What this is: a high-protein chocolate pudding with a not-to-sweet profile. What it ain’t: jello pudding. The texture here is more akin to soft serve ice cream than mousse; it actually tastes of chocolate rather than sugar. Like the box stuff, it requires no baking and comes together in minutes—but doesn’t require a grocery run to pick up more milk. In short: a high-protein chocolate pudding that's an easy afternoon treat with a protein count of more than half of your kid’s daily need–in other words, a treat that makes up for a day of eating goldfish and Mac and cheese.
(Pro tip: use full-fat cottage cheese and yogurt, if you can; if you can't see our guidance in the Instructions and 'Adapt' section on how to adjust.)
Is this pudding very sweet? No--in fact, no sugar is added beyond what is in your chocolate and/or yogurt.
Is there a preferred chocolate chip type for this recipe? Use what you got. Dark chocolate will taste richer but less sweet; semi-sweet or milk chocolate will give it a sweeter kick that your child is likely more used to.
What about yogurt--do I need to use strawberry flavored? The selection of strawberry yogurt for this recipe was more pragmatic than anything: kids like it, and there are several products on the market with enough flavor and a modest amount of sugar that they can do some heavy lifting in this recipe without the need to add additional sweetener; feel free to use whatever you have, though, including a spare yogurt pouch or two.
Can I make this high-protein chocolate pudding without yogurt? Yes, you can use only cottage cheese, but you should add a drizzle of maple syrup and cinnamon to balance the saltiness.
Should I add water to the blender? Only if using full-fat cottage cheese and the mixture becomes too thick to move; avoid water if using lower-fat dairy.
How should I serve this for my toddler? It works great as a "smoothie bowl" topped with chopped fruit, granola, or chia seeds for extra texture.
And check out all of our high-protein recipes for toddlers and all of our healthy toddler snack recipes!
This Cottage Cheese Chocolate Pudding offers a rich, soft-serve texture packed with protein to balance out a day of picky eating. It comes together in minutes using pantry staples, making it an easy, no-bake win for parents.
To jazz things up, make eating the pudding more like a smoothie bowl by adding chopped fruit, granola, chia seeds, and/or nuts.
You can make this solely using cottage cheese and no yogurt, but be sure and a) use a low-sodium cottage cheese and b) add a drizzle of maple syrup and a pinch or two of cinnamon to sweeten. If you only have plain yogurt, additionally add a drizzle of maple syrup and a few cut strawberries.
Servings 4
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
