Name: Ninja Creami Coffee Gelato
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 1 d 10 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 egg yolks; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup whole milk; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 Tablespoons instant coffee; Optional: 1/4 cup chocolate covered espresso beans (for mix-in)

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If you love a good coffee or espresso, you have to try making coffee gelato in the Ninja Creami!

This Ninja Creami coffee gelato is a custard-type ice cream, so it’s rich, creamy, and decadent!

scoops of Ninja Creami coffee gelato served in a pink bowl, garnished with chocolate-covered espresso beans.

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I’ve been making countless varieties of Ninja Creami ice creams and sorbets for quite a while now, and I have to say I’m smitten with this machine!

It’s incredibly easy to make so many different flavors, and it’s easy to customize desserts based on dietary needs or the ingredients you have on hand.

Whether you need low calorie Ninja Creami recipes, generally healthy Ninja Creami recipes, or all the decadent flavors of Ninja Creami recipes, there’s something for everyone!

But until recently, I hadn’t experimented much with the Gelato setting on the machine.

Once I gave it a try, I knew I had to test out some additional flavors.

If you love coffee flavored desserts, you’re in for a treat with this Ninja Creami coffee gelato!

scoops of Ninja Creami coffee ice cream in a chocolate sugar cone

Making Coffee Gelato in the Ninja Creami

Many people debate what defines a gelato versus an ice cream.

Some say a gelato includes egg yolks, while others say it has to do with the ratio of milk to cream.

Either way, if you’ve ever been to a gelato shop, you know that their treats are always super creamy, so that’s what matters most here!

This recipe for coffee ice cream uses egg yolks, so it’s a custard-type of ice cream, which makes it rich and silky smooth, like the best kind of latte or affogato, but in dessert form.

Don’t be scared, though–it’s easier than you think to make!

More Ninja Creami Recipes to Make:

Ninja Creami coffee gelato scoops are served in a pink bowl. You can see chocolate covered espresso beans that were mixed into the ice cream.

How to Make Ninja Creami Coffee Gelato

It’s simple to make this delicious treat, using just a few ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Egg yolks
Granulated Sugar
Milk
Heavy Cream
Instant Coffee
Vanilla Extract
Optional: Espresso Beans for Mix-in

close-up view of Ninja Creami coffee gelato being scooped out of the pint container.

How to Make it:

(Full printable recipe card is available below)

Mix the base. In a saucepan off of the heat, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.

Slowly stir in the milk, heavy cream, instant coffee, and vanilla extract.

two photos; one shows ingredients for coffee custard ice cream in a saucepan, the other shows the ingredients stirred together.

Heat the base. Place the pan over medium heat. Stirring slowly but constantly, heat the mixture until it reaches a temperature of 165F-175F.

You can use a clip-on candy thermometer or an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature.

This helps to make the eggs safe to eat, but you don’t want to heat it so much that the eggs scramble!

It also helps the instant coffee to dissolve into the liquid.

Strain the base. Pour the base through a fine mesh sieve into a Ninja Creami pint container.

This will help to separate any solids, which you can discard.

Place the pint container into a bowl, then place ice water around the container. Just be careful not to get water into the ice cream base!

Let it cool.

Freeze. Remove the container from the ice bath and dry off the outside. Place the lid on the container and freeze on a level surface for at least 24 hours.

Spin. Remove the pint from the freezer and take off the lid. Place it in the Ninja Creami machine’s outer bowl, locking the outer bowl lid.

Place the outer bowl into the Ninja Creami machine, twisting it into position.

Press the Gelato button and allow the cycle to complete.

Re-spin if needed. Remove the container and check the gelato’s consistency. If it looks crumbly, you can Re-spin it.

Ninja Creami pint container of coffee flavored ice cream

Mix-in. If desired, you can mix-in some chocolate-covered espresso beans. Simply create a well in the ice cream that’s about a half inch wide and extends all the way to the bottom of the container.

Place the beans into the well, then insert the pint back into the machine and use the Mix-in button to incorporate.

two photos; one shows the ice cream after spinning, the other shows an ice cream scoop scooping out some ice cream after mixing-in the espresso beans.

Notes and Adaptations:

If you want a silky smooth treat, you can skip adding the mix-in. If you like a little crunch, go ahead and add it!

Coffee ice cream made in the Ninja Creami is served in a pink bowl and garnished with chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Recommended Equipment:

Yield: 1 pint

Ninja Creami Coffee Gelato

This delicious coffee gelato is easy to make in the Ninja Creami! Just a few ingredients transform into a rich and creamy treat.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tablespoons instant coffee
Optional: 1/4 cup chocolate covered espresso beans (for mix-in)

Instructions

In a medium saucepan off the heat, whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream, until mixture is smooth.
Add vanilla extract and instant coffee, whisking well to incorporate.
Place saucepan over medium heat. Whisking gently but constantly, heat the mixture until its temperature reaches 165F-175F. You can use a clip-on candy thermometer or an instant read thermometer.
Remove from heat. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a Ninja Creami pint container. Discard any solids collected by the sieve.
Place the pint container into a small mixing bowl. Add ice cubes and water in the space around the pint container, which will help the mixture cool down more quickly.
Once cooled, remove the pint from the ice bath and dry off its exterior. Place the lid on the pint and transfer it to a level surface in your freeezer for at least 24 hours.
Remove from freezer and take off lid. Place pint into the outer bowl of the Ninja Creami, securing the outer bowl lid. Place bowl apparatus into the Ninja Creami machine, locking it into place. Press the Gelato button and allow the cycle to complete.
If the mixture appears crumbly after spinning, you can insert it back into the machine and press the Re-spin button.
To add the mix-in, create a well in the ice cream (using a spoon or knife) that's about 1/2-inch wide and extends to the bottom of the pint container. Add the chocolate-covered espresso beans to the well, then close the outer bowl lid.
Place the outer bowl back into the machine and press the Mix-in button to incorporate the beans into the ice cream.