Name: Ninja Creami Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 1 d 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups oat milk or other non-dairy milk; 4 TBSP instant vanilla pudding mix; 1/2 cup coconut cream; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Making rich and creamy dairy free vanilla ice cream in the Ninja Creami is easier than you think!

This easy recipe for Ninja Creami dairy free vanilla ice cream is a cinch to prepare, so that even those with dietary restrictions can enjoy a silky smooth treat.

scoops of Ninja Creami dairy free vanilla ice cream in a glass dish atop a floral napkin

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If you’ve been using a Ninja Creami machine for a while, you’ve probably grown to love how easy it is to make homemade ice cream with one.

There are so many different flavors and varieties, and crafting small pints of desserts means you can always have different options on hand!

Not only that, but the machine makes it particularly easy to create dairy-free ice creams.

I’ve found that it can be difficult to get a nice texture when making dairy-free ice cream in a traditional ice cream machine.

But with the Ninja Creami ice cream maker, it’s been so easy!

If you’ve been looking for a good, classic flavor to try, this Ninja Creami dairy-free vanilla ice cream is one to make again and again.

It’s on our list of the best dairy-free Ninja Creami recipes, and for good reason!

ninja creami pint container filled with dairy-free vanilla ice cream and an ice cream scoop.

Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream in the Ninja Creami

After the success of my Ninja Creami dairy-free chocolate ice cream, I knew I wanted to make a vanilla version as well.

But I didn’t want it to have an icy or gritty texture.

Because I love using instant pudding mix in many Ninja Creami recipes, I decided to do that with this variety.

And since the pudding mix is dairy-free, it’s an easy addition.

side view of an ice cream dish serving scoops of dairy free vanilla ice cream made in the ninja creami machine

The pudding mix serves multiple roles in the recipe.

First, it acts as a binder (no need to purchase guar gum or vegan cream cheese), helping to create a creamy ice cream.

It also gives flavor and sweetness, so it’s a super easy way to tackle all three aspects with one ingredient.

For the ice cream base, I chose to use unsweetened oat milk instead of the whole milk that many ice creams require.

You could also choose a different non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, coconut milk, etc.

It’s important to add some fat to the base in order to achieve a nice, creamy texture.

While many Ninja Creami vanilla ice cream recipes call for heavy cream, I opted for coconut cream instead.

The result was a rich and creamy vanilla ice cream that can stand alone or be used as a base for your favorite mix-ins!

overhead view of the top of a ninja creami pint of non-dairy vanilla ice cream

How to Make Ninja Creami Vanilla Ice Cream that’s Dairy Free

It’s easy to make this delicious ice cream by using just a few basic ingredients!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Oat milk or other non-dairy milk
Instant vanilla pudding mix
Coconut cream
Vanilla extract

How to Make it:

(Full printable recipe card is available below)

Blend in the pudding mix. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, combine oat milk and vanilla pudding mix.

Use an immersion blender or whisk to combine well, making sure no clumps of pudding mix remain.

two photos; one shows oat milk and vanilla pudding mix in a glass measuring cup; the other shows an immersion blender blending them.

Add in the coconut cream and vanilla extract, then use the immersion blender to blend completely (alternatively, you can use a regular high-powered blender for this).

The ice cream mixture should be nice and smooth.

Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, being careful not to exceed the max fill line.

one photo shows coconut cream and vanilla extract added to the milk mixture; the other shows the blended ingredients in a ninja creami pint container.

Freeze. Close the lid on the pint container and transfer the pint to a level surface in your freezer. Freeze for at least 24 hours.

Process. Remove the pint from the freezer and take off the lid. Place the pint in the outer bowl of the machine and close the outer bowl lid.

Place bowl apparatus into the Ninja Creami machine and lock into place.

Press the Lite Ice Cream function and allow the cycle to complete.

one photo shows frozen dairy free ice cream base; the other shows the base added to the ninja creami machine and a woman's finger pointing to the Lite Ice Cream button.

Check consistency. Remove the pint from the machine and check the texture.

If it’s a bit crumbly after the first spin, you can insert the pint back into the machine and press the Re-spin button.

If it’s still crumbly after that, add a tablespoon of non-dairy milk to the ice cream and Re-spin again.

overhead view of dairy free ninja creami vanilla ice cream immediately after re-spinning, showing the creamy texture.

Notes and Adaptations:

Feel free to use the non-dairy milk of your choice. I used unsweetened, but you can use sweetened or vanilla-flavored if you prefer.
While this is a tasty sweet treat on its own, you could also add a mix-in, such as chocolate chips, chopped Oreo cookies, fresh fruit, etc. Or use it to make a strawberry milkshake in the Ninja Creami!
Top with hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce for a decadent frozen treat.
I have not tested this recipe with sugar-free instant pudding mix.
If the pudding mix alone doesn’t add enough sweetness, you can add some maple syrup or a little extra sugar when blending. I suggest tasting the base before freezing so you’ll know whether it needs more. Keep in mind that it will taste slightly less sweet after freezing.
You can use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract if you want a vanilla bean ice cream.

glass dish of dairy-free vanilla ice cream in the foreground, with the remaining pint and a spoon in the background.

Recommended Equipment:

Yield: 1 pint

Ninja Creami Dairy Free Vanilla Ice Cream

This rich and creamy vanilla ice cream is dairy-free and super easy to make, thanks to the Ninja Creami!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups oat milk or other non-dairy milk
4 TBSP instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup coconut cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a small bowl or large liquid measuring cup, blend together non-dairy milk and pudding mix with an immersion blender until dissolved. You can also use a regular blender if you prefer.
Add coconut cream and vanilla extract, blending to combine.
Pour mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container and place lid on the pint container. Place on a level surface in your freezer and freeze for 24 hours.
Remove pint from freezer and take off lid. Place pint into the outer bowl and secure the outer bowl lid.
Lock outer bowl apparatus into the Ninja Creami machine. Press the Lite Ice Cream button and allow the cycle to complete.
Remove the pint and check the consistency of the ice cream. If it's crumbly, insert it back into the machine and use the Re-spin button to process it again. If it's still crumbly after that, add a tablespoon of non-dairy milk and Re-spin again.

Notes

Feel free to use the non-dairy milk of your choice. I used unsweetened, but you can use sweetened or vanilla-flavored if you prefer.
While this is a tasty sweet treat on its own, you could also add a mix-in, such as chocolate chips, chopped Oreo cookies, fresh fruit, etc. Or use it to make a strawberry milkshake in the Ninja Creami!
To add a mix-in, simply create a well in the center of the ice cream that extends to the bottom of the pint. Add your mix-in of choice into the well. Return the pint to the machine and press the Mix-in button.
Top with hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce for a decadent frozen treat.
I have not tested this recipe with sugar-free instant pudding mix.
If the pudding mix alone doesn't add enough sweetness, you can add some maple syrup or a little extra sugar when blending. I suggest tasting the base before freezing so you'll know whether it needs more. Keep in mind that it will taste slightly less sweet after freezing.
You can use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract if you want a vanilla bean ice cream.

If you're enjoying leftovers, you will likely need to let the pint sit out at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly before scooping. You can also process it again in the machine, as long as the surface of the ice cream is fairly even.