How To Make Protein Ice Cream – Healthy and Tasty 5-Minute Recipe

Convenient, satiating, and packed with nourishing nutrients – protein ice cream is exactly what every fitness buff and healthy-living enthusiast needs. Picture this: a smooth, cream-filled ice cream protein punch to end (or start) a workout session. Does that interest you? Read on!

This protein ice cream isn’t your regular ice cream scoop. It packs lower calories and sugar than the traditional ice cream we’re accustomed to. So, let’s call this a healthy treat for a healthy body: free of any guilt with nothing to derail your progress.

Sounds impressive, right? High-protein ice cream is an incredibly versatile blend. One, you can have a fruity flavor with a nutty indulgence as your ice cream base. Two, you have a world of favorite ice cream toppings to explore. Put another way: You can satisfy your taste buds with every craving.

Yes, brands like Arctic Zero and Halotop make a protein shake ice cream just fine, but why not try homemade protein ice cream for a change? It is just as tasty, if not better, than regular chocolate ice cream. Try this protein ice cream recipe for a nutritional-filled snack after and before a workout.

Protein Ice Cream Recipe That Will Rock Your World

Well, for one: you have a healthy, nutritional equivalent substitute to the dull protein shake. You can indulge in a protein powder ice cream, much to the pleasure of your sweet tooth. Plus, you will amp up your protein game with something new. And that’s not even the best part.

It’s no secret that ice cream will rock your world. Smooth and scrumptious with every scoop: ice cream is tasty and super good, melts effortlessly in your mouth, and will make you want more. Even on a strict diet – you can have your breakfast in an exciting way.

Your whipping cream game is only limited by your imagination. This recipe allows you to unlock a treasure trove of variations, recipes, and ideas to make your protein ice cream a masterpiece that is insanely delish.

Now, hold on! This deal is sounding a little bit too good: you might want to think twice before you make the switch. The thing is, protein ice cream does not insure you 100%. No. There are some downsides associated with taking this instead.

Downsides of Protein Ice Cream

1. Added Sugar

Sugar is recognized as a major contributor to weight gain and the greatest enemy of healthy living. Yes, your sweet tooth would love that but added sugar can spell doom to your blood sugar levels. Lucky for you, this protein ice cream recipe delivers sweet satisfaction with no strings attached.

The secret? Erythritol. It’s a sugar substitute that is usually recommended to people living with diabetes and obesity.

A word of caution: the next time you feel the itch to chug a tub of protein ice cream, be sure to check the label. Watch out for added sugar.

2. What About Nutrients?

Yes, we are all about drinkables that pack a punch, but we wouldn’t want you to skip on the vitamins and minerals. Every drink needs to meet the needs of the body. You know, nutrition that keeps your immune system in check.

So, you want to add some fruit. Avocado always comes to the top of my mind. Add some protein indulgence, and you have the power punch and nutrients to complete. A bit of mango can deliver a sweet, tangy flavor. Then we have frozen bananas.

3. Digestive Drama

Brace yourself. A tub of this stuff will set you up for some tummy trouble. What would you expect? That’s what you get when you chug prebiotics and sugar alcohol: you have to deal with a symphony of nausea and stomach bloating.

In that case, let’s do away with the sneaky poison and use erythritol instead. Now you are left to enjoy pure high protein ice cream without any digestive drama.

4. Overeating Can Be an Issue

Moderation is the key to keeping everything balanced, and it happens to be the secret ingredient here. Fact: protein ice cream goes light on the calories and the sugar. But taking too much will bring back the weight gain.

Now, I know I said that our protein ice cream will be stuffed with healthier ingredients. But tossing caution out the window because we slapped a ‘healthier’ tag on our ice cream is irresponsible.

Ingredients and Substitutions

1. Egg Yolks: The velvety smoothness doesn’t come out of nowhere. Egg yolks are the tiny powerhouses that give this mouth-watering indulgent texture. The next time you have some leftover egg whites lying around, you know what to do with them.
2. Sweetener: Take away the refined sugar and add some sugar substitute. The good thing is you are not sacrificing your health or taste. Take, for instance, Besti Powered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend. With zero calories and zero glycemic index – it’s just perfect. Plus, the cherry on top is a flavor that doubles as sugar.
3. A Pinch of Sea Salt: Did you know that a pinch of sea salt can magnify natural sweetness? Yes, it does. It can cure blandness, too. So, while we add an alternative to the sugar, we will add sea salt to strike the perfect balance in the taste.
4. Almond Milk: Unsweetened almond milk is yet another flavor enhancer. Feeling confident? You can whip up some homemade almond milk yourself. But if almond milk isn’t your thing, any non-dairy milk will do. Remember to add some vanilla extract for flavor.
5. Heavy Cream: It’s good for dreamy texture and flavor. Heavy cream is just what you add to the mix for a silky-smooth finish. And if dairy is not an option for you, don’t fret. Full-fat canned coconut milk is a pretty good substitute.
6. Cocoa Powder: You can’t go wrong with some decadent chocolate added to the mix. That is why I recommend a scoop of two, depending on your personal taste. Make sure it is unsweetened (keep away from sugar) and high quality.
7. Protein Power: Alas! The ingredient that delivers the kick. Collagen is a go-to as far as protein powder is concerned. It is a pack of incredible benefits. Don’t like Collagen? No problem! It’s your protein ice cream blend; you make a choice. Whey or plant-based – you do you.

