Strawberry Cottage Cheese Waffles

High-Protein Strawberry Waffles with Cottage Cheese

My cottage cheese waffles were such a hit with not only my littles but also readers on the blog. And they’ve gone viral on Instagram so many times! So I knew I had to start making different flavors. My pumpkin cottage cheese waffles are perfect for fall, and my cinnamon roll cottage cheese waffles have become a staple for holidays and gatherings. But these Strawberry Waffles are SO perfect for spring!

Oh my goodness, y’all. These are SO good! The berries add just a hint of sweetness and a satisfying texture, and like all my cottage cheese recipes, the extra protein is just hidden right in the recipe. Personally, I love that there’s no protein powder after-taste! With a light pink hue and the sweetest ripe strawberry flavor, these waffles are perfect for weekday mornings, special brunches, baby showers, and everything in between! 

You’ll Also Love: Lemon Blueberry Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick Prep Time – All you need is a few minutes of prep time, and the waffle maker does the rest. You’ll be ready to eat in just 30 minutes! 
• Fluffy Texture – Cooked until golden brown, these waffles are crisp around the edges, soft in the center, and super thick. 
• 6 Grams Protein – Cottage cheese gives the batter a boost of protein and blends up completely smooth, so you wouldn’t even know it’s there. 
• Large Batch – As written, this recipe makes 10 large waffles, which is plenty for my whole family. Plus, it can easily be doubled or tripled, and leftovers store and freeze well for meal prep! 

RELATED: Easy Protein Waffles Recipe

Ingredients

• Flour – All-purpose flour or whole wheat flour works best, but you can substitute 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour if needed. 
• Baking Powder 
• Cinnamon – This adds depth and enhances the sweetness of the batter. 
• Cottage Cheese – I prefer to use full-fat cottage cheese for the best taste and texture, but low-fat will also work. 
• Strawberries – I fold chopped strawberries into the waffle batter for pops of sweetness and color in each bite. Then, I save extras to sprinkle on top, too. 
• Eggs – These help bind the ingredients, creating the crisp exterior we want. I haven’t tested these strawberry waffles with flax eggs, and I can’t guarantee your results if you do. 
• Vanilla 
• Maple Syrup – This adds sweetness. Adjust to taste, or substitute honey or agave, if preferred. 
• Milk – Use any dairy or non-dairy milk you have on hand. 
• Coconut Oil – Feel free to use melted butter instead! 

How to Make Strawberry Waffles

The key to creating the best waffles with cottage cheese is blending the cottage cheese super well to eliminate any curds. All you need is a large bowl, a blender, and a waffle maker. I’ve been using this 3-in-1 Waffle Maker for years and still love it, because it’s super easy to clean! Here’s how to make Cottage Cheese Strawberry Waffles: 

1. Whisk the dry ingredients – Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. 
2. Blend the wet ingredients – Pulse all the wet ingredients in a blender until smooth. 
3. Combine the batter – Whisk the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients until mostly combined. Then, whisk in the coconut oil just until smooth. The batter will be very thick! Fold in diced strawberries. 
4. Cook the waffles – Scoop the batter into a preheated and greased waffle iron. Cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mine only took about 3 minutes! 
5. Enjoy – Serve warm with your favorite toppings. 

Topping Ideas and Serving Suggestions

The best part of any stack of waffles is always the toppings, if you ask me! My favorites for this strawberry waffle recipe are extra strawberries and maple syrup.

However, other tasty options include chopped nuts, coconut flakes, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, nut butters, healthy homemade granola, powdered sugar, or whipped cream. When hosting, I love to set out a toppings bar so everyone can build their own plate, and it’s always so fun! 

If you want to add a few sides, some of my favorites include cottage cheese egg bites, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, sausage, or Whole30 breakfast casserole. It makes for a super satisfying spread, great for Mother’s Day and special occasions! Of course, you can never go wrong with a strawberry cloud matcha or vanilla latte, too. 

Tips

• Blend until completely smooth. Make sure the cottage cheese mixture is fully blended with no lumps. This gives the waffles a smoother texture and helps them cook evenly while hiding the cottage cheese. 
• Don’t overmix the batter. Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until no streaks remain. Overmixing can make the waffles dense instead of light and fluffy.
• Dice the strawberries into small pieces. This allows them to distribute evenly throughout the batter and prevents the waffles from becoming soggy. 
• Pat the strawberries dry if needed. If your strawberries are extra juicy, lightly pat them dry with a paper towel to prevent excess moisture in the batter, which can make your strawberry waffles soggy. 
• Let the batter rest for a few minutes. Allowing the batter to sit for 3-5 minutes helps the flour hydrate, resulting in a better texture. 
• Preheat your waffle iron well. A hot waffle iron is key for crisp edges. If it’s not hot enough, the waffles may stick or turn out soft instead of golden.
• Don’t overfill the waffle iron. Stick to about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter per waffle (or your machine’s recommendation). Too much batter can spill over and cook unevenly, causing the edges to burn. 
• Keep waffles warm while cooking batches. Place finished waffles on a baking sheet in the oven at 200°F to keep them warm and crisp while you finish the rest.

Variations

Chocolate chip strawberry waffles. Fold 1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips into the batter along with the strawberries for a sweet, dessert-like twist.

Strawberry banana waffles. Replace 1/2 cup of the strawberries with mashed ripe banana for a naturally sweeter, softer waffle.

Mixed berry waffles. Swap the strawberries for a mix of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a fun, colorful variation.

Protein-boosted waffles. Add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and an extra splash of milk to keep the batter smooth and balanced for even more protein. 

Dairy-free. Use a dairy-free cottage cheese alternative and plant-based milk to make this recipe dairy-free.

Strawberry cream cheese waffles. Swirl small dollops of cream cheese into the batter before cooking for a slightly tangy, cheesecake-inspired flavor.

Extra-pink strawberry waffles. Blend freeze-dried strawberries or a few drops of a natural food dye into the batter to enhance the color without changing the flavor too much.

How to Store

I love to make these strawberry waffles for meal prep! Once cool, transfer them to a sealable bag or an airtight container. They will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. If freezing, I place a sheet of parchment paper between each waffle to prevent them from clumping together. 

To serve, pop the waffles into a toaster or air fryer (thawed or frozen), and heat just until they’re warmed through and crisp. You can also use the microwave if you’re in a hurry, but the waffles will become a little soft. 

Healthy Waffle Recipes You’ll Love

• Almond Flour Waffles
• Savory Protein Waffles
• Vegetarian Jalapeño Bacon Waffles
• Gluten-Free Waffles
• Easy Protein Waffles

More Ways to Use Cottage Cheese

• Cottage Cheese Pancakes
• Cottage Cheese Muffins
• Cottage Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
• Cottage Cheese Pancake Bars
• Pistachio Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
• Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Looking for more? Find 35+ cottage cheese recipes!