5 frozen dessert recipes we love in May (including one that's always a hit at cocktail hour)

Let's be honest: May is the month when we really struggle not to turn on the Ninja every two days.

Strawberries are flooding the markets, the first real warmth is settling in during the afternoon, the evenings are getting longer… Everything is calling for ice cream. And this year, we've decided to share the five recipes we're making again and again right now, the ones that have truly won us over, not just the ones that work "almost well".

There's something for everyone: an ultra-fruity seasonal ice cream, a light sorbet for when the heat hits, an unexpected favorite, and two cocktail recipes for happy hour. One of them, in particular, never fails to impress when you have guests. We'll tell you more about it below.

Here we go.

1. Strawberry ice cream: because it's THE time of year

We start with the obvious, and we fully accept it.

May strawberries are in a league of their own compared to the ones you find in supermarkets in the middle of winter. They're red right through to the core, they smell amazing, and they're naturally sweet. They're exactly the kind of fruit that makes perfect homemade ice cream without needing to compensate with artificial flavorings or syrup.

With the Ninja Creami or the Swirl, the recipe is disarmingly simple: ripe strawberries, cream, a little sugar, a squeeze of lemon to brighten it up. That's all. Freeze for 24 hours, churn in the Ninja, and you end up with a creamy, naturally pink ice cream with that authentic taste you'll never find in store-bought ice cream.

What we love: The intensity of the fruit. When the strawberries are good, they really do all the work. It's an ice cream that tastes like strawberries, not just strawberry flavoring. A huge difference.

Our tip of the month: Go to the market rather than the supermarket. Local varieties like Gariguette, Mara des Bois, and Charlotte strawberries completely transform the result. And if you find too many, freeze some in chunks: you'll have easy-to-make ice cream in June and July.

👉 See the strawberry ice cream recipe for Ninja Creami & Swirl

2. Lemon sorbet: light, vibrant, perfect for the first signs of a heatwave

As soon as the thermometer rises above 22°C, lemon sorbet is the first thing we bring out.

There's something universal about lemon sorbet: everyone loves it, it suits everyone (lactose-free, naturally vegan, low in calories), and it's incredibly effective when you need a refreshing treat. It's also one of the easiest recipes to master on Ninja Creami; there's practically nothing to go wrong.

The base is minimalist: fresh lemon juice, sugar, water. Mix it all together, freeze for 24 hours, and the Ninja transforms it into a silky-smooth sorbet with that tangy tang we love. It's clean, crisp, and refreshing. A recipe you never want to make more complicated than it already is.

That said, if you want to have a little fun, it lends itself very well to variations: lemon-mint for a Mojito-style version, lemon-basil for something more original, lemon-ginger for a sorbet that really wakes you up.

What we love: This is the recipe we make for everyone without asking any questions. Lactose intolerant, vegans, people who are watching their diet, everyone can eat it, and everyone goes back for seconds.

Our tip of the month: Use organic lemons and zest them before juicing. Adding the zest to the base is what really makes the difference: it gives the sorbet a more intense and natural lemon flavor.

👉 See the lemon sorbet recipe for Ninja Creami & Swirl

3. Blueberry ice cream: our current favorite

We weren't expecting that one to be so unexpected.

We tried blueberry ice cream out of curiosity, because we had a bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer and were looking for something to do with them. And we got hooked. Blueberries give the ice cream a naturally purplish hue, with a sweet and slightly tart fruity flavor that's truly addictive. It's not the most common ice cream you'll find in a store, and that's perhaps why it's such a surprise.

On the practical side, it's also a very flexible recipe: it works just as well with fresh blueberries (whose season starts in May) as with frozen blueberries, making it accessible all year round. Right now, if you find fresh blueberries at the market, it's the perfect opportunity.

And if you want a tip to take it up a notch: add white chocolate chips as a mix-in at the end. Blueberry + white chocolate is a combination that works really well.

What we love: The color. Seriously, the blueberry ice cream is one of the most beautiful we've ever made. That natural purple is visually stunning, whether in the bowl or in a photo.

Our tip of the month: If your blueberries are naturally very sweet, reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. The better the fruit, the less sugar you need, and you'll have a fruitier, less cloying ice cream.

👉 See the blueberry ice cream recipe for Ninja Creami & Swirl

4. The Ninja Slushi Iced Mojito: the patio aperitif we've been waiting for since October

And there you have it. The recipe everyone talks about when they have guests.

The Ninja Slushi Iced Mojito is the kind of thing that always gets the same reaction: "Wait, you made that yourself?" Yes. And it's much simpler than it looks.

The concept: all the ingredients of a classic Mojito (lime, fresh mint, cane syrup, sparkling water) are prepared as a liquid base, and Slushi transforms them into a perfectly frozen granita, with a texture somewhere between a cocktail and ice that's truly delightful. The basic version is alcohol-free, making it accessible to everyone at the table, but a splash of white rum can be added for the more adult version.

What we particularly appreciate about this recipe is the immediate impact it has as an appetizer. It's not just a glass of mojito. It's something different, festive, and memorable. And since you can prepare two jars at once, it's effortless for several people.

What we love: Fresh mint. Used as is (not in syrup), it gives a flavor that changes everything. That's what makes the difference between an ordinary granita and a truly delicious iced Mojito.

Our tip of the month: Squeeze your lime just before mixing everything together, not in advance. The lime aroma evaporates quickly, so it's best to preserve it until the last minute.

👉 See the recipe for Iced Mojito for Ninja Slushi

5. Iced Frosé: the chic cocktail that always makes an impression

We finish with a recipe that has become a staple of our May evenings.

Frosé, if you're not already familiar with it, is simple: rosé wine transformed into a granita. It might sound strange, but the result is truly impressive. A little strawberry or raspberry syrup is added to sweeten and color it, it's frozen, and the Ninja Slushi does the rest. The result: a beautifully translucent, pale pink frozen cocktail, refreshing, slightly fruity, perfect for long evenings outdoors.

What we love about this recipe is that it naturally has a "cocktail bar" feel; it looks sophisticated but is actually very simple to prepare. It's exactly the kind of recipe you pull out when you want to impress without making things complicated.

And right now, the timing is perfect: the rosés of the new season are starting to arrive, the evenings are mild, and the desire for something festive and fresh is definitely there.

What we love: The guests' reaction. Without exception, everyone is surprised to see that rosé can be transformed into something so delicious in this way. It's a recipe that always sparks a good conversation.

Our tip of the month: Opt for a dry, not-too-alcoholic rosé from Provence with good acidity. Avoid overly sweet rosés, as they can create a slushy texture that can become cloying. And if you want a non-alcoholic version, rosé grape juice works surprisingly well.

👉 See the recipe for Frozen Frozen Slushi for Ninja Slushi

The last word

May is truly a golden month for making homemade ice cream. Strawberries are in season, the first warm days are here, and outdoor evenings are finally back. It's the perfect time to explore, experiment, and find the recipes that will become your summer staples.

If you only have time to try one ice cream this month, go for strawberry, but enjoy it quickly, the season is short. And if you're having guests over one evening, make an iced Mojito or a Frosé: we guarantee it will be a hit.

Enjoy your ice cream everyone!