Oat ‘n Honey Energy Bites

These little blissful bights are sure to give you an extra "boost" during that mid-day drag. Loaded with wholesome ingredients, like almond butter, pumpkin seeds, and oats, they both deliver nutritious benefits and taste delicious!

Strawberry Limeade Protein Bars

A cold, refreshing glass of strawberry limeade is guaranteed to put me in a great mood! I wanted to recreate this summertime favorite drink into a treat that can be deliciously consumed. The sweet strawberry taste pairs perfectly with the tangy lime flavor! Not too sweet, not too sour - just right!

Mini Coconut Lime Protein Pies

You. GUYS! I want to first let you know that these little gems are super easy to make. That is, and has always been, a deciding factor for me in deciding whether or not to make a recipe. Second, there are only 5 ingredients, all easy to find. Third, and the most important point being, they are delicious! Melt in your mouth, creamy, sweet, tangy, healthy little bites similar to crustless key lime pies. 

I really encourage you to try these! 

No Bake Coconut Chocolate Chip Protein Cups

If you are a fan of coconut pie, you will also be a fan of these no bake coconut chocolate chip cups. They take on a thick and creamy texture that dissolves into a sweet treat the minute it hits your tongue. The macros per serving are ideal for a pre or post workout snack, so there's no excuse for not making these yummy cups!

Protein Cinnamon Rolls

I mean who on earth doesn't get excited about warm, gooey cinnamon rolls!? Sometimes I wish I didn't love them so much. But that world doesn't exist. For a long time I've had protein cinnamon rolls on my "to-do" list. Once I sat down and typed the recipe, there wasn't a minute wasted! In the kitchen I went. Stirring, whisking, patting, rolling, sprinkling, slicing, making protein cinnamon rolls. Hallelujah! They are virtually sugar-free, high protein, and low carb. Much nicer on your figure than the store bought, or baker bought, cinnamon rolls. Also, what I hoped for - warm, gooey, and sweet!

Chocolate Silk Protein Pie Cups

Do you know what's better than pie? Pie cups! How cute are these? Yeah yeah, I know. Who cares what they look like. Do they taste good, Nicolette? That's what matters. Well....as a matter of fact, yes they do. They are absolutely scrumptious! A chocolate crunchy crust topped with a smooth, silky chocolate pie filling that is baked to perfection is pretty darn tasty to me. These are too tasty not to make!

Peanut Butter Supreme Protein Cake Bites

Ingredients

1 2/3 cup oat flour

2 scoops Vitacost ARO vanilla protein powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons Vitacost coconut oil, melted

¼ cup Vitacost peanut butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3T Vitacost NaturSWEET (or any sticky sweetener {honey, agave, or maple})

¼ cup unsweetened almond milk

Optional: ¾ cup peanut butter morsels

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together coconut oil, peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, natursweet syrup, and milk until mixture is smooth.

3. In a separate bowl, stir together oat flour, protein powder, salt, and baking powder.

4. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir until mixture is well combined. 

* Batter will be very thick.

5. Using your hands roll about 3T of batter into a ball and set on the sheet pan. Repeat this process until 26 cake bites are made.

6. Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes and let cool.

7. Melt the peanut butter morsels and dip each cake bite in the melted peanut butter morsel mixture. Let the peanut butter coating harden then enjoy!

Makes 26 servings

1 serving is one cake bite with optional peanut butter coating

Macros for 1 serving
98 calories, 4.6g protein, 9.5g carbs, 4.9g fat, 2.8g sugar, 1.7g fiber

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Fudge Cups

Ingredients

½ cup Vitacost all-natural unsalted peanut butter

¼ cup chocolate almond milk

3 scoops Vitacost ARO chocolate whey protein powder

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup coconut oil, melted

2 tablespoons Vitacost honey

Method

1. Heat peanut butter in the microwave for 15 seconds and pour into a mixing bowl.

2. Add the remainder of ingredients to the bowl and whisk until mixture is smooth.

Note: You can also place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend – this will make the mixture extra smooth and creamy.

3. Place 20 mini silicone cupcake liners on a sheet pan. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of fudge batter into each cupcake liner.

4. Place the fudge in the freezer for at least 2 hours. When you’re ready to eat one, remove the fudge from liner and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Makes 20 servings

1 serving is one piece of fudge

Macros for 1 serving

115 calories, 5g protein, 4.3g carbs, 9.3g fat, 2.8g sugar, 0g fiber

Nicolette’s Notes

* Store leftovers in the freezer for up to 3 months or in the fridge for up to 4 days.

* You can also spoon the fudge mixture into any small silicone liner or ice cube trays. Note the macros will change depending on the size of eat one.

