Description
Transform humble cottage cheese into golden, crunchy bites that are impossible to stop eating. These treats are surprisingly simple to prepare and perfect for dipping or enjoying on their own.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups full-fat cottage cheese (drained)
- 1 large egg
- 1–2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch (or gluten-free alternative)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried herbs (e.g., dill, chives, Italian herb blend)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Olive oil spray or light oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Cottage Cheese: Place the cottage cheese in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Gently press down on the cottage cheese with a spoon or spatula to encourage liquid to drain. Let it sit and drain for at least 30 minutes, or even longer in the refrigerator.
- Make the Cottage Cheese Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the thoroughly drained cottage cheese, the beaten egg, flour (or cornstarch/gluten-free alternative), grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs, a good pinch of salt, and black pepper. Mix everything together with a spoon until well combined.
- Prepare the Coating Station: Pour the panko breadcrumbs into a shallow dish or plate. If using extra Parmesan for coating, mix it into the panko.
- Form and Coat the Treats: Take about a tablespoon of the cottage cheese mixture and gently roll it into a small ball or flatten it into a mini patty. Roll each formed treat in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure the crumbs adhere well to all sides.
- Preheat Oven or Air Fryer: For Baking, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. For Air Frying, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the Treats: For Baking, arrange the coated cottage cheese treats on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, lightly spray the tops with olive oil, and bake for 18-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. For Air Frying, place the coated treats in a single layer in your air fryer basket, lightly spray the tops, and air fry for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Serve Immediately: Transfer the hot, crispy cottage cheese treats to a serving platter. They are best enjoyed warm, ideally with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking or Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Keywords: Crispy Cottage Cheese Treats