As the TikTok generation continues to put their health before all else, avoiding alcohol and choosing slightly less harmful vices, one product in particular has seen a resurgence in popularity: cottage cheese.
According to Generation Z, this low-fat, low-calorie dairy product, once associated with 1970s dinners as an ingredient placed on the table alongside pound cake and shrimp cocktail, is back in style. .
TikTok is flooded with foodies sharing their cottage cheese recipes, which are often designed to be healthier versions of classic treats.
And, in the UK in particular, retailers are reporting a huge increase in demand for the product as it develops a fan base among an unlikely generation.
One particular culinary trend that uses cottage cheese as a star ingredient is a cookie dough made with the product.
Cottage cheese is taking TikTok by storm as UK retailers have reported a surge in demand for the dairy product.
The strange recipe was first shared by Jake Cohen, chef and New York Times bestselling author, in May.
Earlier this year, videos of the protein-packed recipe with the hashtag #cottagecheesecookiedough racked up more than 21 million views on TikTok.
Fitness influencers say you can reduce your fat by eating this strange concoction every day, although it can contain up to 300 calories, similar to the burgers sold at McDonald’s.
The secret, its defenders say, is due to the abundance of protein in cottage cheese, which helps maintain satiety for longer.
The dough is made from a mixture of protein powder, syrup, chocolate chips and cottage cheese.
A video posted to TikTok by fitness influencer @shredathletics, who has 244.3k followers, claims that you can eat this “cookie dough every day and still lose body fat.”
Eliya, a food influencer, has shared her recipe for a cottage cheese-based cheesecake designed to resemble the flavors of a Mars bar.
The recipe is described as a “low-calorie, high-volume snack alternative” containing 378 calories and 35g of protein.
Other videos, like one from @anna.antonje, who has 6.9 million followers, shows her surprise at seeing the mixture taste 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.
At the beginning of the video, he sells the 280-calorie recipe as a weight-loss option, saying, “If you want to lose weight, this is the cookie dough for you.”
Elsewhere, health and fitness TikTok accounts use cottage cheese as a low-fat, high-protein alternative to other fats.
Milk and dairy 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 an ideal choice for people looking to build muscle mass.
It’s a much healthier option than butter, the typical binding ingredient in cookie dough, because 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 on cottage cheese toast.
The hashtag #cottagecheesetoast has more than 32 million clips on the video platform in which people prepare sweet and savory meals using this ingredient in bread.
While some add fruit and syrup to their cottage cheese on toast, others top it with tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar in a healthier version of a bruschetta or caprese.
Elsewhere, a gastronomic influencer Elia She has used the dairy product to make a Mars Bar Cheesecake, which she claims tastes just like a Mars Bar.
Use cottage cheese as a fat in the dessert and make a date candy to add a little sweetness, plus a little chocolate, of course.
Eliya claims that each of their dessert cups contains 23g of protein.
Meanwhile, as TikTok goes crazy for the dairy alternative, retailers are reporting an increase in cottage cheese sales.
According to the Guardian, M&S reported a 30% year-on-year increase in sales of the product and Waitrose reported a 22% increase.
Robert Graham, CEO of Graham’s Family Dairy, told the newspaper that the trend has come “out of nowhere” as demand for cottage cheese soars.
He said: “Since May last year, when there was a TikTok craze, cottage cheese sales for us have increased by 40%.”
As demand for the protein-rich dairy product continues to rise, TikTok chefs are finding more and more uses for it and praising its health benefits.
Em the nutritionistA UK-based dietitian who often posts TikTok clips sharing her best recipes, has posted several clips in which cottage cheese was the star of the show.
One such recipe is a warm cottage cheese and honey toast, which uses those two ingredients plus some mashed avocado, to create a sweet and savory snack that has just over 300 calories.
Elsewhere, a fitness account. australian fitnesshas shared her recipe for healthy macaroni and cheese using dairy as the star ingredient.
