With just three simple ingredients and a few minutes in the blender, you can create a light and airy mousse that's bursting with bright and zesty lemon flavor. Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse is the ultimate snack - it's nourishing and filling enough to satisfy your cravings after a workout, but also elegant and delicious enough to impress your dinner guests.
This is truly a "choose your own adventure" kind of dessert - you can enjoy it whenever and however you like. And let's not forget about its protein-packed goodness - one cup of cottage cheese contains approximately 30 grams of protein.
If you're a fan of cottage cheese, you will also enjoy my other cottage cheese recipes, such as Cottage Cheese Ice Cream, Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie, and Cottage Cheese Quiche. I've also put together a round-up post with lots of creative cottage cheese ideas. But regardless of how you enjoy cottage cheese, one thing is for sure: its protein-packed goodness and versatility make it a fantastic addition to any meal or snack. Personally, I love having this mousse recipe for breakfast with a slice of peanut butter toast.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to prepare with just three simple ingredients
- Great option for those looking for a gluten-free dessert alternative
- Healthier alternative to traditional mousse recipes thanks to high protein cottage cheese
- Doesn't require any baking or cooking, making it a quick and easy option
- Perfect make ahead treat
- Great meal prep option for a healthy snack
- Can be easily scaled up or down to serve a small or large group of people
- It's a light and refreshing dessert option with no added refined sugars
Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese - I used a 2% cottage cheese but you could choose a fat free or lactose free version if that suits your dietary preferences.
- Lemon Zest and Juice - When zesting the lemon, make sure to grate only the outer yellow layer of the peel, as the white pith underneath can be bitter. If you prefer a more intense lemon flavor, you can add a little extra zest or juice to the mousse, to taste.
- Pure Maple Syrup - If you don't have pure maple syrup on hand, you can also use honey.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions & Variations
- Greek Yogurt: If you don't have cottage cheese, you can substitute Greek yogurt. It will definitely give the mousse a tangier flavor and you may want to add more maple syrup to adjust for that.
- Lime Juice: If you don't have a lemon, you can substitute a lime or an orange for a slightly different flavor.
- Honey: If you don't have maple syrup, you can substitute honey or a few drops of stevia.
- Chocolate Lemon Mousse: Add ½ tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to the recipe and blend it with the other ingredients to create a decadent chocolate lemon mousse.
- Raspberry Lemon Mousse: Add a tablespoon of seedless raspberry jam to the recipe and blend it with the other ingredients to create a delicious raspberry lemon mousse. Reduce the amount of maple syrup.
I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.
How To Make Healthy Lemon Mousse
Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.
Step 1: Optional Step for Thicker Mousse
If you want a thicker mousse, place 500 grams of cottage cheese in a strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl and refrigerate overnight to drain off excess whey.
Step 2: Combine Ingredients and Blend
Add the cottage cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup to a high-powered blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until completely smooth.
Step 3: Adjust for Taste
Taste the mousse and adjust the sweetness or tartness to your liking. If you want it sweeter, add a little more maple syrup. If you want it more tart, add a little more lemon juice.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
Transfer the mousse into two small dessert bowls. Enjoy right away, or if you like it cold, chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- If you don't have a high-powered blender, you can use a food processor or immersion blender. You may need to blend longer to achieve a creamy consistency.
- For a thicker mousse, strain the cottage cheese overnight in a cheesecloth-lined strainer over a bowl to remove excess whey.
- You can use the excess whey to kick start fermentation projects like fermented onions.
- Choosing an organic lemon is highly recommended for this recipe since you will be using the zest.
- For a professional-looking presentation, you can transfer the mousse to a piping bag and pipe it into dessert cups or ramekins.
- You can make the mousse a day ahead of time. Store the mousse covered in the fridge.
Recipe FAQs
A 500-gram serving of cottage cheese typically contains around 60-70 grams of protein, depending on the brand and type of cottage cheese.
It reminds me of cheese cake when blended like this in a mousse! Cottage cheese has a very mild flavour because it is a fresh, not ripened cheese. When blended and added to a recipe, it adds nutrition but doesn't take away from the flavour of other ingredients.
Cottage cheese is a very nutritious addition to your diet. It is high in protein, low in fat and rich in nutrients such as vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, phosphorous, and calcium.
Storage
Fridge
This lemon mousse can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. If you've already divided your cottage cheese lemon mousse into individual dessert cups, you can store them in the fridge with a layer of plastic wrap over the top to help keep them fresh. When you're ready to serve the mousse, simply remove the plastic wrap and garnish with your desired toppings.
If you tried this Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Whipped Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse
Ingredients
- 500 grams cottage cheese 2%
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- zest from one lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- If you prefer a thicker mousse, place 500 grams of cottage cheese in a strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl and refrigerate overnight to drain off excess whey. This step is optional.
