The Affordable Costco Find Perfect For Trying That Viral Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

An unexpected ingredient has recently blown up on TikTok: cottage cheese. This unassuming dairy product, loved by some but untouched by others due to its unique texture, has suddenly taken center stage for its versatility and nutritional content. The culinary side of TikTok is currently full of videos using cottage cheese in a variety of ways, whether for breakfast, snacks, or dessert, including the viral cottage cheese ice cream.

While the thought of making homemade ice cream can be daunting, the recipe is surprisingly simple: blend cottage cheese, a sweetener of choice, and any flavors or add-ins you'd like to include. Then freeze for a few hours, and you've got an ice cream substitute without all the sugar. In addition, this trend is very affordable to try at home thanks to a hidden product gem. All it takes is a trip to Costco for a 3-pound tub of Daisy cottage cheese for a reasonable $5.99.

For those who haven't encountered this trend or stopped to listen to TikTokers raving about their frozen creations, cottage cheese ice cream might sound like a food dare not meant for the faint of stomach. However, there's a reason it actually works. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, fresh cheeses, such as cottage cheese, do not undergo a ripening process, which is where flavors develop. As a result, cottage cheese has a milder profile than matured cheeses. The lack of cheesy taste makes it a good canvas for other flavors — even sweet ones.

@healthy.teacher

Today i tried making rhe high protein augar free ice cream! Wow! It works! You will need an immersion blender to get the ice cream consistency. Ingredients: 1 container good culture cottage cheese, sugar free pudding ( i used banana) and fruit ( i used strawberries). I also added chocoate chip. #protein #sugarfree #healthyliving #healthyrecipes #goodculturecottagecheese #lilyschocolatechips

♬ original sound – Danielle McCloskey

TikTokers are obsessed with cottage cheese because of its protein content. Half a cup of Daisy 2% low-fat cottage cheese contains 13 grams of protein. Assuming you're eating more than half a cup in one meal or one dessert, you're getting even more protein than that. In light of the growing health trends of vegetarianism and diversifying protein sources, it's no surprise many consumers are looking for high-protein snacks. Eating cottage cheese is an affordable and versatile way to incorporate more protein into your diet.

Eating an entire 3-pound tub of cottage cheese may sound impossible. However, there are a number of applications for this ingredient. Of course, there's the cottage cheese ice cream that's taken over social media. If you haven't tried it yet, it may take a few batches to get the proportions of cheese, sweetener, and flavors to your liking, but that is no big deal when you have a 3-pound container. Once you've gotten the recipe down, use it to try out a variety of flavor combinations, or make a big batch so you can have it ready in your freezer for the week ahead.

TikTokers have shared other ways to use cottage cheese. Add more protein to your breakfast by spreading it on toast, adding it to your eggs, or blending it into your smoothie or shakes. Serve it with fruit or other toppings for a mid-day snack. For dinner, try blending it like ricotta and adding it to pasta or lasagna. Not a fan of the texture? Whip it up.

Whether you're already cottage cheese-obsessed, just starting to explore its possibilities, or simply craving a big batch of cottage cheese ice cream, Costco's tub of cottage cheese makes it fairly convenient to experiment with trends and incorporate more protein into your diet, even on a budget. The next time you visit the bulk grocer, consider picking some up if you're curious to see what all the fuss is about.