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This healthy, no-bake cottage cheese banana pudding is about to become your favorite go-to dessert recipe. Made with protein-rich cottage cheese and nutrient-dense bananas for a smooth, creamy, and sweet treat you can eat anytime of day.
This creamy little treat is such a fun way to satisfy that sweet craving while still getting a boost of protein. Frozen bananas blend up beautifully with cottage cheese to create a smooth, naturally sweet, ice-cream-like base, then each jar gets finished with a thin layer of melted dark chocolate that sets into the most satisfying shell.
The banana adds vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and natural sweetness, the cottage cheese makes it rich and creamy with a protein boost, and that crackly chocolate topping makes every spoonful feel extra special.
Who says healthy eating can’t be decadent and delicious?! Certainly not us… with well over 12 years of sharing these delicious whole food ideas to prove it!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredient Health Benefits
- Ingredients
- Variations And Substitutions
- How To Make Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding
- Rachel’s Tips For The Best Results
- How To Serve Protein Banana Pudding
- Make Ahead And Storage Tips
- Recipe FAQs
- More Healthy Banana Desserts You’ll Love
- Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding Cups Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Our Banana Cottage Cheese Dessert Jars are perfect to keep in the freezer for an easy after-dinner treat, a high-protein snack, after workout snack, or whenever you want something cold, creamy, and chocolatey ready-to-go. Here are some other reasons you’ll love them:
- High Protein Dessert: Cottage cheese is naturally high in protein meaning this dessert will help you fill up on healthy ingredients and keep you full longer.
- Mixed 5 Minutes: In just 5 minutes, you’ll have a thick, creamy, healthy no-bake dessert you can enjoy.
- Whole Food Ingredients: It feels indulgent, but it’s made with simple, nourishing ingredients you can feel good about, because you carefully chose each one!
- Eat It Anytime: Okay, I know we’re calling this a “dessert”, but it’s made with healthy, protein-rich cottage cheese and bananas…so you could totally have this for breakfast or as a snack to help keep you full between meals or after a workout.
Speaking of cottage cheese dessert recipes that will keep you full, we have so many to choose from on the CFC site.
So if you’re looking for more sweet cottage cheese recipes, you’ll definitely want to try this cottage cheese cheesecake cups recipe or this cottage cheese chocolate chip cookie dough recipe next.
Ingredient Health Benefits
The cottage cheese and banana combo in this pudding creates a whole food snack that delivers vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates and protein that are all important for your health. And while bananas are the star of the show today, you can read more about the health benefits of cottage cheese on our site too.
Why Bananas Are So Good For You
Despite some “bad press”, bananas are a VERY nutritious fruit that can be a great addition to a healthy diet. They offer numerous health benefits due to their richness in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like:
- Rich in Potassium: Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, an essential mineral that helps maintain healthy blood pressure, promotes bone health, and supports muscle function.
- Good Source of Fiber: Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help regulate bowel movements, prevent constipation, and support healthy digestion.
- Antioxidant Properties: Bananas contain antioxidants, such as vitamin C and phenolic compounds, that help protect the body against free radicals and oxidative stress.
- Supports Heart Health: The potassium, fiber, and antioxidants in bananas can help support heart health by reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
- Aids in Weight Management: Bananas are low in calories and high in fiber, making them a good addition to a weight loss diet.
- Supports Healthy Bones: Bananas are a good source of several minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium, that are essential for maintaining healthy bones.
- Can Help with PMS Symptoms: Bananas are a good source of vitamin B6, which can help alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as mood swings and bloating.
- Supports Healthy Gut Bacteria: Bananas contain prebiotic fibers that can help feed good gut bacteria, promoting a healthy gut microbiome.
- Can Help Lower Blood Pressure: The potassium content in bananas can help lower blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium and promoting healthy blood vessel function.
- Supports Healthy Skin: Bananas are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that can help protect the skin from damage, promote collagen production, and support healthy skin aging.
Ingredients
These are the clean ingredients that make this cottage cheese banana pudding recipe perfect for a healthy dessert, snack, or breakfast.
6 servings
- 3 medium bananas
- 3 cups cottage cheese
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup raw honey or pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
Variations And Substitutions
Skip The Chocolate Shell: While the chocolate shell is fun, it does take a little longer to add to the recipe. To make this recipe faster you can just stir some dark chocolate chips straight into the pudding.
Flavor Variations: Try this banana pudding recipe with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon instead of a chocolate shell.
Make High Protein Banana Pudding: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to make this an even higher protein dessert or snack. If it becomes too thick add a bit of liquid like milk or water.
