Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Soft and Chewy
These Soft and Chewy Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are naturally gluten-free with oat and almond flour with a protein boost from vanilla protein powder and cottage cheese; they bake up golden brown with a subtle nutty flavor. This easy gluten-free cookie recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients and has less sugar than traditional chocolate chip cookies.
These Soft and Chewy Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are everything you love about a traditional cookie, with a soft and chewy texture that feels just like the classic, but with a fun, wholesome twist. What sets this recipe apart is how incredibly easy it is to make—using simple, wholesome ingredients like oat and almond flour to keep them naturally gluten-free. With a boost of protein from cottage cheese and vanilla protein powder, this cookie dough recipe bakes up beautifully golden brown, with a subtle nutty flavor and plenty of melty chocolate chips.
Unlike your regular cookies, these are made without white refined sugar and have less sugar than traditional chocolate chip cookies, but still deliver on all the cozy, sweet goodness you crave. As someone who’s tested this recipe countless times, I can’t wait for you to try it and see how simple it is to make your new favorite gluten-free cookie!
Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Soft and Chewy Texture: These cookies have that perfect soft and chewy bite you’ll love in every single nibble.
- Loaded with Chocolate Chips: Every cookie is packed with melty, chocolatey goodness!
- So Simple to Make: Quick steps and easy ingredients make these a go-to recipe for any day.
- Pantry-Friendly: You likely already have most of the ingredients waiting for you at home.
What do cottage cheese chocolate chip cookies taste like?
Cottage cheese chocolate chip cookies taste just like the soft and chewy classic chocolate chip cookies you love, with no cheesy flavor at all! The cottage cheese simply makes the cookies extra moist and pillowy, while the subtle nutty flavor from almond flour and melty chocolate chips take them to the next level.
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: 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: 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 adds more flavor and 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!
How to Make My Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making my easy cottage cheese cookies. The instructions are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
Step 1: Make the Batter
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small food processor or chopper cup with an immersion blender, add 1/3 cup cottage cheese and blend until smooth.
In a large mixing bowl, add 1/3 cup blended cottage cheese, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 2/3 cup cane sugar until smooth, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon apple cider and mix until smooth with a hand mixer or upright stand mixer. Add 1 egg white and mix until incorporated.
Add the dry ingredients, including 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup oat flour, 1/4 cup tapioca flour, 1/4 cup protein powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix until you have a soft cookie dough. Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips.
Step 2: Scoop and Bake the Cookies
Scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
Scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
An optional hack for getting chocolate chips on top of the cookie is to add about 7-8 chips to the empty cookie scoop. Then scoop cookie dough into the scoop, being careful not to spill the chocolate chips. Then, release the scoop of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet, and the chocolate chips will now be on top of the cookie. Gently press them down to shape the cookie.
Bake for 9–11 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Expert Recipe Tips
Blending Cottage Cheese: Blending the cottage cheese makes the dough smoother and cookies fluffier.
Cookie Size: Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized cookies.
Baking Time: Remove them from the oven as soon as the bottom starts to turn a light golden brown. They will firm up as they cool.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Classic Pairing: Serve with a cold glass of milk or a dairy-free alternative.
- Warm and Gooey: Microwave for a few seconds before eating for melted chocolate goodness.
- Coffee Break: Perfect with a cup of coffee or espresso.
- Ice Cream Sandwiches: Use two cookies to sandwich a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
- Topping Twist: Sprinkle with flaky sea salt just before serving for extra flavor.
- Kid-Friendly Snack: Add them to lunchboxes for a fun treat.
- Party Favorite: Include them in dessert platters for any gathering.
Here are Amazon links to my favorite naturally sweetened protein powders that are very affordably priced:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Do you love cottage cheese? Check out more of my easy and nutritious baked recipes with cottage cheese:
Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies Soft and Chewy
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2/3 cup cane sugar
- 1/3 cup cottage cheese (blended smooth)
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon apple cider
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca flour
- 1/4 cup protein powder (vanilla)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small food processor or chopper cup with an immersion blender, add 1/3 cup cottage cheese and blend until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, add 1/3 cup blended cottage cheese, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 2/3 cup cane sugar until smooth, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon apple cider and mix until smooth with a hand mixer or upright stand mixer. Add 1 egg white and mix until incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients, including 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup oat flour, 1/4 cup tapioca flour, 1/4 cup protein powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and mix until you have a soft cookie dough. Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.An optional hack for getting chocolate chips on top of the cookie is to add about 7-8 chips to the empty cookie scoop. Then scoop cookie dough into the scoop, being careful not to spill the chocolate chips. Then, release the scoop of cookie dough onto the cookie sheet, and the chocolate chips will now be on top of the cookie. Gently press them down to shape the cookie.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Video
Can I leave out the protein powder? I don’t use it. Or what can I substitute for it?
Thank you!
Hi Ingrid, yes, I include substitutions in the Ingredients & Substitutions section. You can use the same amount of oat flour instead of protein powder 🙂
Beautiful recipe!
Thank you so much!
gluten free cookies are usually not good, everyone likes these, gluten free or not.
Thank you for the review, Alma! I’m so glad you found gf cookies you like 🙂
These are really good! No one could tell they had cottage cheese in them. This recipe is a keeper!
Thank you for the review, Lili! I’m so glad you enjoyed them 🙂
I hope you enjoy these soft and chewy cookies. Please let me know how they turn out 🙂