Description
These Blueberry and Lemon Zest Cottage Cheese Bites are a delightful, protein-packed snack or breakfast option. Combining creamy cottage cheese, fresh blueberries, zesty lemon, and wholesome oats, they are baked into mini muffin-sized bites that are naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup. Perfectly light, fluffy, and bursting with fresh flavor, these bites make for a nutritious and satisfying way to start your day or enjoy a healthy treat anytime.
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
- Zest of 1 large lemon (about 1 tbsp)
Fruit
- 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 24-cup mini muffin pan to ensure the bites don’t stick after baking.
- Blend Main Ingredients: 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 smooth and well combined, creating a thick batter.
- Fold in Blueberries: Pour the batter into a mixing bowl, then gently fold in the fresh or frozen blueberries to evenly distribute them without breaking them apart.
- Rest the Batter: Let the batter rest for 5 minutes; this allows it to thicken slightly, which helps the bites hold their shape better during baking.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared mini muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rise.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the bites are firm to the touch and lightly golden on top.
- Cool: Let the bites cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart and ensures a better texture.
Notes
- For a vegan version, substitute the egg with a flax egg and use maple syrup as sweetener.
- You can swap rolled oats for quick oats but the texture may be softer.
- Fresh blueberries are ideal, but frozen ones work; just make sure not to thaw them first to prevent the batter from becoming watery.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These bites freeze well; thaw at room temperature or warm gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini bite (approximate)
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Blueberry bites,Cottage cheese snacks,Lemon zest muffins,Healthy breakfast,Protein snacks,Mini muffins,Oat bites
