Homemade Protein Ice Cream – The Fitnessista

Sharing a recipe for homemade protein ice cream that’s rich and delicious; the perfect healthy dessert or protein-packed snack!

Hi friends! How is your day going? I hope you’re having a wonderful morning. How about a little ice cream for breakfast? Okay, stay with me, it’s not as cheeky as it sounds! It’s one of my favorite healthy dessert recipes and you can enjoy it as a post-workout breakfast too!

I have a super easy and delicious recipe to share with you today for delicious homemade protein ice cream!

(I added peanut butter and chocolate chunks to this batch and it was a dreaaaaammmmmm)

Homemade Protein Ice Cream

We all know that protein is important. Not only is it the most satisfying macronutrient, protein is also the building block for our cells. It’s important in the fitness/health world because it can help us build and retain muscle, which is especially crucial as we age. We want to build and protect our muscles to help our bones and also protect our metabolism, as muscle is “hungrier” than fat and has a higher energy demand.

I tend to recommend around 1-2 grams of protein per lb of ideal body weight (depending on SO many factors, like body composition, age, goals, preferred eating strategy, etc) but I like to aim for 1 palm-sized serving at each meal and snack.

This protein ice cream is a creamy and TASTY dessert, which packs an awesome serving of protein. It’s a great way to add variety to your protein sources while enjoying a sweet treat. I’m sharing the recipe with you today so you can recreate it at home!

Is Protein Ice Cream Healthy?

This high-protein ice cream recipe is a great healthy treat, especially since this one includes some healthy fats (from coconut milk) and you can add any toppings you like, including peanut butter, nuts, or fruit. Please keep in mind that this should not be a substitute for *real* traditional ice cream if that’s what you’re craving, but it isn’t that “other” faux ice cream made with frozen bananas either. If you’re craving regular ice cream like Ben and Jerry’s and try to make this as a substitute, it won’t fill the void for ya. 😉 Have some of the real deal, enjoy it, and move on with your life.

However, if you’ve already had a protein shake and you’re looking to add another protein-packed option to your day and would like something that tastes like a sweet treat, give this a whirl! You could absolutely eat it every day as part of a balanced plan that includes lean protein, smart carbs, and healthy fats.

Ingredients

• Protein powder of choice – whey protein powder and pea protein powder will work the best.  This step is important and make sure to use a protein powder you love! If you’re looking for ideas, try out Truvani or Now Foods (use FITNESSISTA for 20% off). Pick a protein powder that has a good texture and tastes good – this is crucial. You can use vanilla protein powder or chocolate protein powder, depending on what flavor of ice cream you’d like to make.
• Full-fat coconut milk – you can also use unsweetened almond milk BUT the coconut milk is going to give it the rich flavor and texture. If you are not dairy-free, you could absolutely use whole milk (which I recommend for flavor, texture, and nutrients over skim milk)
• Vanilla extract
• Sea salt
• Stevia to taste* (You can also use maple syrup if you don’t like the taste of Stevia. I avoid other artificial sugars because the sugar alcohols upset my stomach)
• For chocolate protein ice cream: 4oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

How To Make Homemade Protein Ice Cream

Step 1

Make sure that the bowl of your ice cream maker is frozen! If it’s not, get that ready the day prior to making the ice cream. You can also make the ice cream in a loaf pan, but it will have a different texture.

Step 2

In a saucepan on the stove, add the milk, chocolate chips, vanilla, and sea salt, and bring up to a simmer. As the chocolate chips melt, whisk in the protein powder. Dip a spoon into the mixture (make sure to let it cool before tasting!) and add any sweetener you’d like as needed.

Step 3

Pour the mixture into the ice cream maker (I love my ninja creami) and turn it on. It will take 20-30 minutes until it has a soft serve consistency. For a firmer ice cream, place the mixture into a loaf pan and freeze for 3-4 hours. (You can also use a blender or food processor in a pinch.)

Step 4

Scoop out any servings you’d like and enjoy! Add any of the toppings or mix-ins below to customize your flavors!

Ice Cream Topping Ideas:

• Add 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract and crushed candy canes for a holiday-ish treat
• Top with peanut butter or swirl some into the ice cream maker
• Add chocolate chips, melt some chocolate chips on top, or add a dash of cocoa powder
• Swirl in some fruit jam
• Top with fresh berries
• Mix some ground espresso beans into the ice cream maker (and use coffee instead of water!)
• Add almond extract to the vanilla protein ice cream for a beautiful almond flavor and top with sliced almonds
• Add unsweetened, sugar-free shredded coconut and pecans

Here is the full recipe!

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Have you tried protein ice cream before? What’s your all-time favorite ice cream flavor?

It was a super satisfying treat, especially with the mix-ins! For more delicious recipes, you can try out more on my blog!

xo

Gina