Ninja Creami Is My Best Tech Update of the Year.

While I often review laptops and other computing devices, I’m most interested in the gadgets I actually use regularly in my everyday life. This year, I’ve become obsessed with collecting important memories with a digital photo frame and playing nostalgic portable games on my first Anbernic device . But of all the upgrades I’ve made in my life, the Ninja Creami has become my absolute favorite.

What is Ninja Creami?

Ninja Creami differs from a more traditional ice cream maker, which sits on the kitchen counter, constantly stirring and freezing liquid ice cream mixture until it’s ready. Instead, you prepare and freeze the liquid ice cream mixture overnight, then process it (in just a few minutes) whenever you want. This means you’ll need to start making the ice cream at least 24 hours in advance, but if you always have a few jars in the freezer, I think it’s actually more convenient than the alternative and perfect for spontaneous snacking.

Plus, you can be more creative with your ingredients than with a traditional ice cream maker, since the mixture doesn’t need to thicken while churning. In short, it’s a great machine for making custom desserts whenever the craving strikes. Read more about how it all works here , but for now, let’s talk about how much it’s changed my life this year. I received it as a gift, but it quickly became an indispensable part of my kitchen.

Why the Ninja Creami is my best tech purchase of the year

After all that explanation, I want to highlight a few specific use cases that really made me appreciate the Ninja Creami this year. Here’s why, in no particular order, it’s my favorite gadget I bought in 2025.

It is easy to use.

I’ve already mentioned that making ice cream in the Ninja Creami usually takes less time than in a more traditional ice cream maker, provided you remember to freeze the frozen portions of Creami for at least 24 hours before using. But let’s take a look at the actual process of making ice cream in the Creami to see for ourselves.

• An irresistible desire to eat ice cream arises.

• Remove the pre-frozen pint of Ninja Creami from the freezer.

• Insert the pint into the slots of the Ninja Creami pitcher, place the blade into the pitcher lid and close the pitcher with the lid.

• Press the button to select the desired ice cream making mode and wait for two to five minutes.

That’s it. It’s much faster than going out to the ice cream shop, not to mention cheaper. Creami can even add ingredients, just like your own Coldstone—simply dig a hole in the center of the ice cream after processing, add the necessary ingredients, and enjoy the scooped-out ice cream while the program blends your delicious treats.

As for cleaning, the cups, lid and blade are dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to worry about it.

It is customizable.

Perhaps the main reason to buy a home ice cream maker is the ability to create your own ice cream flavors, and the Ninja Creami is no exception. While I’ve made standard vanilla and chocolate ice cream, I’ve also experimented with more unusual flavors in my Ninja Creami. Good examples include milk tea ice cream and chocolate dulce de leche ice cream (stay tuned). You won’t find these at Baskin-Robbins!

It’s healthier.

I was actually drawn to the Ninja Creami ice cream maker specifically for its protein ice cream, or ice cream where protein powder is the main flavor component. Making it in a traditional ice cream maker is more difficult, but thanks to the way the Ninja Creami blends ingredients, it’s incredibly easy. In fact, I use the Creami 90% of the time for just that. It allows me to satisfy my sweet tooth while generally having fewer calories than regular ice cream. You can make protein ice cream in the Ninja Creami, too, but I’ve had excellent results using just 2% milk, protein powder, and my secret ingredient—sugar-free jelly.

Jell-O contains xanthan gum, which acts as a binder, and when mixed with milk and protein powder, it creates a texture almost indistinguishable from processed ice cream. Xanthan gum can be purchased separately, but Jell-O is a bit easier to find and can add extra flavor. Of course, I usually add some toppings and whipped cream, which reduces the nutritional value a bit, but you can still often find a pint for under 400 calories. A full pint is usually enough for both my husband and me, and it makes a great addition to a small dinner, helping us control portion sizes.

This allows you to preserve milk.

I don’t always manage to use milk before it expires, but I hate the idea of ​​pouring it down the sink. The Ninja Creami microwave makes it easy to freeze milk that’s about to spoil, as each recipe calls for about 2 cups. Of course, I prefer to use 1 cup cow’s milk and 1 cup almond milk, as the almond milk adds extra flavor and makes the texture smoother, but you can get by with either one. Overall, the Ninja Creami has significantly reduced the amount of milk I waste, even though I’ve been using it more often.

Alcoholic milkshakes!

Finally, the Ninja Creami makes milkshakes a breeze. Yes, I know making a milkshake in a blender isn’t that hard, but I hate cleaning the entire blender just to do it. With the Ninja Creami, you simply scoop ice cream into a cup or blend it to your liking and blend it briefly. Then, make a well in the center and add milk and alcohol. Run it through the milkshake program, and the result is a perfect texture almost every time, without all the guesswork of using a traditional blender. My husband and I love making this before a movie, and it’s an easy way to save money on the $15-plus alcoholic milkshakes at our local Alamo Drafthouse.

There are also programs for making other desserts, such as sorbets, so while I mainly use the Creami for making ice cream, there are plenty of other ways to get creative with this appliance.

My favorite Ninja Creamy cocktail recipe

I currently have dozens of recipes stored in my Notes app on my iPhone, but to give you a general idea of ​​what I do with my Ninja Creami, let’s look at my favorite. You won’t find it at Baskin-Robbins, but once you try Dulce Chocolate, you’ll never go back.

Dulce Chocolate

My husband is a big fan of Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche ice cream, and using a special kind of Dulce de Leche protein powder that seems to be made only by one company, we were able to make a pretty convincing, but much healthier, alternative (use vanilla gelato instead of what I’m about to suggest). However, we discovered that Dulce de Leche also pairs incredibly well with chocolate, a combination you’re unlikely to find unless you make it yourself. This recipe is what truly sold me on the benefits of Ninja Creami, and once you try it, I think you’ll understand.

• 1 glass of 2% milk

• About 1 cup sweetened almond milk (leave enough room for the powder).

• 1 scoop Black Magic Dulce de Leche protein powder

• 1 tbsp. sugar-free chocolate fudge powder

Use the “Light Ice Cream” setting for preparation. After preparation, add any toppings of your choice, if desired. My favorite toppings for Dulce chocolate ice cream are Kit-Kat and Reese’s Thins. Both are best lightly crushed before adding to the ice cream.

Which Ninja Creami should you choose?

If I’ve convinced you to buy one, you have a few options.

I have a standard Ninja Creami coffee machine , which typically costs $200 and does everything I need. The pint size is equivalent to two cups, and it has fewer preset programs than other models, but I would recommend it to most people.

But if you need more programs and larger capacities, you can opt for the Ninja Creami Deluxe , which typically retails for $250. It allows you to make three-cup servings and also process only a portion at a time, making it easy to make leftovers.

Finally, if you love soft-serve ice cream, there’s the Ninja Creami Swirl . Typically priced at $350, it’s very similar to the standard Ninja Creami, but also comes with a dispenser for pouring ice cream into a cone or bowl, just like in an ice cream parlor. It also has several additional programs that make it easier to create soft-serve ice cream, but with the right knowledge, you can do this with any Creami model.

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