When Ninja announced the Ninja Swirl (also known as Creami Scoop & Swirl), I was both excited and skeptical. Excited because the promise of soft serve maison had always been a dream of mine. I was skeptical because I already had Creami Deluxe and wondered if this new version really justified the investment. 350€.
Three weeks of intensive testing later, I can finally give you my honest opinion. Spoiler: this machine has completely changed the way I make ice cream at home, but it's not perfect.
My quick verdict: The Ninja Swirl excels at making real soft serve creamy ice cream. The 13 programs offer incredible versatility, and the CreamiFit function is great for protein ice creams. But it's cumbersome, noisy, and still requires 24 hours prior freezing. To be reserved for true ice cream enthusiasts.
What exactly is Ninja Swirl?
Visit Ninja Swirl (reference NC701 or NC700 series) is the latest evolution in the Creami range. It retains the basic principle of the classic Creami (transforming a frozen block into creamy ice cream by intensive blending), but adds a revolutionary soft serve function.
In concrete terms, you now have two ways to enjoy your creations:
- Visit scoopable ice classic, as with other Creami
- Visit soft serve dispensed directly into a cone or bowl
This 2-in-1 versatility comes with 13 programs in total, including 6 specifically dedicated to soft serve Soft Serve, Fruit Whip, Frozen Custard, Swirled Lite Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt, and the new CreamiFit, which is the talk of the town.
Unpacking: larger than expected
When the package arrived, my first reaction was: «Wow, that's big! The Ninja Swirl measures 38 cm high, 25 cm wide and 38 cm deep. It's significantly larger than my Creami Deluxe, and doesn't fit under my kitchen cupboards.
What's in the box
- Visit motor base with digital display and control buttons
- 2 Swirl pots 480 ml with nozzles and storage lids
- Visit distribution cover with press system for soft serve
- Visit outer bowl and its lid
- Visit pale Creamerizer (identical to other Creami)
- A collector plate removable for drops
- A booklet of 30+ recipes
Visit Swirl jars are different from classic Creami pots. They have a screw-on base with an integrated nozzle for soft serve dispensing. Please note: these pots are only compatible with the NC700 series, not with older Creami models.
First test: vanilla soft serve
For my first try, I wanted to test the emblematic recipe classic vanilla soft serve. The recipe in the booklet calls for :
- 400 ml whole milk
- 120 ml heavy cream
- 80g sugar
- 1 bag vanilla instant pudding
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
I stirred all the ingredients until the pudding was completely dissolved, poured it into the Swirl jar, and headed for the freezer. 24 heures.
The moment of truth
The next day, I screwed the base with nozzle onto the frozen pot, placed everything in the outer bowl, and selected the program Soft Serve. The machine ran for about 3 minutes with its characteristic drill noise.
Once the cycle was complete, I removed the bowl and installed the distribution cover with the handle on the left-hand side of the machine, and pressed the handle. And then... real Italian ice came out in a perfect spiral in my cone.
Frankly, I was blown away. The texture was identical to what you'd find in a real ice cream parlour: smooth, creamy, without crystals, with that airy lightness characteristic of soft serve. The taste was perfect, neither too sweet nor bland.
The 13 programs deciphered
The Ninja Swirl offers an impressive range of programs. Here's my feedback after testing them all.
Scoopable programs (like classic Creami)
Ice Cream For classic high-fat ice creams. I made a vanilla-chocolate ice cream, perfect texture, ultra-creamy.
Lite Ice Cream For low-fat or sweetened recipes. Tested with an allulose base, the result was correct but less creamy than the classic Ice Cream program.
Sorbet For fruity, dairy-free bases. My mango-passion sorbet was incredibly smooth, with zero crystals.
Gelato Denser, richer texture, perfect for Italian recipes. My pistachio ice cream was just like in Italy.
Milkshake Transforms your base into a thick milkshake. Great for using leftover ice cream that has hardened.
Frozen Yogurt Light, tangy texture. My blueberry frozen Greek yogurt was perfect.
Mix-in Adds pieces (cookies, candies, fruit) without pulverizing them. Works really well.
Soft serve programs (new Swirl)
Soft Serve The main program for classic Italian ice cream. Light, airy texture, easy dispensing.
Fruit Whip For fruity bases in a soft serve version. My peach-apricot fruit whip was incredibly refreshing.
Frozen Custard A richer, denser version of the soft serve. The vanilla custard was divine, almost like frozen flan.
Swirled Lite Ice Cream Soft Serve Light. Less creamy than classic Soft Serve, but satisfying for a light version.
Frozen Yogurt (swirl) Dispensable version of frozen yogurt. Less firm texture than the scoopable program.
