Almond Crusted Breakfast Cheesecake
Light, creamy and packed full of richness, is what you will find in this healthy cheesecake recipe. I wanted to make a healthy cheesecake that was protein-packed but also creamy, sweet and offered the same flavors of regular cheesecake. A bite-size cheesecake that you can top with fresh berries, sugar-free candies, and more. This easy recipe is low carb, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, sugar-free, and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.
Cottage cheese has always been one of my favorite ingredients to sneak into recipes for more protein. It has much higher protein content than most other dairy products, and with a mild flavor, it is ideal for a large assortment of recipes. One way I use cottage cheese is in my healthy cheesecake recipe!
Mini Healthy Cheesecake
My Mini Keto Cheesecake gave me the energy to be successful at my main job today. That is being a wife and mom of 5. My fuel needed to get me through the laundry, dirty dishes, cooking, cleaning, picking up kids from school, more cooking and cleaning, bath time, and the millions of other little things I do every day as a stay at home mom.
I don’t know about you but I need a good source of protein to get me going in the mornings. I’ve found that with this awesome Almond Crusted Breakfast Cheesecake recipe.
How To Make Almond Crust For Cheesecake Recipe
Creating a cheesecake crust that offers the low carb version is easy to do. I simply swapped out the ingredients for healthier options. I reached for almonds that I pulsed in the food processor to grind up fine, to mimic a graham cracker base. Then I added in my sweetener, butter and worked it until it formed a dough ball.
Then grease your muffin pan and place the crust in the bottom of each pan hole, and do this for 24 cheesecakes. Toss in the oven and bake for 8 minutes each.
How Do You Make Cheesecake With Cottage Cheese
I get asked how do you make a cheesecake with cottage cheese and still get that creamy texture. The key is to put the cottage cheese and the cream cheese in a food processor and get it a sweet and creamy consistency. It will break up the clumps in the cottage cheese and offer you a thick and creamy texture.
It bakes up nice and will be a smooth and velvety texture when you go to bite into it.
How Many Mini Cheesecakes Do You Eat
I eat two for breakfast or one as a snack. It is totally up to you; that is just how I enjoy eating them. They are a super quick grab and go snack as I head outside to manage the kids in the backyard.
Does Cheesecake Need A Water Bath
Because you are making a mini cheesecake using a muffin tin, you do not need a water bath to regulate the temperature of your cheesecake. Mini cheesecakes are so much easier and less fuss to make than a full-size cheesecake!
Will This Recipe Freeze
This makes 24 individual mini keto cheesecake. They freeze well! I wrapped them in plastic wrap and froze them individually. To serve thaw in the fridge overnight and then top with some berries.
How Long Will Cheesecake Last In The Fridge
You can expect these mini cheesecakes to last around 4-5 days in the fridge. You can freeze them; I share how to quickly freeze them for a quick grab and go snack or dessert. Use your best judgment on how long to store your cheesecake.
Toppings For Healthy Cheesecake
- Eat it plain
- Top it with fresh or frozen berries
- Make a fresh sugar-free strawberry jam
- Drizzle on melted sugar-free chocolate or ganache
- Sugar-free caramel, hot fudge or ice cream sauce of choice
- Zest from lemon, lime or orange
Feel free to dress this cheesecake however you prefer. I know for us it varies depending on the time I go to eat it. A lot of times I eat it plain or top with fruit for added sweetness.
You can eat this cheesecake recipe any time of the day whether you want it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or a mid-day snack. This protein-packed healthy cheesecake is genuinely fantastic. You have the nutty flavor from the crust, creamy and tangy flavors from the cheesecake portion, and it works well together.
Here are even more cheesecake recipes
What topping would you use on these mini healthy cheesecakes?
