My husband finished his bowl before I told him this Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream was made with cottage cheese. He was genuinely surprised. Made with just four ingredients, it blends up smooth and creamy with no protein powder and no refined sugar.
Each serving has 12 grams of protein, while strawberries and maple syrup give it the flavor of traditional strawberry ice cream. It works in both the Ninja Creami and Ninja Swirl, and you can use either fresh or frozen strawberries.
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Recipe at a Glance
- Makes: 2 servings
- Protein: 12g per serving
- Simple Ingredients: 4 ingredients and naturally sweetened with maple syrup
- Easy: Blend, freeze, spin, respin, and serve
- Works in both Ninja Creami & Ninja Swirl machines
Why It's So Creamy
Cottage cheese would normally freeze into a hard, icy block. But the Ninja Creami shaves the frozen mixture into tiny particles and blends everything back together, creating an incredibly smooth, creamy texture. The result is every bit as creamy as my cream-based Ninja Creami Strawberry Ice Cream.
If you love Ninja Creami Recipes, try my Ninja Creami Pistachio Ice Cream, Ninja Creami Dole Whip Ice Cream, or Ninja Creami Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream next!
Jump to:
- Recipe at a Glance
- Why It's So Creamy
- Ingredients for Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- How to Make Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- Jeri's Testing Note
- Substitutions and Variations
- Jeri's Top Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- FAQs
- More Ninja Creami Recipes to Try
- Printable Recipe
- The One I Use
- Comments
Ingredients for Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
- Cottage Cheese. I use whole milk cottage cheese or 2% cottage cheese for the richest flavor and creamiest texture, but low-fat versions also work. Blending it completely smooth is essential for an authentic ice cream-like consistency. You don't want any visible curds left in the mixture.
- Strawberries. Fresh or frozen strawberries both work well here, so use whatever you have on hand.
- Maple Syrup. Sweetens the base naturally without any refined sugar. Honey or agave work as an alternative sweetener if that's what you have.
- Milk. Just a tablespoon, used only for the respin at the end to bring the ice cream together.
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Blend the base. Add the cottage cheese, strawberries, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until completely smooth, with no visible curds remaining.
Freeze. Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, making sure not to go past the max fill line. Freeze flat for 24 hours.
Spin. Remove the lid and place the pint container into the outer bowl. Secure the lid assembly and process the frozen pint on the LITE ICE CREAM setting.
Re-Spin. Remove the lid. The ice cream will likely look dry and crumbly at this point, which is completely normal. Make a small well in the center and add 1 tablespoon of milk. Return the pint to the machine and RESPIN.
Serve. Scoop and serve immediately. This strawberry cottage cheese ice cream recipe has an even smoother texture than most Creami recipes.
Jeri's Testing Note
The biggest differences between this recipe and a regular Ninja Creami ice cream are the yield and the texture.
Cottage cheese creates a much lighter, airier texture than a cream-based Ninja Creami recipe. Because the base starts with a smaller quantity of ingredients, this recipe makes about two generous servings.
In my testing, this was actually creamier than most of my Creami recipes, not icier or grainier as you might expect from a cottage cheese base. The respin with a tablespoon of milk is what transforms it from crumbly to smooth and scoopable.
Substitutions and Variations
- Different Fruit: Swap the strawberries for raspberries, blueberries, or mango for a completely different flavor using the same base ratio.
- Extra Sweetness: If you prefer a sweeter finished ice cream, add an extra tablespoon of maple syrup before blending.
- Vanilla Boost: Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract to the blender.
- Mix-Ins: Once the ice cream base is blended, add your favorite mix-ins using the MIX-IN button. Freeze-dried strawberries, chopped nuts, Smoked Cheesecake pieces, Oreos, or chocolate chips all make tasty additions.
Jeri's Top Tips
- Blend until completely smooth. Any remaining curds in the base will show up as small lumps in the finished ice cream, so take the extra minute to blend thoroughly.
- Freeze the pint flat. A level surface helps the base freeze evenly, so the blade can process it properly.
