Craving a chocolatey treat? Try these cottage cheese brownies! Using cottage cheese in the recipe helps make the brownies rich and fudgy, and increases their protein content. In fact, each brownie contains just 229 calories and 8 grams of high-quality protein. Easy to make and delicious!
Ingredients
Here’s a photo of all the ingredients you’ll need, along with selected ingredient notes:
- Cottage Cheese – This adds moisture and protein to the recipe. I used 1% cottage cheese side since I also include butter in the recipe as a source of fat. You can certainly use full fat cottage cheese, but note that it will affect the nutrition analysis.
- Flour – Whole wheat flour offers extra fiber and minerals compared to all-purpose flour, but either can be used in this recipe.
- Chocolate Protein Powder – This helps boost the protein content more and enhances the chocolate flavor and sweetness. I used NOW’s Creamy Chocolate Whey Protein Powder (they’re a client of mine). Any high quality chocolate whey protein powder should work.
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar provides the best structure and flavor – I mean, I want it to taste like an indulgent brownie! That said, but you can experiment with a sugar substitute if you prefer. Be sure to use a granulated style sweetener that’s designed to be used as a measure-for-measure substitute. I usually use allulose if I want to use a sugar substitute. Since it’s slightly less sweet than regular sugar, you can increase the amount by a tablespoon or two if using it to fully substitute the sugar.
- Chocolate chips – I like regular semi-sweet chocolate chips best in this recipe. You can use a stevia-sweetened option like Lily’s chocolate chips if you prefer.
Instructions
You’ll find the full recipe amounts and instructions in the recipe card below, but here’s a helpful overview with photos and tips.
Start by adding the cottage cheese and eggs together in a blender cup or mini food processor bowl. Blend that until smooth and creamy, like this:
In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and that cottage cheese/egg mixture.
In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients – the cocoa powder, flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir until just combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips. The batter will be very thick – this is normal for this recipe.
Pour the batter into a greased 8×8 dish. Spread it out evenly.
Pop that in the oven for about 20 minutes. It’s done when a toothpick pulls out clean from the center.
Let the brownies cool a bit, then dig in!
Recipe FAQ
Here are some common questions that may come up as you’re preparing this recipe:
I don’t think so! The cottage cheese blends in smoothly and doesn’t affect the chocolate flavor.
Yes! Use a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend to replace the whole wheat flour. Double check that any packaged ingredients are gluten-free.
Yes. Let them cool completely. Cut the brownies into squares and wrap each brownie in plastic wrap. Then store in an airtight container or ziptop bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy. Or, unwrap and thaw briefly in the microwave.
Why You’ll Love These Brownies
Let’s count the ways!
- Fun way to use cottage cheese if you aren’t a big fan of eating it plain
- Easy to make
- Provides 8 grams of protein per brownie
- Tastes rich and fudgy
- Good source of Vitamin B12, important for energy production
- Great for kids and adults
More Healthy Chocolate Treats
If you’re looking for more chocolate treats with a nutritious spin, be sure to give one of these a try:
- Dark chocolate Kodiak protein muffins
- Banana, peanut butter, and chocolate milk smoothie
- Chocolate peanut butter protein granola
- Chocolate covered prunes
- Cherry and chocolate energy bites
- Chocolate peanut butter protein whoopie pies
I hope you enjoy these cottage cheese brownies! If you get a chance to try the recipe, feel free to leave a recipe rating or comment below.
Cottage Cheese Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup low fat 1% cottage cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar (or a sugar-free granulated substitute)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup whole wheat flour
- ⅓ cup chocolate whey protein powder (about 1 level scoop of most brands)
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips (regular or sugar-free)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 baking dish.
- Place the cottage cheese and eggs in a blender cup or mini food processor bowl. Blend for about 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and the cottage cheese/egg mixture. Stir until well combined.
- In another mixing bowl, combine the cocoa powder, flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. The batter will be thick; this is normal. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the 8×8 dish. Spread evenly in the dish. Bake at 350 degrees F on the center rack for approximately 20 minutes, or until a toothpick pulls out clean from the center.
- Let cool in the pan, then enjoy slightly warm, at room temperature, or chilled (depending on your preference).
Notes
- Full fat cottage cheese can be used in this recipe, but note that it will affect the nutrition facts.
- If you’d prefer a sugar substitute, allulose is usually my go-to option for replacing granulated sugar. Because it is slightly less sweet than sugar, I might increase that by a tablespoon or two if you replace all the sugar with allulose.
- This recipe makes 9 large brownies or 12 small brownies. The nutrition analysis below is based on 9 large brownies.
- The nutrition analysis below assumes regular sugar and regular chocolate chips. Sugar free options will decrease the sugar content and calorie count.
Nutrition
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