Cottage cheese protein cookie dough is the high-protein sweet snack you’ve been looking for! These cottage cheese cookie dough bites are safe to eat raw and taste just like the cookie dough pieces in ice cream.
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Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough Bites
Cottage cheese is trending, and honestly, I get it. It’s creamy, high-protein, healthy, and great for gut health. You can use cottage cheese in sweet or savory recipes. It’s even easy to make cottage cheese at home!
I usually eat cottage cheese straight up with a little bit of fruit jam. But I thought it would be fun to try something new, especially since I’m trying to increase my protein intake.
This recipe is based of a few different one’s I’ve seen on tiktok and instagram, and I honestly have no idea who made this recipe first! So this is my version made with my homemade cottage cheese. You can totally eat it with a spoon, but I personally enjoy this protein cookie dough portioned out into bite sized snacks.
Cottage Cheese Protein Cookie Dough
The star ingredient of this edible cookie dough is, of course, cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is having a moment on the internet, and rightfully so. Cottage cheese is considered one of the healthiest dairy foods for several reasons:
- High in Protein: Cottage cheese is rich in protein, essential for muscle repair, immune function, and overall growth and maintenance of body tissues.
- Low in Fat: Many types of cottage cheese are low in fat, making them a good choice for those looking to reduce their fat intake. Even the full-fat versions tend to be lower in fat than other cheeses.
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals: It contains essential nutrients such as B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and vitamin A, all of which play vital roles in maintaining health.
- Good for Bone Health: Cottage cheese’s high calcium and phosphorus levels help strengthen bones and may prevent osteoporosis.
- Supports Weight Management: Due to its high protein content and low-calorie count, cottage cheese can be quite satiating, helping to reduce overall calorie intake and support weight management.
- Versatility in Diet: Its mild flavor and creamy texture make it a versatile addition to sweet and savory dishes, making it easier to incorporate into a healthy diet.
The best part about these cottage cheese cookie dough bites is they’re super easy to make kids love them too!
Chocolate Chip Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough Ingredients
This recipe comes together in a few minutes with only 7 ingredients. Here are the ingredient details:
- cottage cheese: I use my homemade, low-fat cultured cottage cheese. Any cottage cheese you like will do. If using store-bought, I recommend Good Culture low-fat cottage cheese.
- maple syrup: I use organic 100% maple syrup. You can also use honey in this recipe instead.
- Rolled oats (or oat flour): GF flour gives the best texture, but you can also use regular all-purpose flour. I like both. No matter what flour you use, if it comes from a grain, lightly cooking the flour first makes the dough safe to eat raw. (blanched almond flour and oat flour do not need to be cooked). Pretty much any flour works well in this recipe, but all will result in a different texture.
- peanut butter: I used creamy, fresh-grind peanut butter with no added sugar or salt. Fresh grind PB is the best, but you can use any PB you love.
- vanilla protein powder: Any protein powder will do, but vanilla whey protein makes for the best flavor.
- dark chocolate chips: I like dark chocolate best, but any chocolate chips will work great!
- Chocolate LMNT Electrolytes: Jon and I snack on these cottage cheese cookie dough bites as our after-gym snack, so I always add some chocolate LMNT to the mix for a balanced dose of potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
More Mix-Ins to Try
Feel free to mix in some of your other favorite cookie ingredients like nuts or dried fruit! Here are some of my favorite combos to try:
- White chocolate and macadamia nuts
- Milk chocolate and pecans
- Walnuts and raisins
- Dark chocolate and pistachio
LMNT Electrolytes in Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough
What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electric charge, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals are essential for various bodily functions, including nerve function, muscle contraction, and fluid balance.
I use raw unflavored LMNT electrolytes daily, formulated with a science-backed electrolyte ratio of 1000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium. The main reason I supplement my electrolytes is for gut health. Electrolyte balance is essential for optimal gut health. So, getting a dose of balanced electrolytes with all the benefits of gelatin is a win-win.
Here are some of my favorite health benefits that LMNT electrolyte salt adds to these nourishing cookie dough bites:
- Improve cognitive function: Electrolytes, especially sodium, regulate fluid balance in and around the brain. They also help transmit signals between neurons—which allows us to think. Goodbye, brain fog.
- Fewer muscle cramps: Electrolytes transmit electrochemical signals to your muscles, instructing them when to contract and relax. Improper hydration—a lack of electrolytes—is one of the leading causes of muscle cramps.