How To Make Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding
Step 1. Before beginning this recipe, peel and slice your bananas then place them on a parchment paper lined tray and freeze until solid, around 2 hours.
Step 2. Once frozen, transfer your frozen banana slices to a food processor or high speed blender.
Step 3. Add the cottage cheese, vanilla, and honey.
Step 4. Process just until smooth and thick like a milkshake (don’t overblend).
Step 5. Spoon this mixture evenly into six small glass jars with lids.
Step 6. Place a heat-safe bowl over a pot with boiling water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. Add the chocolate and let melt, stirring occasionally until smooth.
(Or you can melt chocolate in the microwave. Add chocolate pieces to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 15-second increments until chocolate is fully melted, making sure you stir after each one.)
Step 7. Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate on top of each jar to create a very thin chocolate top. Freeze for 5 minutes to allow it to set or dig in and stir the melted chocolate right in
Rachel’s Tips For The Best Results
- Freeze these for a cold “frozen chocolate banana” type treat.
- Don’t over blend the mixture or it can become too thin. Just blend until there are no more lumps from the curds or bananas.
- I personally use Good Culture Cottage Cheese because of its thick texture, no extra added ingredients, and healthy gut culture.
- Sweetness is a personal preference. If you need to add more or less syrup, do it.
- Add protein powder for more protein.
No-bake desserts are a great way to indulge in a sweet treat when the day is already busy. Some other fast dessert recipes you may want to try are this Easy Pumpkin Pudding Recipe in just 15 Minutes, this Date Snickers Bars Recipe, or these Chocolate Date Quinoa Bites. All are no-bake recipes and made with whole food, natural ingredients.
How To Serve Protein Banana Pudding
Serve these banana pudding cups fresh or frozen, they are great either way, especially after a long day at school or after a hard workout. My kids love to take these over the top by dipping Navitas Organics Cacao Butter Wafers in the pudding cups or pouring the pudding on top of their sweet potato pancakes in the morning.
Make Ahead And Storage Tips
These healthy banana pudding cups were designed for make ahead meal prep, so they store well for the week. I suggest freezing the banana slices a few days ahead of making the recipe. Then, store the pudding cups covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
These store best in the freezer (freezer safe jars) tightly sealed for about a month. Remove from the freezer (set out on the counter) 10-15 minutes to thaw just a bit before enjoying.
Recipe FAQs
Do I have to freeze the banana slices?
You can make this recipe without freezing the banana slices, but the consistency of the pudding may be a bit thinner.
Can you make pudding with cottage cheese?
Absolutely! Cottage cheese pudding from blended cottage cheese creates a great pudding consistency that can be flavored in many different ways…like banana pudding!
Is this cottage cheese pudding healthy?
Yes, cottage cheese pudding is healthy as long as you have good quality cottage cheese and don’t overload the pudding with extra sugar. This recipe uses natural maple syrup as the sweetener along with the natural sweetness of bananas.
How can I make this recipe thicker?
To make this a thick and creamy cottage cheese pudding, 1) Use a 2% or 4% fat cottage cheese, 2) Freeze the banana slices beforehand, and 3) Make sure you don’t over mix the ingredients in the blender.
How does cottage cheese change a banana pudding recipe?
The cottage cheese will increase the amount of protein in the banana pudding recipe but will also give the recipe a bit more saltiness.
Did you try this Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
🩷Rachel
More Healthy Banana Desserts You’ll Love
Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding Cups
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 medium bananas
- 3 cups cottage cheese
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup raw honey , or pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Peel and slice your bananas then place them on a parchment paper lined tray. Freeze until solid.
- Transfer your frozen banana slices to a food processor or high speed blender together with the cottage cheese, vanilla, and honey. Process just until smooth and thick like a milkshake (don’t overblend).
- Spoon this mixture evenly into six small glass jars with lids.
To melt your chocolate:
- Place a heat-safe bowl over a pot with boiling water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
- Add the chocolate and let melt, stirring occasionally until smooth.
- Or you can melt chocolate in the microwave. Add chocolate pieces to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 15-second increments until chocolate is fully melted, making sure you stir after each one.
- Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate on top of each jar to create a very thin chocolate top. Freeze for 5 minutes to allow it to set or dig in and stir the melted chocolate right in.
- These store well in the freezer (freezer safe jars) tightly sealed for about a month. Remove from the freezer (set out on the counter) 10-15 minutes to thaw just a bit before enjoying.
- Enjoy!
- Love, Rachel
Notes
- Don’t over blend the mixture or it can become too thin.
- Use a 2% or 4% fat cottage cheese for best results.
- Add more or less maple syrup to taste.
- Add protein powder for more extra protein.
More Banana Dessert Recipes:
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
