Description
These Lemon Blueberry Cottage Cheese Protein Bites are a delicious, high-protein snack blending creamy cottage cheese, fresh blueberries, and zesty lemon. Perfectly baked to a light golden finish, they offer a nutritious energy boost with a balance of sweetness and citrus brightness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese, well drained
- ¾ cup fresh, firm blueberries
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder (or oat flour)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 1 large egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Drain the cottage cheese: Place the full-fat cottage cheese in a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth and gently press to remove excess liquid for 10–15 minutes to ensure the bites hold their shape while baking.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the drained cottage cheese, egg white, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the mixture becomes mostly smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Add the almond flour, vanilla protein powder (or oat flour), and cornstarch or arrowroot powder to the wet mixture. Fold them in gently until a thick, scoopable dough forms.
- Chill the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up the mixture, making it easier to shape.
- Fold in blueberries: Carefully fold the fresh blueberries into the chilled dough to avoid crushing them.
- Shape the bites: Using your hands or a scoop, roll the mixture into tight, uniform balls and place them on a parchment-lined tray.
- Freeze to set shape: Place the tray in the freezer for 20 minutes. This step helps lock the shape and prevents spreading while baking.
- Preheat and bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Bake the bites for 16 minutes until they are set and lightly golden on top.
- Cool before serving: Allow the bites to cool for 10 minutes on the tray. They will firm up further as they cool, making them easier to handle and enjoy.
Notes
- Always use full-fat, well-drained cottage cheese to avoid melting during baking.
- Chilling and freezing before baking is essential to maintain the shape and texture of the bites.
- If protein powder is unavailable, substitute with oat flour for a gluten-free option.
- Handle blueberries gently when folding to prevent them from bursting and coloring the dough.
- These bites can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
