Is the Ninja Creami, the Viral Healthy Dessert Appliance, Worth Buying On Sale?

We tested the original Ninja Creami and the Ninja Creami Swirl to see how the cult-favorite machines perform as everyday wellness appliances, from protein ice cream to dairy-free soft serve

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The Ninja Creami is everywhere: on TikTok recipe videos, in wellness creator meal-prep routines and across Instagram feeds filled with high-protein desserts, frozen yogurt bowls and soft-serve-style creations. But beyond the hype, the bigger question is whether the viral appliance actually deserves a permanent place in a wellness routine, or whether it is another countertop gadget that takes up more counter space than it’s worth. We tested both the original Ninja Creami ($199.99 $229.99) and the Ninja Creami Swirl ($299.99 $349.99) to see if the appliances were worth the coveted kitchen space.

I first heard about the Ninja Creami from friends who touted it as the “best healthy food tool.” As someone who has tested dozens of healthy food appliances, I was doubtful. One of my key questions was: why make healthy ice cream at home, when there are so many delicious brands ready for purchase? So, I dove into testing.

What is the Ninja Creami?

The Ninja Creami is a countertop frozen treat maker that turns pre-frozen bases into ice cream, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, frozen yogurt and other creamy desserts. Unlike a traditional ice cream maker, it does not churn a liquid mixture as it freezes. Instead, you blend or mix your ingredients the day before you want ice cream, freeze the base in a pint container, then place it into the machine, where the Creami’s blade shaves and processes the frozen block into a soft, scoopable texture in around 5 minutes.

What is the Ninja Swirl?

The Ninja Swirl is Ninja’s soft serve-style take on the Creami, designed to make frozen yogurt, soft serve and fruit-based treat recipes at home. Like the original Creami, it starts with a pre-frozen base, but the Swirl dispenses the finished mixture through a soft serve spout. With the froyo craze still going strong, having the option to create a soft serve-style dessert at home was particularly fun.

How I Tested the Ninja Swirl and the Ninja Creami

I tested both the Ninja Creami Swirl and the Ninja Creami multiple times per week with different ingredients and machine settings, to make sure I was mastering the art of healthy ice cream creation.

When I first froze some of my favorite ingredients, the result did not look appealing, so I was doubtful that it would become anything remotely delicious. I froze Fairlife milk, a banana and a tablespoon of sugar-free jello mix, and the result looked like a freezer-burned, unappealing mix.

I processed the mixture in the Ninja Creami for four minutes under the Lite Ice Cream setting, and waited to see what would happen. The mix looked better, but still a bit icy. I decided to add some Unreal chocolates as a mix-in, and spin for two more minutes.

The final result was absolutely delicious; better than most frozen yogurt or healthy ice cream I could purchase, and made better by the fact that I knew every ingredient I was consuming.

Trial and Error with the Ninja Creami

I extensively tested different ingredients in the Ninja Creami Swirl and the Ninja Creami, and found that some worked better than others. Protein powder can be tricky, especially if the base does not have enough liquid, fat or creaminess to balance it out. Some recipes came out chalky or icy when I leaned too heavily on protein powder alone.

The best results came from using a creamy base, like Fairlife milk, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, banana or a small amount of pudding mix, then adding protein powder more strategically rather than making it the whole recipe.

One of my favorite recipes, one cup of chocolate Fairlife milk, one banana, one tablespoon of sugar-free Jell-O pudding mix and a scoop of light cream cheese, sounds strange but works shockingly well. It comes out to around 300 calories per pint, or roughly 150 calories per serving, with around 15 to 17 grams of protein depending on the exact amount of cream cheese used. The banana adds natural sweetness and creaminess, the pudding mix helps reduce iciness and the light cream cheese gives the final texture a richer, more ice cream-like finish.

Fruit swirls were also an amazingly simple option: truly just add fruit and a little bit of juice or water and you can have a creamy sorbet in no time.

Our Guide to the Ninja Creami Swirl and the Ninja Creami Modes

Use	Ninja Creami Mode	Ninja Creami Swirl Mode	Best For
Classic ice cream	Ice Cream	Ice Cream	Dairy or plant-based recipes with higher sugar and moderate fat content
Lighter ice cream	Lite Ice Cream	Lite Ice Cream	Lower-sugar recipes with moderate to higher fat content, including keto, paleo or other diet-style bases
Fruit-based desserts	Sorbet	Fruit Whip	Fruit-forward recipes with high water and sugar content and little to no fat
Richer custard-style desserts	Gelato	Frozen Custard	Higher-sugar, higher-fat bases, especially recipes made with egg yolks
Frozen yogurt	Frozen Yogurt	Frozen Yogurt	Full-fat, sweetened store-bought yogurt or yogurt-based recipes
High-protein recipes	CreamiFit	CreamiFit	High-protein, low-fat and lower-sugar recipes, including protein ice creams and macro-friendly bases

The Best Ingredients for the Ninja Creami

Ultra-filtered milk: Fairlife is one of the best bases because it has 50% more protein and 50% less sugar than regular milk and gives your ice cream creaminess without the health downsides.

Fruit: Bananas add natural sweetness and creaminess, while berries, mango, pineapple and peaches add flavor, fiber and a better texture for sorbet, smoothie bowl and dairy-free soft serve recipes.

Honey: Manukora Mānuka honey adds natural sweetness, but also has a more functional angle: Mānuka honey is graded by MGO, the compound tied to its antibacterial activity, so higher-MGO options offer more than just flavor.

Chocolate: Unreal is a strong mix-in option because some of its chocolates have significantly less sugar than conventional candy, including products positioned around 36% less sugar than leading nut butter cups.

Collagen or Protein Powder: Collagen peptides can add around 10 to 20 grams of protein per serving depending on the brand, while protein powder can make a Creami pint more filling. The key is not overdoing it, since too much powder can make the texture chalky.

Greek or Icelandic Yogurt: Greek yogurt and Icelandic-style skyr are great for frozen yogurt-style recipes because they add protein, tang and creaminess. Icelandic Provisions, for example, is especially thick, which helps create a richer texture in the Ninja Creami or Ninja Swirl.

Nut Butter or Nut Butter Powder: Peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter can add richness and healthy fats, while PB2 is a lighter option that gives a peanut butter flavor with less fat than traditional nut butter.

Pudding Mix or Stabilizers: A small amount of sugar-free Jell-O pudding mix, guar gum or xanthan gum can improve texture and reduce iciness, which is especially helpful for high-protein or lower-fat bases.

Matcha: Matcha can add a more elevated flavor and a small caffeine boost to Creami recipes. Brands like TheOther are a good fit for matcha-based pints, especially when paired with vanilla protein milk, yogurt or coconut milk.

Coconut Milk or Almond Milk: These are useful for dairy-free soft serve and sorbet-style recipes, although coconut milk tends to create a creamier texture than almond milk.

Toppings and Mix-Ins: Granola, cacao nibs, chopped chocolate, crushed cookies, nut butter cups or cereal can make a healthier base feel more indulgent without needing to change the whole recipe.

Our Verdict

I often get asked about all the products I test and which ones I use the most. Undoubtedly, the Ninja Creami and the Ninja Creami Swirl are at the very top of the list. Freezing the mixtures is incredibly easy, and the product (once you figure out the right balance of ingredients) tastes better (and is healthier) than most ice creams you can buy.

If you’re looking for an easy way to upgrade your at-home dessert routine, the Ninja Creami or Ninja Creami Swirl might be your best investment yet. And even better: they’re on sale right now for over $100 off, with the Ninja Creami just $199 (usually $299.99) and the Ninja Creami Swirl just $299.99 (usually $349.99).