Cottage Cheese Protein Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

If you love peanut butter cups, you are going to enjoy this homemade dessert.

Today I want to show you how to make cottage cheese protein peanut butter cup ice cream right at home without any ice cream machine.

Because it uses cottage cheese as the main base, this recipe is naturally high protein and very satisfying.

Blending cottage cheese completely changes its texture. It turns super smooth and thick, which gives the ice cream a rich and creamy feel.

You get the classic taste of peanut butter and chocolate in every bite, along with a great texture that scoops easily.

Why I Love This Recipe

High in Protein – Packed with cottage cheese and peanut butter, every bowl gives you a great boost of muscle-building protein.

No Ice Cream Maker Needed – You can skip the expensive gadgets because this creamy dessert sets up perfectly right in a loaf pan.

Ultra-Creamy Texture – Folding whipped cream with smooth cottage cheese creates a super rich texture that rivals classic store-bought pints.

Tastes Like a Candy Bar – Loaded with real peanut butter cups and sweet swirls, it tastes just like your favorite chocolate treat.

The Ingredients

For the Ice Cream

• 3 cups Full Fat Cottage Cheese
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 cup Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 3/4 cup Heavy Cream, Cold
• 1 cup Mini Peanut Butter Cups, Halved

For the Peanut Butter Swirl

• 3 tbsp Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1 tbsp Honey

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1

Place a 9×5-inch loaf pan in the freezer to chill while you prepare the ice cream.

Step 2

Add the cottage cheese, 1/2 cup peanut butter, sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup, vanilla and salt to a high-speed blender. Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until thick, glossy and completely smooth with no curds.

Step 3

In a large chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

Stir a large spoonful of the peanut butter mixture into the whipped cream to loosen it. Gently fold in the rest until evenly combined and fluffy.

Step 5

Fold the halved peanut butter cups into the ice cream base, saving a few pieces for the top.

Step 6

For the swirl, microwave the 3 tbsp peanut butter and honey for 15 to 20 seconds and stir until smooth and pourable. Let it cool for a couple of minutes so it is warm, not hot.

Step 7

Spread half of the ice cream into the chilled pan and drizzle with half of the swirl. Repeat with the remaining ice cream and swirl, then drag a skewer through a few times to create ribbons.

Scatter the reserved peanut butter cups on top, press plastic wrap onto the surface and freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Step 8

Let the ice cream soften at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes before scooping.

Quick Tips

Blend Until Completely Smooth

You’ll get the best results if you let your blender run until the cottage cheese looks like melted satin.

Stop and rub a tiny drop between your fingers. If you feel even one tiny curd, keep blending so your ice cream turns out velvety instead of grainy.

Stick with Full Fat Cottage Cheese

I recommend using 4% full-fat cottage cheese for this base.

Low-fat versions contain extra water, which creates hard ice crystals once frozen.

The full-fat style keeps the texture creamy while still giving you a generous protein boost in every single scoop.

Chill Your Bowl and Beaters

From my experience, heavy cream whips much faster and holds more air if your tools are icy cold.

Pop your mixing bowl and beaters into the freezer for ten minutes before you whip the cream.

This extra volume is what keeps the ice cream soft and easy to scoop straight from the pan.

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Quick Answers

Does this ice cream actually taste like cottage cheese?

Not at all, because blending the cottage cheese completely removes the curds and leaves a smooth, velvety texture.

The rich peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk completely cover any tangy flavor while still giving you a great protein boost from the cottage cheese base.