Individual Blended Cheesecakes

A simple, crustless cheesecake made with Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I love almond extract, but you can use your favorite flavor and finish with fresh fruit or preserves.

Makes 4 individual soufflé dishes. Halve all ingredient amounts to make 2.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt

• 2 cups cottage cheese

• 2 eggs

• Flavor extract, to taste; I like almond (start with ½–1 teaspoon, depending on the strength of your extract)

• Optional: protein powder (start with 2–4 tablespoons)

• Fresh fruit or preserves, for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the dishes. Heat the oven to 400°F. Place 4 oven-safe soufflé dishes on a baking sheet for easy handling. There is no need to grease the dishes.

2. Blend. Add the Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, and flavor extract to a blender. Add the optional protein powder if using. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed.

3. Divide. Pour the mixture evenly into the 4 dishes, leaving some space at the top.

4. Bake. Begin checking around 20 minutes. Bake until the tops are slightly golden, small cracks begin to form, and the centers are just set with a slight wobble rather than a liquid slosh. This doubled batch divided among four dishes makes larger portions than my original batch, so it may need longer. Dish size, filling depth, and your oven can change the timing.

5. Cool and chill. Let the dishes cool on a rack, then refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. The cheesecakes will firm up as they cool.

6. Top and enjoy. Add fresh fruit or a spoonful of preserves just before serving.

KATIE’S TIPS

Almond extract is my favorite! Extract strengths vary, so start with a small amount.

Protein powder is optional. The yogurt and cottage cheese already contribute protein; adding powder can change the sweetness, thickness, and baked texture. Start with a little and adjust in a future batch if you like.

For 2 soufflé dishes, halve all ingredients: 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 egg, and half the listed extract and optional protein powder.