Variations

You don’t have to make ice cream like I do. Chocolate protein ice cream? Vanilla protein ice cream? It’s your call! Feel free to try out some of our amazing alternatives. If it tickles your taste buds, then have at it. Here are some tasty options for you to try:

• Ditch the cocoa powder. Instead, add a ¼ cup of extra protein powder. No need to worry; this will not turn your ice cream into an icy rock.
• Not looking for something fancy? Vanilla is pretty basic, but a cup of vanilla powder and some extract sure is tasty.
• Fancy something fruity? Get your blender out and mix 8 ounces of frozen strawberries. Pay attention: you want to toss them in 5 minutes before you stop churning. The end result will be amazing!
• Would you like yours crunchy? Then vanilla protein should be your base, and add ½ cup of sugar free chocolate chips 5 minutes before you stop churning.
• For the peanut butter heads among us, a ¼ and ½ cup of nutty goodness at the last 5 minutes of churning will turn that cream into something unresistible.

Different Types of Protein Powder

Here’s a snippet into the world of protein powder and all you need to know to find your perfect match:

1. Whey Protein Powder

Derived from cow milk, it is rich in all the essential amino acids and leucine. That’s what makes whey protein a powerhouse for muscle building. It is easily digested. However, it might not be suitable if you are lactose-intolerant.

Whey Protein Powder Forms: Concentrate, Isolate, Hydrolysate

• Concentrate: That’s 60-80% protein concentration plus some extra calories.
• Isolate: No calories found here, but it packs 90% protein goodness, perfect for lean muscle.
• Hydrolysate: Lean on the body yet rich in protein.

2. Casein Protein Powder

If whey is not your jam, add some casein to the twist. It’s cow powder – so you still get your amino acid. But this protein takes time to digest. The good thing is you can totally jam with it for overnight muscle building.

3. Plant-Based Protein Powder

Derived from peas, rice, and soy, your plant-based option still packs your amino acid fix. It’s perfect for vegans and lactose-intolerant peeps out there but sets up the consumer for hours of bloating. So we recommend soy-based protein powder.

4. Egg Protein

It’s whey without the lactose: egg protein offers the same nutritional value with every nutritional fix under the hood. The catch? One, it is pricey. Two, good luck finding it at your local store. But when you do, it is a protein source unlike any other.

Pro Tools Needed

You can’t afford to get sloppy. Here is everything you need to be a protein ice cream connoisseur:

• Small Saucepan: this makes pouring your blend easy.
• Ice Cream Maker: a no-brainer.
• Ice Cream Container: create the perfect shapes with each scoop.

How to Make Protein Ice Cream?

Let’s get down to business:

• Step 1: Get all your ingredients and mixing bowls. Whisk the powdered Besti, sea salt, and egg yolks until you end up with a light-yellow mixture. Leave it to rest for a moment.
• Step 2: Grab a small saucepan, almond milk, cream, cocoa powder, and protein powder. Whisk together and then heat the mixture slightly.
• Step 3: Mix both mixtures together. Pour into a thin stream and transfer into the saucepan.
• Step 4: Turn on the stove to low heat until the mixture reaches 170 degrees F (or 76 degrees C), then stop.
• Step 5: Put a lid on and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least four hours or 40 degrees F (or 4 degrees C) to be exact.
• Step 6: Take out the chilled mixture and pour it into the ice cream maker. Its bowl should be frozen before this. Churning should take about 20 to 25 minutes, but read the manufacturer’s instructions for more.

How to Store Protein Ice Cream?

Of course, you want to have your ice cream in tip-top shape. Here’s what you do. Grab a freezer-friendly container, pour in your ice cream, and wrap it nicely so that the ice cream mixture is comfy in the freezer. That way, it will remain fresh for five days.

The last thing you want is to refreeze your ice cream. But let’s say you mess up and end up with some ice particles. Don’t worry! Let it soften, then blend it back into shape in your blender. Blend until it gets back to its softness.

Protein Ice Cream Tips

• If you want the creamiest texture, go with full-fat coconut milk. Forget why you think low-fat milk will do better because if you slip just once, you are almost guaranteed to end up with an icy nightmare.
• If coconut milk is not your type, no problem! Go with any type of milk or non-dairy alternative. Remember this: toss in frozen fruit to ensure you have the same creamy and delicious finish.
• Here’s another trick for you. Freeze your loaf pan first to get a soft-serve consistency. As for protein powder, casein is tried and tested for delivering a thicker and more luscious taste that will set you up for days.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

1. Is This Ice Cream Healthy?

Yes. Unsweetened coconut milk is rich in all the nutrients your body needs. Combined with protein powder, you have the usual vitamin and mineral fix in a delicious chill pack.

2. Can I Use Chocolate Protein Powder or Vanilla Protein Powder?

Yes. The choice is yours. You can use any protein powder as long as your taste buds crave it and it doesn’t ruin the ice cream. If you’re feeling lucky, you can go for both.

3. Is This Ice Cream Dairy-free?

Yes. It is as dairy-free as it gets. You can opt for almond milk or any other non-dairy milk. Just remember to keep the carb count in check.

4. Can I Make This Recipe Vegan?

Yes. There are so many alterations you can make here. You can even get a plant-based protein powder instead of dairy.

Conclusion

To sum it up, adding a scoop of protein powder to any recipe you’re familiar with is a sure bet as far as getting this right is concerned. Whatever ingredient you choose to rock, one thing is for sure; you are in for a delightful ice cream scoop.