CreamiFit THE novelty that's creating a buzz. Specially designed for protein ice cream. This program runs faster to incorporate more air and compensate for the lack of fat in protein shakes.
The CreamiFit test: game changer for athletes
The program CreamiFit is worth a look because it solves a problem I've had for years: how to make a protein ice cream that doesn't have an icicle texture.
I tested it with a simple vanilla protein shake bought at the supermarket (Fairlife, 30g of protein). Pour directly into the jar, freeze for 24h, program CreamiFit, and miracle: a creamy 150-calorie ice cream and 30g protein per serving.
The texture was light, airy, almost frothy. Not as rich as real ice cream, of course, but infinitely better than any of my previous attempts with classic Creami. For someone who watches their macros, it's a real game changer.
I also tested it with protein cold brew The result is an ultra-creamy frozen cappuccino. The CreamiFit program runs at higher speed than others to incorporate maximum air, which compensates for the lack of fat.
The soft serve function in detail: how it works
The soft serve distribution is truly ingenious. Once the blending cycle is complete, you install the dispensing lid on the jar, and activate the handle on left side of the machine.
The 3 distribution speeds
The handle has 3 positions which you control by pulling it more or less towards you:
- Speed 1 Slow, controlled flow, perfect for filling bowls or making sundaes
- Speed 2 Medium flow, ideal for classic cones
- Speed 3 Fast flow, handy when you're in a hurry
I found that the speed 2 was the most versatile to make pretty spirals in the cones. Speed 3 goes really fast, so it's hard to control the shape.
How many servings per pot
Ninja announcement 4 small cones per 480 ml jar. In practice, it really depends on how generous your portions are. I tend to 3 medium cones or 2 large gourmet cones per jar.
For family use, I recommend having 4-6 pots in total. You prepare several flavors on the weekend, and can serve everyone with a variety of choices.
What I love about Ninja Swirl
After three weeks of intensive use, here's what really makes me love this machine.
Real home-made soft serve
It's obvious, but it deserves to be said: being able to make real soft serve at home changes everything. No need to go to McDonald's or an ice cream parlour at 7pm on a Sunday evening because you've got a sudden craving for Italian ice cream.
The texture is really identical to that found in ice cream parlours. Light, airy, creamy, it melts delicately on the tongue. It's not like hard ice cream from the freezer that you have to let soften for 10 minutes.
The versatility of 13 programs
Having so many programs is really comfortable. Fancy a fruity sorbet? Dedicated program. Italian gelato? Dedicated program. Protein ice cream? CreamiFit. A thick milkshake? Here you go.
I don't use all of the programs every week, but having them on hand is a real bonus. really expands the possibilities. And the program Re-spin regularly saves my ice creams, which come out a little grainy on the first pass.
CreamiFit for healthy ice cream
If you're into fitness or watching your calories, the CreamiFit is revolutionary. Transforming a simple protein shake into a creamy ice cream without adding cream or sugar is magic.
I made ice cream at less than 150 calories with 25-30g protein which had a real ice cream texture. For a post-workout dessert, you can't beat it.
Manufacturing quality
The machine is solid and well-built. All the components fit together perfectly, the pots seal tightly and the motor looks strong. It inspires confidence for long-term use.
Visit dishwasher-safe parts (pots, lids, paddles, bowl), making maintenance a breeze. Only the motor base can be wiped clean.
What frustrates me about the Ninja Swirl
Because let's be honest, this machine isn't perfect. Here are the points that annoy me.
The monster footprint
Let's be clear: Ninja Swirl is huge. It takes up an incredible amount of space on the worktop. With its 38 cm high, It doesn't fit under my standard kitchen cupboards. I have to leave it outside all the time or store it in a dedicated cupboard.
If you have a small kitchen, Think carefully before you buy. It's not a discreet device that's easy to put away after use.
Noise as intense as ever
Like all Creami products, Swirl makes a construction noise during the mix. We're on industrial drill level for 2-3 minutes. My cat systematically disappears when I turn on the machine.
If you live in an apartment with sensitive neighbors, avoid running your Swirl at 10pm. And if you have small children, plan to start the machine when they're not asleep.
The incompressible 24-hour wait
This is the same problem as all Creami You need to freeze your preparation for at least 24 hours before blending. You can't have ice cream on a whim.
Of course, you can prepare several jars in advance and keep them in the freezer. But this requires organization and freezer space. Not as spontaneous as a classic ice cream maker that makes your ice cream in 30 minutes.
The high price
À 350€, The Ninja Swirl is not cheap. It's almost the double the price of a classic Creami Deluxe. Sure, you get the extra soft serve function, but is it worth the extra €150-180?
For someone who makes ice cream several times a week and who loves soft serve, yes probably. For occasional use, a classic Creami at €180-200 will be more than sufficient.
Incompatible pots for older models
If you already own a classic Creami, please note that the Swirl pots are not compatible with older models. And conversely, your old Creami pots won't work with the Swirl.
This means you can't share your pots between the two machines. Frustrating if you've invested in a collection of extra pots for your old Creami.
Ninja Swirl vs Creami Deluxe: which one to choose?
That's the question on everyone's mind. I have both machines, so here's my comparative analysis.
Choose Creami Deluxe if :
- You only want classic scoopable mirrors
- Visit soft serve doesn't particularly interest you
- Your budget is limited (approx. €200 vs. €350)
- You have a small kitchen and every cm counts
- If you're just starting out and want to test the Creami concept without investing too much
Creami Deluxe is already a excellent work on classic ice creams. If you don't dream specifically of homemade soft serve, you'll be delighted.
Choose the Ninja Swirl if :
- You love the soft serve and want to do it regularly
- The program CreamiFit of interest to you (athletes, protein diets)
- You make ice cream very often (3-4 times a week minimum)
- You have the place on your worktop
- Are you ready to invest in the most versatile machine?
The Swirl is truly the top of the top from the Creami range. If you're an ice cream enthusiast and budget is no object, this is the best choice.
My favorite Ninja Swirl recipes
After three weeks of testing, here are the recipes that keep coming back to me.
Classic vanilla soft serve
The perfect base, the one I make over and over again. Whole milk, cream, sugar, instant vanilla pudding. Soft Serve program, and it's exactly like McDonald's, but a thousand times better.
CreamiFit protein coffee
A cold protein coffee (Premier Protein or Starbucks), direction freezer, CreamiFit program. Result: a frozen cappuccino with 30g of protein and 150 calories. My favorite post-musculation dessert.
Mango-Passion Fruit Whip
Blended fruits (mango, passion fruit, a little banana), a hint of honey, Fruit Whip program. Ultra-refreshing, zero dairy, great texture.
Frozen custard chocolate
Homemade custard enriched with egg yolks, melted dark chocolate, Frozen Custard program. It's rich, it's decadent, it's divine. My Sunday indulgence.
Lemon basil sorbet
Fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, infused basil, Sorbet program. Elegant, refreshing, perfect after a hearty meal. Guests love it.
Practical advice after 3 weeks of use
A few tips I've learned the hard way.
Invest in extra pots
Visit 2 pots supplied, is really the minimum. I have ordered 4 extra pots (2-pack at around €50), and it's a real life-changer. You can prepare 6 different flavors on the weekend and have a choice all week long.
Fill up to the Max Fill line
Do not exceed never the Max Fill line on the pot. I tried once to cheat by using a little more... as a result, I overflowed during mixing and had a hard time cleaning up.
Use Re-spin without moderation
If your ice cream comes out granular or powdery on the first run (this happens especially with low-fat recipes), run a Re-spin. It completely transforms the texture in 1 minute.
However, do not step Re-spin then Mix-in successively, it over-mixes and the texture becomes bizarre.
Allow to soften slightly for distribution
If your soft serve has trouble coming out (it flows too thickly), leave the jar on. 5 minutes at room temperature before dispensing. It's just the right amount of fluidity.
Clean immediately after use
Do not not the ice to dry in the pots or bowl. It's much harder to clean up afterwards. Rinse immediately, then head for the dishwasher.
The final verdict: is it worth it?
So.., 350€ for the Ninja Swirl, is it justified? My answer: yes, but not for everyone.
If you are a a true ice cream enthusiast, If you're a regular player, if you're dreaming of a soft serve, if you've got the budget and the space, go for it. It's the best ice machine which I tested for home use. The versatility is insane, the quality of the soft serve is on a par with an ice cream parlour, and the CreamiFit program opens up endless possibilities for healthy ice creams.
On the other hand, if you make ice cream occasionally (once a month), or if your kitchen is tiny, or if 350€ is too much for your dessert budget, opt for a classic Creami Deluxe at 200€. It'll do the job just fine on scoopable ice creams.
As for me, I have absolutely no regrets about my purchase. The Ninja Swirl turns 4-5 times a week at home. Between post-sport protein ice creams, weekend soft serves and fruity summer sorbets, it quickly paid for itself. And frankly, being able to make Italian ice cream cones at home whenever you feel like it is priceless.
Final rating: 4.5/5
- Soft serve quality: 5/5
- Versatility: 5/5
- Ease of use: 4/5
- Overall dimensions: 2/5
- Value for money: 4/5
Have you tried Ninja Swirl yet? Or are you still hesitating between Swirl and classic Creami? Share your experience in comments!
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