Creamy, fluffy, high-protein, no-bake dessert with fresh strawberries and vanilla. This version makes 4 generous cups and is suitable for meal prep.

🥣 Ingredients

Main mixture

Optional for the “cloud” texture

• 60 g light whipped topping or whipped cream
• Extra strawberries for decoration
• A tiny pinch of salt to enhance the vanilla/strawberry flavor

👩‍🍳 Step-by-step recipe

1. Prepare the strawberries

Wash and dry the strawberries thoroughly.

Remove the tops and finely dice them.

Set aside about ¼–½ cup for topping and keep the remainder for the mixture.

Tip: Pat the strawberries dry with a paper towel. Excess water can make the dessert runny.

2. Blend the creamy base

Add to a blender or food processor:

• 225 g Greek yogurt
• 225 g cottage cheese
• 30 g vanilla protein powder
• 15 g sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Sweetener to taste

Blend for approximately 30–60 seconds, scraping the sides if necessary.

The cottage cheese should completely disappear, leaving you with a smooth, thick cream.

3. Check the consistency

The mixture should be thick enough to hold soft peaks.

If it’s too thick, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time.

Don’t add too much milk—the strawberries will also contribute moisture.

4. Add the strawberries

Gently fold the chopped strawberries into the blended mixture.

Don’t blend them at this stage.

This gives you little pieces of strawberry throughout the creamy filling, similar to the dessert shown in your photo.

5. Make it extra fluffy

For a true “cloud” texture, gently fold in approximately 60 g light whipped topping.

Don’t aggressively stir it. Folding keeps more air in the mixture.

6. Portion

Divide the mixture between 4 small dessert cups/jars.

Top each cup with diced strawberries.

You can also add a very small amount of whipped cream on top.

7. Refrigerate

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours.

For the thickest texture, refrigerate overnight.

🍓 Nutrition information

Nutrition depends heavily on the brands of yogurt, cottage cheese and protein powder you use, so these are estimated values, not laboratory measurements.

Using the base recipe with approximately 1 tbsp honey and without optional whipped topping:

Per entire recipe

• Calories: ~630 kcal
• Protein: ~72 g
• Carbohydrates: ~60–65 g
• Fat: ~10–12 g
• Fiber: ~3–4 g
• Sugar: ~35–40 g

Per serving — ¼ of recipe

• Calories: ~155–160 kcal
• Protein: ~18 g
• Carbohydrates: ~15–16 g
• Fat: ~2.5–3 g
• Fiber: ~1 g
• Sugar: ~9–10 g

If you add whipped topping

Depending on the product, expect roughly 15–30 additional calories per serving.

If you use a zero-calorie sweetener instead of honey

You can reduce the recipe by roughly 15–20 calories per serving.

💪 How to increase the protein

For an even higher-protein version:

Option 1: Increase protein powder from 30 g → 40 g.

Option 2: Use 300 g Greek yogurt and reduce the milk.

Option 3: Use a high-protein Greek yogurt/skyr.

For the best texture, I wouldn’t simply keep adding protein powder because too much can make the dessert dry, chalky or overly thick.

🍓 How to make it lower calorie

Use:

• 0% Greek yogurt
• Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese
• Sugar-free pudding mix
• Zero-calorie sweetener
• Low-calorie whipped topping, or omit it

You can make a serving around 130–160 calories, depending on your particular ingredients.

🥜 Nut and allergen information

Despite the word “protein”, this recipe does not require nuts.

Naturally nut-free

The basic recipe contains no:

• Almonds
• Peanuts
• Cashews
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts

However, protein powders, pudding mixes and whipped toppings can be manufactured in facilities that also process nuts.

If someone has a serious nut allergy, check the individual package for:

• Peanut warnings
• Tree-nut warnings
• “May contain” statements
• Shared-equipment warnings

Dairy

This recipe contains dairy from:

• Greek yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Milk
• Some whipped toppings
• Some protein powders

For a dairy-free version, you’d need plant-based alternatives.

❓ Recipe Q&A

Can I make it without cottage cheese?

Yes. Replace the cottage cheese with additional Greek yogurt.

However, cottage cheese provides substantial protein and gives the finished dessert a particularly creamy texture once blended.

Can I taste the cottage cheese?

If you blend it thoroughly, very little to none of the cottage-cheese texture should remain.

A high-powered blender produces the smoothest result.

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Yes, but fresh strawberries are better for this particular recipe.

Frozen strawberries release more water as they thaw and can make the dessert less fluffy.

If using frozen strawberries, thaw and drain them very well first.

Can I use strawberry protein powder?

Absolutely.

Use strawberry protein powder instead of vanilla for a stronger strawberry flavor.

You can still keep the vanilla extract.

Can I omit the pudding mix?

Yes.

It isn’t essential, but it helps:

• Thicken the dessert
• Improve the creamy texture
• Make it more stable during refrigeration

Without it, the cups will still work, but may be somewhat softer.

Can I use chia seeds?

Yes, although the texture will change.

Add 1–2 teaspoons per serving and refrigerate for several hours.

Chia seeds absorb liquid and make the dessert more pudding-like rather than cloud-like.

Can I make it without protein powder?

Yes.

Simply omit the protein powder, but the protein content will be substantially lower.

You can compensate somewhat with additional Greek yogurt or skyr.

How long does it last?

For best quality, keep refrigerated and consume within approximately 3 days.

Because fresh strawberries release liquid over time, the dessert is generally best during the first 1–2 days.

Can I freeze it?

You can, but I don’t recommend freezing it if you want the same fluffy texture.

Freezing and thawing can cause the yogurt mixture to become grainy or watery.

Why did my dessert become watery?

The most common causes are:

1. Very watery strawberries
2. Too much milk
3. Low-protein/thin yogurt
4. Not enough chilling time
5. Frozen strawberries releasing water

Fix: Drain excess liquid and refrigerate longer. For the next batch, use thicker yogurt and add milk very gradually.

Why isn’t mine fluffy?

Make sure you’re using thick yogurt and folding, rather than aggressively stirring, the whipped topping.

Also, don’t over-blend after adding strawberries.

Can I prepare it the night before?

Yes—this is actually ideal.

Prepare the cups in the evening, cover them, and refrigerate overnight.

Add the decorative strawberries immediately before serving if you want the freshest appearance.

Can I use honey?

Yes.

Honey gives a more natural sweetness but increases calories and carbohydrates.

For a lower-calorie version, use a suitable zero-calorie sweetener instead.

Is this actually a “low-carb” dessert?

It can be lower in carbohydrates than many traditional desserts, but it isn’t necessarily very low-carb or keto.

The strawberries, dairy and especially honey contribute carbohydrates. Check your specific ingredient labels if carbohydrate intake is important to you.

⭐ Best version for the photo

For the closest result to the cups shown:

225 g thick Greek yogurt + 225 g low-fat cottage cheese + 30 g vanilla protein powder + 15 g sugar-free vanilla pudding mix + 1 tsp vanilla + sweetener + 150 g fresh strawberries + ~60 g light whipped topping.

Blend the dairy/protein ingredients until completely smooth, fold in diced strawberries and whipped topping, portion into cups, and chill overnight. 🍓