While food trends may come and go, recipes with cottage cheese continue to be viral magic on TikTok. If you’re left wondering why, you’re not alone, so we’re here to explain this phenomenon.
Cottage cheese has earned the rep of being a bit of a high-protein nutritional powerhouse. Add to this the fact that it has a lovely creamy texture and a relatively neutral flavour base, and it’s no wonder cottage cheese is popping off on TikTok.
From savoury to sweet, the humble ingredient’s versatility continues to shine, and here are 10 cottage cheese renditions from TikTok that prove it.
Cottage cheese ice cream
Cottage cheese ice cream has gone completely viral thanks to Lainie Cooks on TikTok. Ice cream in any form is a yes from us, so we’re all for a hacky high-protein ice cream that you can make your own.
@lainiecooks Peanut butter cheesecake ice cream… I’m freaking out #proteinicecream #probiotics #hacksoflife ♬ Calm Dooowwnnn Lalalaaa (Remix) – FAITAH NADA
There are many different variations out there – the sky really is the limit when it comes to this viral trend – but the OG base is made from just two simple ingredients: cottage cheese and honey. Blend until smooth, freeze and voila, no-churn high-protein ice cream!
Cottage cheese pasta
Think creamy mac-and-cheese or a non-traditional fettuccine Alfredo. Using an immersion blender, you can blend cottage cheese into a smooth consistency, then use it to add protein and a creamy texture to all your favourite pasta dishes.
Cottage cheese bark
Remember yoghurt bark? It was essentially a “healthier” alternative to chocolate bark, but in frozen form. This can be done with cottage cheese too.
You may be thinking “why would someone make a sweet snack or dessert out of cottage cheese?” Well, it’s actually extremely tasty!
Sweetened cottage cheese when blended and topped with anything from fresh fruit to peanut butter or melted chocolate makes a rather refreshing high-protein dessert bark the whole family can enjoy.
Cottage cheese cookie dough
Sam Gwaz first introduced cottage cheese as the base of a high-protein edible cookie dough, and TikTok can’t seem to get enough, with many users claiming that it actually tastes like good old raw cookie dough!
@thesamplan HOLY 🔥 how does this taste exactly like cookie dough?? cottage cheese is really having its moment in the sun 👌🏼 . . INGREDIENTS: – 1lb low fat cottage cheese – 2 tsp vanilla – 1/4 cup maple syrup – 1/2 cup protein powder – 2 cups almond flour INSTRUCTIONS: 1. blend cottage cheese, vanilla, and maple syrup 2. transfer to a bowl and mix in protein and almond flour 3. finish with 1 cup chocolate chips 4. enjoy!!! . recipe from @Jake Cohen #highprotein #healthyrecipes #healthyfood #cottagecheese #ediblecookiedough ♬ dont blame me nightcore – dani (taylor’s version)
The blended dairy product gets mixed with maple syrup, vanilla extract and almond flour, with chocolate chips being added at the end for a sweet treat that’s supposedly guilt free. Who could resist anything with chocolate chips, so it’s a cookie-dough win from us!
Cottage cheese and mustard dip
Why is everyone on TikTok dipping veggies into cottage cheese and mustard? Well, the cottage cheese-and-mustard diet is supposedly a key component to TikTokker’s Tiffany Magee’s weight-loss journey. This viral-sensation combination has made Tiffany famous, as she’s used it as a dip for vegetables, fruit and chicken sausage, and reportedly eats this combination with almost every meal.
@tiffanyymageeeHAVE YOU TRIED HEARTS OF PALM- #lunch #weightloss #eatlunchwithme #mustard #applesausage #veggieswithmustard #asmr #crunchy #crunchylunch #healthyrecipes #healthylifestyle #chickensausage #applechickensausage #mukb♬ original sound – TiffanyElizabeth | Weight Loss
While the jury’s still out on this one, we’re fascinated by the AMSR-style videos Tiffany posts and more than willing to give this one a shot!
Cottage cheese-avo toast
Next time you’re about to smash up an avo, add cottage cheese and voila: high-protein breakfast, snack or lunch sorted. Bonus, you can consider yourself super trendy!
Whipped cottage cheese bowls
When it comes to whipped cottage cheese bowls, you can go savoury or sweet. It really depends on your preference. The cottage cheese is blended with a seasoning of choice – for a sweet variation, honey or maple syrup is blended into cottage cheese and topped with fruit or granola. Blend pesto and cottage cheese together for a savoury version and top with roasted veggies.
It’s basically like a yoghurt bowl but made super thick with cottage cheese – definitely a high-protein take that’s worth a try.
Cottage cheese blender pancakes
If you’ve ever messed up homemade protein pancakes by using too much protein powder and had to eat the world’s driest pancakes, you’ll understand how temping these cottage cheese blender pancakes are! Plus, you can flavour them as you wish with banana or peanut butter.
Cottage cheese smoothies
Adding cottage cheese to your smoothies is the protein-hack you didn’t know you needed until the trend blew up on TikTok. The outcome is wonderfully creamy and you end up with a protein-packed smoothie.
PS If you add cottage cheese to your favourite blueberry-based smoothie recipe, you end up with a blueberry cheesecake-flavoured smoothie, and if you’re starting your day with “cheesecake”, it’s bound to be a good one!
Cottage cheese bread
Whether we’re talking about the viral two-ingredient cottage cheese bread or the viral two-ingredient cottage cheese bread, cottage cheese bread is clearly having it’s moment and we’re so here for it!
Carolina Gelen created the five-ingredient concept, which is trending on TikTok because, first, who doesn’t love bread and, second, it’s reportedly so easy to make, fluffy, tender and, of course, high-protein from the added cottage cheese – all wins when it comes to bread!
@carolinagelen cottage cheese bread #cottagecheese #bread #homemadebread ♬ Sunday – HNNY
Not yet convinced by the magic of cottage cheese? Remember, as with any food trend, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!