Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Blend cottage cheese in a food processor until completely smooth with no curds visible, about 30 seconds.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended cottage cheese, egg, protein powder, rolled oats, maple syrup, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt. Mix for about 2 minutes until a thick, sticky dough forms.

If using optional mix-ins, fold in chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit gently until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Flatten each cookie to about 1/2-inch thickness.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and centers look barely set.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.