Kid-friendly Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Recipe: Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

Recipe: Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

by Dylan Sabuco
Photo by Dylan Sabuco
prep time
15 minutes
cook time
15 minutes
makes
4-6 servings

Fun Food Story

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Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

Cheesecake comes in so many shapes and flavors—just like us! Japan's cotton cheesecake is light and fluffy like a cloud, while New York's famous cheesecake is rich, dense, and oh-so-creamy. Sweden has "ostkaka," a cheesecake made with cheese curds, almonds, and a little jam. And Italy's cheesecake? It's a dreamy mix of ricotta, honey, and lemon. What's the big takeaway? There's no single way to make an amazing cheesecake! 

We blend cottage cheese for our Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes for a protein-packed, creamy base. After baking, the cheesecakes cool for a few minutes. While you wait, you can use that extra cottage cheese to make our tangy, creamy mOolala Cheesecake Milkshakes.

Once the cheesecakes are cool, it's time for the best part: smashing the graham crackers, smooshing the blueberries, and sprinkling them all over the cheesecakes. Go ahead, get messy—cheesecake decorating is serious fun!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • bake :

    to cook food with dry heat, as in an oven.

  • crush :

    to put pressure on a food, like a garlic clove, to break the skin and release its flavor; or to pulverize or grind a food, like a cracker, into small particles with your hands, blender, or food processor.

  • measure :

    to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

  • whisk :

    to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

Equipment Checklist

  • Oven
  • Muffin pan
  • Paper cupcake liners
  • Blender (or bowl + immersion blender)
  • Mixing bowls
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Cutting board
  • Kid-safe knife
  • Citrus squeezer (optional)
  • Bowls (2) or resealable plastic bags (2) for crushing crackers and blueberries
  • Toothpicks (or knife or fork) for testing cakes
scale
1X
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7X

Ingredients

Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

  • 1/2 C cottage cheese **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub 1/2 C silken tofu)**
  • 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free flour)**
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 eggs **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 2 tsp flaxseeds + 1/3 C water—more info below)**
  • 1 C granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
  • 1/2 C vegetable oil **
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 4 graham crackers **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free graham crackers OR similar style gluten-free/nut-free cookie/cracker/pretzels)**
  • 1/2 C frozen or fresh blueberries

Food Allergen Substitutions

Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

  • Dairy: For 1/2 C cottage cheese, substitute 1/2 C silken tofu.
  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free graham crackers OR similar style gluten-free/nut-free cookie/cracker/pretzels. Substitute gluten-free/nut-free flour. Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor. 
  • Egg: For 2 eggs, substitute 2 tsp flaxseed + 1/3 C water. Stir and soak flaxseeds in warm water for 5 minutes or until fully absorbed and thickened.

Instructions

Cozy Cottage Very Blueberry Cheesecakes

1.
intro

Cheesecake is most commonly made using cream cheese or mascarpone. These cheeses are known for having extra creamy, smooth qualities that lend themselves well to creating a dessert like cheesecake. The result is a soft, smooth cake with, hopefully, no cracks on top. What if we exchanged the cream cheese typically used with cottage cheese? Cottage cheese is much higher in protein, and if we blend it, you will be surprised how glossy and smooth this cheese becomes. Let’s dive in!

2.
measure + blend

Measure 1/2 cup of cottage cheese into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Then, scrape the cottage cheese into a large mixing bowl.

3.
measure + crack

Have your kids measure 1 1/2 cups flour and 1 teaspoon baking powder into a medium bowl. Then, measure and crack 2 eggs, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup water into the bowl with the blended cottage cheese.

4.
slice + juice + whisk

Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the juice from 1/2 lemon into your bowl. (Reserve the other half of the lemon for the drink if making.) Whisk to combine the ingredients in their separate bowls, then pour them all into the larger bowl and whisk once more. Make sure all ingredients are smoothly combined.

5.
smash + crush

Time for your kids to get some energy out! Place 4 graham crackers into a bowl or resealable plastic bag. The kids will crush the graham crackers into tiny crumbs. Set aside. In another bowl or bag, measure 1/2 cup blueberries and have your kids smash them until they are all goopy and smooshed. (Reserve half of the blueberries for the decorating step below.)

