Step 1: Blend the Base
Add the cottage cheese, sweetener, vanilla extract, and salt to your high-powered blender or food processor. If using heavy cream, add it now. Blend on high speed for 60-90 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until the mixture is completely smooth and silky with no lumps remaining. The texture should resemble soft-serve ice cream or thick pudding.

Step 2: Add Your Flavoring
If making a flavored version, add your cocoa powder, fruit, or other flavorings now and blend for another 30-45 seconds until fully incorporated and smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed—remember that flavors become slightly muted when frozen, so it should taste a bit sweeter than you want the final product.

Step 3: The Quick-Serve Option
For immediate gratification, you can enjoy this as a soft-serve style treat right now! The texture will be like a thick, creamy frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream. Simply transfer to bowls and add your toppings.

Step 4: Freeze for Scoopable Ice Cream
For traditional scoopable ice cream texture, transfer the blended mixture to a freezer-safe container. Smooth the top with a spatula. Cover tightly and freeze for 2-4 hours until firm. For best results, give it a quick stir after the first hour to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Step 5: Scoop and Serve
Remove from freezer and let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften slightly for easier scooping. Use an ice cream scoop to serve into bowls or cones. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy immediately!

Step 6: Stir If Needed
If your ice cream becomes too hard after extended freezing, let it thaw for 10-15 minutes, or give it a quick blend/stir to restore the creamy texture.