Sorry, Ben and Jerry, I have another meeting tonight.

When I was a kid growing up in the Midwest suburbs, there were a few essential elements that made up a perfect summer day: swimming at the neighborhood pool from morning until dinner time, refueling with whatever dad felt like grilling, then walk or drive to the local ice cream parlor for a milkshake or dipped cone. (Caramel Dip for me, please!)

But even in the depths of winter, I was – and still am – in love with ice cream as bedtime snack. Nowadays, as there are seriously tasty freezer finds, I tend to get the store-bought quart or gallon scoop. Besides being convenient to store in my own kitchen, tried-and-true options like Tillamook, Ben & Jerry’s, Häagen-Dazs, and Jeni’s also tend to be more economical than going out for ice cream every night.

A few months ago, I decided to join the Ninja CREAMi club after discovering many good deals on the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe has Costco for about $70 less than the retail price. I did the math and by DIYing I could save hundreds of extra dollars each year. Plus, this countertop appliance’s “creamify” technology can turn many liquids into frozen desserts (not just cream), allowing me to easily customize ingredients and whip up something that would help me achieve the ambitious protein goals set by my dietitian. In my opinion.

Even Oprah is obsessed with the Ninja CREAMi, but is it worth the price?

My Favorite Ninja CREAMi Recipe Combinations

In association with bodybuilding exercises, research suggests that consuming between 20 and 40 grams of protein about 30 minutes before bed can help support muscle growth and strength, since our bodies repair themselves overnight. If I constructed my CREAMi blend wisely, it could actually be a pretty healthy, muscle-boosting choice.

I’ve experimented with a few different mixes and come back to the following as the best Ninja CREAMi recipe:

• One 11.5 ounce caramel protein shake

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• 1 tablespoon cheesecake pudding mix

After freezing and blending everything, I often choose the “mix” function to mix in crumbled graham crackers, a few peach slices, or a spoonful of dark chocolate chunks, depending on my mood.

Besides the caramel cheesecake, here are some flavor pairings I would recommend:

• Cinnamon Protein Shake + Cheesecake Pudding Mix

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake + Chocolate Pudding Mix + Powdered Peanut Butter

• Vanilla Protein Shake + Chocolate Pudding Mix (this tastes a lot like a Wendy’s Frosty!)

• Chocolate Protein Shake + Butterscotch Pudding Mix

My Top 5 Tips for Using a Ninja CREAMi

Now that you have an idea of ​​what you might want to add to your CREAMi pint, let’s briefly discuss how. Here are some tips I’ve learned after doing dozens of delicious trials:

• Choose your base. Premier Protein, Orgain Organic Protein, Muscle Milk and Fairlife Core Power all offer a wide variety of flavors; I suggest grabbing individual bottles of each and doing a personal taste test, like our friends at EatingWell did for their guide to best protein shakes and powders. Some brands of premade protein shakes come in larger sizes, so if you try this Ninja CREAMi recipe, simply adjust your total liquid level to stay below the “maximum fill” line, which is about 20 ounces. You can also use all milk, add 1 scoop of protein powder and 1 tablespoon of pudding mix for similar results.

• Don’t skip the pudding mix. In tandem with creamify technology, the pudding mix helps create a silky, thick texture reminiscent of a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

• Freeze uncovered. The CREAMi containers, or pints, come with lids, however, I do not recommend using them unless you plan to freeze them for more than a day. As the base changes from liquid to solid, covering the container can cause peaks to form on the top, which can affect the mixing blade. Keep lids on hand for extended storage.

• Allow some thawing time. You can spin the frozen pint straight from the freezer if you don’t plan ahead. But if you remember to take the container out of the freezer about half an hour before you want to mix it, this will help reduce the number of “re-spins” needed and produce the best texture.

• Scrape off the glossy edges. Even after a short defrosting time, there is usually some ice accumulated inside the container after the first spin. I suggest removing the lid, then using a knife to scrape between the ice cream mixture and the inside rim of the pint to bring the frozen portions closer to the center of the container so they are mixed into the creamy frozen dessert.

3 Ingredient Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream

Yield: about 2 ½ cups

Ingredients

• An 11- to 14-ounce protein shake, such as Premier Protein, Orgain Organic Protein, or Fairlife Core Power

• 6 to 8 ounces of milk

• 1 tablespoon pudding mix

Instructions

1. In the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe container, add either one 11-11 ½ ounce protein shake and 8 ounces (1 cup) of milk OR one 14 ounce protein shake and 6 ounces of milk.

2. Add the pudding mix, then use a frother or fork to mix until the pudding mix dissolves.

3. Freeze for 12 hours without lid.

4. About 30 minutes before mixing, remove the container from the freezer and let it defrost slightly on the counter. If the top surface is not flat, use a spoon to scrape off any large bumps.

5. Place the container inside the Ninja CREAMi outer bowl, twist the lid, then mix with “light ice cream”.

6. Remove the lid, use a knife to scrape off any glazed areas along the edges, if any, then “wring out again.”

7. If desired, add bonus ingredients like candy, crumbled crackers, or sliced ​​fruit, then press “mixes.”