High Protein Cottage Cheese Cosmic Brownies Recipe
These Protein Cosmic Brownies are the ultimate sweet treat for anyone who grew up obsessed with those classic Little Debbie snacks but actually wants to feel good after eating them. We're talking rich, fudgy brownies topped with a silky chocolate ganache and rainbow sprinkles, with around 17g protein per serving.
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- 8x8 baking pan
- Silicone Spatula
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 16 oz full-fat cottage cheese
- 1 cup drippy peanut butter
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder optional
For the ganache
- 1½ cups chocolate chips
- 6 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup whole milk
- Rainbow sprinkles for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare to bake. Pre-heat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8 brownie pan with parchment paper for easy removal and set aside.
- Mix the batter. Add the cottage cheese to a food processor or blender and pulse until completely smooth with no lumps remaining. Transfer to a large bowl and add the peanut butter and all remaining dry ingredients. Using a fork or silicone spatula, mix the brownie batter until fully combined. Note that this batter will be very thick, much thicker than traditional brownie recipes. That's exactly what you want!
- Bake. Scoop the batter into your prepared pan and use the back of a spatula to press it down evenly across the pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes for fudgy brownies, or 25 minutes for a cakey texture.
- Cool. Once baked, leave the brownies in the pan to cool completely for best results. Don't rush this step, they firm up as they cool and will be much easier to slice.
- Make the ganache. Add the chocolate chips and butter (cut into tablespoon slices) to a small heatproof bowl. Heat the milk until steaming either on the stovetop or in 30-second microwave bursts then pour it over the chocolate and butter. Let it sit for 1 minute, then slowly whisk until the melted chocolate and melted light butter are fully incorporated and no clumps remain. You should have a glossy, smooth melted chocolate sauce.
- Top and chill. Pour the chocolate ganache evenly over the cooled brownies. Scatter rainbow sprinkles (or natural sprinkles if you prefer) over the top. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set before slicing.
Notes
Expert Tips & Tricks
Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth. Any lumps left in the cottage cheese will show up in your final brownie. Take an extra 30 seconds to make sure it's fully pureed. Don't overbake. These are meant to be fudgy brownies. Pull them at 15-20 minutes and they'll continue to firm up as they cool. Check your level of doneness with a toothpick it should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter. Use drippy peanut butter or almond butter. Stiff or old nut butter will make the batter even harder to mix and can affect the final texture. If your peanut butter has separated, stir it well before measuring. Let the ganache set fully. I know it's tempting, but refrigerating for the full hour makes slicing so much cleaner. If you cut too early, the ganache will slide around. Line your pan with parchment paper. This is non-negotiable for easy removal. Leave a little overhang on the sides so you can lift the whole slab out cleanly before slicing into bars. Use a sharp knife for clean cuts. For the most aesthetic brownies, run your knife under hot water and dry it before each cut.How to Store Protein Cosmic Brownies
Store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The ganache stays set and the brownies hold their fudgy texture beautifully throughout the week making them a perfect meal prep sweet treat. You can also freeze these! Slice into bars, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge overnight. Tried this recipe?Mention @prettydeliciouslife or tag #PDLrecipes!