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This creamy chocolate Cottage Cheese Ice Cream is the ultimate high-protein treat for warm days. It’s low carb, low calorie and doesn’t taste like cottage cheese at all. The best part? It’s made with just 3 ingredients in 2 minutes–no ice cream maker!
If you are looking for healthy desserts with cottage cheese, you should try my cottage cheese cheesecake, cottage cheese cookies, cottage cheese brownies and cottage cheese pudding. But only after this ice cream–it tastes like the real original but high protein and without all the calories or sugars. 167 calories only!
Why you will love this recipe
Believe me, the TikTok viral ice cream is worth the hype. From simplicity to taste, this is a recipe that has it all. Still not convinced? Here are four reasons why this may be the best healthy ice cream recipe ever.
- Quick and easy – This low cal ice cream comes together in a blender in under 2 minutes, with just 3 ingredients. No need for ice cream makers, protein powder, thickeners or gums.
- Macro-friendly – Making ice cream with cottage cheese is a great way to boost protein and macros without powders (16 g of protein). This makes it perfect as a post workout snack or a macro-friendly dessert.
- Healthy and low calorie – With just 167 calories per serving, it’s a great dessert for your diet. Plus, since it’s free from bananas, my recipe is also low in carbs and keto-friendly (swap maple syrup for sugar-free sweeteners).
- Rich and creamy – Not a cottage cheese fan? No problem. This ice cream is rich, creamy and naturally sweet; it won’t taste like cottage cheese at all. Plus, you can customize it with mix-ins or with a scoop of protein powder.
Ingredients
My viral cottage cheese recipe requires just 3 ingredients you probably already have at home. Here are more details, along with tips and substitutes–precise quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom.
- Cottage cheese – You can use either full fat or low fat cottage cheese, here I am using 4% small curd cottage cheese. Although any works, I recommend choosing an organic full fat cottage cheese from a reputable brand like Good Cultures, Daisy or Nancy’s.
- Cocoa powder – Use natural, unsweetened cocoa powder for a healthier treat with no refined sugar. As a higher protein alternative, swap it for a scoop of chocolate protein powder.
- Maple syrup – This adds natural sweetener without refined sugars. Great replacements are honey, date syrup, agave or a keto syrup. Since they will change the consistency, brown sugar or granulated sweeteners are not recommended.
Recipe variations
- Protein powder – Blend cottage cheese and cocoa powder with a scoop of your favorite protein powder. If using chocolate flavored protein powder, you can leave out the cocoa.
- Keto – To cut carbs, swap maple syrup or honey for a sugar-free syrup of your choice. Since they may change the texture, granulated sweeteners like monk fruit, stevia or erythritol are not the best choice.
- Vegan – Replace cottage cheese with my homemade dairy-free cottage cheese, it’s so quick to make with tofu.
- Vanilla – Leave out the cocoa powder and add half a teaspoon of vanilla exact. For a protein boost, you can also use a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
- Fruit – Blend in half a cup of frozen blueberries, strawberries or mixed berries, a frozen banana or your favorite frozen fruit. I really like making my cottage cheese ice cream with banana and pieces of frozen mango.
- Mix-ins – For more flavor, add in two tablespoons of peanut butter or almond butter, matcha powder, instant coffee powder or vanilla extract. After blending, stir in the cottage cheese ice cream chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, raisins, crushed protein cookies or protein bars.
How to make cottage cheese ice cream
Making the TikTok viral cottage cheese ice cream is very simple. You can find the printable recipe at the end of this blog post, but for now here’s an overview.
- Step 1 – Blend. In a blender, combine cottage cheese with the cocoa powder and maple syrup. Optionally, add any extra ingredient you want. Pulse until all the ingredients have blended into a smooth cream.
- Step 2 – Freeze. Scoop the cottage cheese mixture out into a loaf pan lined with parchment, then cover with a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burns. Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
- Step 3 – Serve. After freezing remove from the freezer and let your chocolate protein ice cream sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. Scoop into a serving bowl and enjoy with your favorite toppings.
Recipe tips
- Choose high quality cottage cheese – For the best texture and flavor, use full-fat, small curd cottage cheese from a good brand (preferably organic). If necessary, choose no-added-salt options to lower the sodium content.
- Customize with mix-ins – Swirl in nut butter, mix in chocolate chips, or add a handful of crushed cookies for extra crunch. For a protein boost, add to your blender a scoop of protein powder.
- Blend until completely smooth – To avoid any grainy texture, blend at high speed until the mixture is silky smooth. If needed, scrape down the sides and blend again until you see no more chunks of cottage cheese.
- Let it soften before serving – Cottage cheese ice cream firms up when frozen, so you’ll need to let it sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
Storage directions
Ice cream made with cottage cheese can be stored for up for a week, although it tastes better within the first 2-3 days. To store, place leftovers in an airtight container or in a loaf pan covered with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Since it tends to firm up, you’ll need to let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving. Matteo’s tip–to bring back its creamy consistency, you can also blend it again for a few seconds.
Frequently asked questions
You can use either full-fat or low-fat cottage cheese, but for the best result I recommend a high-quality, organic full-fat option. Here I’m using 4% small curd cottage cheese. If possible, go for an organic brand with minimal additives, such as Good Culture, Daisy, or Nancy’s. For a lower-sodium option, look for “no added salt” cottage cheese.
Absolutely! For a high protein treat, blend in a scoop of your favorite protein powder–chocolate, vanilla or unflavored. I recommend whey, as it mixes better than vegan protein powder or casein without lumps.
More cottage cheese desserts
- Cottage cheese cookie dough
- Cottage cheese muffins
- Cottage cheese brownies
- Cottage cheese banana bread
- Healthy Syrniki pancakes
- Cottage cheese pancakes
- Cottage cheese chocolate mousse
- Cottage cheese cheesecake
Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup (220 g) cottage cheese, full fat recommended
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 to 5 tbsp maple syrup , or honey, to taste
Instructions
- In a blender, combine cottage cheese with the cocoa powder and maple syrup. Optionally, add any extra ingredient you want.
- Process until all the ingredients have blended into a smooth cream.
- Scoop the cottage cheese mixture out into a loaf pan lined with parchment, then cover with a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burns. Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.
- After freezing, remove from the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. Scoop into a serving bowl and enjoy with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
- Protein powder: Swap cocoa powder for a scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder. If using flavored protein powder, adjust sweetener to taste.
- Vanilla: Skip the cocoa powder and add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract for a creamy, classic vanilla ice cream.
- Fruit: Blend in ½ cup of frozen fruit like bananas, strawberries, or blueberries for a punch of natural sweetness.
- No cocoa: Omit the cocoa powder, and feel free to customize it with your favorite mix-ins such as vanilla extract, peanut butter or protein powder.
- Keto: Swap maple syrup for keto syrup or keto honey, and make sure you use unsweetened cocoa powder.
Easy, delicious and healthy! I used lowfat cottage cheese and still liked the results.
Hey Ellie,
many thanks for your review! I’m so happy you liked my cottage cheese ice cream, also if with nonfat cottage cheese!
Have a great week,
Matteo
The first time I made this it was tart. Last night I used chocolate protein powder in place of cocoa powder. Also 5 tablespoons of honey. Came out amazing!
Hey Steve,
thanks a lot for your feedback! I am so so happy you enjoyed this recipe 😉
Best,
Matteo
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