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Homemade Red Velvet Protein Bars

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Cake is my favorite.

It’s my Achilles heel.  And wine.

I can pass on candies all day long.  I don’t like process packaged “treats.”  I’m not crazy for chocolates (though those are tasty).  Baked goods – homemade cakes and cookies – get me every time.

My favorite cake is Carrot Cake – which is why I had to make a healthy protein microwave version.  I did the same for my beloved Chocolate Cake.  That chocolate cake was the last meal I ate before the pre-surgery fast:

150 cal choc cake

With melted cherries, peanut butter, and cacao nibs

The last on my list of cake “favorites” to re-create would be red velvet.  Kammie must have been in my head, because her guest post today does just that!

I’m really excited Kammie volunterred to post.  Every time I read her blog I am inspired.  I don’t know how she comes up with post after post of healthy food porn!  Read on for Kammie’s latest tasty, protein-rich cake creation.

Homemade Red Velvet Protein Bars

Hey Everyone!  I am so glad to be here posting for the lovely Laura!  I’ve been following Laura’s blog ever since I started my own so this is a huge honor.  Thank you, Laura!  Hope you are feeling better!

Let me introduce myself – my name is Kammie and I am the blogger behind Sensual Appeal.  I have gone through many ups and downs in my life and finally I have adapted the Intuitive Eating approach in the last couple of months. It has allowed me to finally begin accepting myself for who I am and learning to trust and love my body.  I gave up on dieting in March and I haven’t looked back since.  My blog and life mantra ever since has been that everything in life should be: Delicious, Mindful, and Happy!

kammie

If you do know me as a blogger, you know I’ve always had a slight infatuation with using protein powder in my recipes.  I had a phase where I used protein powder ALL the darn time.

I don’t use it as much anymore but it does find its way into my meals here and there.  For example, my guilt-free Pumpkin Carob Chip Donuts, Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake, Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie Pancakes, or my favorite Double Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake!

protein collage

If you are confused by all of the varieties of protein powders that are out there – check out this handy guide I created Protein Powders 101: Which is the best Protein Powder for you?

Anyway, I knew right away that a protein-rich recipe would be perfect for Laura and Laura’s readers!  So a protein-rich recipe it is!

Red Velvet Protein Bars by sensualappealblog.com

I realized I haven’t ever actually made protein bars but I do eat them frequently. So I bring you this easy, no-bake, VEGAN and full of protein snack.

The reason why this is red (and called Red Velvet) is because I used Cocoa Cardio instead of cocoa powder – it’s basically cocoa powder with dehydrated beet juice for extra nutrients.  You can use regular cocoa powder to make this a regular chocolate protein bar instead.  I am not affiliated with Cocoa Cardio, btw.  It’s just a cool product I found recently.

Red Velvet Protein Bars by sensualappealblog.com

Homemade Red Velvet Protein Bars, ladies and gentlemen. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Protein Bars

Homemade Red Velvet Protein Bars

  • ¼ C vanilla protein powder
  • 2 T + 2 T coconut flour, separated
  • 2 T almond flour
  • 2 T Cocoa Cardio* (or cocoa powder)
  • ½ C almond milk
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ C dark chocolate chips

 Add the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Add almond milk by 1/4 cupful and mix. Add the rest of the milk and vanilla in the bowl and mix still. If the batter is still too liquid-y add the other Tbsp of coconut flour. The batter is supposed to be thick enough to mold into shapes.

Take a little bit of the thick batter and shape into balls. Once you’ve formed them into balls, press and mold them into the shape of bars and put on parchment paper. Put the bars in the fridge for a couple of minutes to harden.  

Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or on the stove and once it’s melted dip the bars into the chocolate to coat.  

Scoop the rest of the melted chocolate onto the bars with a spoon.  Put in the fridge for at least an hour.

Remove from fridge and enjoy!

*I order my Cocoa Cardio from iHerb.com.  Use my discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order!

So what do you think? Easy enough?

If you enjoyed this recipe, I’d love for you to check out my blog for more recipes, healthy living musings and other posts over at Sensual Appeal Blog. Show me some love by liking my Facebook page and subscribing to my YouTube channel!

xo, Kammie

***

I read this post when Kammie sent it and almost begged her to deliver.  

Do you like candies or baked goods better?  What can’t you turn down?

What is your favorite health-ified treat?

Comments

  1. Shut the front door, these look amazing!
    I love Kammie’s blog and all her amazing photography and recipes. Definitely planning to make these asap!

  3. GROSSSS!!!!

    *Ah ha ha ha ah! Just kidding. Just wanted to say something different than everyone else!! You are genius when it comes to concocting some scrumptious looking treats 🙂

  4. Baked goods over candy any day! What is it about a muffin or cake type goodie that just cannot be topped? Hmm. Cake…. Your blog posts show up here in Alaska about 9pm & I swear I have to read them, step away from the iPad & not go to the kitchen! They have a strange hungry effect on me 🙂 I’m going to change my nightly carrot cake protein “muffins” from cinnamon powder & shredded carrots to chocolate powder & shredded beets tomorrow- thanks for the great ideas & yet another blog to add to my reading list!

  5. I wish I’d enjoy cooking more looking at these photos.

    Except.

    I don’t. SIGH. Where can I buy these? 🙂

  10. These sound amazing! But is there any possible substitute for the almond flour? It’s the only ingredient I don’t have on hand.

    • You could use extra coconut flour but less than what is called for almond flour since coconut absorbs more liquid than almond. I have not tried this with that substitution though. Let me know how it turns out if you make it with that!

