Who says you can’t have protein for dessert?! This ricotta dessert parfait is perfect if you’re looking for an easy sweet treat that fits with your nutrition goals. Packed with 19 grams of protein and low in saturated fat and added sugar, this unexpected dessert is perfect to prep ahead and enjoy when a craving hits!

3 glasses filled with a ricotta cheese dessert layered with figs and fig preserves

Ricotta cheese isn’t just for lasagna and stuffed shells. In fact part skim ricotta tends to be a bit on the sweet side, but has a nice mild flavor so is really versatile. In this easy dessert, you will get a whopping 19 grams of protein per serving, and about 250 calories.

It’s perfect to make a batch to enjoy as a post-dinner treat, but it would also make for a great dessert when entertaining. It can be assembled earlier in the day or even the night before, and served when needed. Best part is you can add in any fresh fruit you wish to for a really easy and unique dessert.

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Why you’ll love this ricotta dessert with fresh fruit
Ingredients needed
Easy step-by-step directions
Why Skim dairy over full fat?
recipe substitutions & variations
Storage
Why drain the cottage cheese?
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Ricotta Dessert Parfait with Fresh Fruit and Preserves

Why you’ll love this ricotta dessert with fresh fruit

Easy and quick to make, needing only 3 key ingredients plus fresh fruit. Have a unique and delicious dessert ready to go in just a few minutes!
Nutritious and delicious, low in added sugar, with added probiotics from the cottage cheese and fiber from the fresh fruit. This dessert is a great option when you are being mindful of your nutrition goals.
Versatile dessert that can be made with a wide range of different fruit options, especially easy to tailor for the season. Use fresh berries at the height of spring, figs in late summer, or pears in the fall.

ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, lemon zest, vanilla, maple syrup and fresh figs and fig preserves in small white bowls

Ingredients needed

Part Skim milk ricotta cheese preferred, but whole milk ricotta will also work.
Cottage cheese, lowfat or nonfat preferred. We suggest a “dry” brand of cottage cheese, like Good Culture. If the cottage cheese you usually buy is a bit more liquidy, just make sure to strain out excess liquid before blending.
Maple syrup or honey to sweeten the ricotta dessert just a bit!
Lemon zest, vanilla and cracked black pepper to heighten the flavor!
Fresh fruit and complimentary preserves, whichever you prefer or have on hand!

Easy step-by-step directions

ricotta, cottage cheese, lemon zest and vanilla in a food processor

Add ingredients

Add all the ingredients except the fresh fruit and preserves, to a food processor. Note, if the cottage cheese has excess liquid, strain it through a fine mesh strainer first to prevent the ricotta dessert from being too watered down.

blended ricotta cheese and cottage cheese in a food processor

Blend & chill

Process ricotta cheese mixture till nice and smooth. Pour into a medium bowl, cover and chill for at least 1-2 hours, preferably overnight. The longer the dessert is left to chill, up to overnight, the thicker and more like a pudding it will become.

Assemble parfaits

When the ricotta dessert has chilled and firmed up, divide up into serving glasses, adding a layer of ricotta, the fruit, then another layer of the ricotta mix. Top with fresh figs or fruit of choice, and a dollop of preserves. Garnish with fresh mint leaves or finely chopped nuts.

Why Skim dairy over full fat?

Low-fat dairy is a good option for those who are either watching caloric intake for a specific goal such as weight loss, and/or are trying to reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. Low-fat dairy retains most of the key nutrients found in full-fat dairy, like protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals, and pretty much tastes the same, but with less fat content.

Ultimately the choice is yours though and if you prefer full-fat dairy or just happen to already have it at home, you can certainly use it!

a table covered in fresh figs and 3 glasses filled with a ricotta cheese dessert and topped with fresh figs

recipe substitutions & variations

Feel free to sub cottage cheese for plain yogurt. You could try Greek yogurt, however it may impart a stronger flavor that overpowers the mild ricotta.
Adjust the level of sweetness as desired. The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and this lends a very subtle sweetness that still allows for the savory flavor notes to come through.
The ricotta parfait can be enjoyed immediately after whipping up, however it may be a runnier consistency. If this is preferred or you don’t mind, then by all means skip the chilling process! But chilling for a few hours will produce a thicker consistency that will feel a bit more substantial.
The ricotta dessert would be perfect with berries and my easy homemade raspberry freezer jam.

Storage

This dessert can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container or tightly sealed plastic wrap.

Why drain the cottage cheese?

Some brands of cottage cheese like Knudsen and Trader Joe’s, come packed in a lot of liquid. Other brands like Lactaid and Good Culture are much drier, meaning there really isn’t much excess moisture and it’s primarily the dry curds.

Draining the excess liquid first will allow for a better consistency and less chance of the ricotta dessert getting watery, especially important if meal prepping in advance.

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Ricotta Dessert Parfait

Why you’ll love this ricotta dessert with fresh fruit

Ingredients needed