This is my go-to high-protein dough recipe. It’s easy to make, incredibly versatile, and serves as the foundation for many protein-packed baked goods and savory dishes. I use this dough as a base for everything from pizzas and bagels to cinnamon rolls and savory biscuits — and I’ve included a roundup of those recipes below.
What’s the ingredient DL? This high-protein dough uses just four main ingredients and requires ZERO rise time. It’s essentially a 1:1 ratio of all-purpose flour and skyr (or Greek) yogurt, plus baking powder and a little salt. That simple combination creates a reliable, high-protein dough you can adapt for sweet and savory recipes.
The dough delivers about 20g of protein per serving when made with skyr or blended cottage cheese, which makes it a great choice for protein-forward meals and snacks. The protein comes from either skyr yogurt or blended cottage cheese — both work well and add moisture and structure.
High-Protein Dough Ingredients
All-purpose flour: AP flour forms the base of this dough and helps produce a nicely chewy interior and crisp exterior when baked. This recipe has not been tested with gluten-free AP flour or almond flour.
Plain Skyr yogurt, Greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese: Skyr, Greek yogurt, or blended cottage cheese all add protein and moisture. Skyr is especially thick and protein-rich, but Greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese are excellent substitutes.
Baking powder: This dough uses baking powder for leavening since it contains no yeast. Don’t skip it — it helps create lift and a light texture.
Sea salt: A pinch of salt enhances flavor in both sweet and savory variations.
Don’t Have Skyr Yogurt?
Greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese are great substitutes for skyr. Both yield similar texture and protein content and work well in this dough base.
What is the best kind of cottage cheese for this dough?
I prefer cottage cheese with 2%–4% fat for this dough. Very low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese has higher water content and can make the dough too wet unless you adjust the flour ratio slightly.
My Best High-Protein Dough Recipes
Below are some of my most popular recipes that use this high-protein dough as the base. Each recipe adapts the same simple dough so you can make a variety of protein-rich treats and meals.
Cottage Cheese Pizza Crust
Rating: 4.95 from 34 reviews
This no-rise protein pizza dough is the perfect base for quick homemade pizzas. Made with blended cottage cheese or yogurt, it delivers about 20 grams of protein per serving and produces a chewy crust with crisp edges.
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Cottage Cheese Protein Fruit Pizza
Rating: 4.50 from 2 reviews
A bright, lemon-poppyseed flavored cottage cheese crust topped with cream cheese frosting and seasonal fruit. This protein fruit pizza is an ideal sweet treat for spring and summer with added protein from cottage cheese.
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High-Protein Pizza Hot Pockets
Rating: 5.00 from 3 reviews
A homemade version of a nostalgic snack — hot pockets made with Greek yogurt in the dough for extra protein. Fill them with your favorite pizza toppings for a portable, protein-rich treat.
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Protein Monkey Bread (Air Fryer)
Rating: 5.00 from 3 reviews
Sticky, sweet, and fun — this monkey bread uses blended cottage cheese in the dough for a protein boost. It’s quick in the air fryer and finished with a cream cheese glaze for extra indulgence.
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Air Fryer Apple Fritters
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These air fryer apple fritters use cottage cheese in the dough with sliced apples and a simple glaze. They’re crisp outside, tender inside, and a lighter take on a classic fall treat.
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Cottage Cheese Gnocchi
Rating: 5.00 from 3 reviews
Make light, fluffy gnocchi without potatoes by using cottage cheese in the dough. This version is easy, protein-rich, and pairs beautifully with browned butter and sage or your favorite sauce.
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Air Fryer Dinner Rolls
Rating: 4.34 from 6 reviews
These high-protein dinner rolls use Greek yogurt and just five ingredients. They take about 15 minutes to prepare and deliver roughly 8g of protein per roll — great for sandwiches or as a hearty side.
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Air Fryer Pumpkin Bagel Bites
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Perfect for fall — these pumpkin bagel bites are made quickly in the air fryer and use the high-protein dough as a base. They’re soft, flavorful, and delicious with a bit of maple or cream cheese.
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Cottage Cheese Breakfast Biscuits
Rating: 4.88 from 8 reviews
These breakfast biscuits pack about 15g of protein each by using cottage cheese in the dough. Slice one open, add an egg or smoked salmon, and you’ve got a filling, protein-rich breakfast sandwich.
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Two-Ingredient Air Fryer Protein Bagels
Rating: 5.00 from 7 reviews
Chewy, satisfying bagels made with just two main ingredients: flour and skyr or Greek yogurt. They bake or air fry in under 30 minutes and make a great high-protein base for spreads and toppings.
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Strawberry Cottage Cheese Bagels
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A sweet twist on the bagel: strawberry-flavored dough made with cottage cheese for added protein. Bake or air fry for a soft, flavorful breakfast option that delivers about 10g of protein per bagel.
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High-Protein Strawberry Shortcake
Rating: 5.00 from 1 review
This high-protein strawberry shortcake uses two-ingredient protein biscuits as the base, topped with juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream for a lighter, protein-forward dessert.
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Small Batch Protein Cinnamon Rolls
Rating: 4.72 from 7 reviews
A small-batch version of cinnamon rolls that swaps cottage cheese into the dough and uses protein powder in the filling for a more filling, protein-forward breakfast or treat.
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Protein Tortillas
Rating: 4.89 from 17 reviews
These protein tortillas combine skyr or Greek yogurt with all-purpose flour for pliable, thin tortillas. Add a splash of water and a pinch of salt, roll them out, and use them for tacos, wraps, or quesadillas.
