Healthy Protein Fudge Recipe (With Cottage Cheese)

Makes: 8 Servings
Per SerVing: 8g Protein | 254 Cal

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Whether you’re on a weight loss journey or just trying to eat a little bit healthier, you might be on the lookout for some recipes that feel indulgent and like a real treat, but still help support your overall goals. Consider these no-bake protein fudge squares the recipe you’ve been looking for. 

Creamy, fudgy, high in protein and naturally sweetened (with no baking or cooking required, unless you consider melting chocolate “cooking”), this sweet treat is the perfect thing to have on hand for after workouts, after dinner, or whenever you feel like your sweet tooth needs a little chocolate.

Why You’ll Love This Cottage Cheese Fudge Recipe

• No cooking or baking required: You can make this creamy, dreamy, chocolatey fudge recipe without ever needing to turn on the oven or spend time cooking the creamy base.

• Sweet enough to be a treat, high-protein enough to feel healthy: This high-protein dessert actually tastes like dessert, making it a recipe you’ll return to again and again. Plus, it contains 8 grams of protein per serving, for a treat that'll help you hit your protein goals.

• Made with super-simple, wholesome ingredients: You likely already have at least most of these ingredients in your kitchen. Just melt your chocolate, mix everything together, and give it time to chill and then enjoy.

• Great for meal prep: You can keep fudge in the freezer or fridge for days, making it a great choice to meal prep or keep on hand for whenever a chocolate craving strikes.

• Rich and creamy: This fudge is so rich and creamy, even without the addition of any heavy cream or condensed milk. You’re going to love it.

The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need For This High-Protein Fudge Recipe

• Dark chocolate chips (60-70% cacao): These chocolate chips will give the fudge a super rich, deep chocolatey flavor. Plus, the higher percentage of the cacao will help balance out the rest of the sweetness in the recipe. Melt your chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals or in a double boiler on the stove.

• Protein powder (whey protein powder or a whey/casein protein blend): Pick your favorite vanilla or chocolate protein powder. I recommend using a whey-based protein powder in this recipe, but if you don’t have that on-hand, you can also use a whey/casein blend.

• Blended cottage cheese or Greek yogurt: This ingredient is going to be the sneaky secret weapon in your fudge. It’ll give the mixture a creamy texture, add extra protein, and help to keep the fudge softer (instead of super solid). Blend the creamy cottage cheese in a high-speed blender or food processor until completely smooth.

• Unsweetened cocoa powder: An extra form of chocolate is going to make these super chocolatey and add extra depth of flavor.

• Maple syrup: Helps give the fudge an extra little bit of sweetness.

• Coconut oil or butter: Fudge needs a little fat. Choose refined coconut oil for a more neutral flavor.

• Nut butter (optional): I love adding a little bit of nut butter to make the fudge a little bit richer and more decadent.

Cottage Cheese Chocolate Fudge Pro Tips

• If the fudge mixture is too thick: If it feels like the mixture is thicker than it should be, add a tablespoon or 2 of warmed milk or almond milk. Stir well to mix.

• Let the mixture chill: Before slicing, make sure you let the fudge chill completely. That’ll give you the cleanest edges.

• Add toppings if you’d like: A swirl of nut butter, seasonal sprinkles, extra chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or crushed freeze-dried berries before chilling the fudge will really dress it up.

How to Store This Protein Fudge

• In the fridge: If you want to store your fudge in the fridge, pack it into an airtight container (separate layers of fudge with parchment paper to keep them from sticking together!), and pop in the fridge for up to 5 days.

• In the freezer: It’s even easier and more convenient to store this high-protein treat in the freezer. Place the fudge in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let the fudge thaw at room temperature for about 5 or so minutes before enjoying for the best texture.

Nutrition Information (Per Serving - Makes 8 Servings)

• Calories: 254

• Protein: 8g

• Carbs: 31g

• Fat: 10g

Swaps & Substitutions

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it’s so adaptable and forgivable. If you need to make some swaps, here’s how to do that with confidence:

• In place of the cottage cheese or Greek yogurt: Try using a thick dairy-free yogurt. Plant-based yogurts like coconut yogurt and almond yogurt can work well in place of dairy-based yogurt or blended cottage cheese. The texture might be slightly softer, but it’ll still work well.

