Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This peach banana cottage cheese smoothie, with an extra boost of protein, is so creamy and delicious! A cottage cheese smoothie can be made with other fruits, too.
How long it takes: 5 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: blender
Servings: 2
Creamy Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Kid friendly! My kids devour these smoothies and don’t have any idea that they contain cottage cheese. They’re enamored by a couple of their favorite fruits paired with sweet honey. Who wouldn’t love that? Even cottage cheese haters will love this smoothie. I tested it out on my mom, who I know detests cottage cheese, and she loved it (even after I told her what the “secret” ingredient was!).
A good source of protein. Smoothies are often made with added yogurt, but don’t you think it’s time you try something new? Cottage cheese adds creaminess and protein but the flavor is unassertive, so it’s unnoticeable in the smoothie. (Try the same trick with cottage cheese eggs, which are simply scrambled eggs made with a dollop of cottage cheese.)
Naturally sweetened. The smoothie is made with a ripe banana which adds flavor and sweetness, along with a drizzle of honey. You may not need any honey if your bananas are very ripe. I always use frozen bananas for an extra thick smoothie.
Versatile. You can use almost any type of fruit to make your cottage cheese smoothie. Different types of sweeteners can be used, too. Customize your smoothie so it’s exactly the way you like it!
Ingredient Notes
- Banana: You’ll need a half of a banana that’s been frozen. Remember, the riper the banana, the sweeter your smoothie will be. If you have a couple of bananas on your counter that are maybe a bit too freckled for everyone, slice them up into a freezer bag so they’re ready for smoothie making. Learn the best way to freeze bananas.
- Frozen fruit: For this particular cottage cheese smoothie, I used frozen peach slices. The combination of peaches and bananas is very tasty but you can use any frozen fruit to make your smoothie.
- Cottage cheese: Any type of cottage cheese will work: small curd, large curd, low-fat, 2%, 4%, or full fat. Choose what you like.
- Milk: Again, any type of milk can be used. The milk is necessary to thin the cottage cheese smoothie so your blender doesn’t have to work too hard.
- Honey: I feel that honey really complements the flavors in this cottage cheese smoothie, and 1 tablespoon provides just enough sweetness. If you’re accustomed to heavily sweetened pre-made smoothies, you may want to add a little more.
Customize Your Cottage Cheese Smoothie
- Use different types of fruit. As long as you keep the ratios roughtly the same, you’ll be good! Try classic strawberry and banana, or put a tropical spin on things with mango and pineapple.
- Try a different sweetener. Use agave syrup, maple syrup, or granulated sugar instead of honey. You can make a cottage cheese smoothie without any added sugar, too, especially if the banana you use is nice and ripe.
- Powerhouse add-ins. We keep this smoothie relatively basic but you can amp your smoothie up by adding any number of things. Consider flax, hemp, or chia seeds. Increase the protein with a scoop of your favorite protein powder. Add bee pollen. The options are endless!
- Add vegetables. Smoothies are a great place to sneak in some vegetables. Try a handful of spinach or frozen cauliflower. A high-powered blender works best when you add greens.
Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately. If you have some leftover, refrigerate it for up to a day. The consistency will become thinner as the fruit thaws. Smoothies can also be frozen for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or until the smoothie has a slushy consistency.
More Smoothie Recipes
Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ ripe banana, frozen (see note)
- 1 cup frozen peach slices, or any frozen fruit (a heaping cupful is fine!)
- ½ cup cottage cheese (any type of cottage cheese you prefer)
- ½ cup milk (any type of milk will work)
- 1 tablespoon honey, or to taste (can be omitted, or you can use a different sweetener)
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth.½ ripe banana, frozen, 1 cup frozen peach slices, or any frozen fruit, ½ cup cottage cheese, ½ cup milk, 1 tablespoon honey, or to taste
- Pour into 2 glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
- Bananas: The riper the banana, the sweeter the smoothie will be. Simply freeze bananas when they get too ripe so they’re all ready to turn into smoothies. If the banana isn’t frozen, the consistency of the smoothie will be thinner. If you want the smoothie to be thicker, consider adding ice to the blender.
- Choose a different fruit: A cottage cheese smoothie can be made with pretty much any fruit you like. Try frozen strawberries, blueberries, mango, mixed tropical fruit, cherries, etc. You’ll need 1 to 1 ½ cups of fruit.
- Milk/cottage cheese: The smoothie can be made with any type of milk or cottage cheese, large or small curd. The nutrition information is calculated using 2% milk and low-fat cottage cheese.
- Storage: Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately. If you have some leftover, it can be refrigerated but the consistency will get thinner as the fruit thaws out. Smoothies can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Oh I like this idea! Can people taste the cottage cheese? Do you drink this before you exercise? (I’m a runner)
I couldn’t taste the cottage cheese at all and Ben didn’t know it was in there! And he kept drinking it even after he found out. ;) Not sure about drinking it before running…I’m definitely not a running expert. I think it would be a great post-workout drink though because of all the protein in it.
I’m going to try cottage cheese in my next smoothie!
sounds good
Never in a billion years would I think of putting cottage cheese in a smoothie! What a great idea with these flavors too. And your kids are so darn cute I can barely take it.
Your babies are adorable and that party sounds like a blast! I’ve never seen a smoothie made with cottage cheese. If the kids and your husband didn’t know it was there, maybe it is the new yogurt!
Such cute kids! Hiding cottage cheese in smoothies is such a good idea for getting in an extra protein boost!
Aaw they seriously have the most adorable smile:) Happy belated birthday to E! I am a such a big fan of cottage cheese and love that you used it in these smoothies! Such a great idea!
OMG those kids are adorable, cuties!! :) Cottage cheese in a smoothie is definitely news to me, but I can see how it adds a creamy texture, and I love the health benefits!
Guess what: I’d rather eat cottage cheese vs. yogurt any day of the week. LOVE this recipe! And E’s sweet smile [N’s too]. Happy belated birthday sweet girl!
E is seriously the cutest smoothie model EVER! And Hapyp belated birthday to her!
I LOVELOVELOVE that you used cottage cheese in here. I eat it a lot and it’s so under rated, I think. pinning!