Sugar Cookie Protein Ice Cream (Holiday Dessert Idea)

Introduction

Looking for a crowd-pleasing, healthier treat for your holiday celebrations? Sugar Cookie Protein Ice Cream is the answer! This festive dessert delivers the nostalgic taste of holiday sugar cookies with an added boost of protein, making it a guilt-friendly indulgence for everyone at your party. Each spoonful bursts with cozy vanilla and almond flavors, making it a delightful way to satisfy sweet cravings while also sneaking in a little extra nutrition.

Deliciously Unique Sugar Cookie Protein Ice Cream

Unlike standard holiday desserts, this recipe fuses the classic sweet, buttery flavor of sugar cookies into a creamy, chilled ice cream that’s both satisfying and protein-enriched. The addition of high-quality vanilla protein powder not only amps up the nutrition but gives the ice cream a luscious, scoopable texture. It’s a holiday dessert idea that everyone (even the fitness lovers!) can enjoy.

Crafting the Protein-Packed Creamy Base

The foundation of this ice cream is a mix of Greek yogurt, almond milk, and protein powder, creating both creaminess and a satiating boost. Natural sweeteners like maple syrup add just the right amount of holiday sweetness, while a splash of vanilla and almond extracts perfectly captures those classic sugar cookie vibes. For best results, chill your mixing bowl and ingredients beforehand—this helps create a smoother, fluffier finish.

Blending in Festive Mix-ins for Holiday Flair

Amp up the holiday fun by folding in rainbow sprinkles, crumbled sugar-free shortbread cookies, or even a handful of white chocolate chips after churning. These festive elements add flavor, color, and crunch that truly bring the sugar cookie theme to life. You can customize with your favorite holiday mix-ins, making it a versatile treat for any celebration.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Holiday Dessert

Serve Sugar Cookie Protein Ice Cream scooped into mini bowls, topped with extra sprinkles and cookie crumbles. For an elevated dessert platter, pair with fresh berries or holiday oranges. Or, serve between two thin sugar cookies for a protein-packed holiday ice cream sandwich—guaranteed to impress guests and kids alike!

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 5 generous servings. Each serving contains roughly 125 calories, 12g protein, and only 6g sugar (may vary with chosen protein and mix-ins). It’s a dessert that fits into balanced holiday indulgence.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and festive meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, almond milk, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt until smooth and well combined.
2. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to manufacturer instructions (usually 20-25 minutes) until creamy and thick. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour mixture into a freezer-safe container and stir every 30 minutes until desired consistency is reached (about 2-3 hours).
3. In the last few minutes of churning or stirring, fold in holiday sprinkles, crumbled sugar-free cookies, and white chocolate chips (if using).
4. Transfer to a freezer-safe container, cover, and freeze at least 2 hours to firm up further for scoopable consistency.
5. Before serving, let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes for perfect scooping.

Weekly Meal Planning

Sugar Cookie Protein Ice Cream isn’t just for parties—it’s ideal for weekly meal prep and guilt-free dessert planning! Save and schedule this recipe to your meal planner so you can easily coordinate dessert nights, see exactly what you need to buy, and maximize ingredient overlap.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across all your weekly recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by store section for stress-free holiday shopping
• Prevents overbuying and forgotten items during busy weeks
• Makes prep and entertaining feel easy and organized

Pro tip: When planning multiple holiday meals, schedule your recipes in advance—the smart shopping list will add up all the Greek yogurt, extracts, and mix-ins you need, taking the guesswork out of festive shopping.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Churn/Freeze Time: 2-3 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (includes chilling and freezing)