Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream

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This Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream is the perfect blend of creamy vanilla and delicate chocolate shavings, giving you that classic Italian gelato vibe—but with way more protein. If you’ve never had stracciatella before, just think of it like the grown-up version of chocolate chip ice cream. Instead of chunky chocolate pieces, you get thin, delicate shards of chocolate that melt in your mouth with every bite.

I didn’t grow up eating stracciatella, and I definitely don’t have a sentimental story about how this ice cream takes me back to summers in Italy (Because I’ve never even been, but it is on my to-do list!!). But what I do know is that this turned out amazing, and now you get to make it too.

Let’s get into it!

What Is Stracciatella Ice Cream?

Stracciatella is a classic Italian gelato flavor that features a creamy, milk-based base with thin streaks of chocolate throughout. Traditionally, the chocolate is melted and drizzled into the gelato while it’s being churned. Since the gelato is cold, the chocolate hardens instantly and then breaks into delicate, irregular flakes as it’s mixed in.

We’re not making it that way here—because, let’s be honest, not everyone has an ice cream churner or wants to mess with melted chocolate. Instead, we’re taking the same concept but making it easier and more user-friendly with the Ninja Creami. Instead of melting chocolate, we’re finely chopping it and mixing it in at the end. It still gives you that signature stracciatella texture, but without the extra steps.

Why You’ll Love This

• High in protein – Ice cream that actually fits your macros.
• Super smooth & creamy – No icy texture, just pure gelato-like goodness.
• Easy to make – Throw everything in a blender, freeze, and spin.
• Customizable – Play around with the chocolate or even add mix-ins.

Ingredients

For the base:

• 1 ½ cups (360mL) 2% milk
• ¼ cup (57g) fat-free cottage cheese
• 1 scoop (31g) vanilla protein powder
• 14g sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp stevia (or sweetener of choice, to taste)
• Pinch of salt

For the chocolate:

• 15g finely chopped dark chocolate (or your preferred chocolate)

How to Make It

1. Blend the Ice Cream Base

Throw everything except the chocolate into a blender and blend until completely smooth. This step is key—if you don’t blend long enough, the cottage cheese won’t fully mix in, and you’ll end up with a weird texture.

2. Freeze the Base

Pour the mixture into your Ninja Creami pint, freeze on a level surface for 24 hours. Yes, the waiting is the hardest part, but trust me, it’s worth it.

3. Spin the Ice Cream

Take the pint out of the freezer and run it under hot water for 1-2 minutes (all sides, including the bottom). Then, spin it on light ice cream mode.

4. Re-Spin for the Perfect Texture

After the first spin, it might look a little crumbly. Don’t panic—this is normal. Just re-spin 1-2 more times until it reaches that creamy, soft-serve consistency.

5. Add the Chocolate

Now for the stracciatella effect. If your ice cream already has a little well in the center, perfect. If not, just use a spoon to make one.

Pour in 15g of finely chopped dark chocolate, then spin it one last time on mix-in mode. This will evenly distribute the chocolate throughout the ice cream, giving you those delicate chocolate shards instead of huge chunks.

6. Enjoy!

That’s it—your Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream is ready to eat. Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream

• Use finely chopped chocolate – The smaller the pieces, the more they’ll mimic the delicate flakes of traditional stracciatella. If the pieces are too big, they won’t break up as nicely when mixed in.
• Re-spin until smooth – The first spin might not give you that perfect texture, so don’t be afraid to re-spin 1-2 times until it’s creamy.
• Make sure to mix on the right mode – Mix-In mode is the key to getting the chocolate evenly distributed without breaking up too much.
• Run the pint under warm water before spinning – This helps soften the ice cream just enough so that it blends smoothly instead of staying crumbly.

Customization Ideas

Want to switch things up? Here are some ways to make this recipe your own:

Chocolate Variations

• Milk Chocolate – Sweeter and creamier than dark chocolate.
• White Chocolate – Not traditional, but it adds a nice sweetness.
• Sugar-Free Chocolate – If you want to keep the sugar content lower.

Flavor Twists

• Espresso Stracciatella – Add ½ tsp instant espresso powder to the base.
• Mint Chocolate Chip Vibes – Add ¼ tsp peppermint extract to make it a little refreshing .
• Cookies & Cream Version – In addition to the chocolate add crushed Oreos.

Dairy-Free Option

• Use unsweetened almond or oat milk instead of 2% milk.
• Swap cottage cheese for coconut cream or a high-protein dairy-free yogurt.

More Ninja Creami Recipes to Try

If you loved this Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream, here are a few more high-protein Ninja Creami recipes that you might want to try next:

1. New York Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream

A classic, creamy cheesecake-flavored ice cream that’s just as indulgent as the real thing—minus the guilt. If you love the smooth texture of stracciatella, you’ll appreciate this one too. And the graham cracker on top gives it that true cheesecake vibe.

2. Pistachio Protein Ice Cream

Nutty, slightly sweet, and unbelievably creamy. Pistachio is another Italian gelato staple, so if you’re into the refined flavors of stracciatella, this one will be right up your alley. Bonus: it looks cute with its pale green color.

3. London Fog Protein Ice Cream

Inspired by the classic Earl Grey tea latte, this one is floral, vanilla-kissed, and has that perfect balance of cozy and sophisticated. If you enjoy subtle but complex flavors, this is a must-try.

4. White Chocolate Mocha Protein Ice Cream

If you love the contrast of rich chocolate and creamy vanilla in stracciatella, you’ll probably love this coffeehouse-inspired flavor. It’s the perfect blend of espresso, white chocolate, and a silky, latte-like finish.

5. Snickerdoodle Protein Ice Cream

A cinnamon-sugar dream that’s warm and comforting but still light enough to enjoy any time of year. The smooth vanilla base with a hint of spice gives similar cozy vibes to stracciatella.

Try one (or all) of these next and let me know how you like them!

FAQ

What makes stracciatella different from chocolate chip ice cream?

The chocolate in stracciatella is super thin and delicate, almost like it’s melting into the ice cream. Chocolate chip ice cream, on the other hand, has bigger chunks of chocolate that don’t blend as seamlessly.

Can I use a different protein powder?

Yes! Just keep in mind that some protein powders absorb more liquid than others. If your ice cream turns out too thick or crumbly, you can add a splash of milk before re-spinning.

Do I have to use dark chocolate?

Nope! Dark chocolate is the traditional choice, but feel free to use whatever chocolate you like.

Can I make this without a Ninja Creami?

Technically, yes, but the texture may not be as smooth using alternative methods!

Final Thoughts

Stracciatella Protein Ice Cream is the perfect mix of simple and fancy. It’s a great way to level up your high-protein desserts while keeping things light and macro-friendly. Plus, once you realize how easy it is to make stracciatella at home, you’ll probably want to start adding chocolate shards to all your ice cream recipes (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything).

Give it a try, and let me know what you think!