Cottage Cheese Banana Bread – A Delicious, High-Protein Snack
Banana bread is one of those classics that never gets old. It’s warm, comforting, and just the right amount of sweet. And today, we are giving this favorite treat an upgrade. Say hello to cottage cheese banana bread, a protein banana bread recipe that’s about to become a staple in your kitchen.
If you’ve never baked with cottage cheese, trust me—it’s a game-changer. It adds incredible moisture and a boost of protein without overpowering the flavor. For a healthier version of banana bread, a post-workout snack, or an easy and tasty treat, this recipe is perfect.
Why Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese is having a moment, and for good reason. Creamy, packed with protein, and blends seamlessly into baked goods without making them dense or heavy. Instead, it helps create a soft, tender crumb while adding a little extra richness.
One serving of cottage cheese has about 12-14 grams of protein. This means you get an extra boost of goodness with every slice.
Blending the cottage cheese smooth in a food processor means you won’t worry about texture. You get pure, creamy goodness that mixes easily into the batter. If you’ve been looking for a way to add more high-protein foods into your baking without sacrificing taste, this is it.
An Easy Cottage Cheese Banana Bread Recipe
One of the best things about banana bread? It’s super simple to make. No fancy equipment, no complicated steps—just a handful of pantry staples, a few ripe bananas, and you’re good to go.
Super simple to pull together, this is great for busy mornings, meal prep, or when you want a warm homemade treat.
The batter is one-bowl easy, which means less cleanup! If you often have overripe bananas sitting on your counter, this is your chance to turn them into something tasty and healthy.
Cottage Cheese Banana Bread: Naturally Sweetened
Instead of using refined sugar, we’re keeping things naturally sweet with pure maple syrup. It adds a warm, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the mashed bananas and cinnamon. It also keeps the bread moist and tasty without being too sweet. You can enjoy a slice for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a healthy dessert.
Chocolate Chunks for the Win
Now, let’s talk about the chocolate factor. While this banana bread is delicious on its own, adding chocolate chunks takes it to the next level.
The melty pockets of chocolate in the loaf add just the right amount of indulgence. If you want, you can use dark chocolate chips for an antioxidant hit. You can also add walnuts or pecans for some crunch.
That Iconic Banana Topping
One of my favorite parts of this banana bread? That beautiful banana on top. It makes the loaf look amazing.
As it bakes, it caramelizes— adding natural sweetness and a bit of extra texture. A quick brush of butter before baking gives it that glossy, golden finish that makes the bread look straight out of a bakery.
Perfect for Meal Prep & Snacking
Because this easy banana bread recipe is packed with protein from the cottage cheese and eggs, it makes an awesome meal-prep-friendly option. Bake a loaf at the beginning of the week, and you’ll have an easy grab-and-go snack that keeps you full and energized.
It also freezes well. Just slice it, wrap each slice, and put them in the freezer. This way, you can have a quick breakfast or snack after your workout whenever you want.
Cottage Cheese Banana Bread: Serving Ideas
This cottage cheese banana bread is perfect straight out of the oven, but if you want to mix things up, here are a few ways to enjoy it:
- Toasted with butter & honey – A little butter and a drizzle of honey take this to the next level.
- Topped with Greek yogurt & berries – For an extra boost of protein and fresh flavor.
- Slathered with peanut butter – Because peanut butter + banana is always a win.
- As a dessert with ice cream – A warm slice with a scoop of vanilla? Unreal.
No matter how you serve it, this high-protein banana bread is easy and guaranteed to impress.
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Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas + 1 for top garnish
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese (blended in a food processor)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 1/3 cup melted butter + 1 tsp for brushing
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup chocolate chunks
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan with butter.
- In a large bowl, mash the 3 ripe bananas until smooth. Stir in the blended cottage cheese, maple syrup, eggs, melted butter, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla until well combined.
- Add the flour and baking soda, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
- Pour the batter into the buttered loaf pan. Slice the extra banana in half lengthwise and place it on top of the batter. Brush with melted butter.
- Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool before slicing. Enjoy!
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This is so delicious! My 5 year old granddaughter absolutely loved it! It will be on my baking rotation.
Thanks for the recipe!
That’s so nice to hear, Sue—love that it’s a hit with your granddaughter! Thanks for sharing!
The banana bread I made was absolutely delicious! It had an incredibly moist texture that made each bite feel indulgent. The flavor was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of ripe banana that really shone through. The subtle notes of vanilla and cinnamon added an extra layer of warmth, making it a delightful treat. Overall, this banana bread was not only satisfying, but it also made my kitchen smell heavenly while it baked!
Thanks for the lovely and thoughtful message, Sonya! I’m so glad you enjoyed the banana bread—it’s always nice to have a classic recipe with a healthier twist and a little extra protein.
Hello!! I wanted to let you know that I made this bread last night. My boys and I loved it and my neighbor loved it too!! I loved the banana on top, that was so unique and fun!! I only had one egg when I was making it so I ran to the store and bought eggs and guess what, i forgot to add the eggs!! Lol but it still turned out amazing somehow!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes!!! ❤️
Jamie, mistakes like that happen more often than you’d think—so glad it all worked out in the end! This one’s definitely a great recipe to keep in the rotation (gotta love that protein boost), and yes—the banana on top is totally the icing on the cake!
Great recipe! I used an immersion blender to make everything smooth and avoid cottage cheese lumps. It was in the oven for 50 minutes. If it would’ve stayed any longer it would have burned. Just keep an eye out when it’s reaching the 60 minutes in the oven.
So glad you enjoyed it—and smart move with the immersion blender for that smooth texture! Great tip on the bake time too—every oven’s a little different, so watching it near the end is key.