Cottage Cheese Tiramisu is a lighter twist on the classic Italian dessert that packs 12 grams of protein and is not overly sweet!

Cottage cheese tiramisu served on a plate with a fork.

Once I tasted creamy cottage cheese pudding, I knew it would make amazing tiramisu! It tastes just like the classic mascarpone and heavy cream filling but is lower in fat and higher in protein.

Pure genius! Cottage cheese tiramisu is a decadent yet guilt-free healthy dessert. And after a bit of experimenting, I even got rid of the saltiness of cottage cheese, this recipe is a hit!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • High in protein: Every slice of healthy tiramisu has 12 grams of protein.
  • Low in fat: Enjoy that rich flavor without the added saturated fats found in mascarpone and heavy cream.
  • So easy to make: Prep time is a short 20 minutes with no raw eggs or baking hassle, just blend, layer and chill.
  • Classic dessert everyone loves: I find that majority of people love tiramisu, maybe minus small kids! But it’s definitely one of those crowd pleasing desserts because “cream and coffee”!

Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Tiramisu

Just 7 simple ingredients go into making this cottage cheese tiramisu recipe.

Cottage cheese, lady fingers, coffee, milk, cacao powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract.
  • Cottage cheese: Any fat percentage cottage cheese will work for this high in protein tiramisu. When possible, choose organic cottage cheese.
  • Milk: Any milk works, but to save on calories I like to use dairy-free milk such as unsweetened almond milk.
  • Liquid sweetener: I opt for pure maple syrup or honey as my natural sweeteners.
  • Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds flavor to the cottage cheese mixture.
  • Coffee: Use cooled strong coffee or espresso for dipping ladyfingers.
  • Ladyfinger cookies: The main ingredient in tiramisu with a soft, cake-like texture. You can find them at most grocery stores or buy online.
  • Cacao or cocoa powder: Dusted on top for a rich chocolate finish.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Tiramisu

This recipe is super simple! Blend, layer and chill. Here is a quick overview how to make cottage cheese tiramisu. You can also find full recipe card below.

Step by step process how to make tiramisu with cottage cheese.
  • Rinse cottage cheese: Place cottage cheese in a fine mesh sieve, rinse with cold water to remove excess salt, and allow it to drain for a few minutes.
  • Blend cottage cheese mixture: In a high-speed blender, combine cottage cheese, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Blend until smooth for about 2-3 minutes, pausing to scrape.
  • Layer: One by one, dip 6 ladyfingers into cold coffee, ensuring they’re coated on both sides. Arrange them in a single layer in your loaf pan, add 1/3 of the cottage cheese mixture on top, and level it with a spatula. Repeat for 2 more layers.
  • Chill: Securely cover the loaf pan with tin foil and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight for better results. Sprinkle with cacao powder before serving, slice and serve.
Finished tiramisu cake sprinkled with cacao powder in a loaf pan.

Tips for Best Results

Before you dive into layering, here are some quick tips for the best tiramisu with cottage cheese results.

  • Don’t skip rinsing the cottage cheese: It will make your cake taste less salty and much better. Simply use a fine mesh strainer and drain it thoroughly.
  • Lady fingers size: Their sizes vary, so make sure to cut the second row with a serrated knife to fit your pan. Remember, the loaf pan widens as it gets taller, so cut each layer a bit longer. You can place them either vertically or horizontally.
  • Use cold coffee: Brew it first thing and let it cool, I used my Nespresso machine. A more flavorful coffee or espresso is better, but strong drip coffee does the trick too. Speed up the cooling process by using a shallower bowl and popping it in the fridge.
  • Quick dip: Dip ladyfingers one at a time. Just a quick dip on each side is enough not to over soak the cookies, which can make your tiramisu cake collapse.
  • The longer you chill, the better: The cake will just hold its shape better and will be easier to slice, but after 4 hours it will still taste delicious.

As I always mention with my no bake desserts, patiently waiting for it to chill is the most challenging part.

A slice of cottage cheese tiramisu served on a plate. Lady fingers on the counter.

How to Slice and Serve Tiramisu

Slicing layered desserts precisely can be a bit tricky. For the best results, use a sharp knife to cut your tiramisu into 6 even rectangular pieces, ensuring you wipe the knife clean between each cut.

I’ve found that a flexible silicone spatula works perfectly for lifting the slices.

How to Store

Store: Keep your tiramisu tightly covered and in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It slices easier and tastes its absolute best when chilled!

Freeze: I haven’t experimented with freezing, and honestly, I’d advise against it. The texture might not be too enjoyable after thawing.

FAQs

Will I taste cottage cheese in this tiramisu recipe?

No. By using the same mix of ingredients as in my cottage cheese pudding, and adding the extra step of rinsing the cottage cheese, the blend of maple syrup and vanilla works wonders in masking any salty undertones.

What are ladyfingers?

Ladyfingers, or “savoiardi” in Italian, are sweet, finger-shaped sponge cookies commonly used in desserts like trifles and tiramisu. When layered with cream, they adopt a delightful cake-like texture. They’re available in most large grocery stores, Italian markets, or online. Also, here are gluten free ladyfingers.

What cottage cheese should I use?

Feel free to choose any fat percentage cottage cheese for this high in protein tiramisu, the sodium content doesn’t matter since we will be rinsing it. Organic cottage is better. You can also use lactose free cottage cheese.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, you can double the recipe and layer it in a 8 x 8 baking dish.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Absolutely! Cottage cheese tiramisu keeps well and can be prepared 1-2 days ahead of time.

More Cottage Cheese Recipes

Check out all of our cottage cheese recipes!

More Cake Recipes to Try

A bite taken out with a fork of cottage cheese tiramisu cake on a plate.
Cottage cheese tiramisu served on a plate with a fork.

Cottage Cheese Tiramisu

Cottage Cheese Tiramisu is a lighter twist on the classic Italian dessert that packs 12 grams of protein and is not overly sweet!
5 from 4 votes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 214
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Place cottage cheese into a fine mesh sieve and rinse with cold water to remove extra salt. Let drain for a few minutes.
  • In a high speed blender, add cottage cheese, milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Process until smooth, about 2-3 minutes, pausing and scraping the walls of a blender with a spatula, if necessary. Transfer to a medium bowl.
  • Get 9 x 5 loaf pan and place cold coffee into another small bowl. Tiramisu will consist of 3 layer of 6 cookies each. Measure to make sure 6 cookies fit into a loaf pan and if necessary trim them to fit in. I had to do that.
  • Dip 6 lady fingers one by one into cold coffee to make sure to coat on both sides. Place in a single layer in a loaf pan, top with 1/3rd of cottage cheese mixture and level it with spatula. Repeat with 2 more layers.
  • Wrap the loaf pan tightly with tin foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or better if overnight.
  • Place cacao powder into a small fine mesh sieve and sprinkle on top of tiramisu. Using a knife cut into 6 slices. To serve, use flexible silicone spatula. Serve tiramisu cold.

Video

Notes

Store: Refrigerate tiramisu tightly covered for up to 5 days. I haven’t tried to freeze it and probably don’t recommend it. Its texture might be unpleasant upon thawing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Olena Osipov
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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