Description
This 5-minute Cottage Cheese Banana Pudding is a nostalgic, high-protein treat that perfectly hits the spot when you crave a classic dessert! Blended until incredibly silky with a ripe banana and a touch of honey, it tastes just like a decadent, spoonable pudding without the heavy cream, making it ideal for a quick snack or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups Cottage cheese (2% or 4% milkfat preferred for creaminess)
- 1 large Very ripe banana (heavily spotted peels provide the best natural sweetness)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons Honey, pure maple syrup, or agave (adjust based on the banana’s sweetness)
- 1/2 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
- Fresh banana slices and crushed vanilla wafers (optional, for a classic garnish)
Instructions
- Blend the Base: Add just the cottage cheese to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed. Continue blending until the dairy is completely silky smooth and absolutely no curds remain.
- Add Flavor: Add the ripe banana, your chosen sweetener, and the vanilla extract to the smoothly blended cheese.
- Incorporate & Adjust: Blend again for 30 to 45 seconds just until the banana is completely puréed into the base and the mixture turns a beautiful, pale yellow. Taste the mixture and add an extra teaspoon of sweetener if needed.
- Portion and Chill: Pour the blended pudding evenly into 4 small glass jars, elegant tumblers, or ceramic ramekins. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours to allow the pudding to set and thicken into a soft, spoonable texture.
- Serve: Serve chilled. Top generously with fresh banana slices and a sprinkle of crushed vanilla wafers right before eating!
Notes
- Texture Tip: Do not rush the blending step! Blending the cottage cheese entirely on its own first ensures you completely eliminate the curds before the moisture of the fruit is introduced.
- Choosing Your Banana: A firm yellow banana will yield a bland, thin dessert. You must use a very ripe, brown-spotted banana for the best flavor, natural sweetness, and thick texture!
- Make it Sugar-Free: Easily keep this lower-carb by using a powdered monk fruit or stevia sweetener instead of honey.
- Storage: Store the jars covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended, as thawing will cause the moisture from the fruit to separate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dessert / Breakfast
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 145 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 2.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg