This Ninja Creami candy cane ice cream is basically chocolate mint ice cream dressed up for the holidays. It’s your creamy vanilla base + a little peppermint flavor + those red-striped round mints (aka starlight mints) crushed up as the mix-in.
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Why You'll Love It
- High protein from cottage cheese (but it still tastes like real ice cream)
- No gums, pudding mix, or protein powders
- Creamy, scoopable texture (Respin gets you there)
- Easy ingredients you can grab anywhere (hello, holiday candy aisle)
- Kid-approved because: peppermint + crunch = instant yes
- Quick prep and it actually works (freeze, spin, mix-in, done)
🛒Ingredients
- Half-and-half – my favorite base
- Cottage cheese – makes it thick and creamy (no, it won’t taste cheesy)
- Sweetened condensed milk – sweetness + better texture straight from the freezer
- Vanilla extract (or vanilla bean extract) – keeps it classic
- Peppermint flavoring – you used chocolate mint flavor oil; peppermint extract also works (just go light)
- Red-striped round peppermint mints (starlight mints) – crushed, for the Mix-In cycle
Add-Ins & Swaps
- Peppermint bark option: add mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate with the mint candy during Mix-In.
- No flavor oil? Use peppermint extract instead (start with less than you think).
- Want softer crunch? Crush the mints finer so you get “peppermint confetti” instead of tooth hazards.
How to Make Ninja Creami Candy Cane Ice Cream
- Blend the base. Add half-and-half, cottage cheese, condensed milk, vanilla, and your peppermint/chocolate-mint flavoring to a blender. Blend until totally smooth.
- Freeze 24 hours. Pour into a Deluxe 24 oz pint, level the top, and freeze on a flat surface for at least 24 hours.
- Spin it. Run Ice Cream.
- Respin if crumbly. If it looks like snow, add 1–2 tablespoons milk or half-and-half and hit Respin.
- Add the candy the right way. Crush starlight mints in a zip-top bag). Make a well in the center, add the crushed mints, then run Mix-In.
- Serve. Immediately. From the pint. With zero shame.
🍒Topping / Mix-In Suggestions
- Chocolate drizzle (this instantly pushes it toward peppermint bark vibes)
- Whipped cream + extra crushed mints
- Mini chocolate chips on top (extra crunch, no effort)
- Crushed Oreos (holiday cookies-and-cream moment)
- A tiny pinch of flaky salt (trust me, it makes the peppermint pop)
👪Serving Size
This recipe is made for the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, yielding 4 servings per pint.
If you’re using a standard 16-ounce Ninja Creami pint instead of the Deluxe 24-ounce, just use two-thirds of each ingredient. Think of it as filling the pint about the same way. Just a little less of everything.
🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Blender: Makes mixing ingredients effortless.
- Ninja CREAMi Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Maker: The star of the show, perfect for creating creamy, smooth ice cream.
- Ninja Creami Pint Container: The pint container is essential for freezing and churning your ice cream mix.
Recipe Tips & Troubleshooting
- Why is mine icy? Make sure the base is blended super smooth and frozen flat. (Also: don’t skimp on the 24 hours.)
- Crumbly after spinning? Normal. Add 1–2 tablespoon liquid and Respin.
- Too soft after Respin? Freeze 10–15 minutes and it firms right up.
- Grainy texture? Blend longer. Cottage cheese needs time to fully disappear.
- Candy got sticky/weird? That happens if it sits in the base too long. Always add candy on Mix-In, not before freezing.
Recipe FAQs
How much peppermint flavor should I use?
Start small, taste the base before freezing, and remember cold dulls flavor. You want it slightly stronger than your final goal.
Why is my Ninja Creami ice cream crumbly even after two Respins?
Add another 1–2 tablespoons liquid and Respin again. Some bases just need a little extra help depending on your freezer.
Can I mix the crushed mints in before freezing?
You can, but they’ll often dissolve or turn sticky. Mix them in after spinning for the best crunch.
More Ice Cream Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Ninja Creami Candy Cane Ice Cream
Creamy vanilla peppermint/candy cane ice cream made in the Ninja Creami using the classic condensed milk + cottage cheese base, then finished with crunchy crushed starlight mints (and an optional peppermint bark chocolate twist).
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream maker
- 24 oz Ninja Creami Pint Container
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups half-and-half
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean extract or vanilla extract
- 3 drops Peppermint or chocolate mint flavor oil chocolate mint flavor oil or peppermint extract, to taste (start small)
- 2 tablespoon crushed starlight mints red-striped round peppermint candies, for Mix-In
Instructions
- Blend half-and-half, cottage cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and peppermint flavoring until completely smooth.1¾ cups half-and-half, ½ cup cottage cheese, ½ cup sweetened condensed milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla bean extract, 3 drops Peppermint or chocolate mint flavor oil
- Pour into a Ninja Creami Deluxe pint.
- Freeze 24 hours on a flat surface.
- Spin on Ice Cream.
- If crumbly, add 1–2 tablespoon milk/half-and-half and Respin.
- Make a well in the center. Add crushed starlight mints (and chocolate chips if using).2 tablespoon crushed starlight mints
- Run Mix-In. Scoop and serve.
Notes
- Start light on peppermint. You can always add more next pint; you cannot un-mint a pint.
- Freeze flat for 24 hours or the texture gets weird.
- Crumbly = normal. Add 1–2 tablespoon liquid and Respin.
- Add candy on Mix-In to keep crunch (and avoid sticky peppermint sadness).
- Crush mints smaller than you think unless you enjoy surprise dental workouts.
Tried this recipe?Leave us a comment below and share how it came out!
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