My Gratisfied Empower Bar baking mix is inherently made with blood sugar balance in mind. Meaning, certain seeds, superfoods, and plant-based protein powder combine to yield a metabolically friendly and macronutrient balanced baked good on the other side of using it. Still, I receive questions about how to pump up the protein. Eggs automatically provide extra protein when making the bars, but given how much I am seeing cottage cheese protein cookies and cookie dough take social media by storm, I wanted to try a version with my cacao baking mix.
There is a reason cottage cheese is currently in the spotlight, and for people who consume and can tolerate dairy, it offers a high protein and nutrient dense option. It’s mild in flavor and a good source of vitamins and minerals. Additionally from what I am seeing, it is also a great ingredient to use in baking. Case and point: the cacao protein cookies below! I got the idea from Brittany, who I think got the idea from Jake Cohen, and around and around the viral recipe goes. Next I want to try this as a “cookie dough,” meaning no baking, just eating it with a spoon.
Gratisfied Empower Bar Cacao Cottage Cheese Cookies
Equipment
- Two baking sheets
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup Gratisfied Empower Bar Cacao baking mix see note
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips plus more for topping if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Process until creamy.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the Empower Bar Cacao baking mix, melted coconut oil, and cottage cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Add the chocolate chips and stir again until a thick dough is formed. Transfer the bowl with the dough to the freezer for 10 minutes to chill.
- Once chilled, use your hands or a 1½ inch cookie scoop to form balls of equal size. Place them on the baking sheet at least two inches apart. Use your hands to slightly flatten each cookie, and add a few more chocolate chips to the top of each cookie if desired.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes until the outer edges have started to firm. They might still feel soft to the touch, but they will firm as they cool. Allow the cookies to completely cool on the baking sheet before trying to handle, at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.
