There’s something wonderful about making ice cream at home—it feels indulgent, but when you make it with yogurt or kefir, you get probiotics too! Probiotic ice creams are a way to enjoy dessert and feed your gut at the same time. With a little creativity (and the right tools), you can make these creamy frozen treats in a Ninja CREAMi or a traditional ice cream maker.

Why Make Your Own Probiotic Ice Creams?

When you make probiotic ice creams at home with yogurt or kefir, you’re not only creating a delicious treat—you’re also filling it with billions of beneficial bacteria that support digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. Store-bought frozen yogurts often contain added sugars, gums, and only a handful of probiotic strains, while homemade kefir or yogurt ice cream can deliver dozens of live cultures in every bite. Plus, you control the ingredients—no artificial additives - just creamy, wholesome goodness your whole family will love. Over time, eating probiotic-rich foods made with real, whole ingredients can actually change your taste buds, helping you crave fresh, nourishing foods instead of processed ones. It’s a shift that benefits both your health and your happiness.

Why an Ice Cream Maker Is a Great Investment

If you don't have an ice cream maker that sits on the counter, you may want to consider owning one as they are a great investment. Your ice cream will be frozen in thirty to fifty minutes. You can pick them up just about anywhere now. Simply put all the ingredients in a blender, blend, and then pour the contents into the ice cream maker. Since I make a lot of kefir ice cream, I indulged in an ice cream maker with a compressor, and now I never have to freeze a bowl. I can just place it in this fancy freezer, turn it on, and have ice cream in thirty to forty minutes.

What About the Ninja CREAMi?

If you have a Ninja maker, you already know how fun and versatile it can be. Unlike a traditional ice cream machine that churns and freezes at the same time, the Ninja lets you blend your probiotic base, freeze it overnight, and then spin it into a silky ice cream the next day. This makes it super convenient for planning ahead—just keep a few pints in your freezer and spin them whenever you want fresh probiotic ice cream. I always have a few pints in my fridge at all times. You can even make smoothie bowls with it!

I love using the Ninja for quick, small-batch probiotic recipes, especially yogurt and kefir blends with fruit. It’s also a wonderful option if you don’t want to invest in a larger countertop ice cream maker but still want creamy, scoopable results.

Does Freezing Kill the Probiotics in Kefir?

This is a question I hear all the time, and the answer is reassuring: freezing does not kill a significant amount of the good bacteria in kefir ice cream. The cold simply puts them into a dormant state. Once eaten, they warm up in your body and come back to life. You’re still getting all those beneficial microbes!

Make Your Own Probiotic Desserts

I like to keep things simple. Most of my recipes are quick to put together because, just like you, I don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen. These probiotic ice creams don’t require fancy ingredients, and they’re healthy and filled with probiotics!

✨ “Real probiotic foods don’t just nourish your body—they retrain your taste buds to crave what’s truly good for you.” 🍦