- Add the cottage cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup to a high-powered blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until completely smooth.
- Taste the mousse and adjust the sweetness or tartness to your liking. If you want it sweeter, add a little more maple syrup. If you want it more tart, add a little more lemon juice.
- Transfer the mousse into two small dessert bowls. Enjoy right away, or if you prefer to have it cold, chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If you don't have a high-powered blender, you can use a food processor. You may need to blend longer to achieve a creamy consistency.
- You can use the excess whey to kick start fermentation projects like fermented onions.
- For a professional-looking presentation, you can transfer the mousse to a piping bag and pipe it into dessert cups or ramekins.
- You can make the mousse a day ahead of time. Store the mousse covered in the fridge.
Nutrition
If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went! Let’s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!
‘Til next time,
Christy
Holly says
So decadent, so easy, and so healthy! The perfect combination for a dessert.
Julia says
Can this be made with orange instead of lemon? Would it need more orange juice than lemon?
Christy Faber says
Yes, I would do the same about of orange juice but you may need less maple syrup to sweeten it since orange juice is a lot sweeter than lemon. Hope it turns out great!
Monica Mcguiness says
I eat high protein and low carb. I don't use sugar or honey so I used a little monkfruit. Juice of one lemon and plenty of zest. Very tangy. The first time around I baked it.Big mistake. Then I noticed I should have chilled it!! Big difference. Thank you for this fresh, zingy creamy recipe.
Geoffrey says
This was so rich and delicious, a perfect dessert to enjoy.
Jennifer says
I am a big fan of anything with cottage cheese and I typically use 1% fat. I love making cottage cheese protein cookies and cottage cheese ice cream so I know I’ll love this one too! I have all the ingredients and cannot wait to try it!🍋 Thank you!
Will F says
I couldn't believe how simple yet delicious this recipe was! I love how it's a healthy option for a tasty treat, and also full of protein, to help us reach our macros!
Jana says
I read this recipe and wanted to try it right away even though I didn’t have all of the correct ingredients. I rummaged around through my refrigerator and found a container of cottage cheese with pineapple in it which everyone was ignoring. I used that and since the pineapple was sweet I only used one tablespoon of sweetener which in my case was agave since I had no maple syrup. ♀️ Remember…not prepared. I did have a lemon! And I have to say that the result was delicious. I used my food processor since I don’t have a high speed blender and I am very happy with my results. Next time I am making it even more lemony!
Cammy says
Made this with 0 percent fat cottage cheese and a cup of blueberries along with the the original ingredients. Lemon blueberry mousse - delicious!!
Lyn says
I made this with lime, raspberries and Splenda. It was delicious.
Jenn says
Do you have a conversion to cups for the cottage cheese instead of the grams?
Christy Faber says
Yea! 2 cups 🙂
Lori G says
I just kind of winged this recipe, as I've made cottage cheese 'ice cream' previously. This was delicious! I didn't have maple syrup,so substituted with honey. Absolutely delightful. Light and airy and lemony. This will definitely be a favorite
Jenny says
This Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse recipe is calling my name. It speaks in tangy smooth tones. I love it!
Madelyn says
We went with the thicker mousse option and strained the cottage cheese overnight with a cheesecloth. It turned out lovely and delicious and I would definitely make it again.
Catherine says
So good and so easy!!!
Lauren Michael Harris says
this cottage cheese lemon mousse turned out fantastic! It's been my go-to late night snack this week.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
I love cottage cheese treats like this! So delicious, so high in protein, and truly so easy! This was so delicious and definitely will be on repeat!
Meg says
My kids walked by at glanced at the recipe as I was making this and they said it sounded gross. However I gave them a spoonful and they LOVED it and asked for their own bowls. It was so quick to make and a nourishing snack I felt great giving them! Lovely, Creamy, light and Bright. Will make again!
Natalia says
This looks and sounds delicious. I will definitely be making it this weekend. I always struggle to find good gluten free recipes so this will be a treat!
Sean says
I had not even thought about using cottage cheese for mousse but this was so easy and it tasted amazing.
Kathryn says
I love how refreshing and creamy this mousse was! It was also packed with protein so I felt good indulging in this for a treat! Will be making all summer long!
Bernice says
Cottage cheese ice cream?! Mousse?! Okay, this is something I have to try. Cottage cheese is so good for you and I'm really trying to eat healthier these days. Thanks for the recipe!
Marta says
This cottage cheese lemon mousse was shockingly decadent! I loved how simple the recipe was to make and the bright lemony flavor satisfied my wicked sweet tooth.
Tianna says
Truly amazing!! I crave sweets so often and this is such a healthy alternative that is also delicious. This will be a go-to for sure!
Kathryn says
Absolutely incredible! I loved every bite of this delicious dessert. I’ll be making this on the regular.