Excessive-Protein Pumpkin Cheesecake (made w/ cottage cheese!)

This high-protein cottage cheese pumpkin cheesecake is a scrumptious fall deal with that packs a excessive protein punch. We substituted cottage cheese for cream cheese in our cheesecake for a more healthy possibility that (dare we are saying) is even higher in style in comparison with conventional cheesecake?! Plus, it has a brown sugar swiss meringue. I imply, come on.

A slice of pumpkin pie on a plate with a gold fork.

The cottage cheese craze is right here to remain and we’re so excited to introduce you to this high-protein pumpkin cheesecake recipe as a result of, sure, it’s made with cottage cheese (no cream cheese concerned!) and has 12g protein/serving.

Along with cottage cheese, it’s made with traditional cheesecake substances and a primary graham cracker crust. We examined this recipe a handful of instances and located a number of vital steps you don’t need to miss:

Ensure to completely whip the cottage cheese to insure no lumps.
Bake the cheesecake in a water tub in order that it steams and bakes evenly. We discovered that in case you skip this step, your cheesecake will doubtless crack.
Let the cheesecake absolutely chill and set earlier than slicing. In case you don’t let it set, the cheesecake can be too heat to slice.

What You Want for Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Cheesecake

Graham cracker sheets: a traditional cheesecake crust that goes excellently with the pumpkin taste.
Cottage cheese: the key ingredient of this recipe, cottage cheese makes this cheesecake high-protein and tremendous wealthy and creamy.
Unsweetened pumpkin puree: we used actual pumpkin to present this cheesecake that genuine pumpkin taste.
Maple syrup: maple syrup and pumpkin go hand in hand. Fall flavors unite!
Pumpkin pie spice: pumpkin pie spice takes the pumpkin flavors to an entire new stage.

Kitchen Instruments Wanted

9-inch spring kind pan: be sure to have the proper sized pan for even cooking. We additionally examined this in a standard 9-inch round pan and it’s undoubtedly vital you utilize a spring-form in order that it removes out of the pan simply.
Excessive-speed meals processor: this may be sure that your graham cracker crust and cheesecake filling have the right texture.
Stand mixer: you’ll want a stand mixer to make your brown sugar swiss meringue.
Kitchen torch: that is completely optionally available, however it provides the right crowning glory to the presentation of your cheesecake.

A bowl of ingredients for a sweet potato dip.

Variations and Substitutions

Graham crackers: Change up the flavour profile of your pumpkin cheesecake crust and use Oreos, shortbread cookies, Nilla wafers, or Biscoff cookies.
Cottage cheese: Cream cheese and ricotta cheese are nice substitutes for cottage cheese. Simply observe that the style and texture will differ barely.
Maple syrup: Honey is one other nice pure sweetener you should use for this recipe that tastes scrumptious with pumpkin!
All-purpose flour: You’re welcome to make use of different sorts of flour like almond flour, rice flour, or coconut flour.

Can I exploit a premade graham cracker crust?

Be happy to ditch the do-it-yourself crust and purchase a pre-made graham cracker crust. You’ll have further filling leftover. We additionally advocate ensuring to bake it on prime of a baking sheet just like the recipe suggests.

What’s the distinction between cream cheese and cottage cheese in cheesecake?

Cottage cheese and cream cheese are each constructed from milk and have the same texture, however there are some key variations that set them aside.

As an example, cream cheese is larger in fats content material in comparison with cottage cheese, whereas cottage cheese is larger in protein.

By way of style, cream cheese and cottage cheese each have a light and barely tangy taste and are each thought of nice choices when making cheesecake.

A series of photos showing how to make a pumpkin pie.

Methods to Retailer Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Cheesecake

Retailer any leftover pumpkin cheesecake in an hermetic container within the fridge for twenty-four hours. Some readers have stated that in case you retailer it longer than that, the crust might get soggy!

Are you able to freeze cheesecake?

To freeze, place the cheesecake in a freezer-safe, hermetic container or bag and retailer within the freezer for two to three months.

A pumpkin cheesecake with meringue on top.

Methods to High Your Pumpkin Cheesecake

We beloved serving this with a do-it-yourself brown sugar meringue as a result of it’s distinctive and completely enhances this cheesecake.

In case you’re brief on time, you would all the time simply prime the sliced items with do-it-yourself whipped cream or store-bought whipped cream.

In case you’re not right into a whipped topping, serving this a la mode can be an important thought!

Brown Sugar Swiss Meringue

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and spray a 9-inch spring kind pan with cooking spray.
Put together the crust. Place all the substances for the crust into the meals processor and course of till it turns into crumbs.
Pour the crumbs into the pie crust and press the crumbs firmly into the underside of the pan in addition to up the edges.
Bake for 7 minutes. Take away and put aside to chill.
Put together the pumpkin cheesecake filling. Course of the cottage cheese in a high-speed meals processor for 4-5 minutes till fully easy and frothy.
Add the pumpkin, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and flour and course of till mixed. Add the eggs and blend once more till the eggs are included. Watch out to not overmix the batter when the eggs are added.
Place the crust on a baking sheet with an edge. Fastidiously pour the pumpkin filling into the cooled crust.
Switch the baking sheet into the oven after which pour water onto the baking sheet in order that the pie dish is about ¾ of the best way within the water. Bake for 60 minutes or till the pumpkin filling is jiggly.
Open the oven and switch off the warmth. Let the cheesecake cool within the oven for 20 minutes earlier than eradicating it from the oven.
Let the cheesecake cool fully earlier than storing it within the fridge to set for not less than 6 hours or in a single day.
Proper earlier than serving the cheesecake, put together the Swiss meringue.
Place the egg whites and brown sugar right into a glass bowl and stir to mix.
Carry a saucepan with 2-3 inches of water to a simmer. Place the bowl with the egg and sugar on prime of the saucepan. It’s important that the water is just not touching the bowl.
Stirring typically, dissolve the brown sugar into the egg whites. This could take about 3 minutes. Check to see if the brown sugar is dissolved by dipping a finger into the egg whites and rubbing it between two fingers. You shouldn’t really feel any sugar.
Take away the bowl from the saucepan and switch the egg whites into the bowl of the stand mixer. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Combine on low for 1 minute. Then enhance the velocity to medium till stiff peaks kind. About 3-4 minutes.
Switch the meringue to the highest of the cheesecake leaving a ½-inch border on the surface.
As soon as the meringue has been added to the cheesecake, frivolously toast the highest of the meringue with a kitchen torch.
Take away from springform pan and serve.

Water tub: make certain to not skip this half as it’s going to forestall cracks on the highest of your cheesecake.
Ensure to course of the cottage cheese till there are not any lumps.
We advocate serving this cheesecake inside 24 hours of baking it in order that the crust doesn’t get soggy.

Energy: 333 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 12 g, Fats: 11 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 35 g