Since I got my Ninja Creami ice cream maker, my freezer has been stocked with healthy frozen treats suited to whole-food, plant-based diets. This blueberry matcha vegan ice cream uses oats for creaminess and dates for natural sweetness, making it simple, nutritious, and delicious.
Does matcha ice cream have caffeine?
Matcha contains caffeine, so omit it if you need a caffeine-free dessert. Leaving out matcha transforms this into a lovely date-sweetened blueberry oat ice cream — you can boost flavor with vanilla, lemon balm, or mint if you like.
What does matcha green tea ice cream taste like?
Matcha powder has earthy, slightly bitter notes that pair beautifully with a creamy, sweet base. Blueberries add bright fruit sweetness that balances matcha’s complexity. The flavor is a bit “grown-up” and may be more interesting to people who enjoy nuanced tastes rather than classic vanilla or chocolate.
Why use the Ninja Creami?
The Ninja Creami is great at converting whole-food, plant-based ingredients into silky frozen desserts by shaving the frozen pint with its creamerizer paddle. It’s compact, easy to use, and simple to clean — most parts are top-rack dishwasher safe.
Do I have to use vegan cream cheese in the Creami?
No. While some booklets suggest vegan cream cheese for extra richness, it’s not required. Oats, nut butter, soaked cashews, or oat milk powder all create a creamy base. If the texture is slightly crumbly after the first spin, a quick respin with a splash of non-dairy milk usually fixes it.
Can I make this without a Ninja Creami?
Yes. Blend the ingredients, freeze them in ice cube trays, then process the frozen cubes in a high-speed blender or food processor until smooth. You may need a little extra non-dairy milk or to let the cubes soften for a few minutes before blending.
What is matcha ice cream?
Matcha (green tea) ice cream features green tea powder as a primary flavor, giving it a natural green hue and an earthy, slightly bitter profile. It’s popular in Japan and among anyone who enjoys tea-flavored desserts. I first tried green tea ice cream before I went vegan and immediately appreciated the balance of bitter and sweet.
What are good flavor pairings for green tea ice cream?
This blueberry matcha version leans fruity, so it works well as dessert or a smoothie-bowl base. You can swap blueberries for many fruits, though red berries like raspberries or strawberries may turn the green mix brown. Other excellent options to try: pineapple, mango, lychee, or yuzu. Either fresh or frozen blueberries work fine in this recipe.
Ingredients you need
This recipe is simple and uses pantry staples. You will need:
- Matcha green tea powder
- Medjool dates (or soak firmer dates for a few hours)
- Fresh or frozen blueberries
- Rolled oats (to make oat cream) or JOI oat milk powder or unsweetened oat milk
That’s it — minimal ingredients, maximum flavor.
How much matcha should I use?
Adjust to taste. If you’re new to matcha, start with 3/4 teaspoon and taste the blended base before freezing; you can always add more. Making the mixture before freezing lets you fine-tune the balance of matcha and sweetness.
Substitutions and options
To make this caffeine-free, omit the matcha and add at least 1/2 teaspoon vanilla for depth. If you prefer not to use oats, substitute 2 tablespoons almond or cashew butter or 1/4 cup soaked cashews for creaminess. If dates aren’t your choice for sweetness, use maple syrup or another liquid sweetener to taste; coconut-sugar simple syrup also works well.
How to make the matcha ice cream
If using rolled oats, blend them in cold water for about 30 seconds, then strain to make oat cream. If you’re using oat milk powder or nut butter, no straining is necessary — simply blend all ingredients until smooth.
If you have date paste or date syrup, you can mix everything directly in the Ninja Creami pint and freeze without pre-blending.
Freezing and storage tips
Freeze the filled pint on a level surface for at least 24 hours so it solidifies completely. For a creamier texture on the first spin, let the pint sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes before processing. Store any leftovers in the same Ninja Creami pint in the freezer; when ready to serve, let it warm slightly and respin on the light ice cream setting if needed.
First time with the Ninja Creami — quick tips
Read the manufacturer’s directions for your model. If you prefer video guidance, search for a short how-to video to see the process step by step.
If your freezer is very cold, let the pint sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes or run it under warm water briefly. Place the pint in the outer bowl, insert the creamerizer paddle into the lid, attach the lid, and spin on the light ice cream or smoothie bowl setting.
This is common. Add a few tablespoons of non-dairy milk and use the respin function — that typically restores creaminess.
Recipe summary
Blueberry Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream: Vegan Ninja Creami Recipe (Made with Dates & Oats)
Kathy Hester
Equipment
-
Ninja Kitchen Creami
-
Ninja Creami (or similar creamerizer machine)
Ingredients
- 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbl JOI oat milk powder (or 1 cup + 3 tbsp oat milk/cream and omit the water)
- 3 pitted Medjool dates
- 1.5 tsp matcha green tea powder
Instructions
-
Add the blueberries to your Ninja Creami pint.
-
Blend the water, JOI oat milk powder (or oat milk), dates, and matcha until smooth to make the base.
-
Pour the blended base into the pint over the blueberries and freeze on a level surface for 24 hours.
-
Remove the pint from the freezer and level the top with a spoon if there’s a hump. Make sure the surface is even.
-
Place the pint into the outer bowl, secure the outer lid with the creamerizer paddle, and insert the assembly into your Ninja Creami.
-
Spin on the light ice cream setting.
-
If the texture is powdery or crumbly, add a few tablespoons of non-dairy milk and respin using the respin button until smooth.
-
Repeat the respin step if needed, and add a splash of liquid sweetener if you prefer it sweeter.
-
Level off any leftover mixture, seal the pint, and store in the freezer.
-
When ready to enjoy leftover ice cream, let the pint sit a few minutes at room temperature and respin on light ice cream as needed.
Video
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 35g
Protein: 4g
Fat: 2g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 21g