Rich and fudgy flourless Cottage Cheese Brownies made with wholesome ingredients. Perfect for the chocolate lover who prioritizes protein too, each brownie contains 11 grams of protein.
Looking for a brownie that 1.) quenches your sweet tooth, 2.) honors your chocolate cravings, and 3.) is made with wholesome ingredients?
Well, these fudgy brownies check all of the boxes and then some! It is all-things fudgy, chocolatey, perfectly sweet, and packed with better-for-you inputs.
Why make brownies with cottage cheese? For me, the reasons are threefold. I love that it adds protein to the brownies, the fact that it brings a slightly tangy flavor, and its contribution to the moisture content without adding excess fat.
While you’re at it, also try my Cottage Cheese Muffins and my 2-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Bagels.ย
I modeled this cottage cheese brownies recipe off of my Healthy Sweet Potato Brownies, simply swapping out the sweet potato for cottage cheese.ย
Letโs discuss the simple ingredients for cottage cheese brownies.
Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Brownies:
Cottage Cheese: Pick your favorite brand and fat content! It is responsible for adding protein, moisture, and a slight tang to the brownies.
Almond Butter: Bringing healthy fats to the treat, we need some unsweetened almond butter or peanut butter. I choose this over regular butter due to its higher portion of unsaturated fat and fiber.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The chocolate portion of this brownie recipe. I use raw cacao powder, which has a creamier (less bitter) flavor than regular cocoa powder.ย
Protein Powder: Pick your favorite! I use unflavored unsweetened protein powder so that it doesn’t impact the flavor of the brownies. Vanilla protein powder works nicely, though.
Eggs: Add to the fudgy texture and ensure the ingredients stay held together nicely.
Pure Maple Syrup: The sweetener here! Pure maple syrup contains manganese, zinc, calcium, and potassium.
Pure Vanilla Extract and Ground Cinnamon: Both are optional, and both add unique warm flavor to this healthy treat.
Sea Salt: Big flavor enhancer! Donโt skip it.
Chocolate Chips: Provide bursts of sweetness and chocolate goo, which is why weโre all here! I use semisweet chocolate chips, but you can use sugar free chocolate chips if you’re looking for less added sugar.
Recipe Customizations:
- Swap the cottage cheese for Greek yogurt.
- Add โ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts for a nutty crunch.
- Swap the protein powder for oat flour, almond flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour if you aren’t concerned with the protein content. Regular flour results in cakey brownies.
- For more depth of flavor, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder.
Now that weโve covered the basic ingredients, letโs bake a batch of brownies!
How to Make Cottage Cheese Brownies:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Transfer the cottage cheese, pure maple syrup, and almond butter to a blender or a food processor and blend until a creamy texture is achieved. The lumps should be out of the cottage cheese.
Pour this mixture into a large mixing bowl and mix in the eggs and pure vanilla extract.
In a separate large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (cocoa powder, protein powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and sea salt).
Transfer the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir well. Mix in the chocolate chips.
Spread the brownie batter in the baking pan in an even layer. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 20-23 minutes, or until the batter has set up.
Allow the brownies to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
The longer the brownies sit, the more the flavors develop, and I find they taste even better the next day!
Storage Options:
- Room Temperature: Store the brownie pan on the counter wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Freeze brownies for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.
The next time youโre seeking a mindful brownie recipe that contributes to your daily intake of protein and isnโt overloaded with butter and sugar, let these cottage cheese protein brownies be your guiding light!
Between the rich flavor, less sugar, and gooey center, this high protein brownie is worthy of putting on repeat!
Brownie lovers, I recommend you also try some of my other delicious brownie recipes!
More Brownie Recipes:
- The Best Gluten-Free Brownies ย
- Flourless Rolled Oat Pumpkin Brownies ย
- Almond Flour Brownies ย
- Coconut Flour Brownies ย
- 6-Ingredient Flourless Protein Brownies ย
Brownies for breakfast!
Flourless Cottage Cheese Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- โ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cup unsweetened almond butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ยฝ cup cocoa powder
- โ cup protein powder
- ยฝ tsp baking soda
- ยฝ tsp ground cinnamon optional
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the cottage cheese, pure maple syrup, and almond butter to a blender or a food processor and blend until a creamy texture is achieved. The lumps should be out of the cottage cheese.
- Pour this mixture into a large mixing bowl and mix in the eggs and pure vanilla extract.
- In a separate large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (cocoa powder, protein powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and sea salt).
- Transfer the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir well. Mix in the chocolate chips.
- Spread the brownie batter in the baking pan in an even layer. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 16-20 minutes, or until the batter has set up.
- Allow the brownies to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Will lactose-free cottage cheese work?