Making delectable, indulgently creamy ice cream can be time-consuming, hectic, and overwhelming for most of us simple home chefs. Taking on the task of churning out homemade ice cream can sometimes be enough to throw in the towel and send you to the street corner to wait for the ice cream man to drive by.

But there’s a way to avoid all of that. It only takes a blender and a few simple ingredients to make a delicious ice cream bursting with flavor. On top of that, I'll be giving you tips on how to make your ice cream low-calorie and protein-rich, so that you can satisfy your cravings in a healthy way. Say hello to one of my favorite kitchen hacks: this recipe for homemade, protein-packed ice cream.

Protein-Packed Ice Cream

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:3 mins
  • Total Time:5 mins
  • Servings:4
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1 scoop flavored protein powder choice
  • 2/3 cup milk or milk alternative
  • 1 serving Jello pudding mix any flavor
  • 210g frozen fruit choice
  • Optional: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp. xanthan gum
  • 2 packets sweetener choice
  • Ice
Jonathan Hooshim

  • Step 1

    Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 2-3 minutes. Note that you can substitute various ingredients—think skim milk and fat-free Jello—to yield a lower-calorie ice cream.

    SpoonTip: Adding more ice will increase the volume of your final product!

    Remi Tateishi

  • Step 2

    Top with garnish of choice. Serve cold and enjoy!

    Holly Park

#SpoonTip: Many of the protein ice cream recipes below use frozen fruit as base ingredients. While the recipes are themed to that particular fruit, you can usually get away with substitutions for similar fruits. For example, mango could be swapped for pineapple, and blueberries could be swapped for other berries.

You can use any liquid for this recipe, dairy or non-dairy. While nut milks work really well and are great for a low-calorie option, if you want a thicker and creamier texture, use whole fat milk.

I encourage you to get creative with your ice cream flavors and invent new ones. Plus, if you’re looking to create a DIY ice cream bar that won't take you forever in the kitchen, this recipe will be the secret to your success.

This recipe is very versatile and can be whatever you want it to be. With virtually limitless customizations at your disposal, you can create any kind of ice cream you want! These are two of my favorite protein ice cream recipes:

Pina Colada Protein Ice Cream

Main ingredients: Protein powder, frozen pineapple chunks, sweetened coconut flakes, unsweetened almond milk.

#SpoonTip: Add 30-60ml of white rum/coconut rum for an adulterated version!

Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Protein Ice Cream

Main ingredients: Frozen banana, vanilla protein powder, powdered peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, cashew milk.

#SpoonTip: PB2 or powdered peanut butter is great as a low-calorie option for peanut butter, but for a creamier texture, stick with the OG spread!

Give this recipe a go, and I promise you will not regret it. These recipes and tips give you the power and convenience to make a healthier ice cream that rivals what you'd stand in line for at the best ice cream shops. No more unsatisfied cravings!