Category Archives: dessert

Milk Chocolate Coconut Protein Squares

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I hesitate to call these brownies since they do not have to deep fudge color. However, they make up for it with flavorful coconut. Plus, there is no need to feel guilty when there is added protein without sugar or lots of unhealthy fat. Indulge in a little chocolate once in a while. Does a soul good Winking smile.

Milk Chocolate Coconut Protein Squares

Ingredients
Dry
1 cup brown rice flour
3/4 cup garbanzo flour
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup Protein Powder**
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Wet
1/2 cup Agave
2 mashed bananas
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 Tbsp coconut oil
8-10 drops liquid Stevia
3 eggs

Directions
1. Preheat Oven to 350. Grease 9X12 baking pan.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, except chocolate chips. Set aside
3. Stir together wet ingredients in separate mixing bowl.
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until well combined.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6 Pour into baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. *I pull mine out slightly undercooked and let them finish cooking while cooling.

I used Vanilla Isopure since I am working my way through this giant tub. For a deeper chocolate flavor you could use chocolate instead of vanilla.
Stats:
In a 9X12 pan yielding approx 30 servings
Total calories: 115g, carbs: 16g, fat: 4g, Protein: 4g, fiber:1g, sugar: 9g

Mini Granola Bars

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Back to my favorite combo; oatmeal and chocolate. Now in bite size travel friendly form. One note of caution for these summer months. These little bars will melt in your mouth and your hand Smile.  They are an easy healthy sweet snack for the kid in all of us, or for your kiddies. I place them in individual wraps, and freeze them for easy travel to work.

I’ve seen similar recipes floating around on a variety of sites, but after many delicious trials Sally’s was the one where the bars stuck together the best. I’ve substituted honey for the sugar because I love the combo, and used just chocolate chips.  Check out the original recipe at Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Mini Granola Bars

Makes 16 mini bars

 

Ingredients

2.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

3 Tbsp honey

1 Tsp baking powder

1/2 Tsp salt

2 Tsp cinnamon

1 Tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup almond milk

1 egg (or can substitute using chia seeds)

2 ripe bananas mashed

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease 8×8 baking pan and set aside.

2. mix together oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

3. Add in milk, vanilla, and egg. Then stir in honey and peanut butter. Mix together until evenly combined.

4. Add in mashed bananas and chocolate chips. Stir well.

5. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 20 minutes. Cut into bars and enjoy.

 

Cookie, Cookie

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I love sweets. I will use any excuse to make cookies. Like, when friends are coming over to go to a concert.

However, I do feel guilty serving the people I care about a lot of sugar and fat. Maybe it’s because I’m in the health field, and I try to practice what I preach. Once in awhile those calorie loaded sweet treats are ok, but as a habit I try to create a “healthier” version of most things. Sometimes I swap out the unhealthy fat, and sugar. Sometimes just one or the other, or I add an ingredient of higher nutrient value.

This time I cut out the unhealthy fats, but added in a healthier one as well as an ingredient that adds more protein and fiber to slow down the sugar spike.

These cookies are the creation from other recipes floating around using the “secret ingredient”.  Two sites that immediately come to mind are Chocolate Covered Katie and Tina from Carrots N Cake.

Healthier Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Modified from Chocolate Covered Katie and Carrots N Cake)

Ingredients

3/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour

1 can of Garbanzo beans (chick peas)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 Tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

4 Tbsp Peanut Butter

1/4 cup almond milk

1 Tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2.  Using a food processor, or hand mixer blend chickpeas, peanut butter and almond milk until smooth. Add in sugar, and vanilla extract and blend until combined. Set aside.

3. In mixing bowl combine remaining dry ingredients, except chocolate chips, stirring until combined.

4. Pour dry ingredients into wet. Stir until well mixed. Fold in Chocolate Chips.

5. Grease a non stick baking tray.

6. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until lightly browned.

7. Remove from oven and cool.

Try it! You can’t even taste the garbanzo beans. They add a moist, almost fluffy layer to the cookie ;) .

 

Healthy Reese’s Smoothie

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I don’t know what it is. I’m not much of a dinner person. Sometimes, if I have a larger breakfast and lunch, plus snacks I will just have a smoothie for dinner.

I rationalize this because I’m still receiving plenty of healthy nutrients. Carbs and potassium from the banana, protein and healthy fat from the peanut butter, fiber and healthy fat from the Chia seeds, protein from the Greek yogurt and the protein powder. Pretty balanced. As long as I had some veggies earlier in the day I’m good to go.

Plus, since I don’t feel stuffed from eating too much I sleep much better. Win, win.

If you are a dinner person, this smoothie is perfect for a snack or following a workout. Or curb your chocolate craving the healthy way ;) .

Reese’s Smoothie

Ingredients

1 Frozen banana

1 cup almond milk

1 Tsp chia seeds

1 Tbsp Greek yogurt

1 Tbsp Peanut Butter

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

6 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in a blender, mix up and enjoy!

 

Going Greek

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I apologize if you received a draft of this post. My finger was trigger happy and I accidentally hit Publish. Sigh… But, now you have the real deal.

Need a quick, healthy snack idea? Takes less than 5 minutes to throw together. Easy to transport to work.

I hopped on the Greek yogurt train. I was holding back because I can only handle so much dairy at one time. Enough said, eh?

I can see why people rave about the stuff. Lots of protein, plus it has the flexibility of being a creamy sweet or savory. Not to mention great nutrients for your bones such as Calcium. I gets it.

So here’s a quick sweet snack for work, or at home.

Berry Greek

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1/4 cup blueberries

1/2 –whole banana

1 Tsp honey

Sprinkle of Stevia (optional depending on how sweet you want)

Topped with Trader Joe’s Strawberry Yogurt O’s (or granola or leave out)

Add yogurt to bowl (stir in Stevia if desired), top with fruit. Drizzle some honey. Sprinkle some O’s and enjoy.