Description
A creamy and healthy Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe featuring wholesome ingredients like cottage cheese, Medjool dates, and peanut butter, sweetened naturally with maple syrup and enhanced with a luscious homemade caramel drizzle. This frozen treat is protein-packed, easy to make, and perfect for a guilt-free dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Ice Cream Base
- 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 the Base: Combine cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, pure vanilla extract, maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt in a blender. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed to ensure even mixing.
- Add Dates: Add the pitted Medjool dates to the blender and blend again until the dates break down into small chunks distributed throughout the mixture.
- Freeze Ice Cream: Pour the blended mixture into a small dish or loaf pan. Freeze for 4 hours to achieve a creamy ice cream texture.
- Make Caramel Drizzle: In a separate bowl, whisk together melted coconut oil, pure maple syrup, creamy peanut butter, pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt until smooth and combined.
- Serve: Once the ice cream is set, scoop into servings. Drizzle with the prepared caramel sauce or mix the caramel chunks into the ice cream before freezing for delicious caramel frozen chunks.
Notes
- For the best texture, consume the ice cream after 3-4 hours of freezing. It will harden more if left overnight.
- If frozen overnight, let ice cream thaw for 15-20 minutes before serving to regain a creamy texture.
- Protein powder can be omitted without significantly affecting texture if preferred.
- Use either pure maple syrup or honey depending on your sweetness preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
