This Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse is a luxurious dessert that feels far more indulgent than it actually is. It combines rich, creamy chocolate and cacao powder with the wholesome goodness of cottage cheese and is packed with protein.
It's also as simple as blending 4 ingredients together. Only 222 calories and 14g of protein per pot and so many different ways to adapt it, so you can have a different flavour every time.
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Is there anything you can't do with cottage cheese? It's having a bit of a moment, and we are loving experimenting with all the different ways to use it. Chocolate mousse with cottage cheese might be one of our favourites. It is SO creamy and you can't taste the cottage cheese at all.
This isn't as light and airy as a mousse would usually be, and it's more pudding like in texture. But the creaminess, and the flavour is next level. You would never know this was made with cottage cheese!
Satisfy your sweet tooth, and have a high protein dessert too. This high protein chocolate mousse is a great dessert swap if you usually buy high fat and sugar chocolate desserts.
If you are looking for more ways to use cottage cheese, then why not try our simple Cottage Cheese Dip, easy Cottage Cheese Bagels or lour creamy Scrambled Eggs with Cottage Cheese?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Cottage cheese - I used fat free, but you can use 2% or higher. Don't worry about the texture of cottage cheese, as it gets blended until it is smooth.
- Cacao powder - This is where the chocolate flavour comes from. You could use cocoa powder instead if you like.
- Maple syrup - This helps to add a little extra sweetness to the cottage cheese mousse. You could use honey or agave nectar if you prefer.
- Vanilla - This adds a lovely warm flavour. Make sure you are using extract and not essence, which will give it an artificial flavour.
- Chocolate - This is optional, but we like to melt some dark chocolate and add a little bit on top to add a "magic shell" type layer.
Variations
Chocolate chips - Everything is better with more chocolate, right? If you want some extra texture in the cottage cheese chocolate pudding, then why not add some chocolate chips? Milk, dark or white all work.
Protein - You could swap the cacao powder for some chocolate protein powder to give it a protein boost. Most protein powder is sweetened, so you might want to reduce the amount of maple syrup used.
Seeds - You can add some chia seeds to this, which not only increases the protein, but it gives it an amazing texture once the seeds expand.
Greek yogurt - If you want to make it extra cream and to bulk it out a bit, then you can do half cottage cheese and half Greek yogurt.
Peanut Butter - Chocolate and peanut butter are SUCH a good match. Blend some peanut butter in with this high protein chocolate mousse. Any nut butter will work.
Mint - If you love chocolate mint, then swap the vanilla extract for some mint extract.
Mocha - You can dissolve 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules in a teaspoon of hot water and add to the mixture for a coffee-infused treat.
How To Make Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
- Step 1: Put all of the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth, scrapping down the sides as needed and blending again. This will take about 45 seconds.
- Step 2: Pour into serving glasses.
- Step 3: For a chocolate topping (optional), melt the dark chocolate and drizzle a thin layer over the top of the mousse. Refrigerate until set - this will take about 2 hours.
Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse Serving Suggestions
Fresh Berries: Top with fresh raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries for a burst of freshness.
Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of whipped cream, Greek yogurt or coconut whipped cream for extra indulgence.
Nuts and Seeds: Sprinkle this chocolate cottage cheese mousse with chopped nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, or pistachios, for added crunch.
Shaved Chocolate: Garnish with chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder.
Dannii's Top Tips
- Ensure the cottage cheese is well-blended to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. If your blender isn't powerful enough, consider straining the cottage cheese before blending.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup based on your preference. Taste the mixture before chilling and add more sweetener if desired.
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavour. You can also experiment with milk or white chocolate if you prefer a sweeter mousse.
- For a grown up version, that would be perfect for a dinner party, why not add a little splash of Baileys?
- When adding the layer of melted chocolate on top of the cottage cheese mousse, don't add it too thick as it will make it too hard to crack into. You just need a thin layer.
- You don't have to refrigerate this cottage cheese chocolate mousse, but it will be very runny if you eat it straight away.
- My kids loved adding marshmallows on top of theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The mousse can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Freezing the mousse may alter its texture, making it grainy. It's best enjoyed fresh from the refrigerator.
Yes, you can use low-fat cottage cheese and that is what we have used. Full-fat cottage cheese will give you a creamier and richer mousse, but it will be higher in calories and fat.
Absolutely! Use dairy-free cottage cheese and yogurt, and replace make sure you use maple syrup or agave nectar. Also, ensure your chocolate is vegan.
You can try using an immersion blender or even a hand mixer. The key is to achieve a smooth consistency, so blend or mix thoroughly.
More Chocolate Recipes
If you've tried this cottage cheese mousse recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 220 g (1 cups) of Fat free cottage cheese
- 20 g (0.25 cups) of Cacao powder
- 2 tablespoons of Maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract
- 20 g (0.75 oz) of Dark chocolate - optional
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients into a blender.
- Blend until smooth, scrapping down the sides as needed and blending again. This will take about 45 seconds.
- Pour into serving glasses.
- For a chocolate topping (optional), melt the dark chocolate and drizzle a thin layer over the top of the mousse. Refrigerate until set.
Recipe Notes
- Ensure the cottage cheese is well-blended to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. If your blender isn't powerful enough, consider straining the cottage cheese before blending.
- Adjust the amount of honey or maple syrup based on your preference. Taste the mixture before chilling and add more sweetener if desired.
- Use high-quality dark chocolate for the best flavour. You can also experiment with milk or white chocolate if you prefer a sweeter mousse.
- For a grown up version, that would be perfect for a dinner party, why not add a little splash of Baileys?
- When adding the layer of melted chocolate on top of the cottage cheese mousse, don't add it too thick as it will make it too hard to crack into. You just need a thin layer.
- You don't have to refrigerate this cottage cheese chocolate mousse, but it will be very runny if you eat it straight away.
- My kids loved adding marshmallows on top of theirs.
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
Mila says
Never tried before. Absolutely loved it!
Lisa says
Very good! Tasted really rich & not at all like a healthy alternative. Will be making again
RK says
Everyone loved this and no-one guessed it was cottage cheese
Jim says
Possibly the worst chocolate pudding or mousse recipe I ever tried.
Dannii Martin says
Hi Jim,
Can you explain what you found so bad about this chocolate mousse?
Maybe something went wrong. Did you follow the recipe exactly? Or did you make any changes?
Maybe I can troubleshoot what went wrong, because, as you can see, other reviews have given this 5 stars.
Rachel says
Excellent recipe! Mine set really well - used half and half yoghurt and cottage cheese and added a spoonful of chia seeds which helped it set. Really tasty and filled me up!
S says
How long does this take to set? I made it in the afternoon and put it in the fridge and it is still runny the next morning… tastes good, though!
Dannii Martin says
It should definitely be set by now. Depending on the type of cottage cheese used, it might be runnier.
Namaste wrye says
Made this this morning can not wait till after dinner to try chilled. Tasted super rich made you wanna whip anytime for a chocolatey treat.
Dannii Martin says
Hope you enjoyed it!
Lizzy says
This worked well, had great texture and set nicely, but taste a tiny bit bitter and the cottage cheesy tang came through. I'd like to give it another try. I'm wondering what I can adjust or add to address the slight bitter /tangy tastes. Is it the brand od cheese / powder maybe? Any suggestions?