High-Protein Strawberry Ricotta Cheesecake Ice Cream Recipe (4 Ingredients, 5 Minutes) High Protein Recipes Ice Cream Desserts Fruit Gluten-free Low Sodium Recipes

Is there anything better than a dessert that's actually good for you? I think not! That's why I'm on a "healthy ice cream" kick. First, there was this easy dark chocolate nice cream recipe. Then, there was this creamy dark chocolate cottage cheese ice cream recipe. Now, there's this high-protein, super creamy strawberry ricotta cheesecake ice cream recipe. One word: WOW!

Yes, I'm an admitted chocoholic. But in the summertime, when ripe strawberries are so juicy and sweet, you really have to take advantage of the fresh strawberry bounty. That's exactly what this strawberry recipe does – but it goes a step further. This fresh strawberry "ice cream" recipe also includes one of my favorite secret ingredients: ricotta cheese. Ricotta is one of my favorite secret ingredients not only because it's so rich and creamy, but also because it's packed with protein and nutrition. In fact, it's considered one of the world's healthiest cheeses, often said to be a lighter version of cottage cheese.

Instead of the typical ice cream, which is loaded with sugar, fat and calories, this creamy strawberry ricotta cheesecake ice cream is low-sodium, naturally sweet and made with nutritious ingredients. It's ice cream made healthy! The best part is that, in just a matter of minutes, you can turn strawberries and ricotta cheese into ready-to-freeze ice cream. Seriously! The hardest part is waiting for it to freeze so you can scoop it up and enjoy.

This simple, delicious ice cream recipe is made with just four ingredients and has a prep time of only about five minutes (with no ice cream maker needed). Plus, check out all the health benefits of strawberries. Like me, you just may become a "healthy ice cream" convert!

Here's what you need to make this light and creamy strawberry ice cream recipe: ricotta cheese, ripe strawberries, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Yep, that's it! You combine all the ingredients in a blender then freeze before serving.

You'll be delighted by how similar ricotta cheese ice cream is to actual ice cream. The flavor is like your favorite cheesecake and the texture makes it perfect for scooping into ice cream cones or serving in bowls with your favorite ice cream toppings. Enjoy this frozen treat for dessert or as a sweet snack whenever you get the craving for strawberries and cream!

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes plus at least 4 hours to freeze
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes plus freezing time
Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups fresh strawberries
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Here's how to make it:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender. (I washed and sliced my strawberries before putting them into the blender. If you don't have fresh strawberries, you could use frozen strawberries. You can try this recipe with other berries, such as raspberries or blackberries.)
2. Blend until smooth. (Be sure to use pure maple syrup, not the imitation stuff. If you'd like your ice cream less sweet, you can start with 1/4 cup maple syrup and add more, to taste.)
3. Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container.
4. Freeze for at least four hours or until it firms up (I froze mine overnight).
5. Serve in a cone or in a bowl on its own, or with your favorite ice cream toppings. Store leftover ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer. For ice cream that has been frozen for several hours or overnight, allow the ice cream to thaw at room temperature for a bit before scooping and serving.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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