As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn how to make the TikTok viral ice cream, but with a twist. This is Chocolate Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, or better the easiest and healthiest chocolate ice cream ever. Made with cottage cheese, this recipe is low calorie and high protein.
If you are looking for an easy and healthy ice cream recipe without bananas, try this cottage cheese ice cream. It comes together in a blender with just 3 ingredients and tastes like the real thing. But a way healthier and lower in calories: just 167 kcal per serving!
Why this is the best healthy ice cream
Believe me, the TikTok viral ice cream is worth the hype. From simplicity to taste, this is a recipe that has it all. And if you are still not convinced, here are five reasons why this may be the best healthy ice cream recipe ever!
- Quick and easy – this ice cream comes together in a blender in under 2 minutes. No need for ice cream makers or weird kitchen tools.
- Simple – this protein ice cream recipe requires just 3 simple ingredients. No protein powder, no thickeners, no gums!
- Banana free – unlike most recipes out there, this is a homemade healthy ice cream without banana. Not a nice cream, but an ice cream!
- Healthy and low calorie – with just 167 calories per serving, this is a great dessert for your diet.
- Macro-friendly – 167 calories, 16 g of protein, 12 g of carbs and 6 g of fats
- Low carb and keto-friendly – as it does not use frozen bananas, this recipe is also low in carbs and keto-friendly (replace maple syrup with sugar-free syrups).
The ingredients
This cottage cheese ice cream recipe is insanely simple: you only need 3 healthy ingredients. All of them can be found at the grocery store, so you can also make the TikTok viral ice cream at home!
- Cottage cheese: this chocolate protein ice cream can be made with either full-fat or low-fat cottage cheese. Although both are great, the full-fat version will add a richer taste.
- Cocoa powder: use natural, unprocessed cocoa powder for a healthier protein ice cream with cottage cheese.
- Maple syrup: used as a natural sweetener, maple syrup can be replaced with honey, date syrup, agave syrup or coconut syrup. On the contrary, I do not recommend granular sweeteners.
Recipe variations
Besides being healthy and delicious, you will love how versatile this chocolate protein ice cream is. Be creative, feel free to add your favorite ingredients. And if you still need ideas, here are some ways on how to customize your protein ice cream with cottage cheese.
- Add about half a cup of frozen fruit: bananas, strawberries or blueberries, etc.
- Enhance the ice cream taste with about 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.
- Scoop in some protein powder and make high protein ice cream with cottage cheese!
- Blend your cottage cheese together with one frozen banana and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.
- Blend in a couple tablespoons of your favorite nut butter: peanut, almond or cashew butter will all taste great!
- Serve with some chocolate chips for the best experience.
- Crush in some cookies and make cookies and chocolate cottage cheese ice cream.
- Stir in your favorite nuts and seeds for some extra crunchiness.
Viral ice cream with protein powder
With over 16 gram of protein per serving, this is definitely a macro-friendly ice cream. But if it’s still not enough for you, then add half a scoop of protein powder. As simple as that, blend it together with all the other ingredients and process until smooth. Just keep in mind that you may need to fix the consistency with about one tablespoon of milk, if it is too thick after blending.
With regards to the type of protein powder, I only tried – and recommend – making this recipe with whey. As whey mixes significantly better than vegan protein powders or casein, your cottage cheese ice cream will turn out smooth and creamy. With no lumps!
Lastly, feel free to pick and choose the protein powder flavor you prefer: vanilla, chocolate and unflavored are my favorite. I find that the simpler the flavor, the better. Otherwise your ice cream will taste quite artificial (at least for me).
How to make cottage cheese ice cream at home
Believe me, this is the easiest protein ice cream ever. No need for ice cream makers, fancy equipment or similar things!
Blend the ingredients. In a blender, combine your cottage cheese with the cocoa powder and the maple syrup. Optionally, add now any extra you want. Process until all the ingredients have blended into a smooth cream.
Freeze and enjoy! Transfer the chocolate cottage cheese ice cream mixture to a loaf pan and freeze for at least two hours before serving. When it is ready, remove from the freezer and let your chocolate protein ice cream sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes. Scoop the cottage cheese ice cream into a serving bowl and enjoy!
Recipe tips
Here are a couple of tips on how to make protein ice cream with cottage cheese.
- Use a full-fat cottage cheese with a high quality. This will give your frozen dessert a rich taste and a creamy texture.
- After freezing, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.
- Mix at high speed, so that the ingredients will blend completely without lumps.
- Be creative and add some extra ingredients: peanut butter, vanilla extract, chocolate chips…The sky’s the limit!
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
The TikTok viral ice cream can be made with either full-fat or low-fat cottage cheese. However, for the best result but I recommend full-fat cottage cheese. It gives this ice cream a richer, while still being relatively low in calories.
For a high protein ice cream, you can add half a scoop of protein powder. As it mixes much better, I recommend whey. But also vegan protein powder or casein will work (you may need some additional milk to fix the texture).
Of course! As long as it is frozen, you can blend in any fruit you like: bananas, blueberries and strawberries are my favorite. Trust me, your chocolate cottage cheese ice cream will taste soo good!
