A refined breakfast that balances texture and nutrition, the High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake sings with warm spice and a lusciously creamy interior. Built on silky cottage cheese and tender apple slices, this bake feels both graceful and satisfying. Its restrained ingredient list and elevated presentation make it suitable for a leisurely weekend brunch or an elegant weekday start. For related techniques and a companion profile, consult our apple-cinnamon cottage cheese bake page for more inspiration.
Why Make This Recipe
- Effortless Yet Elegant: Minimal hands-on time produces a composed, bakery-style result.
- Minimal Ingredients: Pantry staples combine to deliver structure, sweetness, and spice without fuss.
- Impressive Flavor: Tangy cottage cheese, tart apple, and warm cinnamon create layered contrasts that feel refined.
This version elevates a simple cottage-cheese casserole by blending the curds into a velvety custard, adding whole-apple texture, and finishing with a crisp, golden top. The result reads both light and indulgent—comforting without heaviness.
Ingredients
Base
- 2 cups (450 g) full-fat cottage cheese — drain any excess liquid if very wet.
- 3 large eggs, room temperature.
- 2 egg whites (optional for extra lift), room temperature.
- 1/2 cup (45 g) rolled oats — pulse if you prefer a finer crumb.
- 1/4 cup (30 g) vanilla whey or plant protein powder (optional for extra protein).
Binding & Flavor
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, adjust to taste.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder.
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt.
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.
- Zest of 1 lemon.
Apples & Topping
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and thinly sliced. Toss with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to prevent browning.
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (room temperature butter if using in pan).
- 1/3 cup (35 g) chopped toasted walnuts or pecans.
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or demerara (optional, for a caramelized finish).
How to Make High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) baking dish and set aside.
- Tip: Bring eggs and cottage cheese to room temperature to ensure a smooth custard.
- Prepare the apples: peel, core, and thinly slice two apples. Toss with lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon so the fruit keeps its color and bright bite. The slices should be flexible, not mushy.
- Blend the base: in a blender or food processor, pulse cottage cheese, eggs, egg whites, oats, honey, vanilla, baking powder, salt, lemon zest, and remaining cinnamon until almost smooth but with a touch of texture — the mixture should be thick and pourable.
- Mini-tip: Pulse rather than overblend to keep a slight curd texture for pleasant mouthfeel.
- Fold in about two-thirds of the apple slices and the chopped nuts into the batter with a gentle spatula; reserve the rest for the top. The batter will be pale and speckled with cinnamon.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Arrange the reserved apple slices on top in an overlapping pattern. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle the brown sugar and a few extra chopped nuts for sparkle.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the edges are golden and set and the center still gives a slight jiggle when nudged. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. The aroma will turn warmly spiced with caramelized apple notes.
- Mini-tip: If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Let the bake rest for 10–15 minutes; it will continue to set and slice cleanly. Serve warm or at room temperature.
How to Serve High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake
Slice into elegant squares and plate with a quenelle of Greek yogurt or crème fraîche for cool creaminess. Drizzle a thin ribbon of warm honey or maple syrup and scatter toasted nuts for crunch. For a refined brunch, serve alongside thinly sliced fennel and arugula dressed lightly in lemon vinaigrette to cut the richness.
How to Store High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake
Cool completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm individual slices in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 8–10 minutes to restore a crisp top, or microwave briefly (25–35 seconds) for a quick single serving. To freeze, wrap portions in parchment and foil; freeze up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Tips to Make High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake
- Use full-fat cottage cheese for silkier texture; blend briefly to smooth curds without losing all structure.
- Toast nuts and brown sugar on top for an immediate contrast of crunch and caramel.
- Choose a tart apple (Granny Smith) if you prefer contrast, or Honeycrisp for sweetness and crispness.
- Pulse oats into a finer crumb if you prefer a cake-like crumb rather than chewy bits.
Variation (if any):
- Blueberry & Lemon: Substitute equal-weight berries for the apples, add 1 tablespoon lemon zest, and finish with a scatter of sliced almonds. For an alternate baked-cottage-cheese idea, see our blueberry cottage cheese breakfast bake for technique and plating inspiration.
FAQs
Can I use low-fat cottage cheese?
Yes. Low-fat cottage cheese will work but the texture will be slightly drier and less creamy. Blend until smooth and consider adding an extra egg yolk or a tablespoon of yogurt for richness.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, if you use certified gluten-free oats and a gluten-free protein powder. Ensure all other ingredients are labeled gluten-free if you have sensitivity.
How can I increase the protein without changing texture?
Fold in a neutral whey or plant-based protein powder (up to 1/4 cup) and add two egg whites. Pulse the batter gently to maintain a custardy texture.
Conclusion
This High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake offers a graceful intersection of nutrition and refined flavor: creamy, warmly spiced custard pockets with tender apple and a crisp, nutty finish. It dresses simply yet presents beautifully, making it ideal for a quiet morning or an elegant brunch spread. If you’d like an additional reference recipe and technique notes, consult the High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake Recipe for another take. Share your adaptations in the comments and with friends on social; how would you make this dish your own?
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High-Protein Apple Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Bake
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A refined breakfast that balances texture and nutrition, this bake features creamy cottage cheese and tender apple slices, finished with warm cinnamon and a crispy topping.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (450 g) full-fat cottage cheese
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 egg whites (optional for extra lift), room temperature
- 1/2 cup (45 g) rolled oats
- 1/4 cup (30 g) vanilla whey or plant protein powder (optional)
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup (35 g) chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or demerara (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter an 8×8-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Prepare the apples: peel, core, and thinly slice two apples. Toss with lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Blend the base ingredients in a blender or food processor until almost smooth but with a touch of texture.
- Fold in about two-thirds of the apple slices and the chopped nuts into the batter.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared dish. Arrange the reserved apple slices on top, drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the edges are golden and set.
- Let the bake rest for 10–15 minutes, then serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
For a refined brunch, serve alongside thinly sliced fennel and arugula dressed lightly in lemon vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 180mg