- Digestion Regulation: Proper fluid balance and electrolyte intake (especially potassium and magnesium) support healthy digestion. Proper fluid balance and electrolyte intake (especially potassium and magnesium) support healthy digestion. Potassium helps the muscles in the gut contract and push digesting food forward through the intestines. Magnesium helps the muscles ahead of the food relax to allow it through.
- More Energy: Potassium and magnesium support the processes that convert stored energy (calories) into usable energy (ATP). LMNT electrolytes also impact energy by regulating hormones, maintaining fluid balance and blood pressure, regulating heartbeat, promoting restful sleep, and much more. And no afternoon slump means no need for that extra cup of coffee.
- Higher Quality Sleep: Quality sleep is critical to looking, feeling, and performing your best. Magnesium increases GABA, a neurotransmitter known for producing calming effects. Consuming adequate sodium can help you sleep through the night because low sodium levels increase cortisol and adrenaline.
Tips for Making This Edible Cookie Dough
- Use vanilla protein powder with coconut sugar. While you can use plain whey protein, the flavor is so much better when you use vanilla (I like to buy it in bulk).
- For the best texture use rolled oats, quick cooking rolled oats, or oat flour.
- Keep the cottage cheese cookie dough bites frozen. Then, defrost for ten minutes before enjoying them. This way you can store them longer. Freezing also gives them the perfect texture, like cookie dough chunks in ice cream!
Try Chocolate LMNT Electrolytes in These Cookie Dough Bites!
I love LMNT electrolytes and use them daily to stay hydrated in the gym and for my bedtime routine. So, I am thrilled to work with our sponsor, LMNT, to share this information about electrolytes with you!
Members of my Cultured Guru Community get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any LMNT purchase ordered through THIS LINK (CLICK HERE).
- The LMNT Sample Pack includes 8 of our favorite LMNT drink mix flavors. This is the perfect offer for you if you want to explore and find your favorite LMNT flavor or if you want a sample pack to share LMNT with a friend.
- This offer is available exclusively through my partnership with LMNT – you won’t find this offer elsewhere!
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- LMNT has a no-questions-asked refund policy. If you don’t like LMNT for any reason, email [email protected]
How Many Calories in Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough?
When portioned out, cottage cheese cookie dough bites have about 150 calories per 32 gram serving. The serving size is one cookie dough bite or about two heaping tablespoons.
Another factor to consider is cottage cheese. I prefer to use low-fat (1-2%) cottage cheese. Full-fat cottage cheese, of course, will add more calories to the recipe. For the lowest calories, I suggest sticking to low-fat cottage cheese.
The full nutrition facts are listed under the recipe!
My Original Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough Recipe With Any Flour (old recipe)
I originally made this recipe with any type of flour, but since I make this cookie dough every week for my post-workout snack, I’ve perfected the recipe and updated it in the recipe card below. Here is the original recipe for anyone who still wants to make it that way:
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 cups flour or rolled oats (see notes)*
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter (unsalted, unsweetened)
- A pinch of salt to taste
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder (I use Naked Whey)*
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- I like using quick-cooking rolled oats or oat flour in this recipe. But any flour works, even all-purpose. Only rolled oats, oat flour, and blanched almond flour are safe to eat raw, so if you use any other flour, you must cook the flour first; lightly cooking the flour first makes the dough safe to eat raw.
- To pre-cook flour: preheat your oven to 300° F. Spread the flour on a sheet pan and place it in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Take it out and let it cool completely.
- In a blender or food processor, blend together the cottage cheese, maple syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla until smooth.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in the oats/flour and protein powder. (If using gluten-containing flour, don’t over-mix)
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop into one tablespoon balls and place in the freezer. Once frozen, store in an airtight container in the freezer.
- Defrost for 10 minutes before eating & enjoy!
Notes:
- Depending on the oats or flour you use, you may need to add 1/2 cup extra flour to thicken the batter. You can also add more protein powder if its too wet.
- Regular gluten-containing flour works great (I’ve used it multiple times to make this recipe). However, if you mix it too much, the gluten will develop, and that will come through in the texture. Mix all the wet ingredients evenly, then all the dry ingredients separately, then gently fold to combine.
- Only rolled oats, oat flour, and blanched almond flour are safe to eat raw, so if you use any other flour, you must cook it first; lightly cooking the flour first at 300° F for 10-15 minutes makes the dough safe to eat raw.
