Description
A creamy and indulgent Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream that combines the wholesome goodness of cottage cheese with natural sweeteners and a rich homemade caramel drizzle. This protein-packed treat is simple to make and perfect for a refreshing dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ice Cream 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, pitted
- 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 Base Ingredients: Combine the cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, pure vanilla extract, pure maple syrup, and sea salt in a blender. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides to ensure even consistency.
- Add Dates: Add the pitted Medjool dates to the blender and blend again just enough to break the dates down into small chunks, giving the ice cream a pleasant texture.
- Freeze Ice Cream: Pour the blended mixture into a small dish or loaf tin, spreading evenly. Freeze for 3 to 4 hours until firm but scoopable.
- Prepare Caramel Drizzle: Whisk together melted coconut oil, pure maple syrup, creamy peanut butter, pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt until smooth and creamy. Use this caramel as a topping or swirl it through the ice cream before freezing for delightful caramel chunks.
- Serve: Scoop the ice cream after freezing, drizzle with the caramel sauce, and enjoy immediately. For best texture, allow frozen ice cream to thaw for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The optimal texture is achieved at 3 to 4 hours of freezing; leaving overnight may harden the ice cream excessively.
- Allow the ice cream to thaw 15-20 minutes before serving to soften and enhance scoopability.
- Protein powder can be omitted without significantly affecting texture.
- Using Medjool dates adds natural sweetness and chewy texture; other soft dates can be substituted.
- The caramel drizzle can be mixed into the ice cream before freezing or added as a topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
