Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft and Chewy)

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make the best chocolate chip cookies with cottage cheese recipe:

• Coconut Oil: Melted butter works too.
• Cane Sugar: You can replace it with granulated white sugar or use coconut sugar for something less sweet.
• Cottage Cheese: It must be blended smooth or the dough will bake unevenly. I like to use full-fat cottage cheese for the most creaminess. You can also use non-fat cottage cheese. Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese blended smooth works well here.
• Vanilla Extract: You can omit it or replace it with 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract.
• Apple Cider: This helps the cookies bake pillowy soft. A splash of lemon juice or white vinegar does the trick.
• Egg White: A flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water) works for an egg-free option.
• Almond Flour: Hazelnut flour or even sunflower seed flour can step in here.
• Oat Flour: Creates a more classic cookie texture than almond flour alone. You can blend oats into flour or use gluten-free all-purpose flour instead.
• Tapioca Flour: This helps bind the cookies and make a smoother texture. You can also omit this and replace it with the same amount of more oat flour or arrowroot starch.
• Vanilla Protein Powder: This helps the cookies hold their shape, adds more flavor, and provides a protein boost. You can omit it and replace it with the same amount of oat flour. This is my favorite organic, plant-based vanilla protein powder for baking.
• Cinnamon: This adds a subtle flavor. You can omit if if you prefer.
• Baking Soda: This is necessary for the cookie structure.
• Salt: Adjust to taste or leave it out if preferred.
• Chocolate Chips: Dark chocolate, white chocolate chips, or even chocolate chunks of your favorite bar all work!

Easily Adapt This Recipe for Different Diets

This cookie recipe is naturally flexible and easy to adjust. With a few simple swaps, you can adapt it to fit different dietary needs while keeping the cookies soft, chewy, and flavorful.

• Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free oat flour and make sure your baking ingredients are labeled gluten-free.
• Dairy-Free: Swap the cottage cheese for a thick, dairy-free yogurt or blended silken tofu. Be sure to blend until completely smooth for the best texture.
• Vegan: Use a dairy-free cottage cheese alternative or blended silken tofu, replace the egg white with a flax egg, and choose a plant-based sweetener and chocolate chips.

💡 Pro Tip: If you make a substitution, check the dough consistency. It should be soft and scoopable, not runny. I’d love to hear how your swaps worked in the comments!