Cottage Cheese Bowl with Macerated Strawberries

I had a craving for macerated strawberries recently, which is a funny thing to crave, I know.

But it’s something I grew up eating. My dad has type 1 diabetes, so dessert in our house always leaned lower-sugar and lower-carb, and macerated strawberries with a little whipped cream was one of our go-tos.

I made a batch as a Friday night dessert for my husband and me, and we ended up with a ton of macerated strawberries left over.

So kind of by accident, I invented this creamy cottage cheese bowl topped with those leftover strawberries and a little fresh mint.

It’s easy and high-protein, and somehow it feels way, way fancier than it actually is.

The strawberries are obviously the best part. They sit in the fridge overnight and get all juicy and soft, so in the morning you just spoon cottage cheese into a bowl, top it with the strawberries and their juices, and finish with fresh mint.

And if you want a little extra fiber and texture, a sprinkle of chia seeds is never a bad idea.

Why You’ll Love It

• High-protein. With 30 grams of protein per serving, this is the kind of breakfast that keeps you full and satisfied all morning long. No hunger pangs by 11 am.
• Calorie-deficit friendly. At just 243 calories per serving, it’s an easy high-protein, low-calorie breakfast if that’s what you’re after.
• Super simple to make. You probably already have the ingredients, and it takes about 5 minutes to prep the macerated strawberries, then 1 to 2 minutes to assemble your bowl.
• It looks and feels fancy, but it really couldn’t be simpler.
• Make-ahead friendly. Just prep your strawberries for the week, then assemble your bowls each morning in a couple of minutes. The strawberries last 4 days, so this is a great breakfast to prep for the week ahead.

In the mood for something more savory? Try my Savory Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl with roasted sweet potatoes and jammy eggs.

Key Ingredients

You really only need three ingredients to make this recipe work. The rest are optional flourishes.

• Strawberries. These are the star of this recipe. Look for ripe strawberries, clean them, remove the tops, and halve them. With just a little maceration, they turn soft and syrupy as they sit.
• Honey. Maceration traditionally happens with sugar, but it works just as well with a tablespoon of honey, which draws out the juices and complements the strawberries’ natural sweetness.
• Salt. I like to add just the tiniest pinch to balance the sweetness and bring out the best of the strawberry flavor.
• Vanilla. Use vanilla bean powder, like I did here, or just a splash of vanilla extract. Both work great.
• Cottage cheese. This is your creamy, high-protein base. You can use full-fat, low-fat, or non-fat, though I do notice a pretty big difference between high-quality cottage cheese and the regular store-bought stuff.
• Mint. Totally optional, but I like to thinly slice a couple of fresh mint leaves for a little brightness and freshness. It also makes the bowl feel and look like a dessert.

How To Make It

This cottage cheese bowl with strawberries really couldn’t be more simple to make. It takes just two easy steps.

1. Macerate your strawberries. Combine the halved strawberries with honey, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, then cover and refrigerate overnight, stirring once.
2. Assmeble. In the morning, spoon your cottage cheese into a bowl, then top with your macerated strawberries and a little of their juice, and finish with thinly sliced fresh mint. Add a sprinkle of chia seeds if you want a little extra fiber.

Looking for more sweet high-protein breakfast options? Try my Almond Croissant Overnight Oats. They are one of the most popular recipes on my site.

Swaps & Substitutions

Need to swap something? Here’s what works:

Want something to eat on the go? Check out 7 High-Protein Breakfast On The Go Ideas.

Storage & Meal Prep

The macerated strawberries keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can make a big batch at the start of the week, and breakfast is set.

Each morning, just spoon cottage cheese into your bowl, top with the strawberries, and add your mint.