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High-Protein Cottage Cheese Ice Cream - A Creamy, Better-For-You Treat

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups (about 12 oz) full-fat cottage cheese – full-fat blends smoother and tastes richer
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup – adjust to taste; use zero-calorie sweetener if preferred
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract – for classic ice cream flavor
  • 1/2 cup frozen fruit or flavor mix-in – options: strawberries, blueberries, mango, or cocoa powder for chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon nut butter or 1 ounce cream cheese (optional) – improves creaminess and reduces iciness
  • Pinch of salt – brightens flavor
  • Optional add-ins: mini chocolate chips, crushed cookies, chopped nuts, a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder, or a swirl of jam

Method
 

  1. Start with cold ingredients. Use cottage cheese straight from the fridge and frozen fruit. Cold ingredients help the mixture firm up faster later.
  2. Blend the base. Add cottage cheese, sweetener, vanilla, salt, and optional nut butter or cream cheese to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and glossy, about 30–60 seconds. Scrape down the sides if needed.
  3. Add flavor. For fruit versions, add the frozen fruit and blend again until smooth. For chocolate, add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and blend; taste and add a little more sweetener if needed.
  4. Taste and adjust. This is your moment to fine-tune sweetness, salt, or vanilla. If you plan to freeze it, make it slightly sweeter than you think—cold dulls sweetness.
  5. Fold in mix-ins. If using chocolate chips, nuts, or cookie pieces, stir them in by hand so they don’t break down in the blender.
  6. Choose your texture. For soft-serve style, you can eat it right away. It will be thick and creamy, like frozen yogurt.
  7. For scoopable ice cream, freeze. Transfer to a shallow, freezer-safe container. Press a piece of parchment directly onto the surface to minimize ice crystals. Freeze for 1.5–2 hours, or until just firm enough to scoop.
  8. Soften before serving. If frozen longer than 2 hours, let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before scooping. This makes the texture smooth and creamy again.
  9. Serve and top. Finish with a drizzle of honey, a dash of cinnamon, fresh fruit, or a sprinkle of granola for crunch.