Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough

I’m sure many of you have seen the viral cottage cheese cookie dough on social media and questioned if you should make it because how in the world could cottage cheese taste anything like cookie dough? I am here to break the news that this does not replace the taste of real buttery, delicious chocolate chip cookie dough that you lick off the stand mixer whisks BUT, I was thoroughly impressed when I decided on a random night when I was craving something sweet to try out this viral trend. I’m not going to lie, I am a little addicted. It has quickly become a go-to snack and/or dessert in my house not only because it tastes pretty dang close to cookie dough for being cottage cheese, but also because it is a healthier, high protein and nutrient dense sweet treat that doesn’t leave you in a sugar coma and still tastes absolutely delicious.

Per usual, I ended up creating my own version of a cottage cheese cookie dough mostly because almost every recipe I could find online involved some type of protein powder which is something I could out of my diet in recent years. Before I share some back story and knowledge on this, I am not here to bash on protein powder or tell you that you shouldn’t eat it. I do want to share my reasons as a nutrition professional for deciding to cut it out of me and my family’s diet. Both plant-based and animal-based proteins are typically highly processed and contain an abundance of artificial ingredients and flavoring agents that I personally don’t like to include in my typical, daily diet. Additionally, the supplement industry is not strictly regulated by the FDA. Meaning, the FDA does not approve or test dietary supplements or their labels including protein powders. This lack of regulation can mean that a supplement company could potentially include some ingredients in their products without adding those ingredients to their labels. This by no means implies that the supplement industry is dangerous, but it does mean that as a consumer you should be sure to do your research on a new product you would like to purchase, as you should do with any food product you put into your body. Lastly, I am an advocate for consuming a diet mostly made of whole foods that are minimally processed. 

Now that I am done with that little side note, that is the reason I decided to create a cottage cheese cookie dough recipe that does not use protein powder. It’s also important to note that cottage cheese itself is actually an incredible source of animal-based protein and is an amazing food to add to your repertoire. A challenge I accepted when creating my own recipe was that I didn’t want to sacrifice on flavor since many protein powders are sweetened. After some experimenting, I was amazed at how a little maple syrup and vanilla extract could completely transform the flavor of cottage cheese. The combination between those natural flavoring agents and the almond flour and coconut flour used in the recipe creates a perfect balance between a hint of sweetness with a nutty/coconut flavor that truly tastes like a cookie. The flours also create a more “doughy” consistency and mixed in with the creamy cottage cheese, you will be utterly shocked at how similar it is to raw cookie dough! The amazing part is, this “cookie dough” is packed with protein and healthy fats with minimal added sugars and absolutely no artificial ingredients. Sounds like a pretty amazing dessert, right?

Nutrition Facts

• Cottage cheese is another grocery staple in my house since it’s such a great source of protein and healthy fats, and it’s so versatile I pretty much use it in everything. I have eaten it plain as a snack with a side of fruit, as dessert in the form of “cookie dough” or topped with some dark chocolate and berries, in sauces, in dressings, you name it. Cottage cheese is essentially just curdled milk and tends to have a very mild flavor. On top of being a great source of protein and healthy fats, cottage cheese is also rich in many micronutrients including B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, choline, zinc, and copper.
• Almond flour is essentially just ground up almonds and can be an amazing addition to your pantry because of its delicious nutty flavor and being a great source of healthy fats. Since almond flour is made of almonds, it is not a carbohydrate source and is not necessarily a replacement for regular flour nutritionally speaking. Although, almonds are an incredible source of unsaturated fatty acids and plant-based protein that are amazing for satiety and have been linked to cardiovascular health. Additionally, they are also rich in many vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, manganese, magnesium, some B vitamins, copper, and phosphorus as well as antioxidants and fiber.

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• ½ cup cottage cheese
• 2 Tbsp almond flour
• 1 Tbsp coconut flour
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 Tbsp cocoa nibs or dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Add the cottage cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, vanilla, maple syrup and salt to a food processor. Process for 30 seconds, then use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides. Process for another 30 seconds or more until the mixture is smooth and no cheese chunks are left.
2. Add the cocoa nibs or chocolate chips to the processor and pulse to gently combine them into the dough without crushing them.
3. Enjoy immediately or set the cookie dough in the fridge in a bowl for at least 30 minutes before eating for a firmer texture.