Homemade Strawberry Matcha Ice Cream: Easy Ninja Creami Recipe for Perfect Swirls

Are you captivated by the vibrant and refreshing flavors of the trendy strawberry matcha ice cream, but find the thought of spending $10+ on a single scoop or a store-bought pint a bit much? You’re in luck! This comprehensive homemade ice cream recipe empowers you to create stunning green & pink swirls right in your kitchen. Experience the perfect harmony of earthy matcha and sweet, juicy strawberries for a fraction of the cost, and with a satisfaction that only homemade can bring!

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Strawberry Matcha Ice Cream

If you’re still debating whether to embark on this delightful culinary adventure, here are a few compelling reasons why this strawberry matcha ice cream recipe will become your new go-to dessert:

• The flavor combination is genuinely unique and incredibly refreshing – the slightly savory, grassy notes of matcha are perfectly balanced by the natural sweetness and fruity tang of ripe strawberries. It’s an unexpected pairing that creates an unforgettable taste experience.
• It’s dramatically more affordable than purchasing specialty ice creams from high-end shops or premium store-bought pints. You’ll enjoy significantly more delicious ice cream for a fraction of the price, making it a budget-friendly luxury.
• The visual appeal is absolutely stunning – prepare to be amazed by the vibrant green and delicate pink swirls that emerge, looking like a piece of edible art. It’s perfect for impressing guests or simply treating yourself to something beautiful.
• You have the flexibility to make both flavors separately. If you ever crave just pure strawberry or straight matcha ice cream, this recipe easily adapts to your preference, giving you two amazing standalone options.
• It utilizes simple, accessible ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. Furthermore, the inclusion of kefir not only enhances creaminess but also adds beneficial probiotics, making it a subtly healthier indulgence.
• When made with a Ninja Creami, the texture is consistently outstanding – unbelievably smooth, creamy, and free of ice crystals, delivering that professional scoop-shop quality every single time.

Essential Recipe Ingredients for Strawberry Matcha Swirl

To craft both the delightful strawberry and the earthy matcha ice cream flavors, you’ll need a specific set of ingredients that work together to create the perfect creamy texture and balanced taste. Gathering these ahead of time will ensure a smooth preparation process:

Ingredient Notes:

• Frozen Strawberries: My preference leans towards frozen strawberries due to their year-round availability and convenience, ensuring I always have them on hand. However, fresh, ripe strawberries will also yield fantastic results, offering a bright, natural sweetness to your ice cream.
• Lifeway’s Lowfat Strawberry Kefir: This is a star ingredient! Lifeway’s strawberry kefir brings a wonderfully authentic strawberry flavor that is perfectly balanced and not overly saccharine. Beyond taste, it contributes significantly to the ice cream’s luxurious creamy texture. Plus, it boasts impressive health benefits, being 99% lactose-free, gluten-free, and rich in beneficial probiotics, making your dessert a little healthier.
• Culinary-Grade Matcha Powder: For this recipe, culinary-grade matcha powder is an excellent choice. It provides the distinct earthy, slightly bitter notes characteristic of matcha without the higher cost associated with ceremonial-grade matcha, which is typically reserved for traditional tea ceremonies. Culinary matcha is specifically designed for baking and blending, making it ideal for this ice cream. Matcha Love’s Japanese Culinary Matcha is a brand I highly recommend for its quality and flavor profile.
• 2% Milk: Using 2% milk strikes the perfect balance for the matcha base, providing enough richness for creaminess without making the ice cream too heavy or dense. It creates a smooth foundation that allows the matcha flavor to shine.
• Heavy Cream: The addition of heavy cream to the matcha mixture is key for achieving an extra rich, incredibly smooth, and decadent texture. It significantly enhances the mouthfeel, making the matcha ice cream truly luxurious.

For precise quantities and a complete list, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.

Substitutions & Variations to Customize Your Ice Cream

While this recipe is crafted to deliver the perfect strawberry matcha experience, feel free to experiment with these thoughtful substitutions and variations to tailor the ice cream to your personal taste or available ingredients:

• I believe I’ve achieved the ideal sweetness level for these ice creams, striking a harmonious balance between the fruit and the tea. However, everyone’s palate is unique, and the sweetness of different matcha and strawberry kefir brands can vary. Always taste test the liquid mixture before freezing it. This allows you to adjust and add a touch more sugar if you prefer a sweeter profile.
• Milk Alternatives:
  • **Only skim or 1% milk on hand?** No problem! While 2% milk is ideal for its fat content, you can still achieve a creamy result. Simply substitute ¼ cup of the milk with heavy cream to boost the richness and ensure a smooth texture.
  • **Only whole milk in your fridge?** Whole milk can be a bit too heavy for this recipe, potentially making the ice cream overly dense. To lighten it slightly, dilute it with a small splash of water (about 2 tablespoons) to maintain the desired consistency.
• Fruit Variations: While strawberries are classic, don’t hesitate to try other berries like raspberries or a mixed berry blend for the fruit base. Each will offer a slightly different flavor profile that could pair beautifully with matcha.
• Matcha Intensity: If you prefer a stronger matcha flavor, you can slightly increase the amount of matcha powder. Conversely, if you’re new to matcha, start with a little less and adjust to your liking.

Please note: This recipe has been specifically developed and tested with the ingredients and methods outlined. If you decide to replace or add other ingredients not mentioned above, we encourage you to share your results in the comments below! Your feedback helps the entire community discover new and exciting variations.