- Any protein powder will do, but chocolate or vanilla whey protein that includes coconut sugar makes for the best flavor.
My Updated Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough Recipe
This updated recipe is quite similar but eliminates the need for a blender. It’s specifically tested using rolled oats. I hope you enjoy the new and improved version!
And don’t forget—to make this recipe even easier, you can eat this cookie dough with a spoon too!
Chocolate Chip Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough Bites
Cottage cheese protein cookie dough is the high-protein sweet snack you’ve been looking for! These cottage cheese cookie dough bites are safe to eat raw and taste just like the cookie dough pieces in ice cream.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 30 pieces
- Category: snacks
- Method: mixing
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats*
- 75 grams dark chocolate chips
- 6 scoops whey protein powder*
- 2 packets chocolate LMNT electrolytes*
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cups peanut butter
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese
Instructions
- Combine the oats, chocolate chips, protein powder and electrolytes.
- In a separate bowl, combine the maple syrup, peanut butter, and cottage cheese
- Add the cottage cheese mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until evenly combined.
- You can refrigerate in an air tight container and eat the cookie dough with a spoon, or roll it into balls.
- To roll into balls, refrigerate the dough for about 2 hours. Then keep your hands lightly damp with water and roll into 32-gram balls. You can also use a cookie dough scoop to portion the dough into balls.
- Store in the fridge for one week or in an air-tight container in the freezer for 3 months. If storing frozen, defrost for 10 minutes before eating.
Notes
- This recipe was updated 11/05/2024; see blog section above for original recipe.
- I like organic quick cooking rolled oats best
- For protein powder I use 3 scoops vanilla and 3 scoops plain
- Depending on the oats you use, your dough might be more wet. You can add more protein powder or oats if it’s too wet.
- No electrolytes on hand? no problem! Just add a teaspoon of sea salt instead.
19 comments
These are a delicious protein-packed snack!
Simple on hand ingredients. At first I was scratching my head about the GF flour but I actually had almond flour on hand in the fridge. Easy to follow steps too. The texture and taste before being chilled has me nervous but after they froze super yummy. It almost taste like the chunk of cookie dough in an ice cream container. I did add about a table spoon of honey and a bit more salt to obtain that cookie my palette was looking for.
Thank you for leaving a review! love that you added honey for more flavor!
Love these! They’re a perfect midday snack or after dinner treat.
Does the peanut butter make these taste like peanut butter cookie dough??? Can I omit the peanut butter in this recipe? Thanks
The flavor of the peanut butter doesn’t really come through. It’s there as a fat to improve the texture of the cookie dough. You can sub with a different nut butter or coconut oil.
I just found this post havent made anything yet.but looking forward to.
These are so yummy! I used chocolate protein powder, a little less than called for only because I need a better protein powder. I also use mini chocolate chips, I feel like I’m getting more😂
yay! so glad you enjoyed!
Oh my goodness, major risk of eating raw flour!!!! Both the FDA and CDC have warned about this for years, it’s not Instagram hysteria. You are a microbiologist for heavens sake! You are opening yourself up to MAJOR liability by posting this recipe with any mention of using raw flour (other than oat flour or almond flour) . Someone (children!) could get very very sick, or heaven forbid, die from salmonella.
Thanks for your feedback. It appears that you did not read the recipe directions before leaving this comment. Please read steps 1 and 2. I went ahead and made a few parts of steps 1 and 2 bold font, so it’s easier for you to read.
Could I bake these instead so I don’t have to cook the flour?
I’m sure you can, but i’m not sure how the texture will be. I haven’t tried it. I suggest halving the recipe and testing it if you’d like!
This is something I’ll make again. Super delicious and perfect as a post partum snack when I also have a toddler. I added honey but i didn’t need to, they were already sweet enough!
could I use another cup of oat flour instead of the protein powder?
should probably work! but I haven’t tried it to know for sure.
These are 11 out of 10! Amazing!
Absolutely delicious! But I’ve scrolled this page a few times and I can’t find the macros info?? Can you please tell us how much protein/carbs are in each ball? Thanks!
so glad you love them! Sorry about the nutrition facts, the formatting is weird rn, but we’re launching a brand new website in a few weeks that will fix that!
Per bite: Calories- 140, fat- 5.4 grams, protein- 7 grams, carbs, 15 grams