Name: Cottage Cheese Donut Holes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup cottage cheese; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 2 tablespoons melted butter (for coating); 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (for cinnamon sugar); 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for cinnamon sugar)

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These cottage cheese donut holes are high in protein, made without yeast and are ready to eat in under 25 minutes. You can bake them or air fry them for a quick and easy snack or treat any time of day!

A close-up of golden donut holes coated in cinnamon sugar on parchment paper.

Recipe Highlights

High in Protein: Each donut hole has 7 grams of protein, making these a satisfying snack or breakfast that actually keeps you full.
No Rise Time: Skip the yeast and waiting!
Simple Ingredients: Just cottage cheese, flour, baking powder, a touch of butter, and cinnamon sugar.

I started playing with cottage cheese in desserts a couple of years ago, and it’s become one of my favourite shortcuts for adding protein to baked goods like my Cottage Cheese Cinnamon Rolls and Cottage Cheese Banana Muffins. It truly is a “miracle” ingredient that makes baked goods moist, adds a soft fluffy texture and a meaningful boost of protein. So when I realized I could turn cottage cheese into donut holes? It’s been a total game changer!

These cottage cheese donut holes are made with five ingredients and can be baked or air fried. No yeast, no waiting around for dough to rise, no frying oil on the stovetop.

Key Ingredients

Bowls of butter, flour, cottage cheese, baking powder, cinnamon, and sugar labeled as ingredients for cottage cheese donut holes.

Cottage Cheese: You want to use THICK cottage cheese. If you’re cottage cheese is very watery strain it before using it. Blending it is also important for a smooth texture. use any leftover cottage cheese to make some Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough or Cottage Cheese Brownie Batter.

Flour: I use all-purpose flour. You could use whole grain flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour if needed. If you want to make these with almond flour I recommend using the dough for my Almond Flour Cottage Cheese Bagels. Then just take the dough and roll it into donut holes and continue with this recipe.

How To Make Cottage Cheese Donut Holes

*This is a recipe overview. The full recipe with measurements and instructions can be found below in the recipe card.

A glass bowl of smooth, creamy batter with a spoon resting inside.

Step 1: Blend the cottage cheese until smooth.

A glass bowl of flour with cottage cheese being stirred together with a spoon to form dough.

Step 2: Add the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt.

A glass bowl of thick, clumpy dough being mixed with a spoon.

Step 3: Mix until it forms a dough.

A round disc of dough scored into eight wedges on a piece of parchment paper.

Step 4: Shape into a circle, then cut into triangles.

Rows of round dough balls arranged on a parchment-lined baking sheet before baking.

Step 5: Roll each triangle int a ball.

Rows of freshly baked golden brown donut holes on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 6: Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.

Baked donut holes on parchment paper next to a bowl of melted butter and a bowl of cinnamon sugar with one donut hole being coated.

Step 7: Dip in butter and cinnamon sugar while still warm.

A close-up of two cinnamon sugar coated donut holes sitting on parchment paper.

Step 8: Enjoy!

How To Store

Keep cottage cheese donut holes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They’re best eaten within the first 2 days.

You can also freeze them for up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container; reheat in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes.

Jess’s Tips

Blend your cottage cheese well: Lumps in the cottage cheese = lumps in your donut holes.
Adjust flour as needed: depending on the thickness of your cottage cheese, you may need more flour. If the dough feels too wet, add more flour until it reaches a springy dough.
Don’t overmix the dough: this will cause dense donut holes.
Wet your hands when rolling: If the dough sticks to your hands, lightly wet your hands. This will prevent them from sticking.
Air fryer temperatures vary: Start checking at 7 minutes. You want them golden and set, but still slightly tender inside. If they’re pale, give them 1–2 more minutes.
Make them with Greek yogurt: substitute Greek yogurt for cottage cheese as an equal swap! Greek yogurt is also delicious in my high-protein banana pudding.

A cinnamon sugar donut hole torn open to reveal its soft, fluffy interior, surrounded by more donut holes.

If you tried these Cottage Cheese Donut Holes leave a review below and tag me @choosingchia on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook I love seeing your recreations!

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