Description
Creamy, velvety cheesecake jars boosted with protein from cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and vanilla protein powder, finished with fresh berries for a dessert that feels indulgent yet nourishing.
Ingredients
- Cottage cheese: 1 cup, small curd preferred for easy blending
- Greek yogurt: 1 cup, plain 2 percent or nonfat
- Vanilla protein powder: 1 scoop, about 25 g
- Egg: 1 large, optional for baked version
- Honey or maple syrup: 2 to 3 tbsp, to taste
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Fine salt: pinch
- Quick oats or almond flour: 1/2 cup, for base
- Honey for base: 1 tbsp, optional, to bind oats
- Fresh berries: 1 cup, for topping
- Lemon zest: 1 tsp, optional, for brightness
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: If baking, preheat oven to 160°C, 320°F. If making no-bake jars, skip preheating.
- Combine Ingredients: In a blender, add cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, protein powder, egg if using, honey, vanilla, and salt. Blend on high until completely smooth and silky, 30 to 60 seconds, scraping sides as needed.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: In a bowl, mix oats or almond flour with 1 tbsp honey until lightly sticky. Press 1 to 2 tbsp of the mixture into the bottom of 4 clean 200 to 250 ml jars or glasses.
- Assemble the Dish: Divide the cheesecake filling evenly over the bases, smoothing the tops with a spoon.
- Cook to Perfection: For baked jars, place jars on a baking tray and bake 15 to 20 minutes until just set at the edges with a slight wobble in the center, then cool to room temperature. For no-bake jars, proceed directly to chilling.
- Finishing Touches: Chill all jars, baked or no-bake, covered, for 4 to 6 hours until firm. Top with berries and a little lemon zest.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve cold with small spoons, enjoying the creamy filling, tender base, and juicy fruit in every bite.
Notes
- Sweetness: Protein powders vary in sweetness, start with 2 tbsp honey, then taste and adjust.
- Texture: For ultra-smooth filling, blend an extra 15 seconds and strain if desired.
- No-bake tip: If skipping the egg, the filling will set in the fridge thanks to protein and yogurt, chill fully for best structure.
- Make-ahead: Jars keep well refrigerated up to 3 days. Add fruit just before serving for freshness.
- Base choices: Use oats for a lighter base or almond flour for a tender, nutty one.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg