🍫 No-Bake Cottage Cheese Brownie Batter Protein Bites
Rich, fudgy, and secretly nutritious, these protein-packed brownie bites are the perfect balance of indulgent and healthy. Made with creamy cottage cheese, cocoa, and chocolate, they taste like dessert but fuel your body with wholesome ingredients. No baking required — just mix, chill, and enjoy!
🧾 Ingredients
For the Protein Bites:
- ½ cup cottage cheese (full-fat or low-fat)
- ½ cup nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew butter)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup oat flour (or blend oats until fine)
- 2 scoops (about ½ cup) chocolate or vanilla protein powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
For the Chocolate Topping (optional but amazing):
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
📝 Instructions
- Blend the base: In a food processor or high-speed blender, blend cottage cheese, nut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Add cocoa powder, protein powder, oat flour, and salt. Pulse until a thick dough forms. Stir in chocolate chips if using.
- Shape the bites: Scoop and roll into 12–14 balls. Flatten slightly if desired.
- Optional topping: Melt dark chocolate and coconut oil together, then drizzle or dip the tops of each bite.
- Chill: Refrigerate for 1 hour (or freeze for 20–30 minutes) to firm up.
- Store in the fridge up to 1 week or freezer up to 3 months.
📌 Notes & Tips
- Sweetness level: Adjust sweetener to taste, especially if using sweetened protein powder.
- Dough too sticky? Add extra oat flour or protein powder 1 tbsp at a time.
- Dough too dry? Add a splash of milk or a bit more nut butter.
- Make it vegan: Use plant-based protein, maple syrup, and dairy-free cottage cheese or tofu.
- Make it nut-free: Use sunflower seed butter or tahini.
🍽️ Servings
- Makes: 12–14 bites
- Serving size: 1 bite
🔢 Nutritional Info (Per Bite – Approximate)
- Calories: 100–120
- Protein: 6–8g
- Fat: 5–6g
- Carbs: 8–10g
- Sugar: 4–5g
- Fiber: 2g
(Varies slightly depending on ingredients used)
✅ Health Benefits
- High protein: Great for post-workout recovery or muscle maintenance
- Cottage cheese: Rich in casein protein, slow-digesting and satiating
- No refined sugar: Naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup
- Gut-friendly: Cottage cheese may support digestive health with probiotics (if live cultures included)
- Energy-boosting: Balanced with protein, healthy fats, and carbs
❓ Q&A
Q: Can I make these without protein powder?
A: Yes! Just increase the oat flour slightly and add a little extra cocoa and sweetener to taste.
Q: Can I use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese?
A: You can, but the texture will be a bit softer and slightly tangier. Cottage cheese gives a firmer, richer bite.
Q: Do they taste like cottage cheese?
A: Not at all! Once blended with cocoa and nut butter, the cottage cheese becomes creamy and neutral.
Q: Can kids eat these?
A: Yes — they’re wholesome and sweet, just be mindful of protein powder and adjust based on age/needs.
Q: Can I roll these in toppings?
A: Definitely! Try rolling in crushed nuts, shredded coconut, cocoa powder, or hemp seeds for variety.
💌 Final Tip:
Love it? Share it with your friends! These are perfect for lunchboxes, gym snacks, or healthy dessert swaps. 🏋️♀️💪🍬