Cottage cheese chocolate mousse is a light, airy, rich and creamy protein packed dessert made with healthy and simple ingredients. Layer this cottage cheese dessert with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings for even more deliciously decadent flavor.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I love quick, easy and healthier for you recipes. My Tiramisu Overnight Oats, Blueberry Overnight Oats, Oat Flour Pancakes, Strawberry Parfait, Date Snickers and Frozen Yogurt Bars are a few healthy, make ahead recipes that I absolutely adore. This chocolate cottage cheese mousse recipe is another healthy recipe I know you will love just as much as I do.
- Super simple to make. Make this wonderfully easy layered chocolate cottage cheese dessert in about 10 minutes. Then allow the creamy chocolate mousse to set in the fridge to set, thicken and then enjoy.
- Minimal ingredient dessert. You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this high protein dessert.
- Lots of protein and fiber. Thanks to the cottage cheese and chia seeds, this creamy chocolate mousse packs lots of protein and fiber.
Ingredients
This chocolate cottage cheese mousse recipe needs only a handful of ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge. Here’s what you will need to make this creamy and decadent dessert.
Ingredients: Gather cottage cheese, maple syrup, cocoa powder, chia seeds and vanilla extract. If you would like to serve this cottage cheese dessert as picture, you will also need freshly whipped cream (heavy cream and a sweetener of choice) and chocolate shavings.
Substitutions
This chocolate cottage cheese mousse is meant to be so easy you can make it as a casual dessert to enjoy anytime. Here are my recommended substitutions if you need them.
- Cottage Cheese: For the best cottage cheese chocolate mousse, I recommend using a 4% fat cottage cheese. There isn’t really a great substitute for cottage cheese that creates the same final texture. Good Culture is a great cottage cheese if you can find it.
- Maple Syrup: Feel free to use honey or any other liquid sweetener of your choice in place of the maple syrup. You can also use ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar or monk fruit in place of the maple syrup. Another option is to melt ½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips.
- Dutch Process Cocoa Powder: Feel free to use regular unsweetened cocoa powder. I prefer using Dutch process when possible for it’s smooth, fuller chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: This is added for flavor. Feel free to omit if needed, but I highly recommend using the extract.
- Chia Seeds: I like adding chia seeds to this mousse for a thicker and creamier consistency. Feel free to omit if you prefer not to use chia seeds.
How To Make
Learn how to make cottage cheese chocolate mousse in a few easy steps.
- Place the cottage cheese, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract and chia seeds into a food processor or high speed blender. Mix the ingredients together on medium or high speed for 30 - 60 seconds. Stop every 15 - 20 seconds to scrape the bottom and sides of the processor or blender. Taste and adjust the ingredients to achieve the flavor you want. If needed, continue to mix the ingredients together until the mousse is smooth and creamy.
- Pour the chocolate cottage cheese mousse into serving containers or glasses.Transfer the mousse to the fridge to set, thicken and chill for 30 - 60 minutes or up to overnight. Top the mousse with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings and enjoy. Other serving options include topping the mousse with fresh fruit, granola, or stirring in crushed cookies like Oreos to make a shake like mousse dessert.
How To Make Ahead, Store, freeze and Thaw
- Make Ahead: This chocolate cottage cheese dessert can be made a day in advance. Make sure the mousse stays completely covered with plastic wrap. If you plan on layering this mousse and making the mousse ahead of time, I recommend waiting to layer the mousse and whipped cream until right before serving.
- Store: Make sure the cottage cheese mousse is completely covered with plastic wrap. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days after making.
- Freeze: Rather than assembling these chocolate cottage cheese mousse in glass cups or serving dishes, use plastic or another freezer safe container. Pour your desired amount in the container. Allow the mousse to set in the fridge for 2 - 3 hours. Then cover the container with plastic wrap and foil for additional protection. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: Transfer the cups from the freezer to the fridge to thaw overnight. Layer the chocolate mousse with heavy cream and enjoy.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use full fat cottage cheese and keep blending. For the creamiest and smoothest cottage cheese chocolate mousse, use full fat or 4% fat cottage cheese, scrape the sides of the food processor or blender frequently and keep blending until smooth.
- Choose clear cups or serving dishes. One of the delightful things about this dessert is how pretty the layers look. Make sure to choose a clear serving cup to serve these chocolate parfaits.
- Choose smaller serving cups. I found a 4 - 6oz. glass cup or serving bowl is the perfect size for these chocolate mousse cottage cheese dessert.
- Have fun with the toppings. Feel free to serve this chocolate cottage cheese dessert with crushed cookies, granola or layer with fresh fruit to make a high protein chocolate parfait.
- Mix it up. Add 1 -2 tablespoons nut butter to make a peanut butter chocolate mousse. Stir in crushed Oreo cookies or mini chocolate chips for a blizzard shake version.
- Allow for the full amount of chilling time. This dessert is the perfect make ahead dessert for entertaining and for holidays. After assembling the layered mousse cups, allow for at least 3 - 4 hours for the cups to chill and for the filling to properly set. Better yet, make them the day before you plan to serve them.
FAQs
It’s a healthier version of your favorite chocolate mousse dessert. This chocolate mousse with cottage cheese provides a lot of protein, calcium and fiber and uses a refined sugar free sweetener like maple syrup.
Using a high speed blender, good food processor or immersion blender, plus scraping the sides frequently will help create a smooth and creamy texture.
This is more of a personal preference to make the cottage cheese mousse really thick and creamy (and for a fiber boost). If you prefer, just omit the chia seeds.
Blending the cottage cheese creates heat which thins out the overall texture of the cottage cheese. Chilling the chocolate cottage cheese mixture for a bit sets the ingredients and gives them a more mousse like texture.
Other Chocolate Dessert Recipes to Try
If you try this Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M
Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse Recipe
Equipment
- 1 food processor or high speed blender
- 2 serving glasses
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) cottage cheese
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons (18 g) cocoa powder Dutch processed preferred
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds, optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the cottage cheese, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract and chia seeds into a food processor or high speed blender. Mix the ingredients together on medium or high speed for 30 - 60 seconds.1 cup (226 g) cottage cheese, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) maple syrup, 3 tablespoons (18 g) cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons chia seeds, optional, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Stop every 15 - 20 seconds to scrape the bottom and sides of the processor or blender. Taste and adjust the ingredients to achieve the flavor you want. If needed, continue to mix the ingredients together until the mousse is smooth and creamy.
- Pour the chocolate cottage cheese mousse into serving containers or glasses. Transfer the mousse to the fridge to set, thicken and chill for 30 - 60 minutes or up to overnight.
- Top the mousse with freshly whipped cream and chocolate shavings and enjoy. Other serving options include topping the mousse with fresh fruit, granola, or stirring in crushed cookies like Oreos to make a shake like mousse dessert.
Dez says
This was delicious! I will definitely make this again. Thank you! 🙂
Megan says
Hi Dez, I am so happy you loved the cottage cheese chocolate mousse. It's such a satisfying and high protein dessert option. 🙂