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Creamy Cottage Cheese Strawberry Parfait

May 25, 2023 by Gina +

High protein creamy, blended cottage cheese that’s lightly sweetened and nestled in between layers of strawberry jam and crushed graham cracker. It’s an easy dessert that’s healthy too.

This combination of simple ingredients creates a treat that’s perfect for after dinner or as a snack. The combination of creamy cottage cheese, sweet strawberry jam, and crunchy graham cracker can be the ideal way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Not only is this cottage cheese parfait dessert tasty, but it also has the added benefit of protein, which can leave you feeling full and satisfied for hours.

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A clear glass cup with a strawberry cheesecake parfait filed inside.  Another serving is to the right

For an extra sweet treat, you can top the cottage cheese parfait with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon. Adding these extra layers of flavor will make for a truly delicious, nutritious, and satisfying snack. Even better, you can easily tweak the recipe to fit your mood – swap out the strawberry jam for blueberry, or use shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers, and you have a totally new and unique treat. With just a few simple ingredients you can create a wide variety of sweet and satisfying treats.

A board with two glass cups and strawberry cheesecake parfaits inside.  Decorative strawberries placed around on glass dishes.  Graham cracker crumbs also placed around.

For this recipe, and all my cottage cheese recipes, I love using Good Culture cottage cheese. It’s thick, creamy, and has the best flavor. If you choose to use another one, aim to pick one that is small curd, and not runny. That will help create the thickest and fluffiest filling. For the graham crackers, I like these or these because they don’t have a ton of sugar, but use what you like. For the strawberry jam, I made one with strawberries, a little maple syrup, lemon, and chia seeds. Of course, you can use a jarred one, but those often have a lot more sugar. All in all, this can be super simple, or with a few extra steps, a super healthy treat.

A board with two glass cups and strawberry cheesecake parfaits inside.  Decorative strawberries placed around on glass dishes.  Graham cracker crumbs also placed around.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE PARFAIT


  • Graham crackers
  • Cottage cheese
  • Maple syrup or honey
  • Strawberry jam (or strawberries, lemon, and chia seed for homemade jam)
  • Lemon
  • Lemon zest

HOW TO MAKE COTTAGE CHEESE PARFAITS


  • If you want to make the strawberry jam, start by cooking the strawberries in a small pan on medium heat. Cook until they start to break down.
  • Stir in the chia seed, maple syrup, and a little lemon with a pinch of salt. Turn off the heat and allow the chia seeds to thicken the jam. Once cooled, store in fridge before serving.
  • For the cottage cheese, place all the ingredients, the cottage cheese, maple syrup, lemon, and lemon zest in a food processor and blend until thick and creamy. Don’t over blend. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
  • To serve, take 5-6 graham cracker sheets and place them in a plastic bag. Gently tap with something heavy to break them into crumbles.
  • Take 4 small dishes, layer in graham crackers, then the cottage cheese, jam, more cottage cheese, then top with some more graham crackers. Serve cooled. You can even add some whipped cream and fresh berries if you want.

TIPS AND COMMON QUESTIONS FOR PARFAITS


  • Do I have to include the cottage cheese? This isn’t totally necessary, but it is a great protein addition.
  • Keep an eye on the pasta towards the end. You do not want to overcook it.
  • Vegetarian options? I would suggest using a plant-based meat substitute or skipping the meat altogether. Mushrooms would be a nice addition too.
  • Can I sneak in some more vegetables? Absolutely, at the end, stirring through some spinach is a good way to get some greens. Give it a chop and the hot pasta will wilt the greens.
A clear glass cup sits on a wood board with a strawberry cheesecake parfait filed inside.  Another serving is to the right

MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS


  • Protein Peanut Butter Cups
  • Apple Crumb Bars
  • Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Cottage Cheese Strawberry Parfait

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cool Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings: 4 parfaits
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Cheese layer
  • 1 16oz container cottage cheese small curd, not runny
  • juice from half a lemon & zest
  • 3-4 tbsp maple syrup
Graham Cracker Layer
  • 5-6 graham cracker sheets
Strawberry Jam Layer
  • 2 cups stawberries
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • juice from 1/2 lemon
  • 1 tbsp chia seed
  • pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. For the strawberry layer, add the strawberries to a small pot over medium heat.  Simmer with maple syrup until the strawberries break down, about 5 minutes.  Add the chia seed and lemon juice.  Mash then turn off the heat until it thickens.
  2. For the cheese layer, blend everything in a food processor, until thick and smooth.
  3. Place the jam and cheese layer separately in the fridge to cool. This is best served chilled
  4. To assemble, grab 4 small jarsLayer a spoonful of graham crackers, then some of the cheese filling, some strawberry, and more of the cheese filling, then top with more graham crackers.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
A clear glass cup with a strawberry cheesecake parfait filed inside.  Another serving is to the right

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: cottage cheese, dessert, healthy dessert, high protein, parfait, refined sugar free, strawberry

Trackbacks

  1. Chicken Flautas - Gina Gibson says:
    June 7, 2023 at 9:21 am

    […] High Protein Strawberry Parfaits […]

  2. Our Best Cottage Cheese Desserts – thehappy-chef.com says:
    January 29, 2025 at 4:18 am

    […] 8. Strawberry Cottage Cheese Parfait […]

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Whether you’re here for easy dinners, healthier comfort food, desserts, or just because you love scrolling food videos (who doesn’t)… thank you for being here.