6.
preheat + fold + bake

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Fold the berries into the batter. Place cupcake liners in the wells of a muffin pan. Fill each well using 1/4-cup scoops of batter. Once all the wells are full, slide them into the oven and bake for 13 to 15 minutes or until a fork, knife, or toothpick can be removed from the center of the cake cleanly.

7.
scrumptious science

Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents, which means they are added to baked goods before cooking to produce carbon dioxide, causing them to rise. Baking powder contains baking soda, but the two substances are used under different conditions and can provide very different results. Baking soda has only one ingredient: sodium bicarbonate. It is about four times stronger than baking powder and is used in recipes that contain an acidic ingredient. Baking powder contains baking soda, but it also includes an acidifying agent, like cream of tartar.

8.
decorate + serve

Remove the cakes from the oven and allow them to cool for at least 15 minutes. Then, have your students decorate with the graham cracker crumbs and reserved smashed blueberries. Eat and enjoy!

Surprise Ingredient: Cottage Cheese!

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Photo by Warren Price Photography/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I'm Cottage Cheese!

"I can be a low-fat, protein-filled meal on my own, or you can add me to granola, fruit, smoothies, and baked goods!"

  • Cottage cheese is made from curdled skim milk, and its texture is known for its small curds. It has a mild, slightly sour taste and a creamy, somewhat soupy consistency. 
  • Early curd cheeses made with milk and salt in Mesopotamia in 3,000 BCE were similar to today's cottage cheese.
  • Cottage cheese is thought to be the first cheese made in America by immigrants from Europe who had separated curds and whey when making farmer cheese. The name "cottage cheese" started being used in the 1800s. 
  • To make cottage cheese, an acid is introduced to the milk to separate the solids from the whey (the watery part). The acid can be vinegar or lactic acid from a bacteria culture. This process develops the curd, which is cut, cooked, and pressed to release more whey. The resulting curds are then rinsed and salted. 
  • Farmer or baker's cheese is a type of cottage cheese, but it is drier and firmer because more of the liquid has been pressed out. It is used in baking and cooking and can be sliced or crumbled.
  • Because the curds are made with skim milk, cottage cheese begins as a non-fat product. However, a light cream dressing is often added, resulting in a higher fat content, depending on the percentage of milk fat in the dressing. If it contains 4 percent fat, it is like whole milk; if it has 2 percent milkfat, it is considered low-fat cottage cheese.
  • Cottage cheese can be eaten alone or with added spices or fruit, like apples, peaches, pears, and pineapple. It can be part of a salad or dip. It can replace ricotta cheese in lasagna or cream cheese in cheesecake or jello salad. 
  • Cottage cheese is high in protein and calcium and low in sugar. Its casein (KAY-seen) protein is a complete protein. It may contain probiotics, good bacteria that can improve digestion. Non-fat and low-fat versions can be part of a healthy, low-fat diet!

History of Cheesecake!

Photo by Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com
  • Is it a cake, a pie, a tart, or a custard? There isn't a consensus about what type of dessert cheesecake is, but we know it is rich, thick, creamy, and delightful!
  • An early form of cheesecake originated in ancient Greece and was called "placenta cake." It was made with thin layers of dough with cheese and honey in between the layers. It was also a precursor of "baklava." When the ancient Romans conquered the Greeks, they adopted the dessert. 
  • A more modern version, a "sambocade," with elderflower and rose water, is found in a 1390 English cookbook, Forme of Cury. 
  • The name "cheesecake" has been used since the 15th century. In the 18th century, eggs were added, yeast was removed, and cheesecake became more like today's dessert. 
  • The types of cheese used include cream cheese, cottage cheese, and ricotta cheese. Eggs and sugar are added to the cheese to make the cheesecake filling. It often has a crust of graham cracker or cookie crumbs and butter, and sometimes a fresh fruit topping is added.
  • There are a few varieties of cheesecake in the United States and other countries. New York cheesecake is a popular style with sour cream or heavy cream added to the cream cheese base.

Let's Learn About the United States!

