• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life Around The Table
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Sides and Appetizers
  • About Me
  • eBooks
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Sides and Appetizers
  • About Me
  • eBooks
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • Sides and Appetizers
    • About Me
    • eBooks
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse

    Published: Apr 4, 2023 · Modified: Aug 1, 2023 by Christy Faber · 26 Comments

    Love this recipe? Share it!

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    Green, dessert bowl full of Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse on a wooden board with a handle spooning a scoop out.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • How To Make Healthy Lemon Mousse
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storage
    • More Recipes You'll Love
    • More Cottage Cheese Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Whipped Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse

    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

    Ingredients required to make Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse in bowls on a wooden board.
    • 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.

    Cottage cheese in a strainer lined with cheesecloth over a glass mixing bowl.

    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.

    Cottage cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest and maple syrup in a blender cup.

    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.

    Blender cup with blended mousse mixture in it.

    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.

    Pouring Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse from a blender cup into a green dessert bowl.

    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

    How much protein in 500 grams of cottage cheese?

    A 500-gram serving of cottage cheese typically contains around 60-70 grams of protein, depending on the brand and type of cottage cheese.

    What does cottage cheese taste like?

    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.

    Is cottage cheese good for you?

    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. 

    Overhead image of Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse with lemon zest scattered ontop inside a green dessert bowl on a staged wooden board.

    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.

    More Recipes You'll Love

    • 5 Pieces of Blueberry Cottage Cheese bark on a ceramic plate on a staged counter top with frozen blueberries and oats around.
      Blueberry Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark
    • Healthy Chocolate Pudding
    • Apple Mousse
    • Five blueberry cottage cheese popsicles with ice chunks and frozen blueberries staged around them.
      Blueberry Cottage Cheese Popsicles

    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!

    More Cottage Cheese Recipes

    • 23+ Cottage Cheese Desserts
    • Blended Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
    • Dill Pickle Cottage Cheese Dip
    • 30+ Cottage Cheese Recipes for Breakfast
    • 10+ Cottage Cheese Ice Cream Recipes
    • High Protein Cottage Cheese Quiche
    • 40+ High Protein Cottage Cheese Recipes

    Recipe

    Green, dessert bowl full of Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse on a wooden board with a handle spooning a scoop out.

    Whipped Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse

    Christy Faber
    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.
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Chill Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 people
    Calories 305 kcal

    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

    Calories: 305kcalCarbohydrates: 29.4gProtein: 34.4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3.1gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 1019mgPotassium: 311mgSugar: 18.9gCalcium: 193mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    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

    More Healthy Snack Recipes

    • Six pictures of desserts sweetened with only maple syrup behind the title of this recipe collection.
      30+ Desserts Sweetened with Maple Syrup
    • Date and Walnut Gingerbread Truffles
    • A dessert dish with two scoops of cottage cheese lemon ice cream and wedges of lemon on a staged tabletop with lavender on it.
      Cottage Cheese Lemon Ice Cream
    • Dill Pickle Cottage Cheese Dip

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Holly says

      January 13, 2025 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      So decadent, so easy, and so healthy! The perfect combination for a dessert.

      Reply
    2. Julia says

      November 08, 2024 at 10:22 am

      Can this be made with orange instead of lemon? Would it need more orange juice than lemon?

      Reply
      • Christy Faber says

        November 08, 2024 at 2:41 pm

        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!

        Reply
    3. Monica Mcguiness says

      August 26, 2024 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    4. Geoffrey says

      August 03, 2024 at 8:53 pm

      5 stars
      This was so rich and delicious, a perfect dessert to enjoy.

      Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      July 13, 2024 at 8:01 am

      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!

      Reply
    6. Will F says

      March 10, 2024 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    7. Jana says

      February 19, 2024 at 7:20 pm

      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!

      Reply
    8. Cammy says

      February 19, 2024 at 12:54 am

      Made this with 0 percent fat cottage cheese and a cup of blueberries along with the the original ingredients. Lemon blueberry mousse - delicious!!

