The Delicious Way To Make Cottage Cheese Taste Like Fudgy Cheesecake Bites

Move over, Greek yogurt, there's a new versatile protein powerhouse in town: cottage cheese. Though comparable to Greek yogurt in terms of nutrient density and protein content (with cottage cheese winning by a small margin), this humble farmer's cheese is suddenly more popular than it's been since the 1970s. It's likely because it's less expensive than other protein sources, and can skew sweet or savory to please a range of palates. It's even really easy to make your own cottage cheese at home.

Whether you go the homemade route or stick with store-bought, one application of cottage cheese outshines its competitors every time: protein-rich chocolate fudge. Greek yogurt's tart overtones clash with cocoa to bring out its bitterness while tofu is too soft to make a truly dense and delicious fudge. Cottage cheese, however, takes on a dense, velvety texture when blended and its slight cream cheese-like tang pairs deliciously with chocolate. Any lingering "funk" is hidden by sweetness.

Not only is this one of those cottage cheese recipes that are tasty enough to eat for breakfast, it's also completely no-bake. Cocoa powder, melted chocolate, maple syrup, and cottage cheese come together in a high-speed blender to create a silky-smooth, delicious spread. Feel free to eat it by the spoon, or smooth it into a baking dish and store it in the fridge for later. Chilling it also makes it easier to cut into squares like traditional fudge.

Though this recipe doesn't require the use of a stove or oven, you need to melt solid chocolate bars (or chocolate chips) in your microwave, plus the friction inside a blender or food processor produces heat. It's crucial that all of your other ingredients are cool to prevent the cottage cheese from melting and becoming unpleasantly gooey. It's also best to let your chocolate cool slightly before blitzing everything together; when you can touch it, it's ready.

Additionally, since you're using a liquid sweetener — maple syrup, honey, and agave are all good choices — you can limit sugar in this dessert by using baker's chocolate without sacrificing any flavor. If you have a real sweet tooth, a touch of vanilla and cinnamon add sweetness without any sugar at all. You can also use keto-friendly sweeteners, such as monk fruit extract or Stevia — any leftover cottage cheese can become savory keto-friendly chips to keep your snack game on point.

To change up the flavor of your homemade fudge, replace a little of the cottage cheese with peanut butter (though the end result may be a little softer). You can also play with different extract flavors: Vanilla is a must, but orange, cherry, and mint are all classic flavors to pair with chocolate. You can also use different kinds of melted chocolate, including white, milk, or even fruity ruby chocolate.