Viral Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark with raspberries and chocolate is packed with 5 grams of protein. This healthy frozen treat is so easy to make with just 6 ingredients!
We also love to make banana bark, date bark and strawberry bark.
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High protein frozen cottage cheese bark is truly outstanding, it defies all expectations and tastes nothing like cottage cheese. My friends and kids couldn’t guess its secret ingredient, and as you can imagine none of them are fans of cottage cheese!
I was sceptical to try cottage cheese bark, but after making bagels with cottage cheese and cottage cheese pizza crust, I became a believer in all the cottage cheese hype!
This recipe is so good, it actually inspired me to make a cottage cheese pudding and cottage cheese tiramisu as well!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: Blend, top and freeze. The tough part of frozen no bake desserts is waiting for them to set but it’s worth it.
- Quick recipe: Prep time is just 15 minutes.
- High in protein: Each serving, or 2 pieces, packs 5 grams of protein. Feel free to add an extra protein boost, see suggestions below.
- Tastes delicious: It’s creamy and no one will be able to guess what it’s made with.
Ingredients for Cottage Cheese Bark
Whipping up cottage cheese bark is a snap with just 3 basic ingredients. Add your favorite toppings, and voilà, you’re good to go!
- Cottage cheese: For the creamiest texture, go with full-fat cottage cheese, I used 2%. If you’ve got 0% or 1% fat cottage cheese, it works too but results might be a bit less creamy.
- Maple syrup: I chose pure maple syrup as the sweetener, it’s refined sugar free and I love its taste. You can also go for honey or agave nectar.
- Vanilla: It helps to mask the taste of cottage cheese and enhances the overall flavor.
- Fresh raspberries: I tossed in around 30 raspberries for even distribution. They make this bark taste like a cheesecake. You could also use frozen raspberries but they are usually less sweet. Or use less fresh raspberries and cut them in half.
- Chocolate drizzle: We melt dark chocolate chips with coconut oil to create a smooth consistency that’s easier to drizzle.
How to Make Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark
This frozen cottage cheese bark recipe is super simple. All you need is a high speed blender, parchment paper and a baking sheet.
There is a full recipe card below.
Start by lining a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Blend cottage cheese base: Add cottage cheese, maple syrup, and vanilla to a high-speed blender. Blend until it turns perfectly smooth.
- Spread the mixture: Use a spatula to spread the mixture into a 1/4 inch thick layer. Sprinkle raspberries on top, making sure they’re perfectly spread out.
- Melt chocolate: Take a microwave-safe bowl and combine chocolate chips with coconut oil. Heat in 1-minute intervals, pausing to stir, for approximately 3 minutes or until the mixture is melted and smooth. Or do it on the stovetop like me.
- Drizzle and freeze: Use a tablespoon or small spatula to drizzle chocolate over the cottage cheese mixture and berries. Freeze for 2-3 hours.
- Serve: Grab a chef’s knife and slice the bark into 20 pieces. Enjoy!
Tips for Best Results
Here a few simple, handy tips for this effortless cottage cheese bark recipe.
- Use quality cottage cheese: Bark made with tasty cottage cheese has smoother texture, richer flavor, more protein, and less moisture, preventing it from turning overly icy.
- Use lower in sodium cottage cheese: This makes your dessert healthier and just tasting way better.
- Use blender over a food processor: You’ll find the texture to be gritty and less creamy when mixed in a food processor.
- Don’t spread it too thin: If you go too thin, the bark will have more icy texture and won’t provide enough depth for the toppings. It will be tricky to slice, leading to breakage or crumbling.
Variations
With countless variations to try, this viral bark recipe sure to be a top pick in your healthy snacks and healthy dessert recipes all year round.
- Other berries: Swap or combine fresh blueberries, blackberries, or diced strawberries.
- Nut butter: Select almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter, and either warm up and drizzle it or blend it with the cottage cheese mixture.
- Add more protein: I recommend whey protein powder because it will keep consistency smooth, plant-based will thicken it.
- Sugar free: Use a sugar free liquid sweetener and Lily’s sugar free chocolate chips.
- Nuts: You’ve got a world of chopped nuts to choose from! Almonds, walnuts, pecans, or pistachios would be my top picks.
- Crunch: Crumbled graham crackers will elevate the cheesecake taste, or toss in granola for a breakfast that feels like a sweet treat.
- Cookies: Crush up your favorite cookies and sprinkle them on top. Personally, I’m leaning towards trying Oreo cookies, Lotus Biscoff, or shortbread cookies.
- Caramel: Add another layer of sweetness with a drizzle of caramel.
- Other toppings: Make it uniquely yours! Play around with shredded coconut, sea salt, cinnamon, a swirl of Nutella, or other fresh fruit like bananas, peaches, mango, or cherries. Substitute chocolate chips for white chocolate, butterscotch, or Reese’s peanut butter chips.
How to Store
Freeze: You can enjoy cottage cheese bark straight from the freezer, then store slices in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Don’t place your frozen bark in the fridge, it will become too soft and you won’t be able to hold it.
FAQs
I recommend a quality brand like Good Culture, lower in sodium, 2% or 4% cottage cheese. If you can afford any other organic brand or local product, it’s great! Many of them contain carrageenan which is best to avoid, if possible.
Frozen cottage cheese bark tastes creamy, sweet, and tangy. Kind of like a frozen cheesecake or a dollop of cheesecake frosting, it’s just that good!
Yes. If you prefer a lower-fat option you can use low-fat cottage cheese but it may result in a slightly different texture. I used 2% cottage cheese and it was great. I think 1% and 0% will work too but will be just less creamy.
For the best consistency and taste, stick to keeping your cottage cheese bark in the freezer.
More Cottage Cheese Recipes to Try
More Frozen Dessert Recipes
Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark
Ingredients
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 30 raspberries
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a high speed blender or food processor, add cottage cheese, maple syrup and vanilla. Blend until smooth.
- Transfer mixture on prepared baking sheet and using a spatula, spread into a 1/4 inch thick layer. Place raspberries on top, spreading evenly.
- In a microwave safe bowl, add chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 1 minute increments for about 3 minutes, pausing and stirring in between until melted and smooth.
- Using a tablespoon, drizzle chocolate over cottage cheese mixture and freeze for 2-3 hours.
- Using a chef's knife, cut bark into 20 pieces. Enjoy frozen.
