This is the cherry ice cream I kept wishing existed—creamy, and actually full of real cherry flavor. If you’ve been disappointed by bland or fake-tasting cherry recipes, this one’s about to change that.
This recipe started with me chasing real cherry flavor. Fresh cherries were tasty but pitting them took forever. Frozen ones? Total disappointment—barely any cherry taste.
So I went with maraschino cherries. I wasn’t going to use the juice… but I might’ve added a splash. 😉
If you're into bold fruity flavors like this, don’t miss my Strawberry Ice Cream, Blueberry Ice Cream, Raspberry Ice Cream, or tropical favorite—the Dole Whip!
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Why You'll Love This?
- ✅ No pudding mixes, protein powders, or guar gums
- 🍒 Actually tastes like cherry (not “pink vanilla”)
- 🐄 Uses real dairy—half and half + cottage cheese
- 💪 High in natural protein from the cottage cheese
🛒Ingredients
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
Let’s Make It!
- 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
- 🍒 Extra maraschino cherries
- 🍪 Crushed vanilla wafers
- 🥥 Shredded coconut
- 🥜 Chopped nuts
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
👪Serving Size
This recipe is made for the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, yielding 4 servings per pint.
🌀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.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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 cup White sugar
- ½ cup Cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extracf
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.
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.