This quick and easy 5-ingredient chocolate mousse is so insanely delicious and makes the perfect balanced and satisfying snack in just 10 minutes! Creamy cottage cheese gives a major protein boost (almost 30g of protein per cup) and a good dose of daily calcium, making it a satisfying snack that is as nourishing as it is delish!
As a busy mom and dietitian, I’m always on the lookout for snacks that are quick to prepare, nourishing, and most importantly delicious options that the whole fam will actually eat. This chocolate mousse (which just happens to be high protein) ticks all the boxes!
The secret to this decadent mousse is the cottage cheese base. Yup, you heard that right—you’ve just gotta trust me on this one! It blends right in making the perfect creamy base we love in a mousse! Throw in that melted chocolate and cocoa powder and you’ve got a silky-smooth, drool worthy snack that will satisfy on all fronts.
Now I’m not suggesting you ditch your favorite traditional mousse recipe, which typically uses cream for the base for its own wonderful flavor and texture. The certified intuitive eating counselor in me needs you to know there is room for both!
Intuitive eating is all about ditching the food rules…all of them, which includes villainizing foods like mousse or ice cream, eat and enjoy! It also means that it’s ok to opt for a version with some added nutrition—so long as it’s not “rules” driven and won’t take away from the enjoyment.
I might whip up this high protein cottage cheese mousse version for a snack or dessert when I know the extra energy and sustenance will actually be more satisfying, while I may recognize that only the real deal will do on another occasion. You get to decide what works for you at any given moment.
Ingredients You Need For This Chocolate Mousse
Cottage Cheese: The star of this mousse, providing a creamy texture and a good dose of protein (around 30 grams per cup). When we cook with salt, it actually enhances the flavor of the other ingredients and the slight saltiness of cottage cheese is the perfect touch to balance out this recipe!
Dark Chocolate Chips: These deliver the rich, decadent chocolate flavor that makes this mousse soooo satisfying! And I won’t argue the antioxidant benefits! Feel free to use milk or white chocolate if you prefer!
Cacao Powder: Adds depth and richness to the mousse, and helps to thicken it up and lend to the overall consistency.
How To Make Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
Melt chocolate in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between to ensure it doesn’t burn.
Add cottage cheese, melted chocolate, and cocoa to a food processor and blend until smooth (make sure not to overmix as this can cause it to thin out).
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days. When ready to eat, top with whip or yogurt, fresh berries and walnuts if using.
Mistakes and Fixes
Overheating the Chocolate: If you overheat the chocolate, it can become clumpy or grainy. Melt the chocolate in 20-second increments in the microwave, stirring in between each interval to prevent burning. It’s ok if there is still a bit of unmelted chocolate, just give it a stir and the residual heat will finish the melting without burning!
Overmixing the Mousse: If you blend the cottage cheese and chocolate mixture for too long, it can become too thin. Blend until just smooth to maintain the desired texture.
Using Low-Fat Cottage Cheese: I recommend using at least a 2% cottage cheese for the best texture and most satisfying mousse.
Skipping Optional Toppings: While definitely delicious on its own, I really find the toppings balance out the flavor and texture of this mousse. The cold and creamy of the whip or yogurt plus the crunch of nuts and fresh juicy flavor of berries just make the perfect little bites! That said you can totally mix up the toppings or skip them if that’s your preference!
Adjusting Sweetness: If you find the mousse isn’t sweet enough, you can add maple syrup to taste. Start with 1-2 teaspoons and adjust as needed to reach your preferred sweetness.
Nutritional Benefits (Nutrition by Addition)
Before I jump into the nutrition benefits of this cottage cheese chocolate mousse, I want to talk about the philosophy of nutrition by addition. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this philosophy focusing on what you can add to your plate versus what to cut out.
Often I talk about it in regards to an ingredient. Like, adding cottage cheese into pesto pasta sauce for an easy boost of protein in a one pot meal or to provide more sustenance and blood sugar balancing properties to something like this blueberry breakfast smoothie for an extra dose of filling protein. But it also applies to what you eat throughout the day, like adding a snack in between meals instead of “holding off” until dinner. Or adding some veggies to a pasta dish with a bit of extra fiber and nutrients, rather than cutting out the pasta from your plate.
My clients love learning about this nutrition philosophy in my Make Food Feel Good Program but I always share this important caveat— while I love the opportunity to give a nutritional boost where it fits, not every meal needs to be perfectly balanced!
Add when it feels good, but remove the pressure when it doesn’t, or when you just feel like that plain ol’ pasta dish just as it is. The key is, these additions shouldn’t impact your satisfaction or enjoyment.
Alright, let’s take a look at some of the nutritional additions to this recipe!
Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese sometimes gets a bad rap as a “diet food” but that’s the beauty of intuitive eating. Diet culture doesn’t get to make the rules! I truly love this versatile ingredient because I actually enjoy it (this is key) and I love how it blends so seamlessly into a variety of recipes while adding to it, not only nutritionally, but to the flavor and texture.
It’s a bit of a nutrition superstar with nearly 30 grams of protein per cup, which supports fullness and satiety as well as muscle repair and growth. It also provides calcium, supporting bone health, and B12, which plays a role in energy metabolism.
Plus, in this recipe in particular, its creamy texture makes this mousse irresistibly smooth!
Dark Chocolate Chips: Dark chocolate chips are not only delicious but a source of antioxidants, which help protect your cells from free radical damage.
Cacao Powder: Cacao powder is another source of antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and iron. Bonus, one tablespoon includes about 2 grams of fiber, which supports digestive health.
Recipe, Kitchen, & Time Saving Hacks
Prep Ahead: Make the mousse in advance and store it in the fridge. This way, you’ll have a quick and satisfying snack ready whenever a chocolate craving hits.
Blending: a food processor works best for this recipe for the quickest result and best texture. A high powered blender doesn’t work the best since there is minimal liquid.
Cooling Step: Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly before blending it with the cottage cheese. This prevents the chocolate from cooling too quickly and becoming chunky
Storage: This mousse can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you make this 5-Minute Chocolate Mousse, it would make my day if you would leave a comment and/or star rating below— I love hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot.rd so I can see your versions! It makes me so happy to see these recipes come to life in your kitchens! Xo
Print5-Minute Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
This quick and easy 5-ingredient chocolate mousse is so insanely delicious and makes the perfect balanced and satisfying snack in just 10 minutes! Creamy cottage cheese gives a major protein boost (almost 30g of protein per cup) and a good dose of daily calcium, making it a satisfying snack that is as nourishing as it is delish!
Ingredients
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1 cup cottage cheese
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½ cup dark chocolate chips, melted
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2 Tbsp cacao or cocoa powder
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Maple syrup *optional (I don’t usually add, but feel free to adjust to taste!)
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Optional toppings: Regular or coconut whip or Greek yogurt (to top), fresh berries, walnuts
Instructions
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Melt chocolate in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between to ensure it doesn’t burn (it’s ok to remove when there’s a bit of unmelted chocolate left, give it a stir and the residual heat will finish the melting without burning)
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Add cottage cheese, melted chocolate, and cocoa to a food processor and blend until smooth (make sure not to overmix as this can cause it to thin out).
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Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 5 days. When ready to eat, add toppings if using and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
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