Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream (in the Ninja Creami)
This Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream is creamy, fresh, sweet, with flavors reminding you of strawberry cheesecake ice cream. It’s high in protein and easy to make in the Ninja Creami. You won’t be able to get enough of this viral cottage cheese ice cream made over into Ninja Creami strawberry ice cream!
I have to admit – I was completely skeptical of the viral cottage cheese ice cream trend. As a dietitian, I have seen SO many “healthy” food trends come and go, and honestly, a lot just kind of fall flat. But I decided to give it a try with this strawberry cottage cheese ice cream, and holy moly – I was so impressed! The cottage cheese gives the ice cream such creaminess, and gives a subtle cheesecake flavor, too. Plus it adds protein!
I also loved using my Ninja Creami, and to be honest, I think it’s what most cottage cheese ice creams are missing! Making this as a Ninja Creami strawberry ice cream adds a whole other layer of creaminess and silkiness to the texture, making it so satisfying.
Not sure what else to make with your Ninja Creami? You’ve got to try some of my other recipes, like the versatile protein ice cream and acai ice cream (that makes the BEST high protein acai bowls!).
Why This Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipe is SO Good!
- Tastes like strawberry cheesecake ice cream!
- It’s fun, combining two viral trends – cottage cheese ice cream and the Ninja Creami.
- SO simple, with only 4 ingredients needed (seriously insane!).
- It’s pretty low effort to make, with the freeze time being the most time consuming.
- The creamiest texture.
- It’s just SO delicious!
Ingredients Needed
For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
- Cottage Cheese: I recommend a 1% or 2% cottage cheese. If you’re using fat free cottage cheese, be prepared to add a tablespoon of milk or cream before doing the Re-Spin.
- Strawberries: fresh strawberries are perfect for blending into the cottage cheese to create the ice cream base.
- Honey: adds sweetness (you can substitute your preferred sweetener, however)
- Vanilla: I prefer vanilla bean paste for a richer flavor and the little flecks it adds to the ice cream, but you can also use vanilla extract.
Step-by-Step Directions
For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
- Add all ingredients to the pint.
- Puree with an immersion blender.
- Freeze for 24 hours.
- Spin on the “Lite Ice Cream” setting.
- Re-Spin.
- Add any desired mix-ins, then serve immediately and enjoy!
Expert Ninja Creami Tips
Why is my Ninja Creami Powdery?
A powdery Ninja Creami is common after the first spin when making light or high protein Ninja Creami ice creams. Ninja Creami protein ice cream and light ice creams typically need 1 or 2 Re-Spin cycles. If it’s really powdery, try adding a tablespoon of protein shake, milk, or cream before you Re-Spin. I find the magic combination is usually 1 spin, add 1 tablespoon liquid, and 1 re-spin!
Why is my Ninja Creami Too Soft?
If your ice cream is very soft and more soft serve or a Wendy’s Frosty consistency, you either did not freeze your mixture long enough, or you’ve added too much liquid during a Re-Spin. I know it’s tedious, but freeze for 24 hours! And when adding liquid before a Re-Spin, only add a tablespoon (unless you want it softer, then by all means, add an extra tablespoon or two!).
Why is my Ninja Creami Not Soft Enough?
Let it not fully freeze, or allow it to sit out for 20-30 minutes before spinning. You also can add a total of 2-3 tablespoons of extra liquid before you Re-Spin, to allow for a softer consistency.
How Do I know if I need to Re-Spin?
If after your first spin your ice cream is powdery or just not quite creamy enough, run a Re-Spin. If it’s very powdery (like most protein ice creams), add that tablespoon of extra liquid.
Use Quality Ingredients
The Ninja Creami is pretty magical, but you still need to like the ingredients you’re using! So if you’re making a protein ice cream – use a protein shake and/ or powder you like! If you’re adding fruit or making a sorbet, use fruit that tastes good for you. For example – I personally find canned fruit to always have a metallic taste, even when transformed in a Ninja Creami, so I prefer to thaw frozen or use fresh when making those bases.
Have Fun with Mix-Ins
Once you have a good base you enjoy (like a good protein ice cream base), change it up with flavor variations and different mix ins!
What Else Can You Make in a Ninja Creami?
Ice creams, light ice creams, protein ice cream, gelato, sorbet, smoothie bowls, milkshakes, and more!
Protect Your Ears!
The Ninja Creami is pretty loud, so guard your ears! And please protect the ears of any kids helping out in the kitchen.
Can I Make This Ice Cream Without a Ninja Creami?
