Ninja Creami Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream
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Every morning, like so many of us, I like to start my day with a cup of coffee. I enjoy the flavor, the feeling of drinking something warm, and also the caffeine it provides! Because let's be honest, coffee is one of the best drinks out there. There's just something about it. Some people say drinking coffee is an addiction, I say it's just delicious.
That's why Alex and I decided to make our coffee into ice cream, but in a slightly different way. We made one of my new favorite Ninja Creami ice cream recipes: chocolate espresso ice cream!
Espresso, or as some say "ex-presso" (I think it's cute when people say that), has a nice strong coffee flavor. That's why we decided to use it instead of coffee grounds in our ice cream recipe.
Since we don't own any fancy espresso machines (I'm a Keurig coffee drinker), we had to buy instant espresso powder.
Thankfully, this product is available at most local grocery stores and only costs a few dollars. Plus, it comes in a large jar that will allow you to make this chocolate espresso ice cream multiple times!
So if your favorite flavor of ice cream is coffee, be sure to try this one out.
Even if you don't drink coffee, this ice cream is still delicious! Alex isn't a coffee drinker, but he enjoyed this flavor. If a non-coffee lover can love this espresso ice cream, it's truly worth a shot!
So grab some espresso powder, a Ninja Creami pint, and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream, Use the Following:
- 1 tbsp vegan cream cheese for 1 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 cup oat milk for 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup cream of coconut for 3/4 cup heavy cream
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!
- Can I use coffee grounds if I don't have instant espresso powder? Sure! It might not have as strong of a coffee flavor, so feel free to add an extra 1/2 - 1 teaspoon into the mixture!
- If I'm not a coffee drinker, will I like this ice cream? Personally, I think there is enough of a chocolate flavor to balance out the espresso that this ice cream can please anybody. The espresso flavor is not too strong, but provides just the right amount of flavor to be tasted but not be overpowering.
- Where do I find instant espresso powder? We found it at our local Stop & Shop, so most major grocery store chains should carry it (Publix, Kroger, etc.). You can also buy it on Amazon here!
- 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 cream? 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)!
Chocolate espresso ice cream combines espresso and chocolate flavors in perfect balance for a delicious ice cream treat even non-coffee drinkers will enjoy!
To make this recipe in the Ninja Creami Deluxe, multiply all ingredients by 1.5
Note: 1 serving = 1 pint
- 1 tablespoon Cream Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 3/4 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 tablespoon Instant Espresso Powder
Place 1 tbsp cream cheese in a medium bowl and microwave for 5-10 seconds. If the cream cheese was in the fridge, these 5-10 seconds in the microwave will help soften it up to mix well with the other ingredients.
Combine cream cheese with 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Whisk until the ingredients are mixed together.
Whisk in 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 tbsp instant espresso powder. Stir until combined.
Slowly whisk in 1 cup whole milk and 3/4 cup heavy cream.
Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, ensuring it does not go over the max fill line.
Freeze the pint for 24 hours, ensuring it is placed on a flat surface in the freezer.
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 "Ice Cream" 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 chocolate espresso ice cream is ready to enjoy!
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 chocolate peppermint ice cream here.
Thank you for using the recipe!