Ninja Creami Cranberry Lime Ice Cream
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If you weren't sure what to do with all of your Thanksgiving day leftovers, this one is for you: Cranberry Lime Ice Cream!
While the combination might not be the first you think of when making a new ice cream flavor, it should definitely move to the top of your Ninja Creami list. The sweetness of the cranberry sauce mixed with the zesty lime flavor makes for a winning ice cream recipe!
Traditionally, cranberry sauce is a side at Thanksgiving dinner. My favorite is the kind that comes from a can (and is still shaped like a can when it's served). It's a side that adds a good sweetness to the other Thanksgiving foods, and is a classic at every Turkey Day celebration!
Now, instead of just using it for turkey sandwiches the day after (one of my favorites), it's perfect in an ice cream recipe too! All you need is some cranberry sauce and some lime juice to make this fantastic cranberry lime ice cream. Easy and delicious!
However, this ice cream isn't just for Thanksgiving week, it's made to be enjoyed the entire year! Cranberry sauce is available at grocery stores throughout the entire year, so this cranberry lime ice cream can be made whenever you get a hankering for a sweet ice cream with a pop of lime!
So grab your favorite can of cranberry sauce, lime juice, a Ninja Creami pint, and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Cranberry Lime 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!
- Does it matter if I use fresh or canned cranberry sauce? No, both will work in this ice cream recipe!
- Can I add more lime flavor? Yes! You can use fresh lime juice and even add some lime zest into the mixture! Lime does have a very strong flavor, so watch out to make sure you don't add too much and overpower the cranberry!
- 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)!
Cranberry lime ice cream uses cranberry sauce and lime juice to make a delicious sweet and sour ice cream. The combination of both flavors is a winning combo that should move to the top of your must-try ice cream list!
To make this recipe in the Ninja Creami Deluxe, multiply all ingredients by 1.5
Note: 1 serving = 1 pint
- 1 tbsp Cream Cheese
- 1/2 tsp Lime Extract
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/3 cup Cranberry Sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp Lime Juice
- 2 drop Red Food Coloring (Optional)
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 1/2 tsp lime extract and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Whisk until the ingredients are mixed together.
Whisk in 1/3 cup cranberry sauce and 1 1/2 tsp lime juice.
Slowly whisk in 1 cup whole milk and 3/4 cup heavy cream.
(Optional) Whisk in 2 drops of red food coloring to give the ice cream a more "cranberry" color.
Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, ensuring it does not go over the max fill line. There will probably be more ice cream mixture than needed, so dispose of the rest (or save it for next time) after filling the pint to the 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 cranberry lime 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 orange creamsicle ice cream here.
Thank you for using the recipe!