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Healthy Breakfast Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crust Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole almonds
- 2 tbsp Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 4 tbsp salted butter
Filling Ingredients:
- 16 oz 4% fat cottage cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 6 eggs
- 3/4 cup Joy Filled Eats Sweetener (or see alternatives in recipe notes)
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping when serving:
- 1/4 cup frozen mixed berries per cheesecake thawed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. In a large food processor pulse the almonds, 2 tbsp sweetener, and 4 tbsp butter until a coarse dough forms. Grease two twelve hole standard silicone muffin pans or line metal tins with paper or foil cupcake liners. I used a silicone muffin pan for this and the cheesecakes popped out really easily. Divide the dough between the 24 holes and press into the bottom to form a crust. Bake for 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine the Friendship Dairies 4% cottage cheese and the cream cheese in the food processor (you don’t need to wash the bowl). Pulse the cheeses until smooth. Add the sweetener and extracts. Mix until combined.
- Add the eggs. Blend until smooth. You will need to scrape down the sides. Divide the batter between the muffin cups.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until the centers no longer jiggly when the pan is lightly shaken. Cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before trying to remove them if you didn’t use paper or foil liners. Serve with thawed frozen berries.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally Published June 6, 2016. Revised and Republished June 25, 2019.
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Is there something you can use in place of cottage cheese and ricotta? I don’t like the texture of either of them. I love cream cheese though. Can you omit the cottage cheese altogether and it still work? Thank you
You could use more cream cheese and some sour cream but it wouldn’t have as much protein
Mine sank!! What could have gone wrong? Folled directions completely. They taste good at least!
Mine sank a little too. That’s why they are perfect to cover in berries 🙂 Using so many eggs is why I think they sink. But the eggs help make this recipe protein-packed for breakfast.
How many carbs in serving of Friendship Dairies cottage cheese?
1/2 cup of the 4% has 5 carbs. You can see nutrition facts for all their varieties on their website.
What could I replace the cottage cheese with? I am dairy free, but this looks amazing!
I’m sorry but I have no idea. I’ve never made a dairy free cheesecake before. Can you have cream cheese?
Could I just use super fine almond flour instead of grinding the almonds myself? If so, how much?
Coarse ground almonds work better for this recipe. If you try the finely ground almond flour start with 1.5 cups and add more by the tablespoon until it is the right consistency for a crust.
These look so yummy! Could I use ricotta instead of cottage cheese, and get a good result with similar carbs?
Yes, you can use ricotta. I think the carb count would be a little lower but I haven’t run the numbers.
Don’t let any dogs get ahold of this because Xylitol kills them. I’m not sure about cats.
Yes, we don’t have any pets in my house but when I give my mom treats I remind her of this.
can coconut flour be uses instead of almond?
Coconut flakes might work. Not coconut flour in this recipe. The crust needs a coarser texture. I think coconut flour would just taste dry.
Can I use almond flour in place of the almonds? If so, how much?
Yes. About 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups.
I was confused by the chart..how much Truvia should I use in place of your homemade blend?
It should be the same amount.
recipe says fill 24 holes—-are you using the mini muffin pan or 24 regular size muffins?????
24 regular size. So two 12 count cupcake tins.
sorry—I see —–I should read better next time—sorry to bother you!
Could you please tell me how much of the Swerve confectioners sweetener I would us for your recipe. I have dogs in the house so can’t use Xylitol and prefer the taste of Swerve. It is also much easier to find near my home.
Thank you
I have not tried using that sweetener. It is less sweet than my blend so you probably need more. I would just taste the batter before you add the eggs. This chart may help: http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/sweetener-conversion-chart/
Do you know if using THM Super Sweet would work in this recipe (since the volume of sweetener would be reduced by half)?
I’m pretty sure it would.
Thanks! I tried it and they were very good:)
Hi, do you have the nutritional chart for this?
I just added it. This was based on the generic entry for cottage cheese on caloriecount.com so it might be off a bit. You can add it to another calculator if you want to get exact info.
Thanks you ! You’re amazing !!! 🙂
These sound delishous and I cannot wait to make them.
Do you know if I would use pyure, how much I would use?
Hi Wanda, my sweetener measure similar to Gentle Sweet so this chart says a 1:1 for stevia blends like Pyure: http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/sweetener-conversion-chart/