Cottage Cheese Ice Cream: Is it better than regular ice cream?

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Cottage cheese is definitely having its moment in the sun. It seems like every time I open TikTok or Instagram someone is making something with cottage cheese. Cottage cheese ice cream is just the latest thing to make out of cottage cheese. Boy, has it come a long way from just being seen as a “diet” food! Now it’s ice cream!

Let’s break down this new viral fad and evaluate if you should try it as a “healthier” alternative.

@kalejunkie Have you tried the viral cottage cheese ice cream? What did you think? IB: @lainiecooks #cottagecheese #viralfoodtrends #cottagecheeseicecream ♬ original sound – Nicole K. Modic

What is cottage cheese ice cream?

Cottage cheese is ice cream made by blending cottage cheese, sweetening it with your desired sweetener, and then freezing it. There are so many creative recipes online, the sky is the limit. 

Surprisingly, although this is a new viral food trend, the concept behind this trend has been around for hundreds of years! 

In fact, sugar-free, high-protein cottage cheese desserts were popularized in the United States during the Second World War when rationing forced people to get creative in the kitchen. Cottage cheese ice cream is actually a retro food and not something brand new the health influencers came up with! Shocking!

Health benefits

Is cottage cheese ice cream actually healthier than regular ice cream? I took a look under the hood.

This “ice cream alternative” is higher in protein and lower in calories, when compared to regular ice cream. This is true. 

A ½ cup of vanilla ice cream has 137 calories and 2 grams of protein.

A ½ cup of 2% cottage cheese has 91 calories and 11 grams of protein.

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of casein protein, one of the two proteins found in dairy products, that helps keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. But, since ice cream is made from dairy, it also has casein protein, although not as much.

Depending on the type of cottage cheese you use to make the ice cream, it may also be lower in fat than regular ice cream. A half cup of cottage cheese has 2.5 grams of fat, whereas ice cream has 7 grams for the same amount. The amount of fat will depend on the type of cottage cheese and any additional ingredients you might add to the recipe. 

Additionally, cottage cheese is also rich in calcium and vitamin D, both of which are essential for maintaining strong bones and teeth. 

Not-so-healthy

There are some downsides to consider when it comes to cottage cheese ice cream before you declare it an amazing alternative. Cottage cheese is high in sodium. A half cup contains nearly 350 mg of sodium, whereas a ½ cup of ice cream only has 52 mg. It is recommended to consume less than 2300 mg per day of sodium and less if you have high blood pressure.

Finally, depending on the type of sweetener, toppings, and other ingredients you add, you can make cottage cheese ice cream quite unhealthy. Some recipes call for ½-1 cup of honey, which could add 515 to over 1000 calories in pure sugar. 

While this would be divided between 4 servings in a typical recipe, you are still looking at an additional 130 calories and 30+ grams of sugar per serving. Regular ice cream has 14 grams for a ⅓ cup. This means that cottage cheese ice cream is actually HIGHER in sugar than regular ice cream. How is it healthier?

I made cottage cheese ice cream and was surprised by how much sugar I had to add to make it still taste meh. In the end, while it is higher in protein, I don’t think it can be officially labeled as “healthier” than ice cream. I am sorry, but the healthy influencers may have you fooled on this one. 

Cottage cheese ice cream recipe

If you are interested in trying this trend (I don’t recommend it, just eat the ice cream) making cottage cheese ice cream is surprisingly easy to do. Start with a high quality cottage cheese, we love Good Culture.

Good Culture Cottage Cheese Organic 2% Low-Fat Classic, 16 Ounce

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Blend 16oz of low-fat cottage cheese until it’s smooth. Then, add 1 cup of heavy cream, 2/3 cup of honey, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Add in any desired ingredients like nuts, chocolate chips, or peanut butter. Blend everything until it’s well-mixed, put it back into the cottage cheese container, and freeze for 12 hours. Enjoy? 

Should you try it?

I am going to go with no on this food trend. If you want a healthier “ice cream” there are tons of pre-made options out there that taste pretty good. Making ice cream out of cottage cheese seems like a scam. Making healthy food into dessert and it’s thinking it’s still healthy, no matter how much sugar you add makes no sense. What is the point?

My advice is, if you want ice cream, just eat the ice cream. Personally, during the summer we go out for ice cream occasionally in the evenings. It’s an activity that everyone enjoys and I eat a scoop with zero guilt. Food is meant to be enjoyed. If you like this new trend, go for it, but I think most people would agree it’s just not the same and isn’t all that healthier.