• Try a different sweetener: Instead of maple syrup, you can use the same amount of honey.

• Nut butter options: You can use peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter in this recipe if you’d like, but you can also leave out the nut butter entirely if you’d like a firmer, more chocolatey fudge.

• Add your favorite toppings: Everything’s better with toppings, right? Before chilling the fudge, swirl in or dollop some date caramel, raspberry jam, or marshmallow fluff, or sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, seasonal sprinkles, chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, etc are all great!), or a little flaky sea salt.

FAQs

• Can I use a plant-based protein powder instead of the whey protein?

  You can, but the end result won’t be quite as good. You’ll need to make some extra adjustments to make sure the fudge turns out right. When working with plant-based protein powders, you might find that you need to add a little extra moisture to the mixture to get the right texture. If you try making this recipe with a plant-based protein powder, add some extra milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is smooth.

• Does this high-protein sweet treat just taste like protein powder?

  No! One of the things I love most about this recipe is that (at least when using whey protein powder) the fudge tastes super chocolatey and like a real treat. Make sure you use high-quality protein powder and cocoa powder for the best results.

• What’s the best way to make these fudge squares dairy-free?

  If you want to create a dairy-free version of this high-protein fudge, use a dairy-free yogurt (like coconut yogurt or almond yogurt), dairy-free chocolate chips, coconut oil instead of butter, plant-based protein powder, and a non-dairy milk. The texture might be a little bit different, but it should work out just fine.

• What should I do if the fudge mixture is too thick?

  If you find that your fudge mixture is too thick, it might be because of the protein powder you used. Different protein powders will absorb liquid differently, so if the mixture feels too hard to spread well add a little milk, about a tablespoon at a time, and stir until smooth.

• How long will this high-protein fudge stay fresh?

  It depends on how you store it. If you store it in an airtight container in the fridge, it’ll last for up to 5 days. If you choose to store it in the freezer, make sure to store it in a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

• Can I make a larger batch of this recipe?

  If you want to make a larger batch, double the recipe and use a 9x13 baking pan. You may need to chill the fudge for longer to let it set up completely before slicing.

Perfect for post-workout snacking, late-night chocolate cravings, or anytime you’re looking for something indulgent that’ll still help you meet your goals, this healthy, no-bake, high-protein fudge recipe is going to become a new favorite fun sweet treat. Make it and stash some in your freezer, you’ll thank yourself later.

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High-Protein Fudge

Yield: 8

Author: Ashley aka The Protein Snack Queen

This cottage cheese fudge recipe is the high-protein sweet treat recipe you’ve been waiting for. With 8g of protein per serving and a super rich, chocolatey flavor, it’s going to become a new freezer staple.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (60–70% cacao)
• 1.5 scoops (45g) vanilla or chocolate protein powder (whey or whey/casein blend works best)
• 1 cup low-fat Greek yogurt or 1% cottage cheese, blended smooth
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
• ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• Optional: 1 tablespoon nut butter (for richness)
• Optional toppings: mini chocolate chips or sprinkles

Instructions

1. Melt the chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with butter (or coconut oil or butter). Stir until smooth.
2. Mix in the protein and other ingredients: Remove from heat and whisk in Greek yogurt (or blended cottage cheese), protein powder, cocoa powder, vanilla, salt, and maple syrup until thick and glossy. If it feels too stiff, add 1–2 tablespoons warm milk or almond milk. If it's too soft, add another tablespoon of protein powder.
3. Spread it into a pan: Line an 8×8-inch or o8x9 inch dish with parchment. Spread the mixture evenly into the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Add sprinkles or chocolate chips on top
4. Let it set: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm enough to slice.
5. Slice and serve: Slice into ~1-inch squares. Keep in the freezer (or fridge) and let it thaw for 5 minutes before enjoying.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

254

Fat

10 g

Carbs

31 g

Protein

8 g