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This easy Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe can be used as a base recipe for all sorts of flavors! High in protein, lower in calories and sugar, it makes the perfect healthier dessert for summer.
If you’re anything like me, you’re obsessed with the concept of lower calorie protein ice cream recipes that you can power through with zero guilt.
It turns out, cottage cheese is an all-star ingredient to check those boxes. It is positively packed with protein, relatively low in calories, and creates a creamy base for healthier ice cream. When divided into four servings, each serving contains 187 calories and 11 grams of protein. It also includes less sugar than regular ice cream.
Plus, you get just the right level of sweetness and all the fresh strawberry flavor.
Because strawberries contain a fair amount of water, small ice crystals form, which is improved slightly when using an ice cream maker.
Be sure to check out my other flavor options in the Recipe Customizations section below to use this as a great base recipe for other ice cream flavors.
Ingredient Notes:
Cottage Cheese: The main ingredient in this high protein ice cream! Cottage cheese gets blended up with other ingredients to create a smooth consistency. I use full-fat cottage cheese for a richer flavor, but you can also go with low fat. Feel free to swap it out for Greek yogurt.
Fresh Strawberries or Frozen Strawberries: For flavoring the ice cream, I chose fresh strawberries. For a deeper strawberry flavor, blend freeze-dried strawberries into a powder and add them in.
You can easily select one of the other flavors below to customize your frozen treat.
Pure Maple Syrup: The sweetener here. You can also use honey, agave nectar, coconut nectar, or your favorite sugar-free sweetener for a low-carb option.
Heavy Whipping Cream (optional): While heavy cream is certainly not mandatory, it does add richness a creamier texture to the ice cream.
Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract brings a lovely warm flavor.
Recipe Customizations:
Make other flavors using the same base! Start by omitting the strawberries, then pick your flavor below.
- Peanut Butter: Add ⅓ cup of creamy peanut butter and use ½ cup pure maple syrup.
- Chocolate: Blend 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder into the ice cream base and use ½ cup pure maple syrup.
- Mint Chocolate Chip: Add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract and mix in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips
- Coffee: Add 3 tablespoons of instant coffee granules.
- Other Fresh Fruit: Use blueberries or raspberries instead of strawberries. Or, add 2 large ripe bananas for banana nice cream.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Ice Cream:
Place the bowl of your ice cream machine in the freezer for at least 24 hours (or follow the instructions for your specific ice cream maker).
Add all of the ingredients for the ice cream to a high-speed blender or a food processor and blend until completely smooth. Note: older blenders that aren’t high-speed won’t work well for this recipe.
Place the frozen bowl of your ice cream maker in the machine and transfer the cottage cheese mixture to the ice cream maker. Allow it to churn until thick and a soft serve consistency is reached, about 15-20 minutes.
Once thick, the ice cream is ready to eat if you’re looking for soft serve ice cream. You can also transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze until solid for a thicker consistency.
I use a loaf pan covered with foil or plastic wrap. Enjoy it with your favorite toppings the next time your sweet tooth is talking.
Storage
Freeze in an airtight container (ideally a freezer-safe container) for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your treat, thaw the ice cream for 20 minutes or longer before attempting to scoop it with an ice cream scoop.
The next time you’re craving homemade ice cream, whip up this easy healthy ice cream recipe! It is simpler to make than traditional ice cream, has better macros, and leaves you feeling satisfied. Plus, there are many different ways you can change up the ingredients to achieve any fun flavor you love.
Looking for more high-protein desserts using cottage cheese? Here are some of my favorites.
More Cottage Cheese Desserts:
- Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese Cookies
- Flourless Cottage Cheese Brownies
- Cottage Cheese Cheesecake
- Banana Breakfast Cake
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bread
Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (16-oz) container cottage cheese, (I use 4% milkfat), about 2 cups
- 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream, optional
- ⅓ to ½ cup pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the bowl of your ice cream machine in the freezer for at least 24 hours (or follow the instructions for your specific ice cream maker).
- Add all of the ingredients for the ice cream to a high-speed blender or a food processor and blend until completely smooth. Note: older blenders that aren’t high-speed won’t work well for this recipe.
- Place the frozen bowl of your ice cream maker in the machine and transfer the cottage cheese mixture to the ice cream maker. Allow it to churn until thick and a soft serve consistency is reached, about 15-20 minutes.
- Once thick, the ice cream is ready to eat if you’re looking for soft serve ice cream. You can also transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze until solid for a thicker consistency.
Notes
- Peanut Butter: Add ⅓ cup of creamy peanut butter and use ½ cup pure maple syrup.
- Chocolate: Blend 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder into the ice cream base and use ½ cup pure maple syrup.
- Mint Chocolate Chip: Add 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract and mix in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips
- Coffee: Add 3 tablespoons of instant coffee granules, use 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Other Fresh Fruit: Use blueberries or raspberries instead of strawberries. Or, add 2 large ripe bananas for banana nice cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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