4-Ingredient High-Protein Ice Cream

Total Time: 10 minutes (plus 4-6 hours freezing) | Active Time: 10 minutes | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 4

Craving something sweet, creamy, and satisfying without derailing your nutrition goals? Look no further. This 4-Ingredient High-Protein Ice Cream is a game-changer. With no fancy ice cream maker required, it delivers a luxuriously thick and scoopable texture with an impressive 22 grams of protein per serving. It’s the perfect post-workout treat, a smart dessert alternative, or just a delicious way to cool down. Simple, fast, and incredibly effective—this recipe proves that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or bland.

Table of Contents

Ingredients

2 large (about 400g) ripe bananas, previously peeled, sliced, and frozen
1 ½ cups (350g) 2% Greek yogurt or Skyr
1 scoop (30-35g) vanilla or unflavored whey protein powder
2 tablespoons (30ml) milk of choice (dairy, almond, oat)

Optional Flavor Boosters (choose one):

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (for chocolate)
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter or almond butter
A handful of frozen berries

Equipment

High-powered blender or food processor
Rubber spatula
Loaf pan or airtight freezer container

Instructions

1. Prep & Freeze the Bananas (Do This Ahead)

This is the only “plan-ahead” step. Peel your ripe bananas (the spottier, the sweeter), slice them into 1-inch chunks, and spread them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze solid for at least 4 hours, or overnight. This prevents a gummy texture and ensures a creamy, ice cream-like result.

2. The Power Blitz

Add the frozen banana chunks, Greek yogurt, protein powder, and milk to your blender or food processor. For a flavor variation, add your chosen booster now.

Pro Tip: Start the blender on low and use the tamper to push the ingredients toward the blades. Gradually increase to high speed. This will be loud initially as it breaks down the frozen fruit.

3. Achieve Creamy Perfection

Blend for 1-2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. You’re looking for a completely smooth, thick, and creamy consistency that resembles soft-serve ice cream. It should mound on itself and have no visible banana pieces.

4. Freeze to Set (Optional but Recommended)

For a firmer, scoopable texture, transfer the soft-serve mixture into a loaf pan or container. Smooth the top with your spatula. Press a piece of parchment paper directly onto the surface to prevent ice crystals. Freeze for 1-2 hours.

5. Serve & Enjoy!

Scoop your high-protein ice cream into bowls. It’s delicious straight from the soft-serve stage or perfectly scoopable after the short freeze. Enjoy immediately!

Storage: Keep stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before scooping if frozen solid.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving, 1/4 of recipe, without optional add-ins)

Calories: 210
Total Fat: 2.5g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 70mg
Total Carbohydrates: 28g
Dietary Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 18g (naturally occurring from banana)
Protein: 22g

Key Highlights:

High-Protein: At 22g per serving, this ice cream supports muscle repair and keeps you full.
Naturally Sweetened: All sweetness comes from ripe bananas—no added sugar required.
Rich in Probiotics: Greek yogurt adds gut-friendly bacteria.
Source of Potassium & Calcium: Thanks to the banana and dairy.

Recipe Notes:

Ingredient Quality is Key: The flavor of your protein powder will shine through, so use one you enjoy. A ultra-filtered whey or casein blend yields the creamiest result.
Texture Troubleshooting: If your blender struggles, add an extra tablespoon of milk. If your mixture becomes too soft while blending, simply pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up.
Customize It: After blending, fold in chopped dark chocolate, nuts, or a swirl of sugar-free chocolate sauce before the final freeze.

This isn’t just a “healthy alternative”—it’s a genuinely delicious, protein-packed ice cream you’ll want to make again and again. It’s proof that with just four ingredients and a blender, you can create something both nourishing and indulgent.

Hayyat

Hayyat is a talented content writer and digital marketer with expertise in SEO, social media management, and online marketing. She excels at creating impactful, data-driven content to help businesses connect with their target audience and achieve measurable outcomes.