Get that nostalgic Tang-like flavor in this high-protein, sugar-free orange sherbet made in the Ninja Creami! It's sweet, creamy, and super low in calories!

If you're craving that nostalgic orange sherbet flavor, this high-protein version totally hits the spot! It’s sweet, creamy, and has that bright, tangy kick that makes sherbet so yummy.

We gave this recipe a healthy twist by swapping out the milk and cream for whey protein powder and almond milk. For that classic sherbet taste, we use Skittles Zero-Sugar Mango Tangelo drink mix, and it nails it. The Skittles zero-sugar drink mix box comes with other fun flavors too (like Pineapple Passionfruit and Kiwi Lime), but Mango Tangelo is our favorite.

To get that classic sherbet texture, we use about half the protein powder we’d normally add to a Ninja Creami ice cream. When we tested the full amount, the result was creamier like ice cream, and the fruity flavor got a little lost. It makes sense, since real sherbet sits somewhere between sorbet, which is all fruit, and ice cream, which is all dairy. So, using less protein powder keeps it light, tangy and fruity.

This lighter, healthier ice cream is perfect for hot summer days and anyone who loves a good sorbet-style treat!

Ingredients

• Unsweetened almond milk – We use unsweetened almond milk to keep the carbs and calories low. You can try another low-carb milk, but we haven’t tested other options yet.
• Skittles Mango Tangelo drink mix – This zero-sugar drink mix is made to taste like Skittles candy, and it gives the sherbet that bold, fruity flavor.
• Guar gum – A common thickener that helps make the texture creamy, especially in ice creams and sorbets.
• Xanthan gum – Another thickener that helps smooth out the texture and reduce ice crystals. While we usually just use guar gum, this recipe works best with both xanthan and guar gums—especially since it uses less protein powder than usual.
• Swerve Confectioners – We use Swerve, but any erythritol-based sweetener should work. Just note that not all sweeteners are the same.
• Vanilla protein powder – We use vanilla protein powder to add body and boost protein. Quest Vanilla Milkshake is our go-to since it’s easy to find (like at Target) and gives great results. Feel free to use your favorite, but keep in mind Quest is a whey/casein blend, so results might vary with other types.

How to make

Step 1: Combine all the dry ingredients together (Skittles packets, guar gum, xanthan gum, sweetener).

Step 2: Make sure the ingredients are well mixed in order to prevent the gums from clumping together when they make contact with the almond milk in the next step.

Step 3: In a blender combine the almond milk with the dry ingredients from the previous step.

Step 4: Mix briefly for a few seconds to blend the ingredients together. We recommend a blender because the gums mix better with a high shear velocity. However, you don’t want to mix too long.

Step 5: Pour the blended mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container and place in the freezer. Let freeze for at least 24 hours.

Step 6: After freezing, take the lid off the pint container and place in the Ninja Creami outer bowl.

Step 7: Install the Creami paddle into the outer bowl lid, place the lid on the outer bowl and lock into place according to the instructions in the Creami manual. Select the Lite Ice Cream mode, and it will spin for several minutes.

Step 8: When the Cremi stops spinning, take the container out and assess the consistency of the ice cream. If it’s powdery in texture, like shown in the picture for step 7 below, then add 1 teaspoon of almond milk, place the pint back into the Creami and select respin.

Step 9: Repeat the previous step until is is smooth as shown in the photo for step 8 below. Serve and enjoy!

EXPERT TIPS FOR USING THE NINJA CREAMI

• When freezing your mixture make sure your pint is on a level surface in the freezer and that you don't fill the pint past the fill line.
• The Creami instructions also recommend freezing for at least 24 hours to make sure its fully hardened.
• Depending on the recipe and your freezer's temperature, you may need to respin multiple times. For example, if our mixture is frozen at a low temperature, we typically need to respin multiple times. We've even had situations where we needed to respin as much 8 to 10 times. If this happens to you frequently, consider increasing the temperature of your freezer.
• If you want to include any mix-ins like sugar-free chocolate chips or candy, simply add them to the spun ice cream and press the mix-in button to incorporate. If you use the other settings, your mix-ins will be shredded too finely.

STORING THE ICE CREAM

Ice cream made by the Ninja Creami is best when eaten immediately. Since it's not made with standard ingredients and in the same manner as regular ice cream, it does not store as well as traditional ice cream.

If you have leftovers, we recommend letting the ice cream melt until soft (which happens fairly quickly) and then storing it back in a Creami pint since you'll likely need to re-run the Creami on it after it re-hardens. Be sure to flatten the surface of the ice cream in the pint before placing it in the freezer.

More Ninja Creami Recipes

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag @lowcarbsimplified on your photo of this recipe on Instagram or Facebook. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

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