For a vegan chocolate protein ice cream, replace the cottage cheese with a nondairy alternative of your choice.
As this recipe does not contain frozen fruits, making a keto chocolate ice cream is going to be very simple. All you have to do is substituting the maple syrup with a low carb liquid sweetener of your choice (such as sugar-free maple syrup).
A serving of this chocolate protein ice cream comes with 167 calories, 16 g of protein, 12 g of carbs and 6 g of fats. It’s such a macro-friendly recipe, isn’t it?
Disclaimer: the precise macronutrient composition will slightly change based on the ingredients that you use (the cottage cheese fat percentage, for example).
If you have any leftover, keep in the freezer for a maximum of one week.
More healthy chocolate desserts
- 3 ingredient chocolate protein mousse
- Protein edible brownie batter
- Healthy brownie in a mug
- 100 calorie chocolate cake
- Greek yogurt protein brownies
- Low calorie banana protein brownies
- Fudgy flourless protein brownies
Chocolate Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 220 grams (1 cup) cottage cheese
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 to 5 tbsp maple syrup
Optional
- frozen fruit
- chocolate chips
- nut butter
Instructions
- In a blender, combine cottage cheese with the cocoa powder and the maple syrup. Optionally, add now any extra you want. Process until all the ingredients have blended into a smooth cream.
- Transfer the chocolate cottage cheese ice cream mixture to a loaf pan and freeze for at least two hours before serving.
- When it is ready, remove from the freezer and let your chocolate protein ice cream sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes. Scoop the cottage cheese ice cream into a serving bowl and enjoy!
easy and delicious
Hey dear Veronica,
thanks a lot for your feedback!! I am SO glad that you liked this cottage cheese ice cream recipe.
I wish you a great day,
Matteo
This was so easy and incredibly delicious. I’ve shared it with friends.
Hey dear Dawn,
thanks a lot for your feedback!! I am so glad to hear that you liked my cottage cheese ice cream recipe 😉
I wish you a fantastic Sunday,
Matteo
This is the “stuff of heaven,” as the old saying goes! I’ve been making different versions of it for about a year now, this one with cottage cheese (Daisy brand every time…SO GOOD!), and one that is a carnivore version that I make from Dr. Robert Kiltz’s YouTube channel. He uses heavy whipping cream and eggs…no cooking, just an ice cream freezer…and both are so, so good! I like cottage cheese so much that I’ve learned to make such things as alfredo sauce with it, and have tried many versions of cottage cheese ice cream. It’s such a great protein, I sometimes have the ice cream for a light lunch or supper!
Hey dear Joyce!
Wow, thanks a lot for your lovely comment. I am incredibly happy that you liked my cottage cheese ice cream recipe. It’s also one of our all time favorites, so good!
So glad you liked.
All the best,
Matteo
This is so amazing & decadent! Thanks for the recipe!
Hey, thank you very much for your lovely feedback!
I wish you a great day 😉
Can you substitute chocolate protein powder for the cocoa
Hey dear Deborah,
many thanks for your comment. Yes, you can replace cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder and in case fix the taste with a bit of cocoa, if necessary.
I hope I could answer your question.
Kind regards,
Matteo
This recipe sounds great, but I just hate the flavor of maple Is there something else I could use? Would it work if I use Splenda? Thanks!
Hey Becky,
thank you very much for your comment. I am incredibly glad you like this recipe.
Of course you can replace maple syrup. You can use any sweetener of your choice, as much as you feel necessary. So yes, also Splenda should be fine!
Have a great day,
Matteo
This looks delicious. I will be trying this, question what kind of nut butter do you use%?
Hey dear Jeanette,
thank you very much for your comment, so glad you like this recipe. I used cashew butter!
Have a great day,
Matteo
I was about to ask the same question,lol, going to use some monk fruit! Thanks for the recipe Matteo!
Hey dear Sue,
thank you so so much for your kind comment!! You will love this recipe with monk fruit sweetener, perfect for a deliciously sweet cottage cheese ice cream without added sugar.
I wish you a GREAT Sunday night,
Matteo
Gotta say….. I hate cottage cheese. I was very hesitant about making this but ya gotta just try (some) things. ? IT WAS DELISH❣️? Thank You for this easy healthier version of a sweet tooth craving. I’ve been trying to eat healthier and really missing a sweet dessert. Eureka!! So happy I came across your recipe! ?Much Love?
Hello my dear Lisa,
I am incredibly grateful for your comment, and happy to hear you liked this cottage cheese ice cream recipe. I am definitely not a cottage cheese fan as well buuut..this ice cream is BOMB! ahaha
May you have a great day and week to come,
Matteo??
I made this recipe yesterday and it is delicious! Lovely and creamy and the perfect after dinner, high protein treat!
Love all your recipes ?
Hey dear Kelly,
Thank you very much for your feedback. I’m incredibly happy that you liked my protein chocolate ice cream!
I wish you a great day and week,
Matteo
Great article.
Hey Mozelle,
Thank you very much for your feedback. I’m incredibly glad that you like this recipe!
Have a great weekend,
Matteo