Cottage Cheese Protein Pina Colada Ice Cream

If you want a cool and refreshing tropical treat, this cottage cheese protein pina colada ice cream is a great choice.

It tastes just like the classic drink with sweet pineapple and coconut flavors, but it is actually a high protein dessert.

Using blended cottage cheese is the secret here because it gives the ice cream an ultra-creamy texture without needing heavy cream.

Once you blend it smooth, the cheese flavor completely disappears into the fruit, leaving behind only rich and velvety spoonfuls.

You can enjoy it straight from the food processor as soft serve or pop it in the freezer for classic scoops.

Why I Love This Recipe

High in Protein – Packed with cottage cheese, this dessert delivers serious protein to satisfy your sweet tooth and fuel your body.

Tropical Pina Colada Flavor – Sweet pineapple and rich coconut blend together to give you authentic island resort vibes in every bite.

Super Creamy Texture – Cottage cheese and coconut cream blend completely smooth, creating a luxurious soft-serve texture with zero icy grit.

No Ice Cream Maker Needed – You only need a standard food processor to turn frozen fruit and simple ingredients into creamy ice cream.

The Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• 2 cups Full Fat Cottage Cheese, Cold
• 1/3 cup Canned Coconut Cream
• 3 tbsp Honey
• 1 tsp Lime Juice
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1 pinch Salt
• 3 cups Frozen Pineapple Chunks

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1

Toast the coconut flakes in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until golden. Transfer to a plate to cool.

Step 2

Add the cottage cheese, coconut cream, honey, lime juice, vanilla and salt to a large food processor. Process for about 1 minute until completely smooth.

Step 3

Let the frozen pineapple sit on the counter for 5 minutes, then add it to the food processor. Process for 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides a few times, until thick and creamy like soft serve.

The cottage cheese and coconut cream turn the tangy frozen pineapple into a rich, tropical ice cream with a creamy texture.

Step 4

Taste and add a little more honey if your pineapple is very tart, then pulse to combine.

Step 5

Serve immediately as soft serve, or spread into a loaf pan, cover and freeze for 1 to 2 hours for firmer scoops.

Step 6

Sprinkle each serving with toasted coconut. If frozen longer than 4 hours, let it sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before scooping.

Quick Tips

Blend the Base Until Completely Smooth

Make sure you blend the cottage cheese, coconut cream, honey, lime, and vanilla until there are zero curds left before adding the fruit.

If you leave even tiny lumps behind, the frozen pineapple will chill them immediately and create a gritty texture. Taking a full minute here guarantees you get a silky base.

Stick With Full-Fat Cottage Cheese

I recommend sticking with whole milk cottage cheese rather than low-fat or fat-free tubs. Lower fat options have too much water, which turns into hard ice crystals once frozen.

Full-fat cottage cheese gives you that rich, authentic scoop shop creaminess. You still get all the high protein benefits of cottage cheese without giving up that velvety texture.

Scoop Only the Thick Coconut Cream

When you open your can of coconut cream, use only the solid white cream sitting at the top. Leave the clear liquid behind in the can for smoothies or other dishes.

From my experience, adding that watery liquid waters down the tropical flavor and makes the ice cream icy instead of smooth.

More Favorites

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• Cottage Cheese Protein Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream
• Cottage Cheese Protein Coconut Lime Cookies
• Cottage Cheese Protein Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes
• Cottage Cheese Protein Salted Honey Pistachio Ice Cream

Quick Answers

Can I use low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese instead?

You can use low-fat cottage cheese, but the ice cream will turn out slightly icier and less rich.

Full-fat cottage cheese has less water content, which creates the creamiest texture while still giving you a great protein boost.