And shoutout to my gorgeous photographer cousin @oakandpoppyphotography who got my introverted, shy self to finally take some branding photos
This peach cobbler bakes under cookie dough and me This peach cobbler bakes under cookie dough and melts under ice cream.

Warm peaches, brown sugar cookie topping, and one pan. 
I serve it straight from the skillet, with a scoop of vanilla.

6 fresh peaches, sliced (skin on or off)
1 tbsp maple syrup or monk fruit
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp butter or coconut oil
CRUMB TOPPING
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
2 tbsp cane sugar or monk fruit
½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
¼ tsp baking soda
3 tbsp melted butter (or coconut oil)
2 tbsp Greek yogurt
½ tsp vanilla extract

Sauté peaches in oven-safe 9” skillet with butter until soft (5–6 min).
Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, and sweetener.
Top with crumb mixture.
Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream.
Mini ciabatta rolls, mayo on one side, pesto on th Mini ciabatta rolls, mayo on one side, pesto on the other, arugula, provolone, salami, turkey, tomato, and a little flaky sea salt.

Wrap them up, throw them in the cooler, and lunch is done. 

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Summer trip 🧡 Summer trip 🧡
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Pile the saucy pulled chicken onto toasted brioche buns with creamy sesame pickle slaw and extra pickles. Save this one for your next summer gathering!
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I figured it was probably time to properly introdu I figured it was probably time to properly introduce myself. ❤️

I’m Gina—a recipe developer, food lover, wife, mom of two, and someone who believes good food doesn’t have to be complicated

Whether you’re here for easy dinners, healthier comfort food, desserts, or just because you love scrolling food videos (who doesn’t)… thank you for being here.

And shoutout to my gorgeous photographer cousin @oakandpoppyphotography who got my introverted, shy self to finally take some branding photos
This peach cobbler bakes under cookie dough and me This peach cobbler bakes under cookie dough and melts under ice cream.

Warm peaches, brown sugar cookie topping, and one pan. 
I serve it straight from the skillet, with a scoop of vanilla.

6 fresh peaches, sliced (skin on or off)
1 tbsp maple syrup or monk fruit
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp butter or coconut oil
CRUMB TOPPING
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar)
2 tbsp cane sugar or monk fruit
½ tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
¼ tsp baking soda
3 tbsp melted butter (or coconut oil)
2 tbsp Greek yogurt
½ tsp vanilla extract

Sauté peaches in oven-safe 9” skillet with butter until soft (5–6 min).
Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, and sweetener.
Top with crumb mixture.
Bake 350 for 25-30 minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream.
Mini ciabatta rolls, mayo on one side, pesto on th Mini ciabatta rolls, mayo on one side, pesto on the other, arugula, provolone, salami, turkey, tomato, and a little flaky sea salt.

Wrap them up, throw them in the cooler, and lunch is done. 

They’re easy and they travel well, perfect after a morning at the beach.
Summer trip 🧡 Summer trip 🧡
Had to share again because a few of you had been r Had to share again because a few of you had been raving about it. 

This Butter Pecan Coffee Cake Loaf with Brown Butter Maple Glaze is everything I love about fall baking. Trying to stay with summer but can’t help but to dream🤎 Soft, buttery, packed with toasted pecans, and finished with the most incredible brown butter maple glaze.

Comment “PECAN” and I’ll send you the recipe! 🍁
Summer gatherings call for dinners that basically Summer gatherings call for dinners that basically make themselves. 
These Sweet & Savory Korean BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are made right in my 10-quart Autuku slow cooker, which means plenty of room to feed a crowd without spending all day in the kitchen.
The simple WARM/LOW/HIGH settings make it easy to set it and forget it, and the PFOA-free ceramic pot is removable, so you can bring it right to the table when it’s time to serve.
Pile the saucy pulled chicken onto toasted brioche buns with creamy sesame pickle slaw and extra pickles. Save this one for your next summer gathering!
#AUTUCU #autucukitchen #slowcooker
I figured it was probably time to properly introdu I figured it was probably time to properly introduce myself. ❤️

I’m Gina—a recipe developer, food lover, wife, mom of two, and someone who believes good food doesn’t have to be complicated

Whether you’re here for easy dinners, healthier comfort food, desserts, or just because you love scrolling food videos (who doesn’t)… thank you for being here.

And shoutout to my gorgeous photographer cousin @oakandpoppyphotography who got my introverted, shy self to finally take some branding photos

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