This Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Cottage Cheese Bowl is a protein-packed powerhouse that tastes like a decadent treat. By combining cool, creamy cottage cheese with sweet bananas and rich peanut butter, you get a satisfying breakfast or snack that keeps you full for hours.
With a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of nutty hemp hearts, this bowl offers the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and creamy textures in just 5 minutes.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A classic combination of salty peanut butter and sweet banana is elevated by the mild tang of cottage cheese and the warmth of cinnamon.
- Texture: You get the creamy curds of the cheese, the soft bite of fresh fruit, and a little crunch from the hemp hearts.
- Time: 5 minutes prep.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It is a simple assembly recipe requiring no cooking.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will simply need two serving bowls and a knife to slice the bananas. No fancy equipment is required, though a spoon is helpful for drizzling the peanut butter and maple syrup. The ingredients rely on wholesome, high-protein staples to create a balanced meal.
Ingredient Notes
- Cottage Cheese – The recipe calls for 2% MF (milk fat) cottage cheese. This offers a nice balance of creaminess and protein without being too heavy.
- Bananas – Use bananas that are ripe but still firm enough to slice cleanly. They provide natural sweetness and potassium.
- Peanut Butter – Creamy peanut butter works best for drizzling or dolloping. It adds healthy fats and a rich, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the dairy.
- Hemp Hearts – These shelled hemp seeds add a subtle nutty flavor, soft crunch, and a boost of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Maple Syrup – A tablespoon of maple syrup brings a natural, woody sweetness that ties the savory cheese and sweet fruit together.
- Cinnamon – A pinch of cinnamon adds warmth and aroma.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Texture – If you have texture issues with cottage cheese curds, you can whip the cottage cheese in a blender first for a smooth, yogurt-like consistency.
- Crunch – Add granola, chia seeds, or chopped walnuts for extra crunch.
- Fruit – While banana is the star, sliced strawberries or blueberries also pair well with peanut butter.
- Sweetener – Honey or agave nectar can be used instead of maple syrup.
How to Make Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Cottage Cheese Bowl
- Assemble the First Bowl: Add half of the cottage cheese to a serving bowl. Arrange a sliced banana on top of the cheese.
- Add Toppings: Top the bowl with half of the hemp hearts and drizzle with half of the maple syrup. Add half of the peanut butter on top (drizzled or in a dollop). Sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon.
- Repeat: Repeat the process with the second bowl using the rest of the ingredients.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the fruit is fresh and the cottage cheese is cold.
Pro Tip: If your peanut butter is near the bottom of the jar and a bit stiff, microwave a scoop of it for 10-15 seconds. This makes it pourable and easy to drizzle over the cold cottage cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Cold Ingredients: This dish is best when the cottage cheese is very cold. It provides a nice contrast to the room-temperature banana and peanut butter.
- Ripe Bananas: Use bananas with a few brown spots for the best sweetness, which helps balance the tang of the cottage cheese.
- Portion Control: This recipe makes two servings, perfect for a couple or for prepping a quick snack for later in the day.
FAQs
- Is this a good post-workout meal? Yes, the combination of high-quality protein from the cottage cheese and carbs from the banana makes it excellent for recovery.
- Can I make this ahead? It is best assembled right before eating so the banana doesn’t brown and the toppings stay distinct. However, you can portion the cottage cheese into containers ahead of time.
- Can I use almond butter? Absolutely. Almond butter or cashew butter are great substitutes if you prefer them over peanut butter.
Serving Suggestions
- Toast: Serve with a slice of whole-grain toast on the side.
- Coffee: The sweet and nutty flavors pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee.
- Dessert: This is sweet enough to serve as a healthy dessert alternative to ice cream.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can slice the bananas in the morning, but toss them with a tiny bit of lemon juice to prevent browning if you aren’t eating them immediately.
- Assembly: Assemble the bowls just before serving to maintain the best texture.
Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Cottage Cheese Bowl
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 Bowls 1x
Description
This Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Cottage Cheese Bowl is a protein-packed powerhouse that tastes like a decadent treat. By combining cool, creamy cottage cheese with sweet bananas and rich peanut butter, you get a satisfying breakfast or snack that keeps you full for hours. With a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of nutty hemp hearts, this bowl offers the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and creamy textures in just 5 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 to 1½ cups cottage cheese (2% MF recommended)
- 2 ripe bananas, sliced
- 3 to 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon hemp hearts (shelled hemp seeds)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 pinches ground cinnamon
Instructions
Base
Divide the cottage cheese evenly between two serving bowls.
Fruit
Arrange the sliced banana slices on top of the cottage cheese.
Drizzle
Drizzle the peanut butter over the bananas. Tip: If your peanut butter is stiff, microwave it for 10–15 seconds to make it pourable.
Top
Sprinkle half of the hemp hearts over each bowl.
Sweeten
Drizzle with the maple syrup.
Finish
Dust with a pinch of cinnamon and serve immediately while the fruit is fresh and the cheese is cold.
Notes
Texture Hack: If you dislike the texture of cottage cheese curds, blend the cottage cheese in a food processor or blender first. It whips up into a smooth, yogurt-like consistency that is incredibly creamy.
Ripeness Matters: Use bananas that have a few brown spots. Their natural sweetness helps balance the slight tang and saltiness of the cottage cheese.
Substitutions: Almond butter or cashew butter work perfectly if you prefer them over peanut butter. For extra crunch, add granola or chopped walnuts.
Storage: This dish is best assembled right before eating so the bananas don’t brown. However, you can portion the cottage cheese into containers ahead of time for a quick grab-and-go assembly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast / Snack
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: cottage cheese bowl, high protein breakfast, peanut butter banana recipe, healthy snacks, post workout meal, keto friendly breakfast ideas (with modification), 5 minute breakfast
