Ninja Creami Pickle Ice Cream
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Although you may be thinking it, this pickle ice cream is no April Fool's Day joke.
If you're ready for an exceptionally unique flavor of Ninja Creami ice cream, grab some pickles and follow this recipe. I promise, the result is a really fun treat!
Last summer, I took Alex to a Pickle Fest that was being held at a local farmer's market in a neighboring town. I'm a sucker for any events that promise unique food that I might never get to try otherwise.
At this Pickle Fest, they promised to have pickle lemonade, pickle pizza, and other pickle foods! While the pickle lemonade tasted just like pickle juice and wasn't my favorite, the pickle pizza was surprisingly delicious. I never would have put pickle on my own pizza, but when I tried it, I loved it!
This event got my wheels spinning about what other unconventional pickle flavored items Alex and I could create! Obviously, a Ninja Creami ice cream recipe was in order. That's one of the best parts of this machine: you can experiment and create anything you can dream up!
In order to create this pickle ice cream recipe, you'll need a jar of your favorite pickles (we recommend dill pickles for their flavor and crunch) and a bit of dill weed spice. That's it! Easy.
If you're skeptical, that is totally understandable. But just remember, some of the best creations are the ones that seem a bit strange. I never would've dreamed I like pickle ice cream, but after trying it, I enjoyed it!
So if you're feeling adventurous, grab some dill pickles, a Ninja Creami pint, and get spinning!
To Make Dairy-Free Pickle 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 any type of pickles? Sure! While we recommend dill pickles because of their great flavor and crunch, you can use any type of pickle! We can't promise the end result will be exactly the same, but I'm sure it'll still be delicious!
- 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)!
Pickle ice cream may not be a common ice cream flavor, but it definitely shouldn't be underestimated. This ice cream uses pickles, pickle juice, and dill weed to create a uniquely fun ice cream 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
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Whole Milk
- 1/2 tsp Dill Weed
- 2 tbsp Pickle Juice (From the Pickle Jar)
- 1/4 cup Chopped Dill Pickles
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 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp dill weed, and 2 tbsp pickle juice. 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. 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.
Chop a handful of dill pickles into small pieces. Gather 1/4 cup of chopped dill pickle.
Carve a hole down the middle of the already-spun ice cream. Drop in 1/4 cup chopped pickles.
Place the pint back into the Ninja Creami and process on "Mix-In".
Remove the pint form the machine when done spinning.
Now your pickle 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 strawberry ice cream here.
Thank you for using the recipe!