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Cottage Cheese Protein Balls

By Olena Osipov

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May 08, 2026

HP GF VG

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These Cottage Cheese Protein Balls are a creamy, high-protein snack made with simple ingredients, perfect for keeping you full and satisfied.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I fell in love with these cottage cheese protein balls so much, I immediately whipped up Greek yogurt protein balls too. Every day both excite me equally! Not a day goes by I don’t have one!

I based this recipe on my cottage cheese cookie dough and high protein cookie dough bark, but they are even better! Here is why:

Balanced nutrition: Each protein ball with cottage cheese has 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of healthy fats and 6 grams of complex carbs.
Lower sugar: My cottage cheese protein balls recipe has only 4 grams of sugar.
Delicious: Creamy center enclosed in a crunchy chocolate shell – sign me up!
Guilt-free: I love that their nutritional info is of a healthy snack and yet they taste like a dessert and satisfy sweet tooth!
Freezer-friendly: Perfect for meal prep, freeze for 3 months and thaw one in 5 minutes.

Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Protein Balls

Cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, almond flour, peanut butter, vanilla, maple syrup, salt, coconut oil, chocolate chips.

Cottage cheese: Unlike with other cottage cheese recipes, it doesn’t really matter what fat % or thickness cottage cheese you use because we blend it with other ingredients. My go-to is 2% but feel free to use 4% or non-fat cottage cheese.
Peanut butter: It adds creaminess. Make sure it’s natural and has no extra ingredients. I didn’t even melt it to room temperature because we end up blending all wet ingredients anyways. You can use any seed or nut butter.
Maple syrup: My favorite sweetener of all time. You can also use honey or any liquid sweetener.
Protein powder: Please use vanilla whey protein powder. I used Leanfit whey vanilla protein powder. You can use any other flavor, if you like, just know the flavor will change.
Almond flour: To add healthy fats, protein and fiber. I use Kirkland superfine blanched almond flour. You could use oat flour but will need less of it.
Vanilla extract: It really adds extra flavor in addition to vanilla protein powder.
Salt: To help all other flavors shine.
Chocolate chips: I prefer to use dark chocolate chips to lower the sugar. You can also use Lily’s sugar free chocolate chips.
Coconut oil: To help thin out the chocolate for the chocolate shell.
Flaky sea salt: It’s optional and is for those who love the combo of sweet and salty.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Protein Balls

Line large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Blend wet ingredients: In a large bowl, add cottage cheese, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and blend with an immersion blender.
Add dry ingredients: Add protein powder and whisk. Then fold in almond flour with rubber spatula until dough forms.
Shape and chill: Using small cookie scoop, scoop mixture onto prepared baking sheet. I got 18 balls. Freeze for 30 minutes so they are easier to roll.
Melt the chocolate: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Melt in a microwave in 1 minute intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
Roll and coat: Roll each semi-frozen protein ball, place on a fork and spoon melted chocolate over it until fully covered. Or drizzle a pattern on top.
Freeze: Place back on a tray and freeze for another hour.

Close up of cottage cheese protein ball showing texture inside.

Tips for Best Results

Chocolate design: To cut back on sugar, I included enough chocolate to coat half of the balls in a shell and half are drizzled with it. You can add more chocolate and coat all of them.
To cut on fat: Use peanut butter powder mixed with water.
About blending: I like to use an immersion blender because it’s easier to clean. You can use a stand alone blender or a food processor.
Use only whey protein: Don’t use plant-based protein powder because it absorbs way more liquid.
Be careful how you coat: Don’t add cold cottage cheese protein balls to a bowl with warm melted chocolate. It will melt them and make a mess of a chocolate.

How to Store

When it comes to high protein snacks made with wet Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, I prefer to keep them in a freezer. Just because they get soggy really fast in a refrigerator.

Place these cottage cheese energy bites in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When you crave one, all you have to do is just thaw it for 5 minutes and it will be creamy. Enjoy!