Knowing when to add mix-ins to a Ninja Creami is the difference between flavor in every bite and a pint full of soggy cookies. Add the wrong thing too early and it dissolves. Add the wrong thing too late and it never blends in.
There are really 3 moments to add something: before freezing, after spinning, and by hand at the very end. Here's what goes where, based on a whole library of tested mix-in recipes.
Flavors that should spread evenly (extracts, spices, purees, cooled coffee) go in before freezing.
Chunky mix-ins (chips, nuts, cookies, pretzels) go in after the first spin, using the mix-in button.
Sauces and fragile toppings (fudge, caramel, crushed candy) get stirred in by hand at the end.
Fruit can go either way: blend it in for flavor, or add it frozen and whole for texture.
Hard candy and cotton candy should never go into the base before freezing. They dissolve.
Add flavorings before freezing, chunky toppings after spinning, and sauces or delicate toppings by hand at the end. The rule of thumb: if you want it everywhere, freeze it in. If you want to bite into it, add it later.
Here's the full cheat sheet:
| Before freezing | After spinning (mix-in button) | By hand at the end |
|---|---|---|
| Extracts | Chocolate chips | Fudge and caramel sauce |
| Ground spices | Chopped nuts | Dulce de leche |
| Fruit purees | Cookie pieces | Crushed hard candy |
| Cooled coffee or tea | Chopped pretzels | Cereal |
| Softened cream cheese | Frozen brownie bites | Whipped topping |
| Peanut butter | Whole frozen berries | Condensed milk drizzle |
Anything that should flavor the whole pint goes in before freezing. These ingredients need to be blended into the liquid base so they spread evenly. Try adding them after spinning and you'll get streaks, clumps, or pockets of spice.
If you're getting weird textures after the spin, the problem may have started here. These prep mistakes are worth a quick look.
Chunky, crunchy toppings go in after the first spin. Spin the pint, respin with a splash of milk if it looks crumbly, then make a well in the center and add your mix-ins before pressing the mix-in button.
New to the cycle? Here's how to use the mix-in button so your toppings don't turn to dust. And if you're wondering how much to add, most standard pints do well with about 1 to 2
Sauces and anything fragile should be stirred in by hand after the mix-in cycle. Machine mixing blends sauces into the base, so you lose the ribbons. It also breaks delicate toppings into crumbs.
CRUSHS is so good regardless of your preferred mix-in or swirl!
Fruit can go in before freezing or after spinning. It depends on whether you want fruit flavor or fruit pieces.
Blend it in before freezing for flavor in every bite. This works best for mango, banana, peaches, and pineapple. Cut your milk back slightly, since fruit adds liquid.
Add it frozen and whole after spinning for texture and color. Berries work great this way. They break up just enough to leave streaks without turning the whole pint purple.
Pumpkin is flexible too. Some of our recipes blend the puree into the base, while others add it at the mix-in stage. Both work.
Every recipe in our mix-in recipes library tells you exactly when to add each ingredient. They all start with the same base: a CRUSHS protein ice cream mix made with 2 scoops and 10 to 12 oz of milk, for 23g of protein and 0g added sugar per serving.
Pick a recipe, follow the timing, and you'll always know when to add mix-ins to a Ninja Creami pint.
2 scoops, your milk, a 24-hour freeze. Real ice cream with 23g of protein and no added sugar, ready for any mix-in you can think of.
Try CRUSHS Today →It depends on the mix-in. Add flavorings like extracts, spices, purees, and cooled coffee before freezing. Add chunky toppings like chips, nuts, and cookies after spinning, using the mix-in button.
You can, but they tend to sink and get chopped up during the first spin. For whole chips in every bite, add them after spinning and use the mix-in button.
Blend smooth peanut butter into the base before freezing so it flavors the whole pint. For peanut butter swirls, drizzle it in after spinning and fold it in by hand.
Blend fruit into the base before freezing if you want flavor throughout. Add frozen, whole fruit like berries after spinning if you want visible pieces and texture.