Essential Equipment for Your Ninja Creami Ice Cream

Having the right tools is crucial for a seamless ice cream-making process, especially when utilizing the Ninja Creami. Before you begin, ensure you have the following equipment readily available:

• 2 Ninja Creami Pints: These specialized containers are essential. Since we’re preparing two distinct flavors (strawberry and matcha) that require separate freezing and processing, you’ll need two individual pints.
• Ninja Creami Machine: This is the star of the show! Whether you own the regular Ninja Creami or the Swirl version, both will work perfectly to churn your frozen bases into creamy ice cream. The Creami’s unique blade system is what gives homemade ice cream that signature smooth texture.
• An Immersion Blender or Food Processor: This tool is vital for thoroughly crushing and pureeing the strawberries, ensuring a smooth fruit base for your ice cream. An immersion blender can be used directly in a measuring cup for minimal cleanup, while a food processor offers efficiency for larger batches.
• Fine Mesh Sieve: A fine mesh sieve is an indispensable item for straining the matcha mixture. This crucial step prevents any lingering matcha clumps from making their way into your final ice cream, guaranteeing a perfectly smooth and uniform texture.
• Whisk: For blending ingredients smoothly and ensuring that the matcha powder fully dissolves without becoming frothy.
• Scale or Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements, especially for dry ingredients like matcha and sugar, are important for consistent results. A food scale (in grams) is highly recommended for precision.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Strawberry Matcha Ice Cream

Crafting this delightful strawberry matcha ice cream is a straightforward process, broken down into easy-to-follow steps. Pay close attention to the details for both flavors to ensure a perfectly swirled, creamy treat.

Preparing the Strawberry Ice Cream Base:

Preparing the Matcha Ice Cream Base:

Processing with Ninja Creami:

Pro Tips for Perfect Ninja Creami Ice Cream

Achieving consistently perfect, creamy ice cream with your Ninja Creami comes down to a few key techniques. Master these tips for the best strawberry matcha results every time:

1. Always Strain That Matcha: This step is more critical than you might think! Even if you believe you’ve whisked your matcha perfectly smooth, tiny, stubborn clumps can remain. Running the matcha mixture through a fine mesh sieve before freezing is a non-negotiable step to ensure a velvety smooth texture and to prevent any unpleasant, bitter pockets in your final ice cream. It makes a significant difference.
2. Don’t Skip the Heating Step: Resisting the urge to mix ingredients into cold liquids is important. Warming the strawberries (even if frozen) and the milk slightly is crucial. This gentle warmth drastically improves the dissolution of both the sugar and the matcha powder, preventing a grainy texture and ensuring a uniform flavor throughout your ice cream.
3. Tap Out Air Bubbles Before Freezing: Before you place your pints in the freezer, take a moment to gently tap each one on the counter several times. This action helps to release any trapped air bubbles that might have formed during mixing. Eliminating these air pockets contributes to a denser, creamier texture and helps prevent the formation of ice crystals.
4. Freeze Completely for Optimal Results: Patience is a virtue when it comes to Ninja Creami creations! Ensure both your strawberry and matcha pints are frozen solid for a minimum of 8 hours, though overnight freezing is often best. An insufficiently frozen base will result in a soupy, rather than creamy, texture after processing. I often prepare mine the night before to guarantee they’re perfectly solid for serving the next day.
5. Store Flavors Separately for Longevity and Color: If you find yourself with leftover ice cream (a rare occurrence with this delicious recipe!), it’s best to store the remaining strawberry and matcha ice creams in separate freezer-safe containers or their original Creami pints. This method serves two purposes: it preserves the distinct, vibrant colors of each flavor (preventing them from mixing into an unappetizing brownish hue) and allows you to “Re-Spin” each ice cream independently to restore its perfect creamy texture without affecting the other.

Common Questions About Strawberry Matcha Ice Cream

Storage and Re-Serving Your Homemade Ice Cream

Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and delightful texture of your homemade strawberry matcha ice cream. To ensure it stays fresh and delicious, follow these guidelines:

Store any leftover ice cream in its original Ninja Creami pint (if you have lids for them) or transfer it to separate airtight, freezer-safe containers. Keeping the strawberry and matcha flavors distinct is highly recommended to preserve their individual vibrant colors and unique tastes. Stored correctly, your ice cream will remain fresh and enjoyable in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Re-serving Tips: It’s common for homemade ice cream to become very hard after extended periods in the freezer. To restore that incredibly creamy, scoopable texture, you have a couple of options:

• **Ninja Creami Re-Spin:** The most effective method is to return the frozen pint to your Ninja Creami machine and run it through the “Re-Spin” setting. This will break down any ice crystals and bring back its original smooth consistency. Remember to re-spin each flavor separately if they were stored in different containers to avoid mixing colors.
• **Room Temperature Thawing:** If you don’t want to use the Creami again, simply let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 10-20 minutes until it softens to your desired scoopable consistency.

Discover More Delicious Ninja Creami & Kefir Recipes

If you enjoyed making this strawberry matcha ice cream, you’ll love exploring other creative and easy recipes designed for your Ninja Creami or featuring the wholesome goodness of kefir. Expand your frozen dessert repertoire with these fantastic ideas:

Did you try this recipe?

We absolutely love hearing from you! Please let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below and don’t forget to share your delicious creations on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest! Tag us so we can see your amazing work!

Thank you!
-Kayla

Strawberry Matcha Ice Cream (Ninja Creami Recipe)

By Kayla Burton

Enjoy the gorgeous green & pink swirls of strawberry matcha ice cream at home with your Ninja Creami! No more spending $12 on a pint!

★★★★★ (Be the first to rate it!)

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Equipment

• 2 Ninja Creami pints
• Ninja Creami (Swirl or Regular)
• Immersion blender or food processor (recommended)
• Scale or measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk

Kayla’s Top Tip: Weigh dry ingredients in grams (g) with a food scale for best results!

Ingredients

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