High Protein Cheesecake Jars

These portable, protein-rich desserts are perfect for meal prep, portion control, and satisfying cravings without excess calories. The creamy filling and sweet topping deliver authentic cheesecake flavor with added nutritional benefits.

Ingredients

• 57 grams butter, melted (approximately 1/4 cup)
• 150 grams graham cracker crumbs (approximately 1 1/4 cups)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 226 grams cream cheese (one 8-ounce brick), at room temperature
• 50 grams sugar (1/4 cup)
• 120 grams Greek yogurt (1/2 cup), at room temperature
• 120 grams cottage cheese (1/2 cup), at room temperature
• 30 grams vanilla protein powder (1 scoop)
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 can E.D. Smith Cherry Pie Filling (or equivalent)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to three hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Mix melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Spoon approximately two scoops of crust mixture into each of five jars and press gently. Place jars in a baking pan and pre-bake for ten minutes while preparing the filling.
2. Ensure all filling ingredients are at room temperature. Combine cream cheese, sugar, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, protein powder, egg, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until completely smooth with no lumps, approximately thirty seconds to one minute.
3. Pour filling evenly among the five jars, filling each approximately eighty percent full. Place filled jars in the baking pan and pour hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the jars.
4. Bake at three hundred degrees Fahrenheit for thirty minutes. Turn off the oven and leave jars inside for an additional one hour without opening the door. The residual heat completes cooking gently without direct heat.
5. Remove jars from oven and water bath. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for approximately four hours to allow cheesecakes to set completely. Overnight refrigeration further improves texture.
6. Once fully set, spoon cherry pie filling on top of each cheesecake jar. For optimal flavor and creamy texture, allow jars to sit at room temperature for approximately thirty minutes before serving.