The Best Creamy Vanilla Cottage Cheese Ice Cream (No Churn, High Protein)
Make this incredibly creamy, high-protein vanilla ice cream using cottage cheese. This no-churn recipe delivers a smooth, indulgent texture without needing an ice cream maker, making it a perfect healthy frozen dessert.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 6 hr 10 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Churn
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups full-fat cottage cheese, drained well
- 1/4 cup sweetener (like monk fruit or erythritol for low carb)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
Instructions
- Drain the cottage cheese thoroughly to remove excess liquid. Press it lightly between paper towels if needed to achieve a drier texture.
- Place the drained cottage cheese, sweetener, and vanilla extract into a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and silky. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed. This step is key for creaminess.
- If using, add the heavy cream and blend for a few more seconds until just combined.
- Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container, like a loaf pan or an airtight container. Cover the surface directly with plastic wrap to prevent ice crystals.
- Freeze for at least 6 hours, or until firm.
- Before serving, let the ice cream sit on the counter for 5 to 10 minutes to soften slightly for the best scoopable texture.
Notes
- For a Ninja Creami version, blend ingredients until smooth, pour into the canister, and process according to your machine’s instructions, then re-spin if necessary for creaminess.
- Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder during blending for a rich chocolate cottage cheese ice cream.
- For a strawberry flavor, blend in 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries with the base ingredients.
- This recipe yields a high-protein snack that tastes indulgent.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 25