Photo by JeniFoto/Shutterstock.com (July 4th Picnic)
  • Most of the United States of America (USA) is in North America. It shares its northern border with Canada and its southern border with Mexico. It consists of 50 states, 1 federal district, 5 territories, 9 Minor Outlying Islands, and 326 Indian reservations. 
  • The country's total area is 3,796,742 square miles, globally the third largest after Russia and Canada. The US population is over 333 million, making it the third most populous country in the world, after China and India.
  • The United States of America declared itself an independent nation from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, by issuing the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Revolutionary War between the US and Great Britain was fought from 1775-1783. We only had 13 colonies at that time! On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and declared that the new nation would be called the United States. 
  • The 13 colonies became states after each ratified the constitution of the new United States, with Delaware being the first on December 7, 1787.  
  • The 13 stripes on the US flag represent those first 13 colonies, and the 50 stars represent our 50 states. The red color of the flag symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes innocence and purity, and blue symbolizes vigilance and justice.
  • Before settling in Washington DC, a federal district, the nation's capital resided in New York City and then Philadelphia for a short time. New York City is the largest city in the US and is considered its financial center. 
  • The US does not have a recognized official language! However, English is effectively the national language. 
  • The American dollar is the national currency. The nickname for a dollar, "buck," comes from colonial times when people traded goods for buckskins!
  • Because the United States is so large, there is a wide variety of climates and types of geography. The Mississippi/Missouri River, running primarily north to south, is the fourth-longest river system in the world. On the east side of the Mississippi are the Appalachian Mountains, the Adirondack Mountains, and the East Coast, next to the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • On the west side of the Mississippi are the flat Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains (or Rockies), and the West Coast, next to the Pacific Ocean, with several more mountain ranges in coastal states, such as the Sierras and the Cascades. Between the coasts and the north and south borders are several forests, lakes (including the Great Lakes), rivers, swamps, deserts, and volcanos. 
  • Several animals are unique to the US, such as the American bison (or American buffalo), the bald eagle, the California condor, the American black bear, the groundhog, the American alligator, and the pronghorn (or American antelope). 
  • The US has 63 national parks. The Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and the Grand Canyon, with the Colorado River flowing through it, are among the most well-known and visited.
  • Cuisine in the US was influenced early on by the indigenous people of North America who lived there before Europeans arrived. They introduced beans, corn, potatoes, squash, berries, fish, turkey, venison, dried meats, and more to the new settlers. Other influences include the widely varied foods and dishes of enslaved people from Africa and immigrants from Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in the United States?

  • Education is compulsory in the US, and kids may go to a public or private school or be home-schooled. Most schools do not require students to wear uniforms, but some private schools do. The school year runs from mid-August or the beginning of September to the end of May or the middle of June.
  • Kids generally start school at about five years old in kindergarten or earlier in preschool and continue through 12th grade in high school. After that, many go on to university, community college, or technical school. 
  • Spanish, French, and German are the most popular foreign languages kids learn in US schools. 
  • Kids may participate in many different school and after-school sports, including baseball, soccer, American football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and track and field. In grade school, kids may join in playground games like hopscotch, four-square, kickball, tetherball, jump rope, or tag.
  • There are several fun activities that American kids enjoy doing with their friends and families, such as picnicking, hiking, going to the beach or swimming, or going to children's and natural history museums, zoos and wild animal parks, amusement parks, water parks, state parks, or national parks. Popular amusement parks include Disneyland, Disney World, Legoland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios.
  • On Independence Day or the 4th of July, kids enjoy a day off from school, picnicking, and watching fireworks with their families. 
  • Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November when students get 2 to 5 days off school. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are popular December holidays, and there are 2 or 3 weeks of winter vacation. Easter is celebrated in March, April, or May, and kids enjoy a week of spring recess around that time.  
  • Barbecued hot dogs or hamburgers, watermelon, apple pie, and ice cream are popular kid foods for 4th of July celebrations. Turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie are traditional Thanksgiving foods. Birthday parties with cake and ice cream are very important celebrations for kids in the United States!

THYME for a Laugh

What’s a ghost’s favorite fruit? 

Boo-berries!

The Yolk's On You

Why did the blueberry stop in the middle of the road? 

Because he ran out of juice!

THYME for a Laugh

What cheese lives in a small house?

Cottage cheese!

Lettuce Joke Around

I've been trying to figure out why I don't think of cottage cheese as really "cheese."

But it's just a curd to me.

The Yolk's On You

What do mice eat on their birthdays?

Cheesecake!

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