I truly feel that the texture is the best and most satisfying when using a Ninja Creami. But if you’re dying to try this and you don’t have one, there are some folks who have tried blending the ingredients, freezing in a more shallow container (like a loaf pan) for a few hours, then thawing on the counter 10-20 minutes until the mixture is scoopable.
Substitutions & Variations
- Swap the Fruit: While the strawberries are delicious here, you can swap them out for another fresh fruit of your choice. Try blueberries, cherries, blackberries, mango, and pineapple!
- Add Different Flavorings: You can try a splash of other extracts, like almond or cake batter. You also can add citrus juice and/ or zest, such as lemon or lime. Try adding different spices, too, like cinnamon or ginger.
- Dairy-Free: While there are many delicious lactose-free cottage cheeses on the market, I unfortunately don’t know of any good plant-based cottage cheese alternatives, so unfortunately this recipe is not dairy-free. If you know of any good options, please share in the comments!
- Gluten-Free: This strawberry cottage cheese ice cream is naturally gluten-free!
- No Added Sugar: while there will always be a few grams of naturally occurring sugars in the cottage cheese and strawberries, you can avoid added sugar by swapping the honey for your preferred non-nutritive sweetener. Try a liquid monk fruit sweetener or (my personal favorite) allulose.
Storing Leftover Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
What do you do if you have Ninja Creami leftovers? Well, you have two options:
- Refreeze and Re-Spin: Simply level and smooth the top of any leftover ice cream inside the Ninja Creami pint, place it back in the freezer, and spin it again when you’re ready to enjoy again.
- Thaw Slightly/ No Re-Spin: Refreeze your leftovers, then when you’re ready to enjoy, set it out on the counter for 10-15 minutes, or freeze for 10-15 seconds until slightly softened.
If you have any mix-ins in your ice cream, I recommend just thawing and avoiding a re-spin. Doing another spin cycle after you already have mix-ins completely obliterates whatever mix-ins there were (which can impact the taste and texture of the ice cream, too).
Supplies You’ll Need
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There are several types of Ninja Creamis: the original Ninja Creami, the Ninja Creami Deluxe, and (what I have) the Ninja Creami Breeze.
- 7-in-1 Ninja Creami: The original Ninja Creami with 7 settings, Ice Cream, Sorbet, Lite Ice Cream, Smoothie Bowl, Gelato, Milkshake, and Mix-In.
- Ninja Creami Deluxe: The Deluxe is a more comprehensive Ninja Creami, offering 11 pre-set programs to the originals 7.
- Ninja Creami Breeze: The Breeze is a more compact machine, designed to still be powerful but take up less space and fit more easily on countertops under cabinets.
If you’re a big fan of prepping a lot of Ninja Creami recipes in advance, I highly recommend also investing in additional pint containers.
More Ninja Creami Recipes:
- Decadent Raspberry Chip Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Mango Sorbet
- Ninja Creami Frozen Yogurt
- Acai Ice Cream
- Ninja Creami Protein Ice Cream
- Protein Pumpkin Ice Cream
Did you make this recipe? Give it a 5★ rating below! For more balanced nutrition and simple, healthy-ish recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram!
Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream (in the Ninja Creami)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 cup chopped strawberries
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
Instructions
- Combine the cottage cheese, strawberries, honey, and vanilla bean paste in the Ninja Creami pint. Use an immersion blender to puree smooth. (Alternatively, you can use a blender pour into the pint, if you don't have an immersion blender.)2 cups cottage cheese, 1 cup chopped strawberries, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- Cover the Ninja Creami pint and place in the freezer. Freeze for 24 hours.
- Place the frozen pint in the Ninja Creami. Run a "Lite Ice Cream" cycle.
- After the first cycle, the strawberry cottage cheese ice cream is likely not quite creamy enough and may be a little powdery. Return it to the Ninja Creami and run a Re-Spin cycle. (You can add a tablespoon of liquid to help the Re-Spin process, which may be more helpful with a fat free cottage cheese, but with a 1% or 2% cottage cheese, I generally find just a Re-Spin and non added liquid is the perfect combination).
- Add any mix-ins if desired, then serve immediately and enjoy.
I am assuming that based on 3 cups of product and the images that this makes more than a pint and was made in the bigger Ninja Creami? If so, do you have the ratio for the pint size?
No, this makes a pint. When you blend the cottage cheese, its volume decreases as it’s smooth/ not the more voluminous lumpy cottage cheese texture. Same thing goes for the strawberries – the cup measurement is fresh, chopped strawberries, and their volume decreases significantly when blended into a smooth puree. Now admittedly, this was slightly over the pint’s full line, but you can always scoop out a spoonful or two before freezing, if you’re concerned. Hope that helps!