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Ninja Creami mix-ins: how to add them without a mess

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Short answer

Spin the pint first with its normal program, then dig a well about 1.5 inches wide down to the bottom of the pint, fill it with mix-ins and run the Mix-in program. Keep pieces small, roughly chocolate chip to pea size, and keep the total modest so the pint does not overflow. Never freeze hard candy, nuts or chunks into the base before the first spin.

Gear for this job

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Mix-ins are where a lot of Creami pints go wrong: chunks that end up pulverized, cookies that turn to dust, a well that spills over the rim, or a pile of candy stuck at the top. This page covers the Ninja method for mix-ins, how big to cut pieces, which ingredients to add cold or at room temperature, and how to use sauces and swirls. It applies to every Creami model with a Mix-in program, including the original 7-in-1 models and the Deluxe.

The Ninja mix-in method, step by step

  1. 1

    Freeze the base in the pint for 24 hours, filled to the MAX line and standing level.

  2. 2

    Process it with the program that suits the base, such as Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream or Gelato.

  3. 3

    Check the texture. If it is crumbly or powdery, run Re-spin before adding anything.

  4. 4

    Use a spoon to make a well in the center about 1.5 inches wide that reaches all the way to the bottom of the pint.

  5. 5

    Pour the mix-ins into the well. You can let a little sit on top, but most should go down into the hole.

  6. 6

    Lock the pint back in and run the Mix-in program.

  7. 7

    Serve right away, or smooth the top and put it in the freezer to firm.

Note.Unplug the machine before cleaning the blade, and handle the blade by its hub. Sharp edges sit close to where mix-ins collect.

Why you add mix-ins after the first spin

The main programs drive the blade fast and down through the whole frozen block to shave it fine. Anything frozen into the base would get shaved too. That is great for blending flavor, but it destroys the chunks you wanted to keep, and hard items like nuts, hard candy or frozen fruit pieces put a lot of strain on the blade and motor.

The Mix-in program runs a gentler pass meant to fold pieces through already-spun ice cream. The well gives the pieces a path down to the bottom so they spread through the pint instead of sitting on top. It is the same reason scoop shops fold in mix-ins at the end.

Creami programs grouped by model, each with the base type it suitsORIGINAL MODELSIce Creamfull-fat dairyLite Ice Creamprotein, low sugarGelatocustard (most versions)Sorbetfruit with sugarMilkshakespun pint plus milkMix-incookies, nuts, candyRe-spinpowdery pintDELUXE ADDSFrozen Yogurtyogurt baseItalian Icethin, high waterSlushidrinkable slushSWIRL ADDSsoft servefrom the handle
Programs as listed in Ninja's manuals. Names and buttons vary by model and version; your control panel is the final word.

Chunk size and how much to add

Smaller is better. Pieces about the size of a chocolate chip or a pea distribute well and still taste like chunks after the Mix-in pass. Large cookie pieces and big candy bars break unevenly and can jam against the side. Chop bars and cookies into small bits before you start.

Do not overload the pint. The spun ice cream already sits near the top, and mix-ins add volume. Many Ninja recipes use about a quarter cup of mix-ins in a 16-ounce pint, a bit more in larger Deluxe pints. If you want more, run the Mix-in program in two rounds, or stir extra in by hand after the program finishes.

  • Chocolate chips, mini chips
    PrepUse as is; mini chips spread best
    Add cold or room temperatureEither
  • Cookies, brownies, graham crackers
    PrepBreak into small pieces
    Add cold or room temperatureRoom temperature or chilled
  • Candy bars, peanut butter cups
    PrepChop small; chill first so they cut cleanly
    Add cold or room temperatureChilled or frozen
  • Nuts
    PrepChop and toast, cool fully
    Add cold or room temperatureRoom temperature, fully cool
  • Fresh fruit
    PrepDice small, pat dry
    Add cold or room temperatureChilled; frozen fruit chunks can turn icy
  • Cookie dough bites
    PrepUse heat-treated flour or store-bought edible dough
    Add cold or room temperatureChilled or frozen
  • Sprinkles, cereal
    PrepAdd at the end; cereal softens over time
    Add cold or room temperatureRoom temperature
Common mix-ins and how to prepare them

Sauces, swirls and soft add-ins

Liquids and sauces behave differently from chunks. Caramel, fudge, jam and peanut butter can thin the ice cream if they go in warm or in large amounts. Use them at room temperature or chilled, spoon a tablespoon or two into the well, and run Mix-in for a marbled look. For distinct ribbons, skip the program and layer the sauce by hand as you transfer the ice cream to a bowl or container.

Very wet add-ins like fresh fruit puree or syrups add water that freezes icy. If you want that flavor through the whole pint, blend it into the base before freezing instead. For raw cookie dough, use heat-treated flour or an edible dough made for eating raw, since raw flour and raw egg are not considered safe to eat uncooked.

Troubleshooting mix-ins

Mix-ins stuck on top usually mean the well did not reach the bottom or was too narrow. Make it deeper and wider next time. Pulverized mix-ins mean they went in before the main spin, or the pint went through extra Re-spin cycles after they were added. Add them last and run only the Mix-in program.

A pint that overflows during Mix-in was too full to start, either from overfilling before freezing or from a big pile of mix-ins. Keep the base at or below the MAX line, as described in how long to freeze a Creami pint, and go lighter on additions. If the ice cream gets soft after Mix-in, see Creami ice cream too soft. For more on what each button does, see Creami programs explained or the Creami program picker. Comparing models with more programs? See the best Ninja Creami guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add mix-ins before freezing the Creami pint? It is not recommended. The main program shaves everything in the block, so chunks get pulverized and hard pieces strain the blade. Add them after the first spin.

How deep should the mix-in hole be? All the way to the bottom of the pint, about 1.5 inches wide. That lets the pieces spread top to bottom during the Mix-in program.

Can I run Mix-in twice? Yes, if you want more mix-ins, but each run warms the ice cream a bit. Refreeze briefly afterward if it gets soft.

Does every Creami have a Mix-in program? Current original 7-in-1 and Deluxe models list Mix-in. Check your model's control panel or manual to confirm.

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