Lighter Chocolate Cottage Cheesecake (Printable)

A rich, creamy chocolate dessert that's high in protein and lower in fat, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 2 tablespoons coconut oil or melted butter
03 - 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup

→ Filling

05 - 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
06 - 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar or sweetener of choice
09 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
12 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, melted and cooled

→ Topping

13 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
14 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
15 - Dark chocolate shavings for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Line the base of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup in a bowl until fully mixed. Press evenly into the prepared pan base. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove and let cool.
03 - Place cottage cheese in a food processor or blender and blend until completely smooth, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Add Greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cornstarch, and melted chocolate. Blend until silky smooth.
04 - Pour the chocolate filling over the cooled crust and smooth the top surface evenly.
05 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the center is just set but still slightly wobbly. Turn off the oven, crack the door open slightly, and allow the cheesecake to cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until completely set.
07 - Spread Greek yogurt topping over cheesecake if desired and sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent and rich while packing more protein than you'd expect from a dessert.
  • The texture is impossibly creamy because cottage cheese blends into something that feels like pure luxury.
  • You can actually eat a proper slice and feel good about it.
02 -
  • Blend your cottage cheese until it's completely smooth—any graininess will ruin the silky texture you're after.
  • That slight wobble in the center when it comes out of the oven is perfect; overbaking makes it dense and dry.
  • Let it cool inside the oven with the door cracked to prevent thermal shock that causes cracking.
03 -
  • If your cottage cheese still feels lumpy after blending, pass it through a fine-mesh sieve before adding the other ingredients.
  • Melt your dark chocolate and let it cool completely before mixing into the filling so it doesn't scramble the eggs.
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