Dark Cherry Cottage Cheese Smoothie {Tastes Like Cheesecake}

This dark cherry cottage cheese smoothie is thick, creamy and tastes just like cheesecake! Each serving has 15 grams of protein without any protein powder. Try something new and delicious with this unique recipe!

In under 5 minutes, you could have a delicious smoothie for a quick breakfast or late-night snack. My toddlers even loved it – and always enjoy the whole process of making it. Five ingredients, under five minutes, with loads of flavor and healthy nutritional benefits! Give it a try! 

Ingredients

• Frozen Dark Sweet Cherries (1/2 cup). Cherries are rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. One study found that cherries significantly decreased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Any kind of berry will work with this recipe!
• Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup). A powerhouse ingredient full of protein – 14 grams per 1/2 cup serving! It adds a lot of creaminess and a little bit of tang. I used Good Culture 2% milkfat cottage cheese.
• Ground Flaxseed (or chia seeds). Ground flaxseeds are an excellent smoothie option for some healthy omega-3 fatty acids and a little bit of protein and fiber. Chia seeds, on the other hand, provide omega-3’s and 10 grams of fiber per two tablespoons!
• Jell-O Instant Cheesecake Pudding Mix (1 tablespoon). Only a tablespoon is needed for this recipe, and it adds even more cheesecake flavor. It is not gluten-free but the vanilla flavor is!
• Unsweetened Almond Milk (1 cup). For a higher protein content without protein powder, sub with Fairlife skim milk.
• Honey: Optional, but I found a teaspoon to really sweeten up the smoothie – otherwise, it’s a little too tangy for my taste.

Nutrient Profile

This smoothie contains 245 calories, 17 grams of protein, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber and 20 grams of sugar (with honey included). 

A good source of fiber and protein, as well as alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) from the flaxseeds. ALA has been shown to decrease the risk of heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, and atherosclerotic lesions (2). However, fish is still considered a better option of omega-3 fatty acids due to better absorption. So just a reminder to aim for at least two servings of fish per week!

How to Make it Higher in Protein

Protein contains molecules which are harder to breakdown than carbohydrates and fats, therefore, they help with satiety. Eating a high protein diet can keep us fuller for a longer period of time. 

Adequate protein intake can also help to preserve lean body mass when trying to lose weight. When you’re restricting calories, carbohydrates and fat to results in a drop in the scale – it’s important to still meet your protein needs as maintaining muscle tissue increases our metabolism. This is vital for weight maintenance, after you reach your goal weight.

So if you’re making this smoothie, specifically as a meal – you may be wondering how make it even higher in protein. 

• Protein Powder: One scoop usually contains at least 20 grams of additional protein.
• Milk: By replacing the water with low-fat milk, you would be adding 9 grams of protein.
• Greek Yogurt: One package of Light N’ Fit yogurt contains 12 grams of protein. Additional water may be needed if the smoothie becomes too thick. There is even a strawberry cheesecake flavor option!
• Cottage Cheese: You could increase the cottage cheese to one cup, and add water until you reach the desired consistency. More honey may be needed for sweetness.
• Hemp Hearts: Add 2 tablespoons of hemp hearts for 10 grams of additional protein.

How to Make This Cheesecake Smoothie

Add Everything to a Blender

Gather all ingredients. The cottage cheese will be whipped into a smooth and creamy consistency with the rest of the ingredients – so no need to blend it beforehand. Using a blender or Nutri-Bullet, blend until smooth. This would be delicious topped with whipped cream!

Dark Cherry Cottage Cheese Smoothie {Tastes Like Cheesecake}

Alex Evink, MS, RD

A creamy, high protein, nutritious smoothie that tastes just like cheesecake! If you're looking for a unique spin on the average smoothie, give this a try! It's not too sweet with a little bit of tang.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 minute min

Cook Time 2 minutes mins

Total Time 3 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 1 serving

Calories 245 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds or ground flaxseed
• 1 tablespoon Jell-o Instant Cheesecake Pudding Mix
• 1/2 cup dark frozen cherries, or preferred fruit
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• Drizzle of honey (optional)

Instructions

 

• Pour ingredients in a blender: start with the water, then honey, cottage cheese, cheesecake mix, flaxseed and cherries. Blend until smooth.

Notes

• To increase the protein content, add 1 scoop of protein powder OR sub the almond milk with Fairlife skim milk.
• Use chia seeds to increase the fiber content instead of flax.
• Sub with any kind of berry you want. Strawberry cheesecake would also be delicious!
• Add more honey if you prefer a sweeter smoothie. Otherwise, this is a good blend of tangy and sweet.

Nutritional information: 245 calories, 17 grams of protein, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 20 grams of sugar, 6 grams of fiber.

Keyword cottage cheese smoothie, high protein snack idea

Enjoy!

Whether you’re a women trying to lose weight, or a busy mom- I hope you enjoyed this dark cherry cottage cheese smoothie. I wouldn’t have thought to add cottage cheese to a smoothie until the whole viral whipped cottage cheese trend happened on TikTok!

For me, sometimes the thought of getting the blender out and involving my kids in the process seems daunting – but every time I do it I realize it’s pretty easy and quick to clean up. My kids love it! It makes them more eager to try it as well.

If you tried this recipe, what did you think? Would you change anything about it? I love feedback, so feel free to leave a comment! 

Alex Evink, MS, RD

Hello! I’m Alex Evink, Registered Dietitian (RD) for over 10 years and moderately messy mom to two girls. As a RD, I believe in evidence-based research – but I don’t believe in perfection. My life can be pretty messy but I do my best to keep a balance that works for me and my lifestyle. I’m a foodie at heart, love Taylor Swift and read books in my free time.