fresh banana and cookie mix-ins make it feel more like dessert, while the cottage cheese keeps the base creamy. Make it once, adjust the mix-ins to your macros, and tag me if you try it.
How To Make Banana Cream Pie Ninja Creami Ice Cream (With Video)
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A massively thick, high-protein dessert that tastes exactly like authentic banana cream pie. By blending cottage cheese, a vanilla protein shake, and a fresh banana, we create a rich, creamy base that the Ninja Creami shaves into flawless soft serve.
Add the Core Power vanilla shake, non-fat cottage cheese, sugar-free banana cream jello mix, and the fresh banana into a high-powered blender.
Blend the ingredients on high for about 60 seconds until completely liquified. Ensure there are absolutely no cottage cheese curds remaining.
Pour the smooth mixture into your Ninja Creami pint container, ensuring you do not pass the max fill line. Secure the lid tightly.
Place the pint flat in the freezer and allow it to freeze completely solid for at least 24 hours.
Remove the frozen pint, take the lid off, lock it into the outer bowl, and process it in the Ninja Creami on the ‘Lite Ice Cream' setting.
If the ice cream looks powdery, run the ‘Re-spin' cycle once. Once creamy, use a spoon to dig a hole in the center, drop in your crushed cookies, and run the ‘Mix-In' cycle.
TEXTURE TIP: This recipe should spin thick and creamy, not light and fluffy. The cottage cheese and pudding mix make it closer to banana cream pie filling.SUBSTITUTION WARNING: Do not skip the pudding mix unless you are okay with a more icy texture. It helps thicken the base and adds the banana cream flavor.RE-SPIN TIP: If the first spin looks crumbly, do not throw it away. Add a splash of milk or shake and run Re-Spin.SERVING TIP: For more of a banana cream pie feel, add crushed vanilla wafers or Biscoff cookies after the first spin and use the Mix-In setting.
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