Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese Bark
Frozen cottage cheese bark is a high protein snack that is cool, creamy and bursting with chocolate peanut butter flavor! Its where creamy peanut butter and cottage cheese meets chocolate-y swirls and crunchy peanuts in this irresistible frozen cottage cheese bark. This delicious snack takes five minutes to prep and is my personal chocolate peanut butter heaven. My version is viral banana meets viral peanut butter and cottage cheese for a truly epic snack.I’m not gonna lie, I’m usually quite skeptical of the viral food trends on social media. Balsamic vinegar in sparking water? Butter in coffee? That weird pink pickle wrapped in candy thing on TikTok? Errrr no thank you. But frozen cottage cheese bark? I’m intrigued. Especially after its been called “the best high protein dessert”.Having a cup of coffee and an afternoon sweet snack helps me get through the day when I’m busy. And when I can find something that doubles as a high-protein snack and delicious dessert? That is a WIN. This recipe is a healthy snack that my whole family loves.A few reasons this recipe works:Blending the cottage cheese makes it virtually unidentifiable as cottage cheese- removing the texture aversion that some people experience. (My husband doesn’t like cottage cheese but totally didn’t recognize it when I fed him a piece!)Using whole milk cottage cheese makes this an almost decadent treat with a yummy, creamy texture.Fun toppings like a chocolate peanut butter swirl, granola and peanuts add texture and flavor.The layer of bananas contributes to the frozen creaminess of the bark while providing natural sweetness.This cottage cheese bark recipe takes about five minutes to whip up, uses a handful of wholesome ingredients and stores amazingly well in the freezer for whenever you want a chomp of crunchy frozen dessert.For those still counting calories, each serving boasts 9 grams of protein, 8 grams of heart-healthy fats and 180 calories.This frozen cottage cheese banana bark doubles as both a healthy snack and delicious dessert, I can’t keep my hands out of the freezer!
Ingredients
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, divided
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Layer
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons peanuts, chopped
- 3 tablespoons granola
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicone baking mat. Arrange the bananas slices in a rectangle. Two bananas should give you about 35 slices to make a 5×7 banana rectangle. You want the slices touching each other so it creates a solid base for when you add the next layers on top.In a food processor, combine cottage cheese, ¼ cup of peanut butter, honey and vanilla.Start conservatively with the honey and adjust per your desired level of sweetness (I used the full three tablespoons). Blend until super smooth and creamy.Pour mixture over the banana slices and use a spatula to spread it in a rectangular shape. It should be an even layer that covers the bananas. Drizzle the last ¼ cup of peanut butter over the bark. Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Pour the melted chocolate over cottage cheese layer in a zigzag pattern.If you’re feeling fancy, use a toothpick to make a fun pattern. Drag the toothpick in lines one direction and then in between those lines, draw lines in the opposite direction.Sprinkle on granola, crushed peanuts and a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt. Be careful with the salt, cottage cheese is naturally salty so don’t overdo it!Place bark in the freezer for two hours (or until completely frozen). Break the bark up with your hands or use a knife to cut into uniform chunks. Store in a Ziploc bag or freezer-safe airtight container for up to three months.A tip on serving: this is pretty hard straight from the freezer. I like to let mine sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes until it’s softened a bit. It’s still cold, creamy and frozen but more the texture of ice cream versus a hard bark. It is SO good.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
