There are very few things I love more than ice cream when it's hot outside. Scratch that―there's very few things I love more than ice cream treats, period. And though there's a special place in my heart for an occasional visit to the jingly truck, there's something so satisfying about making it myself.
So, when I got the word that Ninja had an ice cream maker that promised to make seven different types of treats 🤩, I had to give it a whirl. (Er, churn?)
The Ninja CREAMi Breeze is designed to make ice cream, gelato, milkshakes, sorbet, "lite" ice cream, and smoothie bowls, all with one touch of a button. In a matter of two to three minutes, you get a delicious, ready-to-eat pint-sized frozen dessert. Could that actually be possible? After testing out each function and eating the results, I can say: yes!
How does the Ninja CREAMi Breeze work?
Now, before I dive into specifics, I will warn you: The Ninja CREAMi Breeze does not work like conventional ice cream makers. Unlike the traditional method of churning a chilled liquid in a frozen bowl until it is soft-serve consistency and then freezing solid, the Ninja churns ingredients that are already frozen. You simply add all the ingredients to the provided pint containers, freeze them for 24 hours, and then the machine's "creamify" technology churns it in about two minutes into a ready-to-eat consistency.
Because the process is different and the instructions do not mention using your own recipes anywhere, I highly recommend trying the recipes provided with the machine. Thankfully, there are a lot. I started with the "ice cream" function and made classic vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips. It took less than five minutes to whisk together the ingredients (cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, milk), and the next day, processing it took about another five.
The learning curve to attach the processing lid and creaming paddle took about 30 seconds max, and then all I had to do was press the "ice cream" button and it was off. The machine is a bit noisy (think of a stand mixer on high speed) but takes less than two minutes. I then added the chocolate chips and pressed "mix-in," which took another minute. It's at this point you assess whether it's creamy enough to eat as is or if you'd like to mix it a little longer (which happens if your freezer makes the ingredients extra cold). Simply press the "re-spin" button, and it will be ready. My verdict: Yum! (I know, so scientific!) It was quite good, tasting like an eggless Philadelphia-style ice cream.
What can you make with the Ninja CREAMi Breeze?
After getting the basics of regular ice cream, mix-ins, and re-spin down, I decided to test all the other functions. I'll admit that since I was trained on making the classic custard-style ice creams, I was looking for something a bit more complex and creamier. Enter: the "gelato" button. These recipes require a little more prep because you have to make an egg custard base and let it cool before freezing it, but the rest of the process is the same and the end result is heavenly. I made their cheesecake gelato recipe, and I seriously couldn't stop eating it.
If you're looking to cut down on dairy, the "lite ice cream" function and recipes rely on ingredients like coconut and oat milks. And while the end result isn't as creamy as the gelato, they are excellent substitutes for anyone with dietary restrictions. And speaking of non-dairy, I highly recommend the sorbet function. The machine and recipe for the lemon sorbet absolutely nailed it, tasting better than any sorbet I've made in a traditional ice cream maker.
Though I can't imagine using it on a regular basis, the smoothie bowl is a great alternative if you want to make something healthier and you happen to have the Ninja on your counter. I made the strawberry-banana smoothie bowl for breakfast, and it was excellent, though quite thick. It was like having a smoothie with the consistency of ice cream. And the milkshake function (I went with coffee) worked just as well as standard blender would. It requires no freezing in advance since it uses already-made ice cream, so you can have it in a mere two minutes.
Should you buy the Ninja CREAMi Breeze?
If you're a huge fan of frozen desserts, like to experiment, and have the space for another gadget (though it's only six inches wide), you will really enjoy this machine. The prep and processing time is significantly shorter than traditional ice cream, and the batches are smaller, too. You get a pint rather than one to two quarts, so you're not stuck with the same flavors. Plus, practically everything is mixed right in the containers, you can store leftovers in them, and the attachments are dishwasher safe, making clean up super easy.
With that said, if you are an ice cream classicist and prefer making traditional bases with standard recipes, the Ninja might not be the only machine you'll want. (Ree Drummond's got a bestselling classic option. Just sayin'.) I suspect it's possible that you could scale down the size of your recipes and use the gelato function with success, but I can't guarantee that since I haven't tried it… yet!
I say "yet" because I plan to continue using the Ninja. I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility it gives to constantly rotate options and flavors. And since it does come with four pint containers included, I feel like that's a sign from the ice cream universe to keep going. (Now if you'll excuse me, I have some more creamifying to do. 😉)
