Unbelievable but true: Three incredible 1-ingredient desserts that will blow your mind with the Ninja CREAMi
2025 has been a year of culinary delights, from the rise of Dubai chocolate and the famous Jatz freckle to the popularity of gochujang and Greek food. But one kitchen appliance has truly captured the hearts of Aussies: the Ninja CREAMi. Since its launch in January 2025, Aussies have been using it for more than just ice cream.
Our content director Laura Simpson was initially skeptical about the Ninja CREAMi. She admits, "I was a little hesitant to buy it when it first came out. It looked amazing, but I was worried it would take up too much bench space and we wouldn't use it enough."
She couldn't have been more wrong. "We've had ours for almost a year now, and we use it a few times a week, especially in summer," she says. Laura has made a wide range of creations with her Ninja CREAMi, even at breakfast time!
She explains, "We often make smoothie bowls for breakfast using frozen fruit, which is a great way to get extra fruit into the kids' diets."
But her absolute favorite dishes to make in this appliance are 1-ingredient desserts. "I had no idea how many products can be frozen as-is and turned into sorbet or fro-yo simply by churning them up in the CREAMi," she reveals.
If you're into creative simplicity (like Laura), we've rounded up our three favorite 1-ingredient desserts to make in your Ninja CREAMi.
- 1-ingredient pineapple sorbet (made from a can of pineapple)
This easy pineapple sorbet was the first Ninja CREAMi creation from our senior food editor Elisa Pietrantonio. She had no idea how incredible it would be. "I honestly didn't believe it was possible to turn canned fruit into something so delicious," she says.
Here's how she made it: Elisa poured a 425g can of pineapple chunks in juice into her Ninja CREAMi, let it freeze, and then simply whizzed it up at the touch of a button. "Is this real sorbet?" she asks. "Traditionally, sorbet is made from pureed fruit or juice and a simple sugar syrup, but the beauty of using canned fruit in juice is that the sugar from the juice helps in achieving the perfect consistency."
The high-speed churning of the Ninja CREAMi is what's really responsible for the incredible texture of this dessert.
- 1-ingredient strawberry fro-yo (made from a tub of yogurt)
If you've tried Gippsland Dairy Strawberries & Cream Twist Yogurt, you've already had a treat. It's thick, creamy, and super indulgent, perfect for transforming into "a luscious frozen sweet treat that's thick, creamy, and so delicious," says Elisa.
Here's how to serve it: "Once churned, it's best eaten right away. You can devour it as is or top it with your favorite toppings: think berries, nuts, or a drizzle of chocolate. Magical!"
If you're not a fan of strawberry yogurt, don't worry. Laura says, "You can pretty much use any of the Gippsland Twist flavors and get super creamy results. The Toffee & Honeycomb one is a great at-home dupe for my favorite Messina flavor, Yoghurt Caramel."
- 1-ingredient lychee sorbet (made from pitted lychees)
Deputy content director Jade Dunn was so inspired by Elisa's pineapple sorbet that she couldn't wait to try the same method with her "beloved" lychees as soon as she got her own Ninja CREAMi.
Here's how she did it: "It's as easy as opening up a can and pouring the fruit, along with the syrup, into the Ninja CREAMi container. I knew it was meant to be because, coincidentally, a 560g can of pitted lychees and syrup exactly reaches the Max Fill line on the container!"
Jade has one top tip when it comes to making sorbet in the Ninja CREAMi: "It might look a bit crumbly after you do the first spin. If that happens, don't worry. Just use the Re-Spin feature. Then use a spoon to stir the icy mixture, and you'll magically see it all come together."
Jade says that lychees worked just as well as pineapple (and the delicious peach version Elisa has also created). But she admits, "The hardest part is waiting for 8 hours for the lychees to completely freeze!"
So, yes, you do need a little bit of patience with any Ninja CREAMi recipe. But of course, it's a frozen dessert... and these miracles are well worth the wait.
Are you ready to try these 1-ingredient desserts? Let us know in the comments if you'll be giving them a go!
