High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami
This High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami is creamy, packed with strawberry shortcake flavor, and made with RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls protein powder. It’s an easy way to make a low-calorie, high-protein frozen treat using just five simple ingredients.
I designed this recipe to work both as a complete strawberry shortcake pint on its own and as a foundational base for mix-ins and toppings. You can enjoy the entire pint as-is or add cookies, cereal, chocolate, fruit, or other toppings.
Like all of my recipes, this one is Made for the Whole Pint. Even with the optional Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll topping, 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 High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami
RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls protein powder provides the distinctive strawberry shortcake flavor and adds protein, while Kroger Carbmaster Fat Free Milk helps create a creamy base without adding unnecessary calories.
The entire base comes to just 252 calories with 41 grams of protein. For even more strawberry shortcake flavor, you can crumble half a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll over the finished pint.
It’s a simple five-ingredient base that delivers strawberry shortcake flavor while still leaving plenty of flexibility for mix-ins and toppings.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami uses just five ingredients: Kroger Carbmaster Fat Free Milk, RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls protein powder, Monk Fruit In The Raw, 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.
I use RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls protein powder because it provides the distinctive strawberry shortcake flavor that makes this recipe different from a regular strawberry Ninja Creami. This recipe was developed using this specific protein powder. Substituting another strawberry-flavored protein powder will change the flavor and may affect the final texture, nutrition, and cost.
I use Monk Fruit In The Raw 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 create a smoother texture after processing. A small amount of salt helps balance the sweetness and bring out the strawberry shortcake flavor.
Variations
Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll
Turn this high-protein strawberry shortcake base into a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll Ninja Creami by cutting half of a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll into small pieces and sprinkling them over the finished pint after processing. The entire finished pint is 367 calories with 42 grams of protein and costs about $3.30.
See the full Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll variation below the recipe card for nutrition, cost, and instructions.
Tips for the Best High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami
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 protein powder, 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 all 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. If it still needs significant processing, run a Re-Spin. If it is already close to the texture you like and you plan to add mix-ins, you can skip the Re-Spin and go directly to the Mix-In cycle. If you are enjoying the pint as-is and it has reached your preferred consistency, no additional processing is needed.
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 base pint has approximately 252 calories, 41 grams of protein, 14 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fat.
The approximate ingredient cost is $3.05 per pint.
With the optional topping, the entire finished pint has approximately 367 calories, 42 grams of protein, 35 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of fat, with an estimated ingredient cost of $3.30.
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 |
| RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls Protein | 1 scoop (34g) | $1.85 |
| Monk Fruit In The Raw | 12 g | $0.17 |
| Xanthan gum | 1 g | $0.04 |
| Salt | 1 g | $0.01 |
| Total Cost Per pint | $3.05 |
Costs are estimates based on representative prices for the specific ingredients listed. Actual costs may vary by store, location, package size, and current pricing.
High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami
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.
- 34 g RYSE Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Rolls Protein Powder 1 scoop
- 12 g Monk Fruit In The Raw 1 tbsp; another zero-calorie granulated sweetener can be substituted
- 1 g Xanthan Gum About ¼ tsp
- 1 g Salt About ¼ tsp
Optional topping
- ½ roll Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll Copy Crumble over the finished pint after processing.
Instructions
- Blend the base: Add the milk, protein powder, 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. 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. 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 the pint as-is, add your preferred mix-ins, or crumble half a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll over the finished pint as an optional topping.
Notes
Nutrition
Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll Variation
Make the High-Protein Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Ninja Creami according to the recipe above. After processing, cut half of a Little Debbie Strawberry Shortcake Roll into small pieces and sprinkle them over the finished pint.
Entire finished pint: 367 calories | 42 g protein | 35 g carbs | 6 g fat
Approximate ingredient cost: $3.30 per pint.
Want to Build Your Own Variation?
Want to customize this Ninja Creami with different mix-ins or toppings? Use the Lucas Eats Creamis Build Your Own Pint calculator to explore combinations and see the calories, macros, and estimated ingredient cost before you make it.
