Description
Delight in these Blueberry and Lemon Zest Cottage Cheese Bites, a healthy and flavorful snack or breakfast option. Packed with protein from cottage cheese and oats, naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup, and brightened by fresh lemon zest and juicy blueberries, these mini bites are easy to make and perfect for on-the-go enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Flavorings and Add-ins
- Zest of 1 large lemon (about 1 tbsp)
- 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 Batter: 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 well combined, creating a smooth batter.
- Fold in Blueberries: Transfer the batter to a mixing bowl and gently fold in the fresh or frozen blueberries to distribute them evenly without crushing.
- Rest Batter: Let the batter rest for 5 minutes to allow it to thicken slightly for better consistency.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared mini muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake for 18-22 minutes or until the bites are firm to the touch and lightly golden on top.
- Cool: Allow the bites to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they set perfectly.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen blueberries, but do not thaw frozen berries to prevent the batter from becoming watery.
- You can substitute honey with pure maple syrup for a vegan-friendly sweetener, but the recipe is not fully vegan because of the egg and cottage cheese.
- These bites can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Feel free to swap rolled oats with gluten-free oats if you need a gluten-free version.
- For a stronger lemon flavor, add up to 1.5 tablespoons of lemon zest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini bite (approx. 24 servings from recipe)
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 3.5g
- Sodium: 40mg
- Fat: 1.2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0.8g
- Protein: 3.5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: blueberry bites, lemon zest snacks, cottage cheese recipes, healthy breakfast, protein bites, baked snacks, gluten-free option
