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Anyone else nostalgic for those long, summer days spent at grandma’s house eating home cooked southern meals and finishing out the evening with her famous banana pudding? No? Okay, I’m from the Northeast, so me neither, but that is the image that comes to mind when I think about banana pudding! I created this take on the ever popular southern dessert with no added sugar and other goodies inside.
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This recipe gives you all the satisfaction of banana pudding, but uses the natural sweetness from ripe bananas AND has a secret ingredient that gives it a huge protein boost: cottage cheese! If that sounds a little odd to you at first, I get it! But trust me, the cottage cheese element in this recipe not only gives it an incredible nutritional boost, but when it’s all blended together, you’d never know it was cottage cheese. It’s creamy, delicious, filling, and nutritious!
With only four ingredients needed, this recipe is simple and fun for kids to help you prepare! The best part is that this recipe is totally customizable — you can create one tasty base, and then every person can add their preferred toppings to create the perfect refreshing pudding that is full of protein and uses no added sugar! I can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe.
All you need is:
Optional toppings: toasted coconut, sliced banana, chopped fresh pineapple, chopped nuts
Can you taste the cottage cheese?
No! Once you blend the mixture up and it becomes the same consistency, you won’t know it was once the texture of cottage cheese. And since it’s sweet like bananas and topped however you like, you get all banana pudding flavor and nothing else!
Can I use something else besides cottage cheese?
You *may* be able to swap for a high-fat Greek yogurt, but I haven’t tried in this recipe to say with 100% certainty. The cottage cheese works like a charm and I promise you’ll never know! If you do opt for the Greek yogurt route, I would add a little pinch of salt along with it!
Can I use “no salt added” cottage cheese?
If you’re on a low sodium diet then yes, go for it! For the rest of you – I haven’t tried it in this recipe so I make no promises. I think it would be more bland and wouldn’t have as much depth of flavor.
What blender do you use?
I am a lifelong fan of Vitamix blenders. There is nothing more durable and powerful! But I also really like the Ninja brand – I can’t speak to their longevity the way I can with Vitamix (I had the same one for about 15 years until someone happened to gift me a newer model), but the price is much more accessible!
Both blenders I have and my other favorite kitchen appliances are on Amazon here!
These are my all time favorite smoothie cups for kids and toddlers – sometimes the simplest design is the best! They also make great pudding serving jars, just without the lid on. They do come with traditional lids (no straw hole) to store leftovers, too.
You could also serve with a few Nilla wafer cookies and graham crackers- which will make it even more nostalgic and traditional!
Or you could go a tropical direction with more coconut, pineapple, and a dollop of whipped cream! Choose your own adventure!
To add even more of a nutrient boost, add some chia seeds on top.
If you’re looking for more recipes that are kid-friendly for meals AND snacks, check out my new Meal + Snack Survival Guide– available for purchase on my website. Also, grab this free healthy snack guide for more store-bought snack ideas!
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