Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
If you’re craving a creamy, high‑protein dessert that tastes like indulgent salted caramel ice cream without the refined sugar or complicated steps, this Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream is about to be your new favorite treat.
Made with simple whole‑food ingredients, naturally sweetened, and blended to silky perfection, this viral cottage cheese ice cream trend gets a serious upgrade with rich caramel flavor and a boost of protein.
No ice cream maker needed — just blend, freeze, and enjoy a scoopable, ultra‑creamy dessert that feels decadent but fits right into a healthy lifestyle.
The homemade caramel drizzle is optional, but compliments the ice cream SO well, and then hardens into little chunks of caramel heaven! I added Just Ingredients brand French vanilla protein here for more protein. No fake taste and only clean ingredients. Use code colleenF10 to save sitewide!
This might be my favorite homemade ice cream flavor, but the runner up is definitely my Healthy Cookie Monster Ice Cream!
This Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream is the perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and salty — all made with nourishing ingredients and absolutely no refined sugar.
Blending cottage cheese with vanilla protein powder, maple syrup, and Medjool dates creates a smooth, luscious base that freezes beautifully without becoming icy.
A quick homemade caramel drizzle adds the dreamiest flavor and forms irresistible caramel chunks once frozen.
Whether you enjoy it straight from the freezer at the 3–4 hour mark or let it soften for a scoopable texture, this high‑protein ice cream is a wholesome dessert you’ll want to make again and again.
Plus, it’s easy to customize with dairy‑free swaps, nut‑free options, or fun mix‑ins like chocolate chips or crushed nuts.
Why You’ll Love This Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- No ice cream maker required
- It’s loaded with protein
- It contains no refined sugars
- It’s incredibly smooth and creamy
Key Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese – it does not matter if you like cottage cheese or not! Once blended until smooth the chunky texture is gone. Unlike yogurt, when cottage cheese is frozen it does not become icy. Use full fat for the creamiest ice cream texture
- Cashew butter – adds to the creaminess while remaining neutral in taste
- French Vanilla Protein Powder – the flavor is unbelievable! It tastes so smooth and creamy, and adds a boost of protein as well as delicious flavor. My code colleenF10 saves you sitewide
- Pure maple syrup – adds sweet without adding refined table sugar. Pure maple syrup (not pancake syrup) is lower glycemic index than white sugar, so it’s easier on your blood sugar
Serves: 8
Ingredients
- 16 oz Cottage Cheese
- 1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup, Or honey
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
- 6 whole Medjool Dates
- 1/4 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
- 2 Tbsp Cashew Butter
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil, Melted
- 3 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
- 1/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
Process
- Blend cottage cheese, protein powder, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt together until smooth, scraping the sides as needed
- Add pitted dates and blend again to break dates down into small chunks
- Pour into small dish / loaf tin and freeze 3-4 hours. Scoop and enjoy!
- Make caramel by whisking all ingredients together. Pour overtop your serving OR mix in with ice cream before freezing; it tastes great as caramel frozen chunks!
Variations for Dietary Preferences
- Cashew butter – can replace with sunbutter or vanilla oat butter like the oat haus brand
- Dairy free – You can use 1 3/4 cup coconut cream to keep this dairy free. Also be sure to use a plant based protein powder
- This recipe can be made without the protein powder
- You can replace the pure maple syrup with honey
- The caramel drizzle can be made with either peanut butter or cashew butter, or even sunbutter
Notes
The best texture is right at that 3-4 hour mark. Ice cream will harden more if left overnight. Let thaw 15-20min before enjoying for best texture again! you can leave protein powder out without overly affecting the texture
Ingredients
Ice Cream
- 16 oz Cottage Cheese
- 1/4 cup Pure Maple Syrup Or honey
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
- 6 whole Medjool Dates
- 1/4 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
- 2 Tbsp Cashew Butter
Caramel drizzle
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil Melted
- 3 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
- 1/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1/2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 pinch Sea Salt
Instructions
- Blend cottage cheese, protein powder, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt together until smooth, scraping the sides as needed
- Add pitted dates and blend again to break dates down into small chunks
- Pour into small dish / loaf tin and freeze 3-4 hours. Scoop and enjoy!
- Make caramel by whisking all ingredients together. Pour overtop your serving OR mix in with ice cream before freezing; it tastes great as caramel frozen chunks!
