
Healthy Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Pie (Less Sugar, More Protein)
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Pumpkin pie is one of the most-searched pies every November, and cottage cheese is still one of the year’s favorite healthy swaps. Put them together and you get this healthy cottage cheese pumpkin pie. It has a silky, classic-tasting filling, about half the sugar of a typical recipe and more protein, on an easy almond-oat crust. Nobody at the table will guess the secret ingredient.
🥧 Why It’s a Healthier Pumpkin Pie
- About half the sugar: Sweetened with ⅓ cup of maple syrup instead of the usual ¾ cup of sugar plus condensed milk.
- More protein: Blended cottage cheese replaces evaporated milk, so each slice has about 8–9 g of protein.
- Whole-food crust: Almond flour and oats instead of a refined-flour, shortening crust.
- Fiber from pumpkin: Pumpkin is naturally rich in fiber and vitamin A.

Healthy Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
Almond-Oat Crust
- 1 cup almond flour 100 g
- ½ cup rolled oats 45 g, ground into flour
- 3 tbsp butter 42 g, melted, or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 pinch salt
Filling
- 15 oz pure pumpkin purée 1 can / 425 g, not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 cup low-fat (2%) cottage cheese 225 g
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup 105 g
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix all the crust ingredients until they look like damp sand, press evenly into a 9-inch pie dish and bake for 10 minutes. Let it cool slightly.
- Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth, with no curds left. Add the pumpkin, eggs, maple syrup, spice, vanilla and salt, and blend until creamy.
- Pour the filling into the crust and bake for 45–55 minutes, until the edges are set and the center has just a slight jiggle. Cover the crust edges with foil if they brown too fast.
- Cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, before slicing.
Notes
🍴 How to Eat It
- Topped with a spoonful of Greek yogurt or lightly whipped cream.
- Sprinkled with chopped toasted pecans and an extra pinch of cinnamon.
- As a protein-rich breakfast slice the morning after Thanksgiving. We won’t tell!
🧘♀️ Nutrition Tips
Approximate nutrition per slice (1/8 pie): 230 calories · 8.5 g protein · 22 g carbs · 3 g fiber · 13 g fat · about 12 g sugar.
For comparison, a typical slice of classic pumpkin pie has around 300+ calories and 20–25 g of sugar.
- Blend the cottage cheese really well. It’s the key to a smooth filling.
- Nut-free option: Use a store-bought whole-wheat crust instead of the almond crust.
- Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
🛒 Healthy Amazon Finds for This Recipe
- Pyrex 9.5-Inch Glass Pie Plates (3-Pack): glass lets you see when the crust is golden.
- Ninja Professional Blender (BL610): blends the cottage cheese filling perfectly smooth, with no curds.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can you taste the cottage cheese in this pumpkin pie?
No. As long as you blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth, with no curds left, the filling tastes and feels like a classic creamy pumpkin custard.
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese?
Yes. Plain Greek yogurt also adds protein. The filling will be slightly tangier and a little softer, so chill it overnight before slicing.
Can I make this pumpkin pie ahead of time?
Yes. It’s best made 1–2 days ahead. Keep it covered in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 4 days.
How can I make this pumpkin pie even lower in sugar?
Replace the maple syrup with a maple-flavored monk fruit syrup, or make your own with our Monk Fruit Sweetener Recipe. Keep the 1 tablespoon of maple syrup in the crust or swap that too.
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🧮 Track it: Use our free Daily Calorie Intake Calculator to find out how many calories you need each day.
✅ Final Thoughts
This healthy cottage cheese pumpkin pie keeps everything you love about the holiday classic (creamy texture, warm spices, golden crust) with less sugar and more protein. It’s an easy way to enjoy dessert while staying on track. Pin it for your Thanksgiving menu!






