Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Sandwiches
By Emily Carter ·
Published
Quick answer
Take 8 cottage cheese protein cookies, spread about 1/2 cup of freshly spun Creami ice cream on 4 cookies, top with the other 4 cookies, roll the edges in mini chocolate chips or sprinkles if you like, then wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour. Each sandwich carries about 16 g of protein from label values, not lab tested.
Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Sandwiches are the freezer treat that makes a Creami pint feel like a celebration. They are just cottage cheese protein cookies, a freshly spun Creami pint, and optional chips or sprinkles for the edges, assembled in minutes and frozen firm into sandwiches that are soft, creamy and fun to eat.
Why you’ll love it
- Taste like real ice cream sandwiches, soft cookies and creamy ice cream in every bite.
- About 16 g of protein per sandwich from label values, a treat that still fills you up.
- Fifteen minutes of assembly, then the freezer does the rest, at least one hour.
- Kid friendly, vegetarian, and made for parties, lunchboxes and summer afternoons.
- Endless flavors, since any cookie and any Creami pint can become a sandwich.
Ingredient notes
Cottage cheese protein cookies: soft cookies are essential here. They stay soft after freezing, so the sandwiches bite cleanly, while crisp cookies go hard in the freezer and crack when you bite them.
Freshly spun Creami pint: fresh is the key word. Freshly spun ice cream spreads smoothly onto cookies, while refrozen ice cream is too hard to spread and breaks the cookies.
Mini chocolate chips or sprinkles: optional, but they make the sandwiches look like a shop treat and add crunch at the edge. Roll the edges while the ice cream is still soft, since it will not stick once frozen.
Why fresh ice cream, cool cookies and a full freeze matter
These sandwiches work because of three rules, all about temperature. First, use freshly spun ice cream, since it spreads like soft serve and freezes smooth again. Second, use fully cooled cookies, since warm cookies melt the ice cream and go soggy on contact. Third, freeze for at least one hour after wrapping, since that freeze is what sets the ice cream firm enough to hold together when you bite. Skip any one of these, and the sandwiches get messy, soft or hard to bite. Follow all three, and you get clean, creamy sandwiches that hold together from the first bite to the last.
Variations
- Chocolate banana sandwiches: use chocolate banana pint with cottage cheese protein cookies and roll the edges in mini chocolate chips.
- Mint chip sandwiches: use mint chocolate chip pint with chocolate cookies for a classic mint chip sandwich.
- Berry sandwiches: use strawberry or mixed berry pint with vanilla cookies and roll the edges in freeze dried berry crumbs.
- Peanut butter sandwiches: use peanut butter pint with chocolate cookies for a peanut butter cup style sandwich.
What we learned testing it
- Freshly spun ice cream beat refrozen ice cream clearly in the side by side test. The fresh ice cream spread evenly and froze smooth, while the refrozen ice cream cracked the cookies and froze icy.
- Cottage cheese protein cookies beat regular cookies in the test. They stayed soft after freezing, while crisp cookies went hard and were difficult to bite.
- Freezing for 1 hour beat eating right away. The immediate sandwiches were messy and soft, while the 1 hour sandwiches held together and bit cleanly.
Read how we test recipes.
Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream Sandwiches
Makes 4 sandwiches · 1 hr 15 min total · Easy
Ingredients
Equipment
Baking sheet lined with parchment · Plastic wrap or parchment · Freezer
Instructions
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Pair the cookies and set up the tray
Pair the 8 cookies into 4 matching pairs, flat sides facing each other. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set out the plastic wrap. Working quickly is important, since freshly spun ice cream softens fast at room temperature.
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Spread the ice cream on the bottom cookies
Spread about 1/2 cup of freshly spun ice cream onto the flat side of each bottom cookie, in an even layer right to the edges. Use a warm spoon or an ice cream scoop to spread it smoothly without tearing the cookies.
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Top, press gently and roll the edges
Place the top cookies on gently and press just enough to spread the ice cream to the edges, without squeezing it out. If using chips or sprinkles, roll the exposed ice cream edge in them now, while the ice cream is still soft.
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Wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour
Wrap each sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or parchment, set them on the baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, until firm all the way through. Unwrap and eat straight from the freezer, or let them sit for 2 to 3 minutes for a softer bite.
Notes
- Use freshly spun ice cream, not refrozen. Freshly spun ice cream spreads smoothly, while refrozen ice cream is too hard to spread without breaking the cookies.
- Work quickly once the ice cream is out. Spun ice cream softens in minutes, so assemble all four sandwiches before it turns to soup.
- Cool the cookies fully before assembling. Warm cookies melt the ice cream on contact and go soggy.
- Wrap each sandwich tightly. Air in the wrap gives freezer burn and icy edges, while a tight wrap keeps the sandwiches creamy.
Nutrition per serving
Nutrition information is being calculated.
Substitutions
- Cottage cheese protein cookies
- Use any soft baked cookies instead, like oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies. Avoid crisp cookies, since they go very hard in the freezer and are difficult to bite.
- Any freshly spun Creami pint
- Use any flavour you like, from vanilla bean to chocolate banana to mint chocolate chip. Vanilla is the most flexible, since it suits any cookie.
- Mini chocolate chips or sprinkles
- Use crushed nuts, crushed cookies or shredded coconut instead for the edges. All of them stick well while the ice cream is soft.
Storage and make-ahead
Store the wrapped sandwiches in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Keep them tightly wrapped and in a sealed bag or container to prevent freezer burn. Eat straight from the freezer, or let them sit for 2 to 3 minutes at room temperature for a softer bite. Do not refreeze a sandwich that has fully melted.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use store bought ice cream for protein ice cream sandwiches?
Yes, if it is soft enough to spread. Let store bought ice cream soften at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes first. Freshly spun Creami ice cream is still the best fit, since it spreads smoothly right after spinning.
Why did my ice cream sandwiches fall apart?
It usually means the ice cream was too soft, the cookies were warm, or the sandwiches were not frozen long enough. Use fully cooled cookies, work quickly, and freeze for at least 1 hour before eating.
Can I make these sandwiches ahead for a party?
Yes, and they are made for it. Assemble and freeze them up to 2 weeks ahead, tightly wrapped. Take them out just before serving, so they are firm but easy to bite.
How much protein is in each sandwich?
These are label-based estimates, not lab tested numbers, and they vary by brand and by pint flavour. Each sandwich carries about 16 g of protein, from the cookies and the Creami pint together. Check your cookie and pint labels for your exact numbers.
Do I need the chips or sprinkles on the edges?
No, they are optional. They look fun and add crunch, but the sandwiches are complete without them. Skip them for a simpler sandwich, or use crushed nuts or coconut instead.
