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We finally made it. Summer is here!
One of my favorite ways to celebrate? A fruity new Ninja Creami ice cream!
This time, Alex and I made a watermelon ice cream that is bursting with flavor and tastes so good I want to eat the whole pint in one sitting. It’s perfect for those hot, summer days. Trust me, I tested it yesterday when it was 88 degrees, and it hit the spot.
I’ve never been much for fresh watermelon, but artificial watermelon flavored items are one of my favorites! Think Jolly Ranchers, popsicles, sherbet, etc. And now I can add watermelon Kool-Aid to that list.
As a kid, on a summer day, there was nothing better than a cold Kool-Aid to help my friends and I get through all of our adventures. Some of my favorite memories include sitting with a cold glass of Kool-Aid on my friend’s front porch, covered in dirt and talking about the next fort we were going to construct.
This watermelon Kool-Aid ice cream brings me back to those happy memories. Knowing I can make this Ninja Creami recipe anytime is truly amazing!
The best part about this ice cream recipe is how easy it is to make. All it takes is your base recipe plus a drink packet of watermelon Kool-Aid mix.
You can find Kool-Aid drink packets at most local grocery stores. I found mine at my local Walmart! Now flavor-wise, add as much powder as you want! I like my flavor strong and went with a whole packet, but you can always add some and taste-test your way to perfection!
So if you want a new fruity treat, grab a packet of watermelon Kool-Aid powder and make this deliicous Ninja Creami ice cream recipe!
To Make Dairy-Free Watermelon 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!
- How strong is the flavor? We used an entire packet of watermelon Kool-Aid powder, which I thought was just right. However, it did have a very strong flavor, so feel free to start with half or three-quarters of the packet when making the ice cream mixture. You can always try the mixture before putting it into the Ninja Creami pint and add more from there!
- Where do you buy the Kool-Aid packet? We found it at our local Walmart in the drinks aisle (the section that has all of the drink powders and flavorings). It was only $0.39, so we thought it was a steal! Most local grocery stores should carry it.
- 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)!
Ninja Creami Watermelon Ice Cream
Description
Watermelon ice cream is a delicious, fruity treat that's perfect for summertime! Bursting with flavor, this easy recipe uses a watermelon Kool-Aid packet to create an amazing flavor. To tone down the flavor, start with half or three-quarters of the packet.
To make this recipe in the Ninja Creami Deluxe, multiply all ingredients by 1.5
Note: 1 serving = 1 pint
Ingredients
Instructions
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 packet of watermelon Kool-Aid drink mix.
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, making sure 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 watermelon ice cream 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 tropical punch ice cream here.