No Bake Dark Chocolate Protein Bites

Ingredients

¾ cup cashews

3 scoop Lean Body For Her chocolate whey concentrate protein powder

2 T dark cocoa powder

3 T unsweetened chocolate almond milk

¼ cup coconut oil, melted

2 T honey

2 T melted sugar-free chocolate

Method

1. Blend cashews in a food processor until you get a fine meal. *Note: make sure you avoid over mixing – if you blend the cashews too long, you will get cashew butter.

2. Pour cashew meal into a mixing bowl along with the protein powder and cocoa powder. Stir together.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond milk, coconut oil, and honey. Pour this mixture into the other bowl of dry ingredients. Stir until you get a thick paste-like mixture.

4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using your hands, roll about 1.5-2 tablespoons of protein batter into balls. Place protein bite on parchment paper and repeat this until 24 bites are made.

5. Drizzle each protein bite with melted chocolate. Place protein bites in the fridge for 1 hour. Remove from fridge and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before eating. Enjoy!

*Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days

Makes 24 servings

1 serving is 1 protein bite

Macros for 1 serving
75 calories, 4g protein, 4g carbs, 5.1g fat, 2g sugar, 1g fiber

Protein S’mores Bars

Who doesn't love S'mores during the cooler weather days? Hell. Who doesn't love S'mores at all times? I think they are pretty perfect - gooey melty chocolate and marshmallow eaten with graham crackers. These bars aren't crunchy like the typical graham cracker, but the flavor is there! But let's not forget there is added protein in my treats along with healthier ingredients used to get the final sweet dish. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Layer

2/3 cup oat flour

½ cup coconut flour

3 scoops Lean Body for Her vanilla whey concentrate protein powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

dash of salt

¼ cup xylitol

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup maple syrup

½ cup plain greek yogurt

½ cup unsweetened almond milk

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Top Layer

12 marshmallows, each cut/sliced in half

½ cup sugar-free chocolate chips

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together syrup, yogurt, milk, egg whites, and vanilla until smooth.

3. Add remainder of the graham cracker layer ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and stir until well combined.

4. Pour mixture into baking dish, evenly spread out and flatten to the bottom of pan, and bake in the oven for 24-28 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

5. Turn the oven broiler on. Top the cooked graham cracker layer with chocolate chips then marshmallows.

6. Cook bars again (under the broiler) until marshmallows are slightly browned on the top, about 2-3 minutes.

7. Slice into 16 even squares. Enjoy!

Makes 16 servings

1 serving is 1 square

Macros for 1 serving

131 calories, 7.7g protein, 16.3g carbs, 3.4g fat, 5.6g sugar, 2.3g fiber

Nicolette’s Tips

* When slicing the squares, spray the knife with non-stick spray so the melted marshmallows do not stick.

* Eat and enjoy right when the bars are done baking! You can store leftovers in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or oven.

No-Bake Chocolate Cashew Protein Squares

Super easy & delicious protein squares with a few ingredients and tons of flavor! You get all the good stuff with these - healthy protein, healthy fats, healthy carbs. So they're perfect for a pre-workout snack! They don't take long to make either since they are no-bake. Just blend, stir, spread, and drizzle :) Enjoy!

Ingredients

1¼ cup unsalted cashews

¾ cup old-fashioned oats

2 scoop Lean Body For Her vanilla whey protein powder

½ teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

¼ cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon butter extract

½ cup sugar-free chocolate

Method

1. Line an 8x8” square pan with plastic wrap and set aside.

2. Place cashews and oats into a blender or food processor and pulse until mixture resembles flour. Pour into mixing bowl.

3. Add protein powder and salt to the mixing bowl and stir together.

4. Add melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and extract into the mixing bowl and stir together.

5. Using your hands, knead this mixture slightly until comes together. Spoon mixture into pan and press down with your hands making sure the entire bottom of pan is covered with mix.

6. Melt chocolate until smooth and drizzle on top of cashew mixture.

7. Place the dish in the fridge until chocolate hardens, about 1 hour. Remove from fridge, slice into 16 squares, and serve immediately.

Makes 16 servings

1 serving is 1 protein square

Macros for 1 serving

169 calories, 6.3g protein, 13.7g carbs, 11g fat, 3.9g sugar, 1.9g fiber

Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Cups

OKAY! Listen. These are so perfect. I'm really trying to find words to describe how perfect these little protein cups are. In case you're interested, Reese's are my all-time favorite candy. But looking at the stash of leftover Reese's Easter eggs in my pantry made me realize that I must attempt to make a protein version. For many reasons...but mainly for my health. The size of these is similar to a Reese's Easter egg (which has 170 calories, 16g sugar, and only 4g protein). My protein version has only 149 calories, 2.7g sugar, and 5.1g protein! I decided to use raw almonds to make homemade almond butter for the filling and sugar-free dark chocolate for the shell. Absolutely addicting and delicious! Enjoy.

