This 3-ingredient Cottage Cheese Pudding blends cottage cheese, cocoa powder, and maple syrup into a thick, creamy chocolate pudding in about 5 minutes. The whole batch costs about $1.89, or just $0.63 per serving, and has about 24 grams of protein. Once it’s blended smooth, you’d never guess it started as cottage cheese.
No one in my family except me likes cottage cheese, and they still ask for this pudding. Once it’s blended smooth with cocoa, nobody can tell. It’s an easy treat to whip up when the kids want a snack or we need a quick dessert after dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Ready in 5 minutes. Just blend and eat — no stove, no waiting for pudding to cook.
- About 8 grams of protein per serving (24 grams for the whole batch), from one cup of cottage cheese.
- Budget friendly. A tub of cottage cheese and pantry cocoa cost less than store-bought protein pudding cups.
- Cottage cheese haters approved. You don’t need to like cottage cheese to love this — the cocoa covers it completely.
After more than 14 years of developing recipes for my family, I’ve learned that a few simple ingredients can create delicious results. For this pudding, blending the cottage cheese thoroughly is the key to getting a silky texture, and adding the maple syrup a little at a time lets you adjust the sweetness to your liking.
You may also like to try Cottage Cheese Cheesecake and Cottage Cheese Cake.
Cheaper Than Protein Pudding Cups
A 4-pack of store-bought protein pudding costs around $4.98, about $1.25 a cup. This batch costs about $1.89 for 3 servings, or $0.63 each, and you can make it any flavor you want.
It only uses 1 cup of cottage cheese, so the rest of the tub can go into a pan of Cottage Cheese Brownies, which also uses exactly 1 cup. That’s one tub and two chocolate desserts.
Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese. Full-fat is richer and creamier than low-fat. If your brand tastes salty, look for a lower-sodium cottage cheese. Salt is what gives it away, not the texture.
- Cocoa Powder. 1 tablespoon makes a milk-chocolate-style pudding. For a darker, richer chocolate flavor, use 2 tablespoons and add a little more maple syrup.
- Maple Syrup. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more to taste. Honey works the same way.
Find the complete list of ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Add the cottage cheese, cocoa powder, and maple syrup to a blender or food processor. Blend for 1–2 minutes, scraping down the sides, until there are no little curds left and it looks completely smooth and glossy. For a single batch, a small blender cup or a mini food processor works best. A big blender can’t always grab such a small amount.
Step 2. Spoon into bowls or jars. Eat right away for a soft, mousse-like pudding, or chill for 30 minutes to let it thicken even more.
Storage
Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. It thickens as it sits, so give it a stir before serving.
Pro Tips
- Adjust the sweetener. You can adjust the amount of maple sweetener. I used 3 tablespoons but if you prefer it less sweet, use only 2 tablespoons.
- Small curd blends fastest. Any cottage cheese works, but small curd turns smooth quickest, and full fat is creamiest.
Quick Fixes
- Tastes salty? Add another tablespoon of maple syrup, and look for a lower-sodium cottage cheese next time.
- Still grainy? Keep blending and scraping. It can take a full 2 minutes. Small curd blends smoothest.
- Too thin? Chill it for 30 minutes. It thickens as it sits.
- Not chocolatey enough? Blend in another tablespoon of cocoa, and a little more maple syrup to balance it.
Variations
- Pudding Mix Version. Swap the cocoa powder and maple syrup for half of a small box of instant pudding mix (any flavor) and blend with 1 cup of cottage cheese and a splash of milk until smooth. It’s a fun way to try chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, or cheesecake flavors.
- Vanilla Pudding. If you prefer vanilla pudding, don’t use the cocoa powder and add vanilla protein powder for another high protein option. You can also add vanilla extract.
- Extra Protein. Add a scoop of protein powder to pack even more protein into this recipe. You can use whey protein powder or plant based. Milk may need to be added to the mixture if you add protein powder.
- Dairy Free. Swap the cottage cheese for dairy-free cottage cheese.
- Chia Seeds. Toss in chia seeds when blending for added fiber.
- Peanut Butter. For a delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter, add peanut butter into the mixture.
- Toppings. While optional, feel free to top with chocolate chips, granola or nuts. We also like fresh fruit including strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
- Chia Seeds. Blend in 1 tablespoon of chia seeds for added fiber.
- Peanut Butter. Blend in 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter for a chocolate peanut butter pudding.
FAQ
Not if it’s blended until completely smooth. The cocoa and maple syrup cover the flavor. If you can still taste it, it’s usually the saltiness. Try a lower-sodium brand next time, or add a little more maple syrup.
Yes. It keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container, and it actually thickens as it sits. Give it a stir before serving.
Yes, double everything and split it into 2 servings for about 24 grams of protein each.
This makes 3 small servings, about ⅓ cup each and 8 grams of protein, which is perfect for an after-school snack or a small dessert. For one big high-protein serving, eat the whole batch for about 24 grams of protein.
More Easy Pudding Recipes
Give this Chocolate Cottage Cheese Pudding Recipe a try. Please leave a comment and star rating after you make it. It encourages me to read your comments.
Cottage Cheese Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cottage Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder
- 2-3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Place ingredients in a blender or food processor and combine until smooth and creamy. Blend 1–2 minutes, scraping the sides, until no curds remain.
- Serve and enjoy.
This was really good. I didn’t know how it would turn out with the cottage cheese, but the texture was smooth, and it was really delicious. Great recipe!