Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

Cottage cheese ice cream is a high-protein, no-churn frozen treat. Blend cottage cheese with a few pantry staples, freeze, and you get a creamy, scoopable ice cream with way more protein than traditional versions.

By Tyla

Prep

10 min

Cook

N/A

Total

10 min

Servings

4 servings

Ingredients


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Optional — the recipe works without them.

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Instructions

  1. 1

    Blend until completely smooth. Add the cottage cheese, sweetener, vanilla, and salt to a food processor or high-powered blender. Process for 2–3 minutes, scraping down the sides once or twice, until the mixture looks like thick yogurt with zero visible curds.

  2. 2

    Add your mix-ins. If going the chocolate route, add cocoa powder and espresso now and blend another 30 seconds until uniform. For fruit, pulse the frozen fruit in until just incorporated — small chunks are fine. For peanut butter, swirl it in with a spoon after pouring into the container so you get ribbons, not a uniform blend.

  3. 3

    Pour into a freezer-safe container. A loaf pan or shallow airtight container works best. Press a piece of parchment or plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent ice crystals from forming on top.

  4. 4

    Freeze for at least 4–5 hours, or overnight. The mixture is ready when it's firm enough to scoop but not rock-hard. If it freezes solid, let it sit on the counter for 10–15 minutes — it should soften to a smooth, scoopable consistency fairly quickly.

  5. 5

    Scoop and serve. Run your scoop under warm water for cleaner, rounder scoops. Top with a drizzle of honey, crushed nuts, or a pinch of flaky salt.

Used in this recipe: Full-Size Blender Lemon Squeezer Glass Storage Containers (Amazon, affiliate links)


Notes

Tips for Success

  • Blend the cottage cheese for at least 2-3 minutes until completely smooth to avoid a grainy texture.
  • Sweeten the base a bit more than you think you need, because cold dulls sweetness in the freezer.
  • Freeze the mixture in a shallow container like a loaf pan for more even freezing and easier scooping.
  • Press plastic wrap or parchment directly onto the surface before freezing to prevent ice crystals from forming.
  • If the ice cream freezes solid, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften to a scoopable consistency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't under-blend the cottage cheese — if you can still see any curds, keep processing until completely smooth to avoid a grainy, tangy taste.
  • Don't use low-fat cottage cheese — the fat content is essential for creamy texture, and low-fat will freeze icy.
  • Don't skip pressing plastic wrap onto the surface — without it, ice crystals will form on top and ruin the smooth texture.

Nutrition (per serving)

200 kcal

Calories

12g

Protein

27g

Carbs

5g

Fat

0g

Fiber

380mg

Sodium