Lighter Chocolate Cottage Cheesecake (Printable)

A rich, creamy chocolate cheesecake made lighter with cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. This high-protein dessert delivers all the indulgence with fewer calories.

# What you'll need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
02 - 2 tbsp coconut oil or melted butter
03 - 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1 tbsp 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 tsp vanilla extract
11 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
12 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips, melted and cooled

→ Topping

13 - 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
14 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
15 - Dark chocolate shavings for serving

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 340°F. Line base of 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
02 - Mix graham cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and maple syrup until combined. Press evenly into pan bottom. Bake 8 minutes, then set aside.
03 - Blend cottage cheese until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add Greek yogurt, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, cornstarch, and melted chocolate. Blend until silky.
04 - Pour filling over cooled crust. Smooth the top evenly.
05 - Bake 35-40 minutes until center is just set but slightly wobbly. Turn off oven, crack door, and cool inside for 1 hour.
06 - Remove from oven and refrigerate at least 3 hours until fully set.
07 - Spread with Greek yogurt topping if desired and sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the creamy chocolate indulgence without that post-dessert heaviness that makes you want to nap on the couch
  • The cottage cheese creates this incredible protein boost that actually keeps you satisfied, not reaching for more snacks an hour later
02 -
  • The center wobble is your friend, if it's completely firm coming out of the oven, it'll be chalky after chilling
  • Let those eggs come to room temperature before mixing, cold eggs can seize up melted chocolate into tiny bitter lumps
03 -
  • Place a baking sheet on the rack below your cheesecake to catch any potential butter leaks from the crust
  • The crack-the-door cooling method is non-negotiable for preventing those dramatic cracks across the top
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