Add the cottage cheese to a food processor or blender and blend until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes. This creates a creamy, uniform base that will give your dip a better texture and help it bind with the other ingredients more effectively. If you don't have a food processor, you can use an immersion blender or even mash it vigorously with a fork, though the texture won't be quite as smooth.

Transfer the blended cottage cheese to a large mixing bowl. Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract, stirring until fully combined. The wet ingredients will help distribute evenly throughout the dip and create a cohesive mixture that the dry ingredients can bind to more easily.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the almond flour, protein powder, and salt. Whisking these dry ingredients together first prevents lumps from forming when you fold them into the wet mixture, and it ensures the protein powder is evenly distributed throughout the dip so you get consistent flavor in every bite.

Add the dry ingredient mixture from Step 3 to the wet ingredients in the bowl, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing, which can make the dip dense. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout. The dip should have a thick, cookie-dough-like consistency that's perfect for dipping.