Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is your shortcut to a decadent, frozen dessert experience right in your kitchen. This recipe is designed to perfectly replicate the beloved Chunky Monkey flavor profile, offering a healthier and more cost-effective alternative to store-bought versions.
Key Ingredients for Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream:
- 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (for mix-in)
How to Make Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream:
This Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream recipe is a breeze to whip up, making dessert dreams a reality with minimal effort. Prepare to be amazed by its incredibly creamy texture and the irresistible combination of chocolate, banana, and walnuts. The simplicity of the process, coupled with the rich, satisfying flavor, makes this a weekday indulgence you can feel good about. Anticipate about 10 minutes of prep time, plus freezing time.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Base: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture is just beginning to simmer around the edges. Do not bring to a rolling boil.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the softened cream cheese to the warm milk mixture. Whisk vigorously until the cream cheese is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and lump-free. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Chill the Base: Pour the chocolate mixture into a bowl or container. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the liquid to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to ensure the base is thoroughly chilled. The colder the base, the better the Creami churn.
- Pour into Ninja Creami Pint: Once the base is well-chilled, pour it into your Ninja Creami pint container. Ensure you don’t fill it past the maximum fill line indicated on the pint.
- Freeze the Base: Place the lid on the Creami pint and put it in your freezer horizontally. Freeze for at least 24 hours. The base needs to be completely frozen solid for the Ninja Creami churn to work effectively.
- Prepare the Mix-ins: While your base is freezing, toast your chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant. Allow them to cool completely. Have your mini chocolate chips and mashed ripe banana ready.
- First Spin: Once frozen, remove the Creami pint from the freezer. Take off the lid and place the frozen pint into the outer bowl assembly. Secure the outer bowl lid with the handle. Place the outer bowl assembly into your Ninja Creami machine and select the “Ice Cream” function.
- Check Consistency and Re-spin if Needed: After the first spin, the texture might appear crumbly or powdery. This is normal. If it’s not smooth enough, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk or cream and re-spin using the “Re-spin” function. Continue re-spinning with a small amount of liquid until the desired creamy consistency is achieved.
- Add Mix-ins: Once you have a smooth ice cream base, create a well in the center of the ice cream, about ½ inch wide and ½ inch deep, all the way down to the bottom of the pint. Add your toasted walnuts, mini chocolate chips, and mashed banana into this well.
- Second Spin (Mix-in Cycle): Place the lid back on the outer bowl assembly and secure it. Place the outer bowl assembly into your Ninja Creami machine and select the “Mix-ins” function. This function is designed to incorporate your add-ins evenly throughout the ice cream.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once the “Mix-ins” cycle is complete, your Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is ready to be enjoyed! Scoop it out immediately and savor the glorious chunks of walnuts and chocolate balanced with the rich chocolatey, banana-infused ice cream.
Why You’ll Love This Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream:
Get ready to fall head over heels for this homemade Chunky Monkey masterpiece! The star of the show is undoubtedly the incredibly smooth and decadent chocolate ice cream, perfectly studded with chewy banana bits, crunchy toasted walnuts, and satisfying mini chocolate chips. It’s a flavor explosion that rivals any premium ice cream shop, all crafted in your own kitchen.
The best part? Making this Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream at home is significantly more budget-friendly than buying pre-made versions. You have complete control over the quality of ingredients, allowing you to create a healthier dessert without compromising on taste. Imagine the joy of diving into a bowl of this delightful creation, knowing you’ve saved money and made a treat that’s truly special. Don’t wait – whip up a batch of this chunky goodness and prepare for pure frozen bliss!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
Leftover Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream can be stored directly in the Ninja Creami pint container with the lid on. Ensure the surface is relatively smooth before freezing for easier re-spinning. For best results, consume within 1-2 weeks.
If your ice cream has become too hard after freezing, simply add 1-2 tablespoons of milk or cream to the pint and run it through the “Re-spin” function on your Ninja Creami machine again until smooth. This will bring it back to its delightful, creamy consistency.
Final Thoughts:
This Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is a testament to how simple home-made desserts can be incredibly satisfying and delicious. We encourage you to give this recipe a try; you won’t be disappointed with this delightful frozen treat!
Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture is just beginning to simmer around the edges. Do not bring to a rolling boil.1.75 cups Whole milk, 0.75 cups Heavy cream, 0.5 cup Granulated sugar, 0.25 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder, 0.125 teaspoon Salt
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the softened cream cheese to the warm milk mixture. Whisk vigorously until the cream cheese is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth and lump-free. Stir in the vanilla extract.4 ounces Cream cheese, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Pour the chocolate mixture into a bowl or container. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly onto the surface of the liquid to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to ensure the base is thoroughly chilled.
- Once the base is well-chilled, pour it into your Ninja Creami pint container. Ensure you don’t fill it past the maximum fill line indicated on the pint.
- Place the lid on the Creami pint and put it in your freezer horizontally. Freeze for at least 24 hours. The base needs to be completely frozen solid for the Ninja Creami churn to work effectively.
- While your base is freezing, toast your chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant. Allow them to cool completely. Have your mini chocolate chips and mashed ripe banana ready.0.5 cup Chopped walnuts, 0.5 cup Mini chocolate chips, 1 Ripe banana
- Once frozen, remove the Creami pint from the freezer. Take off the lid and place the frozen pint into the outer bowl assembly. Secure the outer bowl lid with the handle. Place the outer bowl assembly into your Ninja Creami machine and select the “Ice Cream” function.
- After the first spin, the texture might appear crumbly or powdery. This is normal. If it’s not smooth enough, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk or cream and re-spin using the “Re-spin” function. Continue re-spinning with a small amount of liquid until the desired creamy consistency is achieved.1-2 tablespoons Milk or cream (optional, for re-spinning)
- Once you have a smooth ice cream base, create a well in the center of the ice cream, about ½ inch wide and ½ inch deep, all the way down to the bottom of the pint. Add your toasted walnuts, mini chocolate chips, and mashed banana into this well.0.5 cup Chopped walnuts, 0.5 cup Mini chocolate chips, 1 Ripe banana
- Place the lid back on the outer bowl assembly and secure it. Place the outer bowl assembly into your Ninja Creami machine and select the “Mix-ins” function. This function is designed to incorporate your add-ins evenly throughout the ice cream.
- Once the “Mix-ins” cycle is complete, your Ninja Creami Copycat Chunky Monkey Ice Cream is ready to be enjoyed! Scoop it out immediately and savor the glorious chunks of walnuts and chocolate balanced with the rich chocolatey, banana-infused ice cream.