This is the cherry ice cream I kept wishing existed, creamy, bright, and actually packed with real cherry flavor. If you have ever made a cherry recipe that turned into “pink vanilla,” this one is for you.
Also, quick confession. I made a bad call the first time.
I grabbed frozen cherries from Costco because it felt like the easiest shortcut. But once I spun it, the cherry flavor basically disappeared. And I rarely say anything bad about my beloved Costco, but if you’re making cherry ice cream and you want that bold, unmistakable cherry taste, skip the frozen cherries. They’re probably great for smoothies or snacking, but in ice cream? Mine came out flat.
That’s why I switched to maraschino cherries. The flavor is consistent, the sweetness is on point, and you don’t have to pit a single thing. I told myself I’d skip the juice… then I tasted the base. One small splash made the cut.
If you love bold fruity pints like this, you’ll probably be into my Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream or Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
And if cherry is your thing, here are the flavors that just make sense with it. Try my Cherry Chocolate Blackforest Ice Cream for that classic chocolate plus cherry combo. Or go minty. A Shamrock style mint base with cherry pieces is seriously underrated.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Cherry Ice Cream
- What is a Maraschino Cherry?
- The Cherry Garcia story in a nutshell
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitution and Additions
- How to Make Cherry Ice Cream
- 🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Fun Flavor Variations You Can Try Next
- Pro Tips for Perfect Cherry Ice Cream
- 👪Serving Size
- 🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Ninja Creami FAQs
- More Fruity Flavors
- More Ice Cream Recipes
- Did you try this recipe?
- Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream Recpe
Why You'll Love This Cherry Ice Cream
- No pudding mixes, protein powders, or guar gums—just 5 simple ingredients
- Actually tastes like cherry (not "pink vanilla" like store-bought)
- Uses real dairy—half and half + cottage cheese for creaminess
- High in natural protein from the cottage cheese
- Way cheaper than store-bought premium brands (under $3 vs $6-8 per pint)
- Perfect Cherry Garcia copycat base—just add chocolate chunks!
- Only 10 minutes active prep—the freezer does the rest
- Fully customizable—make it sugar-free, dairy-free, or protein-packed
What is a Maraschino Cherry?
You know those bright red cherries on sundaes, cocktails, and Shirley Temples? Those are maraschino cherries.
The original version traces back to Croatia, where marasca cherries were preserved in maraschino liqueur. The modern American version was created in the early 1900s using a non-alcohol brine and a sweet syrup (often with almond flavor).
Why they’re perfect for ice cream:
- Already sweetened
- Blend super smooth
- Big, consistent cherry flavor
- Easy to find year round
And that syrup? It adds sweetness and helps keep your Creami pint from turning icy.
The Cherry Garcia story in a nutshell
If you’re a fan of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, you’ll love this homemade spin.
Cherry Garcia hit freezers in 1987 after a fan sent the idea on a postcard, and the name is a nod to Jerry Garcia from Grateful Dead.
The classic combo is cherry ice cream loaded with cherries and chocolate chunks. It was also their best selling flavor for ten years.
Want the copycat vibe at home? Spin this recipe, then fold in dark chocolate chunks or chocolate chips using the Mix In setting.
Ingredients You'll Need
This is just an overview—jump down to the full recipe card for exact amounts and detailed instructions!
- Maraschino cherries – Adds that sweet, classic cherry flavor
- Half and half – For that balanced creaminess (not too heavy)
- White sugar – Keeps it sweet without overdoing it
- Cottage cheese – Makes it creamy with extra protein
- Vanilla extract – Rounds out the cherry with a soft, sweet finish
Substitution and Additions
- Half and half → equal parts heavy cream + whole milk
- White sugar → use monk fruit sweetener for sugar-free option
- Cottage cheese → use Greek yogurt for a tangy twist
- Add mini chocolate chips
How to Make Cherry Ice Cream
- Blend It Up: Add all the ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the base and freeze it for 24 hours.
