Description
These Lemon Blueberry Cottage Cheese Protein Bites are a delicious and nutritious snack packed with protein and fruity flavors. Featuring a creamy cottage cheese base combined with fresh blueberries and zesty lemon, these bites are perfect for a quick energy boost or a healthy treat. They are baked to perfection for a light golden finish and have a satisfying texture that’s both soft and firm.
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 Cottage Cheese: Drain the cottage cheese for 10–15 minutes using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, pressing gently to remove excess liquid to ensure the dough is not too wet.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the drained cottage cheese, egg white, honey, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and salt. Mix until the mixture is mostly smooth and well incorporated.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the almond flour, protein powder (or oat flour), and cornstarch. Fold gently until a thick, scoopable dough forms, ensuring everything is evenly mixed.
- Chill the Mixture: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to allow it to firm up, making it easier to handle.
- Incorporate Blueberries: Gently fold in the fresh blueberries to avoid crushing them, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape the Bites: Scoop the dough and roll into tight balls, then place them on a parchment-lined baking tray for baking.
- Freeze for Shape Retention: Freeze the shaped bites for 20 minutes to lock in their form before baking, which prevents spreading.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Bake the bites for 16 minutes until they are set and lightly golden on the edges.
- Cool Before Serving: Let the bites cool for 10 minutes to firm up further before serving for the best texture and taste.
Notes
- Always use full-fat, well-drained cottage cheese to prevent the bites from melting or becoming too wet.
- Do not skip the chilling and freezing steps to ensure the bites maintain their shape during baking.
- Protein powder can be substituted with oat flour for a gluten-free option or to adjust flavor and texture.
- If you want a sweeter bite, you can add an extra tablespoon of honey or maple syrup.
- Use fresh, firm blueberries to maintain texture and avoid excess moisture in the dough.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
