Lighter Chocolate Cottage Cheesecake (Printable)

Rich, chocolatey dessert made lighter with cottage cheese and Greek yogurt for extra protein.

# What You 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Line the base of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup until evenly mixed. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove and let cool.
03 - In a food processor or blender, puree the cottage cheese until completely smooth, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
04 - Add Greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cornstarch, and melted dark chocolate to the blended cottage cheese. Blend until the mixture reaches a silky, uniform consistency.
05 - Pour the filling mixture over the cooled crust and smooth the top surface with a rubber spatula to ensure even distribution.
06 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the center is just set but retains a slight wobble when gently shaken. Turn off the oven and crack the door open slightly. Allow the cheesecake to cool inside the oven for 1 hour to prevent cracking.
07 - Transfer the cheesecake to the refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours, or until completely firm and set.
08 - Before serving, spread a thin layer of Greek yogurt topping over the surface if desired and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like decadence but leaves you feeling energized instead of weighed down.
  • The protein quietly does the work, so you can enjoy dessert without the mental math afterward.
  • Once you taste it, you'll stop believing that lighter means less delicious.
02 -
  • Blending the cottage cheese until completely smooth is the single most important step—this is where the magic happens and the texture goes from grainy to silky.
  • Don't skip the slow cooling step inside the oven with the door cracked; it prevents cracks and keeps the cheesecake creamy rather than dense.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly and create a lighter, more uniform filling—take eggs and cottage cheese out 30 minutes before baking.
  • If cracks appear after baking, spread the yogurt topping over them—it hides imperfections and adds another layer of flavor that feels intentional.
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