In my family, the only thing we love more than dinner is what comes after–dessert (aka “the after party”). Most days, the only reason I even eat the main meal is so I can eat dessert guilt-free and without a sugar rush. But since I’m still riding high on my New Year’s resolutions, I have recently been on the hunt for a healthy dessert that can I actually eat without worrying about my conscience or my waistline.
These mini two-bite cheesecakes are the ultimate dessert-turned-meal. They’re made with deliciously creamy cottage cheese so they’re loaded with healthy fat, protein and even some fresh fruit, so they’re healthy enough to pass for breakfast!
To make these delicious cheesecake bites breakfast-worthy, I subbed out the rich cream cheese in favor of cottage cheese. I used Muuna because it contains zero artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners and it’s loaded with protein.
Okay, now back to the cheesecake. Instead of loading them up with refined sugar, I opted for unrefined coconut sugar and fresh, pitted dates instead. Then I made the crust from crushed walnuts for added protein and healthy fat. To finish them off, I topped them with some fresh raspberries and a little bit of unsweetened coconut cream.
With roughly 12 grams of protein per cheesecake, they’re good enough to eat for dessert but healthy enough to eat from breakfast. A win-win.
While the bites only take 25 minutes in the oven, you’ll still need to let them sit for an hour or so before digging in. But if you can wait that long, it’ll be totally worth it, I promise!
Healthy Mini Cheesecakes
Equipment
- Muffin pan
- Food processor
- Cheesecloth
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup packed pitted dates
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 2 cups Muuna 4% Cottage Cheese
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- Coconut cream chilled and separated
- Fresh raspberries
Instructions
- Make the crusts: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Place the raw walnuts and dates in a food processor and process until there are no lumps. Liberally grease a muffin pan and divide the crust mixture among 6 to 8 tins. Use your fingers to press down on crust. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and let cool.
- Reduce the heat to 325ºF and rinse out your food processor.
- Place in the cottage cheese in the center of large piece of cheesecloth. Gather the ends and squeeze the cheese until you have removed a lot of the liquid. Place the strained cottage cheese in the food processor and puree until smooth.
- Add sugar and vanilla and process again until smooth. Add the eggs and process until just mixed through. Spoon into muffin tins.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the center is almost set. Remove from the oven, cool, then refrigerate for 1½ to 2 hours.
- While your cheesecakes cool, whip the coconut cream until it's fluffy. Garnish the cheesecakes with coconut cream and raspberries just before serving.
Notes
11
I like strawberry anything.
Thanks for the contest.
I would like to try the Strawberry!
I am most excited to try the Pineapple.
I am most excited to try the pineapple.
Im excited to try the mango flavor.
I’d most like to try the blueberry flavor.
Strawberry for me!
I would love to try the Mango and Peach Flavors …. They look so good ….
I would be happy to try the Mango!
I hope I win this. I love vanilla flavor. Plain and simple
I would like the strawberry flavor.
I would love to try blueberry. I love anything blueberry. I have not tried these yet.
I would like to try the pineapple.
The Peach sounds good
The peach flavor sounds delightful!
I would love to try the pineapple!
I am excited to try the strawberry
My favorite flavor is blueberry!
I’d like to try the peach flavor.
I really want to try the blueberry flavor one.
Mango!
All of them sound great! I would love to try the classic plain! I use cottage cheese as a substitute for ricotta in my lasagna.
I’d prefer to try the plain, from there I can build my own flavor palate.
I would like to try all of them, especially peach and pineapple!
I would love to try their blueberry flavor!!
love to try the blueberry one.
All the flavors look delicious but I want to try the Peach flavor the most :)
First I would try their strawberry variety.
Would love to try the blueberry one.
I want to try strawberry.
peach
Pineapple
I would love to try the pineapple they all sound so good.
Would love to try pineapple.
All the flavors sound great, but I’d try the strawberry first!
Strawberry sounds great to me!
I’d like to try the strawberry.
I like the strawberry
I would love to try the pineapple flavor!
I would really like to try the mango flavor.
Strawberry, mango, and blueberry. I’m not a huge fan of peach.
The plain is what I like so I can flavor it myself!
I always like a good blueblerry flavor- these look great, can’t wait to try!
Mango or pineapple! All look great!
pineapple!!
I want to try the pineapple, blueberry and strawberry. I hope they start selling it in my area soon.
I am excited to try the Muuna mango flavor.
I want to try strawberry!
I want to try the pineapple, the blueberry and the plain! <3
I would be very excited to try this- I went gluten free exactly one year ago- Febraury 2016. My diet is currently limited to anything not packaged. I would love to have foods that are gluten free safe! Pick me please! <3
I love blueberry and peach, so either of those would be my choice.
STRAWBERRY SOUNDS AWESOME!
they all look so yummy but i think strawberry would be my fave
I would be most excited to try the strawberry flavor. Yum!
I want to try strawberry!
blueberry
I would love to try the strawberry.
I am most excited to try the peach. I love anything peach and these sound really yummy.
I’m excited to try the blueberry flavor.
I’d first try (and fight my hubby off) the pineapple cottage cheese!
I love cottage cheese and would definitely reach for the pineapple flavor first!
I would love to try the cheesecake
This cottage cheese sounds delicious! Would love to try the mango.
Mango and Peach would likely be my favorite.
I want to try Peach.
I’d like to try the pineapple.
I want to try the strawberry first.
looks yummy, also for an eastern European cheese kolache
I want to try mango first.
I’m most excited to try Pineapple.
I want this so much! We love cottage cheese!!
Im really excited about the individual serving cups. I love to have cottage cheese as a snack. Its perfect for a filing healthy snack.
Sounds like a great idea. I love cheesecake & mini sizes will fill the spot with out the calories
I think I’ll try the mango single serve cups next time I go to the grocery