Review: Is the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl (NC701) the Ultimate Ice Cream Machine?

Product: Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Ice Cream and Soft Serve Maker (NC701) Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

If you have been on social media in the last two years, you have undoubtedly seen the viral sensation that is the Ninja CREAMi. It revolutionized the home dessert game by turning frozen blocks of ingredients into velvety ice cream. But as amazing as the original was, it was missing one nostalgic element that defines the summer experience: the soft serve swirl.

Ninja has listened. Enter the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl (NC701).

This isn’t just an update; it is a total reimaging of what a home ice cream maker can do. It keeps the “scoopable” functionality of the original but adds a dedicated dispensing system to create restaurant-quality soft serve, frozen yogurt, and fruit whips right into your cone.

In this deep-dive review, we will explore the 13-in-1 functionality, the new “CreamiFit” program, and whether being able to pull that handle and swirl your own dessert is worth the upgrade.

The Core Innovation: Scoop vs. Swirl

The defining feature of the NC701 is versatility. Most machines do one thing: they either churn hard ice cream in a bucket or they dispense soft serve (usually requiring complex pre-freezing of bowls). The Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl does both.

The “Scoop” Experience

You can still make the classics. If you want a dense, scoopable gelato or a hard-pack chocolate ice cream to put in a bowl, the machine handles it perfectly. You freeze your base in the provided 16oz pints, lock it in, and let the paddle shave the ice into a creamy texture.

The “Swirl” Experience

This is the showstopper. The NC701 features a Soft Serve Handle and a specialized dispensing lid. Once the machine processes your base, you don’t have to spoon it out. You simply place a cone or bowl under the spout, pull the lever, and watch a perfect star-shaped swirl of ice cream descend.

The handle even has 3 speed settings. This is a brilliant design choice.

• Low Speed: Perfect for beginners or kids learning to swirl.

• High Speed: Great for rapid dispensing when you have a line of guests waiting.

13 Programs: A specialized Setting for Everything

The “13-in-1” claim isn’t just marketing fluff; it represents specific calibration for different textures and ingredients. The machine spins the paddle at different speeds and durations depending on what you are trying to achieve.

The Classics:

• Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Light Ice Cream, Milkshake.

The New Soft Serve Programs:

• Soft Serve: The classic vanilla/chocolate twist texture.

• Fruit Whip: Think “Dole Whip.” You can take a can of pineapple or peaches, freeze them, and turn them into a dairy-free soft serve.

• Frozen Yogurt: Tangy, creamy, and swirled to perfection.

• Frozen Custard: For a denser, richer soft serve experience.

The “CreamiFit” Program: A Game Changer for Fitness Enthusiasts

One of the biggest drivers of the Ninja CREAMi’s success was the fitness community. People realized they could turn a simple protein shake into a pint of ice cream. However, on older models, low-sugar/low-fat mixtures often turned out crumbly and required multiple “re-spins.”

Ninja addressed this directly with the CreamiFit program.

This setting is engineered specifically for lower-calorie, high-protein treats. It is a “one-spin solution” designed to process these difficult textures into something smooth immediately, without the need for constant re-spinning. If you are on a Keto diet or looking to hit your macros without feeling deprived, this feature alone makes the NC701 worth the purchase price.

How It Works: Creamify Technology

To understand why this machine produces better results than a traditional churner, you have to understand Creamify Technology.

Traditional machines whip air into liquid while it freezes. The Ninja CREAMi works in reverse. You freeze a solid block of liquid (milk, coffee, juice, protein shake) for 24 hours. The machine then uses a dual-drive motor to drive a paddle downward through the frozen block, essentially “shaving” and “creaming” the ice crystals into a microscopic texture.

This allows for:

1. Smoother Texture: No icy chunks.

2. Flavor Intensity: Because you aren’t relying on heavy cream to prevent icing, you can use 100% fruit or coffee and get a creamy result.

3. No Preservatives: You control exactly what goes in. No gums or stabilizers are needed (unless you want them).

Customization: Your Ingredients, Your Way

The beauty of the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl is total control.

• Dairy-Free: Use oat milk or coconut cream.

• Vegan: Use fruit bases or nut milks.

• Sugar-Free: Use Stevia, Monkfruit, or Allulose.

The Mix-In Function

Just like the famous “Blizzards” or “McFlurries,” this machine has a Mix-In button. Once your base is processed, you can add chocolate chips, crushed cookies, nuts, or candy. The machine gently folds them throughout the pint so every bite has a crunch.

Note on Soft Serve: If you are using the soft serve function, you generally want a smooth base so it can pass through the dispenser. You can sprinkle your toppings on after the swirl for that authentic ice cream shop look.

Ease of Use and Cleanup

A major pain point with soft serve machines is usually the cleaning process. Commercial machines are a nightmare of tubes and seals.

Ninja kept the home user in mind. The system is surprisingly modular.

• 2-in-1 Pints: These new pints are designed to work for both scooping and dispensing.

• Dishwasher Safe: The pints, lids, paddle, swirl press, and even the drip tray are Top-Rack Dishwasher Safe.

The machine also features a pull-out drip tray, which is essential because, let’s be honest, mastering the “perfect swirl” takes a little practice, and you will spill a little at first.

What is Included?

The package (NC701) is a complete starter kit:

• The Motor Base (with the automated Soft Serve Handle).

• (2) CREAMi 2-in-1 Pints (16oz) with storage lids.

• The Creamerizer Paddle.

• Dispensing Lid with Swirl Press.

• Recipe Guide (30+ recipes).

Buyer’s Note: The set comes with two pints. Because you have to freeze the base for 24 hours, we highly recommend buying a few extra pints so you can have a rotation going in your freezer (e.g., one freezing while you eat the other).

Final Verdict

The Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl is the ultimate kitchen flex. It takes the already brilliant technology of the original CREAMi and adds the fun, interactive element of soft serve.

It solves the “healthy dessert” dilemma by making protein ice cream taste like a cheat meal, and it solves the “party hosting” dilemma by allowing kids and guests to pull their own soft serve cones.

While it requires a bit of planning (don’t forget that 24-hour freeze time!), the result is a texture and flavor quality that rivals high-end gelaterias. If you love ice cream, this isn’t just an appliance; it’s a lifestyle upgrade.

Pros:

• Offers both scoopable and soft-serve options.

• New CreamiFit program perfect for protein ice cream.

• Handle capability brings the “ice cream shop” experience home.

• Dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup easy.

• Works with almost any dietary restriction (Vegan, Keto, etc.).

Cons:

• Requires 24-hour pre-freezing of pints.

• Loud during operation (though it only takes a few minutes).

• Comes with only 2 pints (you will likely want more).

Ready to start swirling? Turn your kitchen into the best ice cream shop in town.

Get the Ninja CREAMi Scoop & Swirl Here

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