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I know it’s winter, but there’s never a bad time for lemon cake gelato!
One thing I love about anything lemon-flavored, is how refreshing it tastes. The zing of lemon in this Ninja Creami gelato just brings this creamy ice cream to the next level.
Lately, we’ve been playing around with different types of Ninja Creami gelato recipes we can make with baked goods items. This week’s adventure was cake mix – and it turned out great!
Of course, we wanted to spice the recipe up a bit since we’ve already done cake batter gelato (highly recommend this recipe also), so we threw in a bit of lemon extract. Game-changer.
The best part about this recipe is how simple it is to make! You throw everything in a stove-top pot and stir while cooking for 5 minutes. Then voila! You have a new favorite lemon cake gelato.
For ingredients, the only thing special about this Ninja Creami recipe is the box of cake mix. We used the Aldi store-brand box of white cake mix, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand! Any cake mix will work.
So if you’re looking for a new refreshing creamy dessert, grab some cake mix, lemon extract, a Ninja Creami pint and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Lemon Cake Gelato, Use the Following:
- 1 cup oat milk for 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup cream of coconut for 3/4 cup heavy cream
To Make Gluten-Free Lemon Cake Gelato, Use the Following:
- 1/4 cup gluten-free sugar cookie mix (any box mix) for 1/4 cup sugar cookie mix
First Time Using the Ninja Creami or Looking for Tips?
While the Ninja Creami is a machine with only 7 (or 11) buttons, it can still be intimidating! Here are a few tips and tricks Alex and I have picked up since beginning our ice cream journey with the Ninja Creami!
- Does it matter which type of cake mix I use? It doesn’t matter! You can use any boxed (or bagged) cake mix that you can find at the grocery store.
- Do I have to add the food coloring? It’s not a must, but it does make the recipe look more like a lemon dessert! But this is completely customizable, so use whatever you like!
- Can I spin this on “Ice Cream” if my Creami doesn’t have the “Gelato” button? Yes! I’ve spun my gelato on ice cream and have never had an issue!
- If I put the pint back into the freezer, do I need to mix the ice cream up again before enjoying? Surprisingly, no! When using the typical base ingredients (whole milk, heavy cream), re-spinning is probably best to get the ice cream back to its original creamy consistency after freezing. However, we have found when using oat milk and cream of coconut, our first spin leaves the ice cream very creamy (almost like a soft-serve texture). After putting it in the freezer for 24 hours after this original spin, the ice cream is the perfect texture to enjoy without re-spinning! My suggestion is see how the texture is without a re-spin, and re-spin only as necessary!
- What button should I use to spin my ice gelato? This all depends on the consistency you’re going for! Each button operates the machine at varying speeds. For thicker concoctions (like ice cream), the ice cream button is best. However, if using eggs in the recipe (like a gelato), use the gelato button! The sorbet button is best used with fruit mixtures. For example, if mixing a can of pineapples in heavy syrup, use the sorbet button to make a delicious fruity creation! Overall, it’s something you can experiment with to find your personal preference for your ice cream consistency!
Looking for More Ninja Creami Recipes?
If you’re on the hunt for more Ninja Creami recipes, be sure to grab one of our recipe e-books, Top 25 Ninja Creami Recipes ($2.99), or the great value of over 50 recipes in Ninja Creami Cookbook: Ice Cream & Gelato Edition! Each includes favorites such as cake batter gelato, red velvet ice cream, Shirley Temple ice cream, and many more!
If you’re like us and are running out of ice cream storage containers, grab a two-pack of Ninja Creami pints to keep your freezer full with all of your ice cream creations!
Or if you don’t have a Ninja Creami and are on the fence about getting one, check out my honest review!
Do You Want to Make Your Own Ninja Creami Cookbook?
If you want to make your own version of a Ninja Creami cookbook, check out our Ninja Creami Recipe Page Template! Besides the fun design, it has space to write the spin setting, number of servings, ingredients, directions, and notes (everything a Creami recipe needs)!
Ninja Creami Lemon Cake Gelato
Description
Lemon cake gelato combines two delicious flavors (cake + lemon) for a refreshing and creamy treat that will keep you coming back for more!
To make this recipe in the Ninja Creami Deluxe, multiply all ingredients by 1.5
Note: 1 serving = 1 pint
Ingredients
Instructions
Combine 1 tsp lemon extract, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup whole milk, 3/4 cup heavy cream, 2 egg yolks, 1/4 cup cake mix in a pot and cook on the stove at medium heat for 5 minutes, whisking constantly. This will ensure the eggs will not be scrambled.
(Optional) Stir in 2 drops of yellow food coloring to give the gelato the perfect lemon color!
Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, ensuring it does not go over the max fill line.
Wait for the pint to cool, then place it into the freezer (ensuring it is on a flat surface). Freeze for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, remove the pint from the freezer, and plug in your Ninja Creami machine! Time for the magic.
Remove the lid from the pint and grab the Ninja Creami outer bowl. Place the pint securely into the outer bowl and cover with the lid. Once the lid is on, place the outer bowl into the machine, twisting to the right until it locks into place. Press the "Gelato" button and (try to) wait patiently for the creamy treat coming your way.
Once the process is finished, press and hold the button on the left side of the Creami to twist the bowl to the left and remove it from the machine. Twist the lid off of the outer bowl and remove the pint.
Now your lemon cake gelato is ready to enjoy!
Note
If you don't like following recipes, don't worry - you can customize it however you want! We personally use oat milk and coconut cream to avoid most of the dairy, and it's some of the best ice cream we've ever had.
If you liked this recipe, check out our recipe for brownie batter gelato here.