These Ninja Creami recipes are Em the Nutritionist’s secret to a 'glowing summer' – and the luxe appliance is on sale now

At the height of summer, when the heat is relentless and your calendar is packed, it’s easy to forget about eating well. That’s where these Ninja Creami recipes, created by celebrity nutritionist Emily English, come in. And if you don't own one already and are wondering whether it's worth investing in this trending gadget, read our Ninja Creami deluxe review to weigh it up.

I have to say, I love mine and I've tested Em's recipes in it. They're not only easy; they're packed full of hydrating, skin-friendly ingredients to help you glow from the inside out. They're a lighter alternative to traditional ice cream recipes, but they wouldn't look out of place on a summer gathering menu, as they're both pretty and delicious.

On a scorching June afternoon, I sat down with the glowing Em (who is a cookbook author with over 1.8 million followers on Instagram @EmtheNutritionist) to hear how she dreamed up these feel-good frozen blends. And with the Ninja Creami Deluxe on sale at Amazon during the heatwave, it's easier than ever to follow the celebrity nutritionist's hacks at home.

'A lot of us are starting to become aware of the amount of ultra-processed foods that we eat,' explains Em. 'But if you make your own ice cream using whole food ingredients, you're actually helping support your overall health.'

It might sound like a lot of effort, but with the help of one of the best ice cream makers, you can very easily pack skin-friendly ingredients (think: fresh blueberries, matcha, Greek yogurt) into a dessert that feels luxurious and good for you.

'I also discovered that it's super easy to incorporate collagen into Ninja Creami recipes,' says Em. 'It’s blendable, flavourless, and often adds this kind of richness and viscosity that you look for in an ice cream... and you're getting the glow while enjoying dessert.'

The beauty of Ninja Creami recipes, Em explains, is the flexibility provided by the Ninja Creami Deluxe. You don't need to pack your dessert with additives or sugars. 'Using a sweet fruit, like mango or banana, can add natural sugars as well as fiber. I also love to sweeten Ninja Creami recipes with a really good honey, or maple syrup – it gives so much extra richness.'

'I always say that your skin is hungry; it's the largest organ in our body, and it's constantly in a state of turnover and regeneration,' Em continues. 'When I say ‘eat your skincare,’ it can be as simple as eating your hydration and incorporating fruits and vegetables that have high water content, like cucumber, watermelon, and kiwi.'

What ties these Ninja Creami recipes together is Em’s food philosophy: enjoy your food, treat your skin the way you’d treat the rest of your body, and feed it well.

Em the Nutritionist's Ninja Creami Recipes

As Homes & Garden's resident kitchen appliances editor (and owner of a Ninja Creami), I tested these recipes at home myself. l found them all fun and easy, but the Matcha blueberry blend was my favorite.

Blueberry Maple Matcha Creami

Ingredients

• ½ heaped cup Greek yogurt
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• ¾ tsp matcha powder (or 1½ tsp for stronger flavor)
• 1 tbsp unflavored collagen powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt

Em the Nutritionist's method

1. Blend the yogurt, coconut milk, maple syrup, matcha powder, collagen powder, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt until smooth (I used my Zwilling Personal Blender for this).
2. Pour into the Ninja CREAMi container without exceeding the max fill line and freeze flat for 24 hours.
3. Spin using the 'Lite Ice Cream' setting and garnish with a light dusting of matcha powder, blueberries, and crushed pistachios.

Salted Miso Date Creami

Ingredients

• ¾ cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup milk of choice
• ¼ cup soft Medjool dates (around 3–4 large dates, soaked in boiling water)
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp unflavored collagen powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp white miso paste

Em the Nutritionist's method

1. Blend the soaked dates with the miso paste until smooth like caramel.
2. Blend yogurt, milk, date caramel, maple syrup, collagen, and vanilla until fully smooth.
3. Pour into a Ninja CREAMi container and freeze flat for 24 hours.
4. Spin using 'Lite Ice cream' setting – re-spin if needed.
5. Serve with extra date caramel, a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or sea salt.

Roasted Strawberry Cheesecake Creami

Ingredients

• ⅓ heaped cup cottage cheese
• ⅓ cup milk of choice
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp unflavored collagen powder
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp rolled oats
• 1 tsp honey
• Pinch of salt

Em the Nutritionist's method

1. Set your air fryer to Bake at 356°F (I used the Ninja DoubleStack, like Em).
2. Slice the strawberries and spread them on parchment paper in the air fryer. Bake for 15-20 mins, or until softened and lightly caramelized. Remove and allow to cool completely.
3. Reduce your air fryer to 250°F. Toss the oats with honey and a pinch of salt, then spread onto a small tray and bake for 7-10 mins, stirring once. Allow to cool completely.
4. Blend the cottage cheese, milk, roasted strawberries, maple syrup, collagen, and vanilla until smooth.
5. Pour into a Ninja CREAMi Container, being careful not to exceed the max fill line, and freeze flat for 24 hours.
6. Spin using 'Lite Ice cream' setting.
7. Add the honey-toasted oats using the 'Mix-In' function before serving.
8. Top with extra roasted strawberry halves and a sprinkle of toasted oats.

Kiwi Coconut Water Sorbet

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups chopped kiwis
• ⅔ cup coconut water
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 1½ tablespoons honey
• 1 tbsp unflavored collagen powder

Em the Nutritionist's method

1. Blend the kiwis, coconut water, honey and collagen powder until fully smooth.
2. Pour into a Ninja CREAMi container and freeze flat for 24 hours.
3. Spin using the 'Sorbet' setting.
4. Re-spin if needed.
5. Garnish with slices of fresh kiwi and a few coconut flakes.

I asked Em if she has a favorite of her Ninja Creami recipes. 'I love the salted date one,' she reveals. 'If you like sweet and salty, it’s divine. But I also like having two or three different flavors stocked in my freezer. When I want a snack or a protein hit, I can literally just blend it up. It's perfectly refreshing, so I always make sure I’ve got instant, ready-to-go options.

You'll probably need extra pint cups for this (there are two included free in Ninja's 4th July bundle), but it seems like Em has already got her Ninja Creami routine down to a fine art. 'I'm a bit obsessed,' she laughs. 'It's sort of like using the best air fryers... Once you go Creami, you'll never go back.'