If you've ever bitten into a warm churro and thought "this would be incredible as ice cream," you're in the right place. This Ninja Creami Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream captures that exact cinnamon-sugar, fried-dough magic - but colder, creamier, and way easier than standing over a pot of hot oil. I tested three different bases before landing on this cream cheese version, and the richness is unreal. It's like someone turned a churro and a cinnamon roll into one thick, scoopable dessert.
I make this year-round, but when winter hits, the cinnamon-sugar smell practically screams holiday dessert. It lives in the same cozy family as my classic eggnog, Maple Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Spiced Hot Cocoa - all those "I should be sitting by a fireplace" flavors.
If you love warm bakery flavors, you'll also love my Apple Cinnamon Pie Ice Cream.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream
- What Does It Taste Like
- 🛒Ingredients
- Add-Ins & Swaps
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- 🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Recipe Tips & Troubleshooting
- Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- 👪Serving Size
- 🌀Tools You’ll Need
- Recipe FAQs
- More High-Protein Recipes
- More Fall- Inspired Ice Cream
- Did you try this recipe?
- Ninja Creami Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream
Why You'll Love This Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream
- Tastes like a churro met a cinnamon roll - warm, bakery-sweet, impossibly creamy
- No frying required - all that churro flavor without the mess or the oil splatter
- High protein from real ingredients - cream cheese adds richness AND protein, no powder needed
- No gums, pudding mix, or eggs - just simple ingredients you can actually pronounce
- Kid-approved - the cinnamon sugar flavor is a guaranteed hit with little ones
- Year-round comfort - cozy enough for winter, delicious enough for summer
- Batch-prep friendly - I make this alongside my other holiday flavors every weekend
What Does It Taste Like
Imagine biting into a freshly fried churro - that crispy, caramelized cinnamon-sugar coating with soft, doughy warmth inside. Now imagine that flavor in creamy, scoopable form. That's this ice cream.
The brown sugar gives it a subtle molasses depth (like the caramelized edges of a churro), while the cinnamon brings that signature warmth without being overpowering. The cream cheese base adds a slight tang - almost like a churro dipped in cream cheese frosting. Rich, but not heavy. Sweet, but not cloying. Just... cozy.
🛒Ingredients
This is just an overview—jump down to the full recipe card for exact amounts and detailed instructions!
- Half & half — the creamy backbone that keeps things scoopable. My favorite base for Ninja creami recipes!
- Sweetened condensed milk — adds sweetness + thick churro swirl
- Cream cheese — gives body, richness, and a little chill bakery tang
- Brown sugar — that classic churro flavor
- Cinnamon — warm, cozy, essential
- Vanilla extract or bean paste — rounds out the churro profile
- Pinch of salt — wakes up everything
Add-Ins & Swaps
- Swap vanilla for bourbon vanilla paste if you want deeper flavor
- Add a dash of nutmeg for bakery warmth
- Add a swirl of caramel after spinning
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Blend the base. Add half & half, sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt to a blender. Blend until completely smooth — no cream cheese bits.
- Pour & freeze. Transfer to your Ninja Creami Deluxe pint. Freeze 24 hours flat.
- First spin. Run the Ice Cream function. It may come out crumbly — totally normal.
- Respin. Hit Respin to get it creamy. If it’s still firm, add 1–2 tablespoons of milk and Respin again. If adding churro cereal or cookies, create a well in the center and run Mix-In.
- Scoop or refreeze. Enjoy immediately for soft-serve texture, or freeze 10–20 minutes for a firmer scoop.
🍒Fun Mix-Ins and Topping Ideas
- Crushed churro cereal or Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Graham cracker crumbles
- A drizzle of caramel sauce (warm or cold)
- Maple syrup swirl
- Cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top
- Whipped cream + extra cinnamon dust
- Chopped pecans or walnuts
Recipe Tips & Troubleshooting
- Too icy? Add a splash of half & half and Respin. Your freezer might run cold.
- Too soft after spinning? Freeze 15-20 minutes before scooping.
- Grainy texture? Blend longer. Cream cheese must be completely smooth - no visible bits.
- Flavor too mild? Add another pinch of cinnamon or a tiny pinch more salt next batch. Salt really wakes up the cinnamon.
- Base separated after freezing? Totally normal with richer bases like this one. Respin pulls it all together.
- Pint frozen rock-solid? Let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes before spinning, or run warm water around the outside of the pint.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
How long does it last? About 2 weeks in the freezer for best quality. After that, ice crystals may start forming.
Eating leftovers? Smooth out the top before refreezing so it's safe to respin later. When you're ready to eat, respin for the creamiest texture - or let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes to soften.
Batch prep tip: I prep this alongside my eggnog and spiced hot chocolate pints on Saturday mornings. Three or four pints, about 10 minutes of active work each. Freeze them all, spin on demand throughout the week. Your future self will thank you.
👪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 FAQs
Yes! Swap in ½ cup cottage cheese for more protein and a lighter texture.
The brown sugar. Regular cinnamon ice cream uses white sugar, which gives a cleaner cinnamon flavor. Brown sugar adds that caramelized, almost molasses-y depth that makes it taste like an actual churro. It's warmer and more complex.
You can, but the texture won't be quite as rich. Full-fat cream cheese gives the best churro-like creaminess.
Absolutely. My kids go crazy for this one. It's basically cinnamon sugar in ice cream form - what's not to love?
You could, but they'll get soft. Churro cereal (like Cinnamon Toast Crunch) holds up better during the Mix-In cycle and gives you that crunch.
More High-Protein Recipes
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Thank you! - Rose
Ninja Creami Cinnamon Churro Ice Cream
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Creami Deluxe 24 ounce
- 24 oz Creami Pint
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 1½ cups half & half
- ⅓ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ⅓ cup cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Pour into a 24 oz Ninja Creami Deluxe pint. Freeze 24 hours.
- Spin using the Ice Cream setting.
- If crumbly, press Respin. Add 1–2 tablespoon half & half only if needed.
- For add-ins, create a well in the center and run Mix-In.
- Scoop and enjoy, or freeze 15 minutes to firm up.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese — cold blocks won’t blend smoothly.
- For stronger churro flavor, add a pinch more cinnamon.
- If your pint freezes rock hard, give it 5 minutes on the counter before spinning.
- Want more protein? Replace the cream cheese with ½ cup cottage cheese.
- Mix-ins only go in after the Respin (never before freezing).
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