- Spin It: Use the “Ice Cream” function on your Ninja Creami Deluxe. If it’s too crumbly, add 1–2 tablespoon of milk and hit “respin.”
- Add Mixins (Optional): Add more cherries and select Mix-in button. Scoop & Enjoy!
🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Dark chocolate chunks (Cherry Garcia style!)
- Mini chocolate chips
- Extra maraschino cherries (quartered)
- Chopped almonds (cherry almond is divine)
- Crushed vanilla wafers
- Graham cracker pieces
- Crushed Oreos (cookies and cherry!)
- Granola clusters
- Hot fudge sauce
- Peanut butter drizzle
- Amaretto caramel sauce
- Cream cheese frosting swirl
- Fresh strawberry pieces
- Blueberries
- Toasted coconut flakes
Fun Flavor Variations You Can Try Next
- Cherry Chocolate Chip – Mix in chocolate chips after spinning
- Cherry Cheesecake – Add cream cheese and crushed graham crackers
- Black Cherry Vanilla – Use dark cherries and real vanilla bean
- Coconut Cherry – Use coconut milk and toasted coconut
- Protein Cherry Ice Cream – Add a scoop of plain protein powder
Pro Tips for Perfect Cherry Ice Cream
- Blend the cottage cheese until COMPLETELY smooth—any lumps will show up in your final texture
- Use room temperature cream cheese if swapping it for cottage cheese
- Don't skip the vanilla—it rounds out the cherry flavor beautifully
- Taste before freezing—adjust sweetness now, not after it's frozen
- Add mix-ins after spinning—never before freezing, or they'll sink and freeze solid
- If your ice cream is too icy, add more sugar or fat next time (both lower the freezing point)
- For deeper pink color, add an extra splash of maraschino juice
👪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, use two-thirds of each ingredient.
🌀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.
Ninja Creami FAQs
If it's crumbly after the first spin, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk and use the respin function until smooth.
Yes, but the flavor is much lighter—maraschino cherries give a bolder, sweeter cherry taste.
Monk fruit sweetener works well and blends smoothly without leaving an aftertaste.
You can swap it with Greek yogurt or cream cheese, but cottage cheese gives the best creamy texture with added protein.
Flatten the surface before refreezing so it’s safe to respin later; you can also microwave on the ice cream setting or thaw slightly to scoop.
More Fruity Flavors
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
More Ice Cream Recipes
Did you try this recipe?
Share how it turned out in the comments below, and if you loved it, share it on Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram.
Thank you! - Rose
Ninja Creami Cherry Ice Cream Recpe
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream maker
- 1 Ninja Creami Container Pint
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup Maraschino cherries
- 1½ cup Half and half
- 6 tablespoon White sugar
- ½ cup Cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend: Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.
- Freeze: Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container. Level the top, cover, and freeze for 24 hours on a flat surface.
- Spin: Remove the lid and insert the pint into the Ninja Creami Deluxe machine. Select the Ice Cream function.
- Respin (If Needed): If the texture is crumbly, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk and use the Respin function.
- Serve: Scoop and enjoy immediately or transfer to a container for later.
Notes
- If it comes out crumbly, just splash in a little milk and hit respin—that usually does the trick.
- Smooth out the top before refreezing so your Creami blade doesn’t struggle later.
- Taste your base before freezing—it should be a bit sweeter than you want since the freezer tones it down.
- Got leftovers? You can respin, microwave on the ice cream setting, or let it thaw a bit before digging in.
Sue says
Am I supposed to drain the maraschino cherries or include the juice? This is my first recipe with my new Ninja Creami!
Thank you!
Rose Sioson says
Yes! I like to include a small splash of the cherry juice. It adds extra color, a little more sweetness, and boosts that cherry flavor. I’d start with 1–2 tablespoons, mix it in, then taste the base before freezing so you can adjust it to your liking. Enjoy that new Ninja Creami!!
Rose says
Such a simple yet delicious treat—this cherry ice cream is always a hit when I make it. I hope you enjoy it just as much! Let me know if you give it a try.