High-Protein Cheesecake Jars
Creamy no-bake cheesecake jars with extra protein, perfect for dessert, snack, or breakfast.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 4 graham cracker sheets about 1/2 cup crumbs
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 8 ounces light cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 2 scoops about 60 g vanilla whey or casein protein powder
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar or granulated sweetener of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 2 tablespoons milk dairy or unsweetened almond milk, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup fresh berries or 4 tablespoons berry jam for topping
Instructions
- Place the graham crackers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin until fine crumbs form.
- In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated and resemble wet sand.
- Divide the crumb mixture evenly among 4 small jars or glasses, adding about 2 tablespoons to each.
- Use the back of a spoon to press the crumbs firmly into the bottom of each jar to create a crust layer, then set the jars aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the softened light cream cheese and beat with a whisk or hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Add the Greek yogurt, protein powder, powdered sugar, and vanilla bean paste to the cream cheese and whisk until fully combined and smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add 2 tablespoons of milk and whisk again, checking the consistency; the mixture should be thick but spoonable and smooth. If it is too thick, whisk in an additional teaspoon of milk at a time until you reach a creamy, mousse-like texture.
- Taste the cheesecake mixture and adjust sweetness if needed by whisking in an additional teaspoon of powdered sugar at a time.
- Spoon the cheesecake mixture evenly over the prepared crusts in the jars, dividing it among the 4 jars and smoothing the tops with the back of a spoon.
- Top each jar with fresh berries or swirl 1 tablespoon of berry jam gently into the top of each cheesecake layer.
- Cover the jars with lids or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill and set before serving.
- Serve the cheesecake jars cold, and keep any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature so the filling turns out smooth and lump-free.
- If you prefer a higher-protein and lower-sugar version, replace the powdered sugar with a powdered zero-calorie sweetener and use a low-sugar protein powder.
- If you prefer a higher-protein and lower-sugar version, replace the powdered sugar with a powdered zero-calorie sweetener and use a low-sugar protein powder.