High-Protein Keto Key Lime Cheesecake Cups
High-Protein Keto Key Lime Cheesecake Cups
Creamy key lime cheesecake cups with a crumb topping — low-carb, sugar-free, and ready in 45 minutes
These high-protein keto key lime cheesecake cups are bright, creamy, and layered in a cup. Blended cottage cheese or cream cheese with lime juice, zest, and protein powder creates a no-bake filling that delivers 18 g of protein and only 5 g net carbs per cup while staying fully sugar-free.
Low-carb, sugar-free, and perfect for make-ahead dessert.
Why you’ll love these cups
- 18g protein per cup
- Only 5g net carbs and fully sugar-free
- Bright key lime flavor
- No baking required
- Ready in about 45 minutes including chill
- Perfect for meal-prep desserts
Health notes
- High protein: Cottage cheese or cream cheese plus protein powder deliver a solid boost.
- Low carb: Lime juice and sugar-free sweetener keep net carbs low.
- Sugar-free: No added sugar — only sugar-free alternatives.
- Portion-ready: Individual cups make tracking easy.
Key element — blend until completely smooth
Blend the cottage cheese thoroughly so the filling is silky instead of grainy. That smooth texture is what makes these taste like cheesecake.
Ingredients
Filling (4 cups)
- 1½ cups full-fat cottage cheese or 8 oz cream cheese + ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar-free sweetener
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice (key lime if available)
- 1 Tbsp lime zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: 2–3 Tbsp heavy cream for extra silkiness
- Optional: tiny drop of green food coloring or matcha for color
Crumb + topping
- ½ cup almond flour
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar-free sweetener
- Pinch of salt
- Lime slices and extra zest for garnish
Swaps
- Higher protein: Add an extra ½ scoop protein powder and a splash of cream.
- Dairy-free: Use dairy-free yogurt and plant-based protein.
- Lemon version: Swap lime juice and zest for lemon.
- No crumbs: Serve as a plain mousse cup.
Instructions
| 1 | Make the crumbs. Mix almond flour, melted butter, sweetener, and salt until it looks like damp crumbs. Set aside. |
| 2 | Blend the filling. Add cottage cheese (or cream cheese and yogurt), protein powder, sweetener, lime juice, zest, vanilla, and optional cream to a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Add a tiny bit of green coloring only if you want a brighter color. |
| 3 | Layer. Spoon crumbs and filling into 4 cups, alternating layers. Finish with filling, then a sprinkle of crumbs. |
| 4 | Chill and garnish. Refrigerate about 30 minutes until slightly firmer. Top with lime slices and extra zest before serving. |
Pro tips
- Blend until no cottage cheese curds remain.
- Fresh lime juice tastes brighter than bottled.
- Don’t skip the zest — that’s where most of the lime flavor lives.
- Add crumbs just before serving if you want them extra crisp.
- These keep well in the fridge for several days.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per cup |
|---|---|
| Calories | 290 |
| Protein | 18g |
| Net carbohydrates | 5g |
| Total carbohydrates | 7g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Total fat | 20g |
| Sodium | 280mg |
Estimates based on cottage cheese, protein powder, lime, and almond-flour crumbs. Exact numbers vary with protein powder brand and topping amount.
Variations
Lemon cheesecake cups
Swap lime juice and zest for lemon.
Coconut lime
Add 2 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut to the crumbs.
Parfait style
Layer extra crumbs between more filling for a taller cup.
Frozen cups
Freeze 45–60 minutes for a firmer, frozen-cheesecake texture.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | Cover tightly; add lime garnish before serving |
| Freezer | Up to 1 month | Freeze without fresh lime slices |
| Serve | Chilled | Best cold |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about these key lime cheesecake cups
1. Protein per cup?
2. Net carbs per cup?
3. Why blend the cottage cheese thoroughly?
4. About how long does this take?
5. Best way to store leftovers?
