This tasty pistachio pudding, made with cottage cheese and sugar-free pistachio pudding, is reminiscent of Watergate salad or pistachio delight. A smooth, sweet and creamy treat that's sugar-free, high in protein, and takes just 5 minutes to make.
Easy recipe alert! If you got cottage cheese, sugar-free pistachio pudding (or even another flavor) and sugar-free whipped cream, you can make this super easy, high-protein pistachio pudding recipe in 5 minutes or less.
This healthier, sugar-free pistachio pudding tastes like your typical yummy pistachio dessert. And, no, it does not taste like cottage cheese. It's sweet, smooth and creamy and delicious with a few favorite toppings. We love topping with fresh cut strawberries and nuts in addition to sugar-free whipped cream.
It's made with full-fat cottage cheese, sugar-free pistachio pudding and zero-sugar whipping cream. Please note that it's important to add the whipping cream as it makes the pudding lighter, sweeter and disguises any sugar-free taste from the pudding.
What's great with this treat is that you can enjoy it any time of day and it's perfect to make when you got extra sugar-free pudding laying around the house!
Ingredients
Full-fat (4%), small-curd cottage cheese: Cottage cheese is what makes this pudding high in protein. We use full-fat (4% milk fat) cottage cheese since a lower-in-fat cottage cheese doesn't increase the protein percentage by much (already high in protein) and we prefer the taste of full-fat cottage cheese. However, you could use a lower-in-fat cottage cheese if you like.
Sugar-Free Pistachio Pudding: We prefer to use Sugar-Free Jell-O Pistachio Pudding since it's lower in carbs. If you decide to use regular Jell-O Pistachio Pudding (not sugar-free), you'll need to slightly increase the amount of pudding mix (due to differing package serving sizes). Additionally, the percentage of protein will decrease. Depending on the amount you use, it could still contain up to 20 to 25 percent protein. However, it will be much higher in carbs.
Sugar-free Whipping Cream: To enhance the flavor and make the pudding less dense, we incorporate zero-sugar whipping cream. We simply use store-bought zero-sugar whipping cream since it's tasty and low in carbs.
Note About Sugar-Free Cool Whip
Please note that we DO NOT USE sugar-free cool whip (which many pudding-related recipes may call for). It's because sugar-free cool whip is much higher in carbs and has unfavorable ingredients.
For example, ¼ cup of sugar-free cool whip is 6 net carbs. For ¼ cup of zero-sugar whipping cream, it's less than a net carb. Also, the second ingredient of sugar-free cool whip is corn syrup.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: In a food processor, pulse cottage cheese until smooth.
STEP 2: Add pistachio pudding mix and pulse until thoroughly combined. Note: be careful not to pulse the pudding mix for too long as it can gum up (which is why we pulse in two separate steps).
STEP 3: Use a spatula to remove cottage cheese mixture from processor and place in serving bowl. Fold in whipping cream until well combined.
STEP 4: Top with nuts, fresh berries or more whipping cream. Serve immediately
*To make the pudding sweeter, you can add a teaspoon or more of sugar-free sweetener (like Swerve, monk fruit, or allulose).
Other Toppings or Mix-Ins
There are so many ways to play around with this simple recipe and have fun with it!
- Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries (low-sugar fruits)
- Sugar-free marshmallows
- Pistachios, pecans or other nuts
- Keto, sugar-free granola
- Swap sugar-free pistachio pudding for another flavor
- Sugar-free chocolate chips
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
WHAT IS CONSIDERED HIGH IN PROTEIN?
We love high-protein meals, snacks and desserts since they help keep you full for longer periods of time. Therefore, you’re less likely to overeat. Wikipedia defines a high-protein diet as more than 20% of calories from protein while Diet Doctor uses 25% go 35% of calories. For more information about a high-protein diet, check out Diet Doctor.
Related Recipes
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear your feedback! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag @lowcarbsimplified on your photo of this recipe on Instagram or Facebook. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Recipe
High Protein Pistachio Pudding
Ingredients
- ½ cup 4% milkfat, small-curd cottage cheese (we use Good Culture 4% Cottage Cheese)
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar-free pistachio pudding (we use Jell-O brand)
- ¼ cup sugar-free whipping cream
Instructions
- Blend cottage cheese: In a food processor, pulse cottage cheese until smooth.
- Add pistachio pudding mix: Add pistachio pudding mix and pulse until thoroughly combined. Note: be careful not to pulse the pudding mix for too long as it can gum up (which is why we pulse in two separate steps).
- Fold in whipping cream: Use a spatula to remove cottage cheese mixture from processor and place in serving bowl. Fold in whipping cream until well combined. Do not over mix.
- Finish and serve: Top with nuts, fresh berries or more whipping cream. Serve immediately.
Thanks for this easy yummy dessert recipe. I used sf butterscotch pudding instead of pistachio and it tasted like salted caramel. I added a few mini chocolate chips before serving. Very good!
Good to hear! Butterscotch with chocolate chips sounds really good. Will try that next. 🙂