Pumpkin Protein Pudding with Cottage Cheese (Instant!)

Place 1 cup pumpkin puree in a clean kitchen towel, nut milk bag, or layered paper towels. Gently squeeze out excess moisture. This helps the pudding set up thick and creamy.
In a food processor or high-speed blender, combine the strained pumpkin puree, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Blend until silky smooth.
You can enjoy it right away, but chilling it for at least 30 minutes helps it thicken even more. Serve with graham crackers, whipped topping, or pecans!

Strain your pumpkin: Removing excess liquid gives you a thick, pudding-like consistency.

Blend until super smooth: This gets rid of the cottage cheese texture completely.

Choose the right protein powder: Some plant-based powders may need a bit more maple syrup or vanilla to balance flavor.

Make it ahead: This sets up even better after a few hours in the fridge.

Did you make this recipe?Please let me know in the comments below how it turned out :)