Description
These Blueberry and Lemon Zest Cottage Cheese Bites are a healthy, protein-packed snack or breakfast option. Combining creamy cottage cheese with rolled oats, fresh blueberries, and bright lemon zest, these mini bites are naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup and lightly baked to perfection in a mini muffin pan. They make a convenient, delicious treat that’s gluten free and perfect for a quick energy boost any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 large lemon (about 1 tbsp)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan to prevent sticking.
- Blend Ingredients: In a blender or food processor, combine the cottage cheese, rolled oats, egg, honey or maple syrup, vanilla extract, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt. Pulse until the oats are broken down and the mixture is evenly blended and smooth.
- Fold in Blueberries: Pour the blended batter into a mixing bowl and carefully fold in the blueberries to distribute them without crushing.
- Let Batter Rest: Allow the batter to rest for 5 minutes; this helps it thicken slightly for better texture when baked.
- Fill Mini Muffin Cups: Spoon the batter into the prepared mini muffin pan, filling each cup about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake the bites in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes until they are firm to the touch and lightly golden on top.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bites cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen blueberries without thawing to avoid excess moisture in the batter.
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to keep the recipe vegan-friendly if using a vegan egg substitute.
- These bites can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For a nutty flavor, try adding a tablespoon of chopped nuts or seeds to the batter.
- To make this recipe fully vegan, substitute the egg with a flax egg and use a plant-based cottage cheese alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini bite (approx. 30g)
- Calories: 55
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 1.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3.2g
- Cholesterol: 23mg
Keywords: blueberry bites, lemon zest, cottage cheese snacks, healthy breakfast, gluten free bites, protein snack
