This cottage cheese strawberry dessert blends frozen strawberries, cottage cheese, milk, vanilla protein powder and honey into a creamy, no-churn treat ready in around 5 minutes! {High Protein & Gluten-Free-Friendly}
Elysia’s Recipe Recap
This cottage cheese strawberry dessert is one of my new favorite quick treats! Frozen strawberries and cottage cheese blend into a creamy, soft-serve-like texture in only around 5 minutes, and similar to my protein Mango Dole Whip, there’s no ice cream maker needed!
As a dietitian (and a busy mom who’s always after a protein-rich snack), I love that cottage cheese makes it so easy to add protein to dessert. I pair it with sweet strawberries for a dose of fiber and a scoop of vanilla protein powder and honey for a touch of extra sweetness. Together, it tastes indulgent, but keeps us going between meals.
It can be adjusted to be thicker, thinner, sweeter, or lighter depending on my mood, whether it’s a post-workout snack for me or an afternoon treat for the kids. Just blend, grab a spoon, and dig in!
Before You Get Started
A few dietitian tips from yours truly:
- Use frozen strawberries. Fresh berries won’t give you the same thick, frozen consistency. Frozen fruit is what makes this taste more like soft serve.
- Don’t add too much milk at once. Start with 3 tablespoons and only add more if your blender needs it. It’s much easier to thin out the mixture than it is to thicken it back up!
- Scrape down the blender. Because this recipe is intentionally thick, you may need to stop once or twice to scrape the sides and help everything blend evenly.
- Adjust the sweetness according to your berries (and your protein powder). Some frozen strawberries are naturally sweeter than others, and some protein powders are sweeter than others too, so I always blend first and then decide whether I need the honey or maple syrup.
- Eat it right away. The texture is at its creamiest straight from the blender. This is one of those recipes I never bother saving for later.
Ingredient Notes
- Frozen strawberries: I like to buy the pre-sliced bags. Sliced strawberries are also easier to blend than large whole berries, so you’re less likely to be left with larger chunks.
- Cottage cheese: The secret to the creamy texture and added protein! Since everything gets blended until completely smooth, you don’t have to worry about the usual curds or cottage cheese texture. Even kids who claim they “hate” cottage cheese ask for seconds of this.
- Milk or milk alternative: A few tablespoons help everything blend smoothly. Start with less and add more as needed, depending on how thick you want your dessert. Either cow’s milk or your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk alternative will work.
- Vanilla protein powder: This is my favorite way to sneak in extra protein without changing the flavor much. Vanilla protein powder complements the strawberries nicely and helps thicken the dessert even further.
- Honey or maple syrup: This is optional and can be adjusted depending on the sweetness of your strawberries and protein powder.
Recipe Variations
One of the best things about combining strawberry and cottage cheese is how easy it is to customize the flavor.
- Vanilla. Try adding a splash of vanilla extract for a strawberries-and-cream flavor.
- Switch up the flavor combo. Toss in a few blueberries, raspberries, or frozen banana slices along with the strawberries.
- Chocolate. For a chocolate-strawberry version, add a little cocoa powder or sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top. You could also finish your bowl with chopped nuts, granola, hemp hearts, chia seeds, or additional sliced strawberries for some extra texture. If you swap in a chocolate or unflavored protein powder instead of vanilla, adjust the honey or maple syrup to taste.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Strawberry Dessert
- Step 1: Add the ingredients: Place the frozen sliced strawberries, cottage cheese, milk, vanilla protein powder, and optional honey or maple syrup in a mini food processor or high-powered blender.
- Step 2: Blend: Blend until the mixture starts to become smooth and creamy.
- Step 3: Scrape the sides: Stop halfway through and scrape down the sides with a spatula, then continue blending until completely smooth.
- Step 4: Adjust and serve: For a thinner consistency, add another splash of milk. For a thicker consistency, blend in a few additional frozen strawberries. Taste and adjust the sweetness with honey or maple syrup, then serve immediately.
Recipe FAQs
A cottage cheese with some milk fat will generally produce the richest, creamiest result. No matter which variety you choose, blending it thoroughly is key to getting that smooth texture.
Not at all. It’s there to boost the protein content and add some extra sweetness, but this strawberry cottage cheese ice cream still works well without it. If you skip it, I’d recommend adding a couple of extra frozen strawberries to help keep the texture thick and add a bit more honey to taste.
This strawberry cottage cheese dessert is best enjoyed immediately after blending, when it has that thick, creamy soft-serve consistency. If you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the freezer. Let it sit at room temperature to soften before eating, or blend it again with a small splash of milk to bring back some of its creamy texture.
More Desserts with Cottage Cheese
- Creamy Whipped Cottage Cheese Dessert
- Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
- Cottage Cheese Brownies
- High Protein Snickers Bowl
- Click for my collection of Cottage Cheese Dessert Recipes
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Cottage Cheese Strawberry Dessert
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup frozen sliced strawberries
- 1/3 cup cottage cheese
- 3 -4 tablespoons milk or milk alternative
- 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder (*you can skip and add a bit of extra honey or maple syrup, if desired)
- 1/2 -1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a mini food processor or high power mini blender.
- Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula halfway through. If you prefer it thinner, add a bit more milk, if you like it thicker, add a few more frozen strawberries. Taste and adjust sweetness as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- My favorite tool to make this cold dessert is this KitchenAid Mini Food Processor!
- Don’t add too much milk at once. Start with 3 tablespoons and only add more if your blender needs it. It’s much easier to thin out the mixture than it is to thicken it back up!
- Adjust the sweetness according to your berries (and your protein powder). Some frozen strawberries are naturally sweeter than others, and some protein powders are sweeter than others too, so I always blend first and then decide whether I need extra honey or maple syrup.
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