Ninja Creami Li Hing Ice Cream
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Li Hing ice cream is a simple and delicious treat that you may have never heard of but definitely have to try!
Besides the pretty color, this easy Ninja Creami ice cream recipe is bursting with delicious flavor in every bite.
Li hing mui (or li hing for short) powder is a powdered that is made from dries, pickled plums. While that may not sound entice you into trying this ice cream, it's worth a shot before you knock it.
The flavor of li hing can be described as the sweeter and milder cousin of Tajin seasoning that is commonly used on fruits. It's a perfect blend of salty, sweet, and sour all at the same time!
When Alex and I were on a trip to Hawaii, we saw li hing everywhere in the grocery store candy aisle. One of my favorite parts of traveling is exploring the local grocery stores and seeing what different foods they offer!
Of course, I went to the candy aisle and I saw that in addition to my favorite selection of fruit candy there were options for fruit candy covered in li hing powder! Having no idea what it was, I knew I had to try it. We bought a pack of li hing gummy bears and discovered that the addition of li hing powder was an amazing flavor booster!
Since it was something new and different (and tasty), Alex and I knew we needed to try and make it into ice cream.
Thankfully, this easy Ninja Creami recipe came out just as great as we were hoping!
While we bought our li hing powder at a Walmart in Hawaii, you can easily order it on Amazon for a few dollars.
So if you're looking for a fun new ice cream recipe, grab some li hing powder, a Ninja Creami pint, and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Li Hing 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!
- Where can I find li hing powder? It's widely sold in Hawaii, but you can also purchase it for a few dollars on Amazon!
- 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)!
Li hing ice cream uses li hing mui powder to create a fun and delicious ice cream bursting with flavor!
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 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1 tbsp Li Hing Mui 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, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and 1 tbsp li hing mui powder. Whisk until the ingredients are mixed together.
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 li hing 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 ube ice cream here.
Thank you for using the recipe!