1-First Step: Prep the pan and oven Start by preheating your oven to 325°F. Grease an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper for easier lifting and cleanup. If you like easy snack baking for the week, this is a good time to prep a second recipe too, such as these baked oatmeal cups for meal prep.

2-Second Step: Blend the wet ingredients Add the 2/3 cup cottage cheese, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup maple syrup, and the optional 1/4 cup granulated sugar to a blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture looks smooth and creamy. This step matters because it removes the curds and gives the brownies a more even texture.

3-Third Step: Mix the dry ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup almond flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Breaking up the cocoa powder now helps prevent little dry pockets in the finished batter. If you want to know more about almond flour and how it works in baking, this almond flour guide from WebMD is helpful.

4-Fourth Step: Combine the batters Pour the blended wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently until just mixed. The batter will be thick, and that is exactly what you want for fudgy Cottage Cheese Protein Brownies. Avoid overmixing, since too much stirring can make the brownies tougher.

5-Fifth Step: Fold in the chocolate chips Add 1/3 cup chocolate chips and fold them in with a spatula. You can use regular chips or mini chips, depending on the texture you like best. Mini chips spread more evenly, while regular chips create bigger pockets of melted chocolate.

6-Sixth Step: Fill the pan Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. If you want extra chocolate on top, sprinkle on a few more chocolate chips before baking. For a fun finish, you can also press a few chips into the surface so they stay visible after baking.

7-Seventh Step: Bake until just set Bake for 18 to 22 minutes at 325°F. The edges should look set, and the center should have moist crumbs when tested with a toothpick. Try not to overbake, because that can dry out the brownies and reduce the fudgy texture.

8-Eighth Step: Cool and slice Let the brownies cool for 5 minutes before slicing. This short rest helps them settle so you get cleaner squares. If you want neater cuts, let them cool a little longer before removing them from the pan.