As the TikTok generation continues to put their health above all else, avoiding alcohol and choosing less harmful vices, one particular food has seen a resurgence in popularity – cottage cheese.
Once associated with ’70s parties as a tableside ingredient alongside fruitcake and shrimp cocktail, the low-fat, low-calorie dairy product is back in vogue, according to Gen Z.
TikTok is full of foodies sharing their recipes using cottage cheese, often designed to be healthier versions of classic desserts.
And in the UK in particular, retailers are reporting a huge increase in demand for this product as it gains fans in an unexpected generation.
One culinary trend in particular that uses cottage cheese as a main ingredient is a cookie dough made with this product.
The bizarre recipe was first shared by Jake Cohen, a chef and New York Times bestselling author, in May.
Earlier this year, videos for the high-protein recipe with the hashtag cottagecheesecookiedough garnered more than 21 million views on TikTok.
Fitness influencers say you can reduce body fat by eating this strange concoction every day, even though it can contain up to 300 calories – similar to burgers sold at McDonald’s.
The secret, proponents say, is the abundance of protein in cottage cheese, which helps you feel fuller for longer.
The batter is made from a combination of protein powder, syrup, chocolate chips and cottage cheese.
A video posted on TikTok by fitness influencer @shredathletics, who has 244.3K followers, claims you can eat this ‘cookie dough every day and still lose body fat’.
The recipe is described as a ‘high-volume, low-calorie snack alternative’, containing 378 calories and 35g of protein.
Other videos, like one from @anna.antonje, who has 6.9 million followers, show her surprise that the mixture tastes good as she scoops it out of a bowl.
Another video, posted by @mattboxall_ who has 633,000 followers, experiments with the recipe and adds yogurt instead of cottage cheese.
Rich in protein and low in fat
At the beginning of the video, he promotes the 280-calorie recipe as a weight-loss option and says, “If you want to lose weight, this is the cookie dough for you.”
Milk and milk products such as cheese and yogurt are sources of protein and calcium.
But cottage cheese is also high in protein and low in fat, making it a favorite food for those looking to build muscle mass.
It’s a much healthier choice than butter – the typical binding ingredient in cookie dough – as it contains just 3g of fat per 100g, according to the NHS.
Other recipes that have taken TikTok by storm include various combinations of ingredients in cottage cheese sandwiches.
The hashtag cottagecheesetoast has over 32 million clips on the video platform as people make sweet and savory meals using the ingredient on the bread.
While some add fruit and syrup to their cottage cheese spreads, others share them with tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar in a healthier version of a bruschetta or caprese.
Elsewhere, food influencer Eliya used the dairy product to make a Mars Bar cheesecake, which he claims tastes just like a Mars Bar.
She uses cottage cheese as a fat in the dessert and makes a caramel out of dates to add a little sweetness, as well as a little chocolate, of course.
Eliya claims that each jar of the dessert contains 23g of protein.
Meanwhile, as TikTok goes crazy for the dairy alternative, retailers are reporting an increase in sales of cottage cheese.
According to The Guardian, M&S reported a 30% year-on-year increase in sales of the product and Waitrose reported a 22% increase.
Madness appeared “out of nowhere”
Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s Family Dairy, told the paper the craze had come ‘out of nowhere’ as demand for the cow’s cheese skyrocketed.
He said: ‘Since May last year, when there was a TikTok craze, sales of cottage cheese for us have increased by 40%.’
As demand for the protein-rich dairy product continues to grow, chefs on TikTok are finding more and more uses for it while touting its health benefits.
Em the Nutritionist, a UK-based dietitian who often posts TikTok videos sharing her favorite recipes, posted several videos where cottage cheese was the star of the show.
One of those recipes is a warm honey cottage cheese spread, which uses these two ingredients plus some smashed avocado to create a sweet and savory snack that’s just over 300 calories.
Elsewhere, an Aussie Fitness account shared her recipe for a healthy mac and cheese using dairy as the main ingredient, Dailymail writes.
Tags: food popular among youth traders report huge increase demand recipes gather tens millions views