Ingredients

½ cup Vitacost raw almonds

¼ cup Vitacost rolled oats

1 scoop ARO vanilla protein powder

3 tablespoons Vitacost coconut oil, melted (& divided)

2 tablespoon Vitacost maple syrup (or agave nectar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips

Method

1. Place mini muffin liners into a mini muffin tin and set aside.

2. Place almonds and oats into a blender or food processor and pulse until mixture resembles flour. Pour into mixing bowl.

3. Add protein powder to the mixing bowl and stir together.

4. Add 2½ tablespoons of melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and extract into the mixing bowl and stir together.

5. Using your hands, knead this mixture slightly until comes together. Take about 1½ tablespoon of mixture, form into a ball, and flatten with your fingers. Repeat this process until 10 are made.

6. Melt chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon of coconut oil in a mixing bowl and stir until smooth.

7. Spoon a small amount of melted chocolate into each muffin liner and place almond filling into each liner, on top of chocolate. Then spoon enough chocolate to cover each almond filling.

8. Place chocolate cups in the fridge until chocolate hardens, about 1 hour. Remove from fridge and serve immediately.

Makes 10 servings

1 serving is 1 chocolate cup

Macros for 1 serving

149 calories, 5.1g protein, 8.3g carbs, 10.2g fat, 2.7g sugar, 2g fiber

Chocolate Caramel Protein Energy Bites

One word: Obsessed! I can't stop eating them. I can't stop drooling. They're good right out of the fridge, right out of the freezer, or right off the counter. They do no wrong. I did add some melted sugar free chocolate and some chopped cashews. You don't have to, but why not?! These are really great to put in the freezer, too, so you have an extra stash for the future (if they last that long). I will have to make more of these soon! Enjoy!

Ingredients

1/3 cup Vitacost unsalted cashews

1/3 cup medjool dates, pitted (about 6)

2 tablespoons Vitacost maple syrup (or sugar-free maple syrup)

2 tablespoons almond milk

¼ cup coconut flour (or 1/3 whole-wheat flour)

1 scoop ARO chocolate whey protein powder

1 tablespoon Vitacost cocoa powder

1 cup Vitacost rolled oats

Optional Toppings: melted sugar-free chocolate and crushed cashews

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. 

2. Soak dates in a bowl of water for 10 minutes and drain.

3. Pulse cashews in a food processor until a fine crumble forms.

4. Add dates, syrup, and almond milk to food processor and blend until smooth.

5. Pour mixture into a mixing bowl and stir in the coconut flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, and oats. Keep stirring together until well combined (batter will be very thick)

7. Roll about 3 tablespoons of batter into a ball. Repeat until 12 balls are made and place each one on the baking sheet.

8. Bake for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven, add chocolate if desired, and serve. 

Makes 12 servings

1 serving is 1 energy bite (without extra toppings)

Macros for 1 serving

100 calories, 4g protein, 17.4g carbs, 2.2g fat, 9.4g sugar, 2.7g fiber

Nicolette’s Tips

* I wet my hands slightly when rolling the batter into balls. This helps prevent them from sticking to your fingers and palms.

* For a lower sugar option, substitute maple syrup with sugar-free maple syrup.
*You can also eliminate the baking step. They are just as delicious as a no-bake treat.

Dark Chocolate Chip Protein Brownie Bites

Gooey. Fudgey. Chocolatey. Perfection. These brownie bites will definitely impress you. The pictures really don't do them justice. They are so soft and gooey with a decadent chocolate flavor that will have you addicted! If you like your brownies more chewy, increase the cooking time by 2 minutes. If you like them gooey, check them around 6 minutes. I liked these gooey ~ they practically melt in your mouth. Let's not forget that they are "healthyfied"! Although they taste really naughty, I don't feel as guilty putting down a few of these since there are only 70 calories/brownie bite. Enjoy!

Ingredients

¼ cup all natural almond butter

3 tablespoons plain greek yogurt

3 egg whites

1 scoop Lean Body For Her chocolate whey protein powder

¼ cup coconut flour(or 1/3 cup oat flour)

½ cup almond meal flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ cup xylitol (or sweetener of choice)

½ teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar-free chocolate chips

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray. 

2. Add almond butter, greek yogurt, and egg whites to a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.

3. Add protein powder, coconut flour, almond meal flour, cocoa powder, xylitol, and baking powder to the mixing bowl and stir together.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Make 18 brownie bites, using either your hands or a small ice-cream scooper, and place them on the baking sheet.

6. Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Makes 18 servings

1 serving is one brownie bite

Macros for 1 serving

70 calories, 4.4g protein, 6.1g carbs, 4g fat, 0.8g sugar, 1.8g fiber