Lighter Chocolate Cottage Cheesecake (Printable)

A rich chocolate dessert made with cottage cheese for extra protein and creamy texture.

# Ingredient list:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 2 tbsp coconut oil or melted butter
03 - 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1 tbsp maple syrup

→ Filling

05 - 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
06 - 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar or sweetener of choice
09 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
11 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
12 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, melted and cooled

→ Topping

13 - 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
14 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
15 - Dark chocolate shavings

# How-to:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Line base of 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup in bowl. Press evenly into pan bottom. Bake 8 minutes, set aside.
03 - Blend cottage cheese in food processor or blender until completely smooth, 1–2 minutes.
04 - Add Greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, cornstarch, and melted chocolate. Blend until silky and fully incorporated.
05 - Pour filling over cooled crust. Smooth top with spatula.
06 - Bake 35–40 minutes until center is just set but still slightly wobbly.
07 - Turn off oven, crack door open, and let cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
08 - Remove from oven and refrigerate at least 3 hours until fully set.
09 - Spread with Greek yogurt topping if desired and sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy richness of traditional cheesecake with twice the protein and half the guilt
  • The cottage cheese creates an impossibly smooth texture that nobody will ever guess is not cream cheese
  • It comes together faster than you would think and tastes even better the next day
02 -
  • The cottage cheese must be blended until absolutely smooth or you will have a grainy texture that ruins the experience
  • Letting the cheesecake cool gradually in the oven prevents cracks and ensures that silky smooth center
  • The chilling time is not optional because the texture transforms and becomes much more creamy after several hours in the fridge
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create a smoother texture
  • A water bath is not strictly necessary but helps prevent cracks if you want extra insurance
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