Cottage Cheese Strawberry Oats (Print version)

A creamy, protein-packed blend of cottage cheese and strawberries layered with oats for a healthy start.

# What You Need:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk, dairy or unsweetened non-dairy alternative
03 - 2/3 cup cottage cheese, low-fat or full-fat
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Layer

07 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup, optional for additional sweetness

→ Topping

10 - 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
11 - Additional fresh sliced strawberries for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, milk, cottage cheese, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and no dry oat pieces remain.
02 - In a separate small bowl, mash half of the fresh strawberries with lemon juice and maple syrup if using, until the mixture reaches a slightly chunky consistency. Fold in the remaining chopped strawberries to combine.
03 - Divide the oat mixture in half. Layer half of the oat mixture into two jars or airtight containers. Distribute the strawberry mixture evenly as the middle layer, then top each container with the remaining oat mixture.
04 - Cover the containers securely and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. This allows the oats to fully hydrate and the flavors to meld together.
05 - In the morning, gently stir the mixture to combine layers. Top with graham cracker crumbs and additional fresh sliced strawberries if desired. Serve chilled directly from the refrigerator.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • You get that creamy cheesecake indulgence without guilt, all from cottage cheese doing the heavy lifting.
  • Zero cooking required means it's perfect when you're too tired to think about breakfast strategy.
  • The texture stays interesting because the oats soak while the strawberries stay slightly chunky if you layer smartly.
  • You'll have two servings waiting in your fridge, which is the kind of small victory that matters on rushed mornings.
02 -
  • Don't skip the gentle stir in the morning—the bottom gets dense and the top stays fluffy, so mixing brings it back to the right consistency.
  • If your cottage cheese tastes sharp, blend it into the milk first before mixing with oats; smooth cottage cheese won't have visible curds and tastes almost creamy.
03 -
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese directly to the oat base if you want that actual cheesecake flavor dialed up to ten.
  • Freeze fresh strawberries the night before and they'll thaw during chilling while adding extra moisture and preventing the oats from being too thick.
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