Quick Description:
Soft and creamy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, these chocolate-dipped blueberry cottage cheese clusters are a protein-packed, gluten-free snack. Perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up, dessert, or post-workout treat!
Servings & Timing
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (for chocolate)
- Resting/Freezing Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Servings: 14 cluster halves
Ingredients
Clusters:
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese, blended
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Coating:
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Step 1 – Prep:
- Cover a chopping board or tray with parchment paper.
Step 2 – Make the Clusters:
- In a large bowl, combine blueberries, chopped pecans, blended cottage cheese, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Form clusters on the parchment-lined board using about 2 tablespoons of mixture per cluster.
Step 3 – Freeze:
- Place the clusters in the freezer for 90 minutes. They should firm up slightly but remain soft inside.
Step 4 – Melt the Chocolate:
- Just before removing clusters, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Heat in 30-second increments, stirring in between until smooth and melted.
Step 5 – Dip the Clusters:
- Remove clusters from the freezer. Dip them into the melted chocolate, coating as much as desired.
- Place back on the parchment-lined board. Drizzle remaining uncovered areas with chocolate.
- Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. The chocolate will harden quickly.
Step 6 – Store & Serve:
- Keep clusters in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Slice in half before serving for bite-sized portions.
Tips & Notes
- Cluster Size: Use 2 tablespoons per cluster for uniform size.
- Chocolate Options: Swap dark chocolate for sugar-free or vegan chocolate if preferred.
- Make Ahead: Clusters can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Texture: Freezing longer will make the centers firmer; shorter freezes keep them soft.
Nutrition (Per 1 Cluster Half – 2 oz)
- Calories: 189 kcal
- Protein: 3.6 g
- Fat: 11 g (Saturated Fat: 5.6 g, Monounsaturated: 3.9 g, Polyunsaturated: 1.1 g)
- Carbs: 18 g (Fiber: 2.3 g, Sugar: 14 g)
- Cholesterol: 2.6 mg
- Sodium: 72 mg
- Potassium: 176.6 mg
- Calcium: 28 mg
- Iron: 2.1 mg
Dietary Info
- High-Protein
- Gluten-Free
- Vegetarian
- Low-Sugar Option (use sugar-free chocolate)
