Peanut Butter Ninja Creami (No Protein Powder)
This Peanut Butter Ninja Creami is creamy, packed with peanut butter flavor, and made without protein powder. It’s an easy way to make a low-calorie, high-protein peanut butter frozen treat using just five simple ingredients.
I designed this recipe to work both as a complete peanut butter pint on its own and as a foundational base for mix-ins and toppings. You can enjoy the entire pint as-is or add chocolate, cookies, candy, cereal, or other toppings.
Like all of my recipes, this one is Made for the Whole Pint. The entire finished pint follows my 400 / $4 / 4 Rule: under 400 calories, under $4 in ingredients, and under 4 minutes of active prep time.
Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Ninja Creami
PB2 powdered peanut butter adds plenty of peanut butter flavor without the calories and fat of traditional peanut butter. Combined with Kroger CarbMaster Fat Free Milk, the entire pint comes to just 182 calories with 25 grams of protein, without adding protein powder.
The approximate ingredient cost is only $1.84 per pint, making this an affordable foundational base that also works well with a variety of mix-ins and toppings.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This peanut butter Ninja Creami uses just five ingredients: Kroger CarbMaster Fat Free Milk, PB2 powdered peanut butter, zero-calorie sweetener, xanthan gum, and salt.
I use Kroger CarbMaster Fat Free Milk because it provides a lot of protein for relatively few calories. Fairlife Fat Free Ultra-Filtered Milk can be substituted 1:1, although nutrition and cost will vary depending on the milk used.
PB2 powdered peanut butter provides the peanut butter flavor while keeping the calories and fat much lower than traditional peanut butter. Another powdered peanut butter can be substituted, but flavor, nutrition, and cost may vary.
I use a zero-calorie sweetener to add sweetness without increasing the calories. You can use your preferred zero-calorie granulated sweetener, although sweetness can vary between products.
Xanthan gum helps thicken the base and creates a smoother texture after processing. A small amount of salt helps balance the sweetness and bring out the peanut butter flavor.
Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Ninja Creami (No Protein Powder)
Blend the base ingredients thoroughly before freezing. I recommend an immersion blender because it is quick, easy to clean, and does a great job combining the PB2, sweetener, and xanthan gum evenly. A regular blender, handheld milk frother, or shaker cup can also work. Blend for about 30–60 seconds, making sure the ingredients are fully combined and no clumps remain before freezing.
Make sure the blended mixture stays below the MAX FILL line before freezing. A small amount of foam above the line is okay, provided the actual liquid mixture stays below it once the foam settles. If the mixture exceeds the line, reduce the ingredient amounts proportionally before freezing.
Freeze time can vary depending on your freezer temperature, but I recommend 24 hours to be safe and help ensure the pint is fully frozen. Freeze the pint on a level surface with the lid removed to help prevent a bump from forming.
Before spinning, check that the frozen surface is level and does not have a raised bump. Do not process a pint with a significantly uneven frozen surface. If necessary, allow the mixture to soften or melt, smooth it out, and refreeze it on a level surface until completely solid.
Before spinning, let the pint sit on the counter for about 15 minutes or run hot water over the outside of the container for about 1 minute.
Process using the Lite Ice Cream setting. After the first cycle, check the texture and decide how much additional processing is needed to reach your preferred consistency. If it still needs significant processing, run a Re-Spin. If it’s already close to the texture you like, you can skip the Re-Spin and run the Mix-In cycle instead, whether or not you’re actually adding mix-ins. The Mix-In cycle provides some additional processing, but not as much as a Re-Spin. If the ice cream has already reached your preferred consistency, you can enjoy it as-is.
If the mixture is especially dry or powdery, try a Re-Spin first. If it still needs additional moisture, add a small splash of water before another Re-Spin. Avoid adding too much liquid at once, as it can make the finished ice cream softer than intended.
If you are adding mix-ins, make a hole slightly off-center with a butter knife, add your ingredients, and run the Mix-In cycle. I prefer freezing mix-ins ahead of time when practical so they hold up better during processing. Add any toppings after processing.
What to Do About Icy Sides
A thin icy layer around the sides of the pint after the first spin is normal because the blade does not reach the very edge of the container. Avoid scraping the icy sides into the creamy center before running another cycle.
Once you’re finished processing, you can push the icy layer toward the bottom so it softens while you eat from the top. Another option is to enjoy the creamy center first and let the icy sides soften as you eat.
How to Store Leftover Ninja Creami
If you do not finish the entire pint, smooth the remaining ice cream into a level surface, replace the lid, and return it to the freezer.
When you’re ready to enjoy the leftovers, allow them to soften slightly or process them again using the appropriate setting for your Ninja Creami model if needed. Keep in mind that additional processing may further break down any mix-ins.
Calories, Protein & Cost
The entire pint has 182 calories, 25 grams of protein, 14 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fat.
The approximate ingredient cost is $1.84 per pint.
Nutrition is calculated for the entire pint using the specific ingredients listed. Ingredient costs are estimates based on representative prices. Substitutions may change both nutrition and cost, and actual prices will vary by store and location.
Cost Breakdown
Based on representative ingredient prices, here’s approximately what each ingredient costs for one pint:
| Ingredient | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kroger Carbmaster Fat Free Milk | 355 g | $0.98 |
| Monk Fruit In The Raw | 36 g | $0.52 |
| PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter | 13 g | $0.29 |
| Xanthan gum | 1 g | $0.04 |
| Salt | 1 g | $0.01 |
| Total Cost Per Pint | $1.84 |
Costs are estimates based on representative prices for the specific ingredients listed. Actual costs may vary by store, location, package size, and current pricing.
Peanut Butter Ninja Creami (No Protein Powder)
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami
- 1 Ninja Creami Pint
- 1 Immersion Blender recommended for easy blending; a regular blender, handheld milk frother, or shaker cup can also work.
Ingredients
- 355 g Kroger Carbmaster Fat Free Milk 1½ cups; Fairlife Fat Free Ultra-Filtered Milk can be substituted
- 36 g Monk Fruit In The Raw 3 tbsp; another zero-calorie granulated sweetener can be used
- 13 g PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter 2 tbsp; another powdered peanut butter can be used
- 1 g Xanthan gum about ¼ tsp
- 1 g Salt about ¼ tsp
Instructions
- Blend the base: Add the milk, powdered peanut butter, sweetener, xanthan gum, and salt to the Ninja Creami pint. Use an immersion blender to blend for about 30–60 seconds, until the ingredients are fully combined and no clumps remain. A regular blender, handheld milk frother, or shaker cup can also work.
- Freeze: Make sure the liquid mixture is below the max fill line. Place the pint on a level surface and freeze for at least 24 hours. Freeze with the lid removed to help prevent a bump from forming.
- Prepare to spin: Remove the pint from the freezer and make sure the frozen surface is level, with no raised bump. Run hot water over the outside of the pint for about 1 minute or let it sit on the counter for about 15 minutes.
- Spin: Process using the Lite Ice Cream setting.
- Assess the texture: After the Lite Ice Cream cycle, check the texture. If it still needs significant processing, run a Re-Spin. If it’s already close to the texture you like, you can skip the Re-Spin and run the Mix-In cycle instead, whether or not you’re actually adding mix-ins.
- Add mix-ins or enjoy: Enjoy as-is, or make a hole slightly off-center with a butter knife, add your mix-ins, and run the Mix-In cycle. Add any toppings after processing.