- Don't skip the respin. Cottage cheese-based ice cream almost always looks crumbly after the first spin. The respin with a splash of milk is what brings it to a smooth, scoopable texture.
- Serve immediately. This ice cream is best enjoyed right after spinning, when its texture is at its creamiest.
Serving Suggestions
Toppings: Top with fresh sliced strawberries, banana slices, a drizzle of extra maple syrup, or a sprinkle of granola or nuts.
Pairings: Use this ice cream as a topping with Crispy Buttermilk Belgian Waffles or to make ice cream sandwiches with Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies.
High-Protein Snack: This also makes a great post-workout snack or high-protein afternoon treat.
How to Store Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Store: This recipe is best served immediately after spinning, but leftovers can be stored in the Ninja Creami container with the lid securely fastened in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
Re-churn: Let the pint sit at room temperature for a few minutes before running the RESPIN function again to soften it back up.
FAQs
Yes! This recipe works in either the Ninja Creami or the Ninja Swirl machine. Process it the same way, using either SCOOP or SOFT SERVE and the LITE ICE CREAM setting, then respin with a splash of milk as needed.
It's completely normal. All Ninja Creami recipes almost always look dry after the first spin. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and run the RESPIN cycle for a smooth, creamy texture.
Yes. Frozen strawberries work just as well as fresh. If they're very large or frozen into one solid block, thaw them slightly before blending for the smoothest mixture.
Yes. Whole milk or 2% cottage cheese produces the creamiest texture, but low-fat cottage cheese will also work.
Yes. You can blend one scoop of your favorite vanilla or unflavored protein powder into the base before freezing. You may need an extra tablespoon or two of milk during the RE-SPIN since protein powder can make the mixture thicker.
More Ninja Creami Recipes to Try
Looking for more Ninja Creami ice cream recipes? Try these reader favorites next:
- Ninja Creami Lemon Ice Cream - Bright citrus flavor with an exceptionally smooth texture.
- Ninja Creami Hot Chocolate Ice Cream - Rich, creamy hot cocoa flavor in frozen form.
- Ninja Creami Frozen Vanilla Yogurt - Another high-protein, 2-ingredient treat.
- Ninja Creami Peach Ice Cream - A sweet, fruity summer favorite.
If you tried this Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream recipe, I'd love to hear what you thought. Please leave a 5-star rating and a comment below!
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Printable Recipe
Ninja Creami Strawberry Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese (2% or whole milk)
- ¾ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon milk (for the respin)
Instructions
- Add the cottage cheese, strawberries, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until completely smooth with no visible cottage cheese curds remaining.
- Pour the mixture into a Ninja Creami pint container, making sure not to exceed the MAX FILL line. Cover with the lid and freeze on a flat surface for 24 hours.
- Place the frozen pint into your Ninja Creami (or Ninja Swirl) and process using the LITE ICE CREAM setting.
- Remove the lid. The ice cream will likely look dry and crumbly after the first spin-this is completely normal. Use a spoon to make a small well in the center and add 1 tablespoon of milk. Return the pint to the machine and run the RESPIN cycle.
- Scoop and serve immediately for the creamiest texture.
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Notes
- Blend thoroughly. Any remaining cottage cheese curds can leave small lumps in the finished ice cream.
- Fresh or frozen strawberries both work well. If using frozen berries, thawing them first makes blending easier.
- Don't skip the respin. This is what transforms the crumbly first spin into a smooth, creamy ice cream.
- This recipe makes 2 servings, rather than the typical 4, because the cottage cheese creates an extra light, airy texture after spinning.
- Ninja Swirl: Prepare exactly the same way using either Scoop or Soft Serve mode with the Lite Ice Cream program.
- Mix-ins: Stir in chopped chocolate, freeze-dried strawberries, granola, chopped nuts, or crushed cookies after processing using the MIX-IN function.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the Ninja Creami pint container with the lid tightly sealed for up to 2 weeks. For the best texture, let the pint sit on the counter for a few minutes before running the RESPIN cycle.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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