My Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Smoothie is smooth, creamy and high protein with no protein powder required. Top with graham crackers and strawberries for a delicious balanced shake.
I'm a sucker for cheesecake everything- if you can't tell by my recipes for mini protein cheesecakes, cheesecake dip and cheesecake overnight oats. But now that it's summer, I've also been heavy on the smoothies and milkshakes.
When building a smoothie, adding lots of protein is key to make it a filling, balanced meal or snack. I've made smoothies with just fruit, and I'm immediately hungry an hour later. I know now everyone is a fan of protein powder, so I wanted to share this high protein cheesecake cottage cheese smoothie!
You might be thinking that a cottage cheese fruit smoothie sounds gross, but it's actually the opposite. Adding cottage cheese in smoothies creates the smoothest, creamiest texture- almost like a milkshake! Plus, there's 23 grams of protein so it's definitely dietitian approved.
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- No protein powder required. If you find protein powder expensive, chalky, or prefer whole foods, you'll love this cottage cheese smoothie.
- Smooth and creamy. There are NO cottage cheese lumps since we're whipping this in a blender. The final texture is super creamy.
- Filling. I developed this recipe to have lots of fibre, healthy fats and high quality protein. This cheesecake smoothie doubles as a filling snack or easy breakfast, depending on your hunger levels.
Ingredients
Milk. Any milk of choice will work great. I usually opt for 2% dairy milk to ensure I am getting calcium, vitamin D and protein.
Cottage cheese. This helps create the CREAMIEST texture! Cottage cheese has a mild flavour, so it's perfect for creating a cheesecake taste.
Strawberries. We are going for a classic strawberry cheesecake smoothie, but any berries could work. This smoothie is also a good way to use overripe or mushy strawberries and reduce food waste.
Flax seeds. For healthy fats, fiber and protein. You can read my whole post on flax seeds here.
Honey. For a touch of natural sweetness. I love the flavour of honey in this recipe, but any other liquid sweetener works.
Vanilla extract. For flavour! As we are not baking this recipe i recommend using natural vanilla extract for the best flavour.
Graham cracker crumbs. I think graham cracker crumbs really make the cheesecake flavour come through, but it's optional.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
In a high powered blender combine milk, cottage cheese, frozen berries, honey, ground flax seed and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.
Divide between two glasses, sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: use gluten free graham crackers.
To make dairy-free/vegan: unfortunately I haven't found a dairy-free cottage cheese. If you are looking for an alternative, you can use a thick non-dairy yogurt and non-dairy milk. Note that this will alter the protein content.
To make nut-free: this smoothie is naturally nut-free.
The best part about this cottage cheese fruit smoothie is that any frozen fruit works. Peaches, banana, mango, frozen berries or even a mix of fruits.
Equipment
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. The liquid may separate after 24 hours. However, just blend or stir well prior to serving.
Top Tips for Success
I always recommend adding the liquid ingredients closest to the blades when making smoothies. So if your blender is top loading (Vitamix or standard blender) add your milk FIRST; if your blender is bottom loading (ie. Magic Bullet) add your milk and liquid ingredients last.This helps the blender get going faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can. If you would like to prep this smoothie in advance you can make “smoothie cubes” by pouring the smoothie into silicone ice cube trays. Then when you're ready to eat, you can blend the cubes with a bit of milk.
I also LOVE turning these into popsicles using this silicone popsicle mold. It will make about 8 popsicles.
Grounding your flax seed helps make it easier for the body to digest. I always recommend blending it freshly to help avoid it going rancid in storage. Blend the flax before adding it into the smoothie to ensure you are getting all the nutrition benefits.
Yes you can, but if you do I recommend adding about ½ cup-1 cup of ice. This will keep the smoothie cold.
More Drink Recipes
- Berry High Fibre Smoothie
- Oreo Protein Shake
- Tropical Mango Iron Rich Smoothie
- Healthy Pina Colada Mocktail
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this cheesecake cottage cheese smoothie, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup milk
- 1 cup 0% cottage cheese
- 2 cups frozen strawberries or fruit of choice
- 2 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup ground flax seeds
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon graham cracker crumbs optional for topping
Instructions
- In a high powered blender combine milk, cottage cheese, frozen berries, honey, ground flax seed and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth.
- Divide between two glasses, sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs and enjoy!
Cindy says
Delicious! I subbed frozen dark cherries for the strawberries and added a scoop of vanilla protein powder to boost the protein. Tasted just like cheesecake!
Lindsay says
Can I use 2% cottage cheese or will this alter the recipe too much? Looks delicious!