      Reply
    9. Lyn says

      November 20, 2023 at 7:13 pm

      I made this with lime, raspberries and Splenda. It was delicious.

      Reply
    10. Jenn says

      July 25, 2023 at 9:57 pm

      Do you have a conversion to cups for the cottage cheese instead of the grams?

      Reply
      • Christy Faber says

        July 25, 2023 at 11:10 pm

        Yea! 2 cups 🙂

        Reply
    11. Lori G says

      July 12, 2023 at 12:40 am

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
    12. Jenny says

      May 01, 2023 at 4:54 am

      5 stars
      This Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse recipe is calling my name. It speaks in tangy smooth tones. I love it!

      Reply
    13. Madelyn says

      April 30, 2023 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Catherine says

        September 29, 2023 at 6:59 pm

        So good and so easy!!!

        Reply
    14. Lauren Michael Harris says

      April 30, 2023 at 5:47 pm

      5 stars
      this cottage cheese lemon mousse turned out fantastic! It's been my go-to late night snack this week.

      Reply
    15. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

      April 30, 2023 at 5:33 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    16. Meg says

      April 30, 2023 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    17. Natalia says

      April 29, 2023 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    18. Sean says

      April 25, 2023 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      I had not even thought about using cottage cheese for mousse but this was so easy and it tasted amazing.

      Reply
    19. Kathryn says

      April 25, 2023 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    20. Bernice says

      April 24, 2023 at 6:27 pm

      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!

      Reply
    21. Marta says

      April 24, 2023 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    22. Tianna says

      April 05, 2023 at 1:51 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    23. Kathryn says

      April 04, 2023 at 11:14 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely incredible! I loved every bite of this delicious dessert. I’ll be making this on the regular.

      Reply
    5 from 20 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome,

    I’m Christy

    a happy wife and mother to three boys, a nutritionist, a food lover and a Canadian. Creating and experimenting in the kitchen is my idea of an afternoon well spent. To me, a clean kitchen is an empty canvas of possibility and that means my kitchen never stays clean for long. My dream is that one or more of the recipes I share here will inspire you, perhaps even becoming a cherished family favourite.

    READ MORE >

    Spring Desserts

    • Strawberry Rhubarb Mousse
    • Lemon Panna Cotta
    • Cheesecake Lime Tart
    • 5 Pieces of Blueberry Cottage Cheese bark on a ceramic plate on a staged counter top with frozen blueberries and oats around.
      Blueberry Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark
    • Lemon Lime Green Grape Sorbet
    • Honey Lemon Tart

    Spring Salads and Appetizers

    • Carrot Ribbon Salad with Arugula
    • Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Grapes
    • Quinoa Salad with Roasted Veggies
    • Pear and Blue Cheese Endive Boats Appetizer
    • Halloumi skewers featuring melon balls on a serving plate beside a glass of white wine.
      Melon and Prosciutto Skewers with Halloumi
    • Balsamic Green Beans with Crispy Bread Crumbs

    Most Popular

    • Gluten-Free Buckwheat Flour Brownies
    • Five coconut flour oatmeal cookies stacked on top of each other on a cooling rack with others around.
      Healthy Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies
    • Strawberry cottage cheese smoothie pouring into a glass out of a blender cup on a staged tabletop.
      Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
    • Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Custard Oats with Mixed Berry Compote
    • Green, dessert bowl full of Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse on a wooden board with a handle spooning a scoop out.
      Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse

    As featured in

    Naturally Sweetened

    • Healthy Chocolate Pudding
    • stack of fudgy oat flour brownies on a white board.
      Oat Flour Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies
    • Homemade Strawberry Mint Ice Cream
    • a bowl of date paste topped with flaky salt on a countertop with a few medjool dates beside the bowl.
      Date Paste
    • Super Nourishing Custard Drink

    Follow For More Recipes

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • Sides and Appetizers
    • About Me
    • eBooks
    • Subscribe

    Copyright © 2025 Life Around The Table | Accessibility | Privacy policy


    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.