      • You might be able to increase the protein powder instead too? I’d be interested to know what you try, Jordan!

  13. baked goods yes indeed, but not like a bear claw or anything nope usually just cookies…though chocolate has been my big time craving lately. Love finding options that satisfy and make me feel good!

    • I’m the same way. There’s nothing better than a cookie fresh from the oven. 🙂

  15. First Laura, I am with you – Baked goods – homemade cakes and cookies – get me every time. 🙂 I also hope you are feeling better & better every day!

    Now for the guest post – OMG – I NEED NOW!!!!! I have to check out the rest of the links later – THX!

  16. Holy wow those look good! I’ve been thinking lately that I need to start making my own protein bars again, so I just may have my first recipe 😉 I’m also going to check out that chocolate mug cake now!

    Candy I can usually turn down, baked goods – it depends on the day…but I’m terrible at turning down chocolates. Chocolate bar, truffles or chocolate covered nuts or raisins? Sign me up. I also have issues turning down ice cream or froyo 😉

    • That mug cake is life changing. I swear. 😉

      Chocolate covered nuts on ice cream with bananas = perfection.

    • Thank YOU! I’m on a hunt for cocoa cardio. I had some from iHerb, but I feel like Whoel Foods may have it…

  20. oh yessss, this looks good!! Cocoa cardio sounds awesome, I’m sure it could be made easily with raw cacao and beet powder… I can see red velvet chia pudding in my future too! 🙂

  23. Carrot cake will always be my favorite… but I’ll take red velvet any time!!! Hope you’re doing well and healing, Laura! I’m thinking about you and sending (gentle) virtual hugs your way!

    • Carrot cake and red velvet cake were the “specialties” of each of my grandmothers. Love the classics. 🙂

  26. Oh these sound great! I haven’t heard of this kind of cocoa before but I love the idea of the added nutrients. I love cookies! I think my favorite desserts revolve around healthified cookies.

  28. Awesome post! When you start dumping protein powder up in stuff, then you got me hooked totally 🙂

    I am all about the baked goods and I can’t resist a carrot cake, not at all lol!

  29. these look amazing, definitely trying this weekend!! can you let me know how many bars the recipe is supposed to make?

    • That’s the beauty – you can adjust to your liking! If you want smaller servings try making them as balls. 🙂

  30. Amaze-balls is the only word that comes to mind. Question…how many bars and any substitute for the coconut flour? I absolutely hate the smell,texture,taste etc of coconut and no matter how many ppl/blogs claim you can’t taste the coconut in the flour- I can. I’ve read, dependending on the recipe, that you can use the flour…perhaps wheat Bran since it absorbs liquid similarly coconut flour? …I’m desperate to try something so I can make these bars.

    • You can adjust serving to your liking. I’d probably try adding more protein powder or almond flout in place of the coconut flour. Just remember to reduce the liquid becasue coconut flour is more absorbant.

  31. But…will they not taste red velvety without the Cocoa Cardio? I like red velvet…maybe butter extract for a cakey flavor?

    • It just won’t be red. Red velvet cake is just cocoa with red food coloring. 🙂

  34. Just wondering, i just made these, for one i had to triple the recipe as i ended up with about 3 tablespoons of mixture with the recipe stated, then i had to add tonnes of almond flour because the tiny 1/4 cup of liquid i put in made it so runny, then it only made about 7 tiny tiny bars, i put the recipe into a calorie counter and for the tiny tiny bars they are like 400 calories!!! what did i do wrong!?

    • The additional almond flour probably added the calories… I’d suggest trying to add the liquid a bit at a time. Flours can have different absorbency levels depending on granule size and age.

      • im in the middle east and im sure the ‘flour’ i got seems more like granules than actual powder so thats probably the issue, ill try again cause the mix did taste delicious 😛

    • I use my favorite – Growing Naturals Rice Protein – but I think anything would work. The type matters more in baking.

  39. Has no one noticed the instructions don’t say when to add the vanilla extract. I tried this six ways from Sunday with the exception if actually basking the goop that firms when ingredients are mixed. It yields small balls not bars. Looks nothing like the picture. I added extra coconut, extra protein. Added goji berries to get red color– none of the variations worked. A recipe should tell exactly how many servings it makes. Instructions should include steps for all listed lngredients. I’m sure the more protein or coconut powder, the higher the calories, nit just the protein.

    • Hi! Thanks for checking to the recipe. When I made the bars, I made a total of 6 small bars. You can adjust the serving size to you preference though! Add the vanilla when you add the milk. Thanks for pointing that out – I’ll adjust the reps. Hope you enjoy! Great idea with the gojis!

    • It will vary based on how many you make. You can calculate them pretty easily online with something like My Fitness Pal.

    • No, but you can calculate it pretty easily on something like MyFitnessPal. It will depend on how many you make!

Trackbacks

  1. […] on over to Laura’s blog at Sprint 2 The Table for the […]

  3. […] then I had a Red Velvet Protein Bar. I needed a night-cap. […]

  4. […] Vegan and full of protein, this twist on an old sweet favorite is a great snack option for those who love red velvet cake! Grab the recipe. […]

  5. […] Vegan and full of protein, this twist on an old sweet favorite is a great snack option for those who love red velvet cake! Grab the recipe. […]

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  7. […]  Walking should be relaxing, but really all I could think about was breakfast.  Inspired by Kammie’s guest post last week, I decided to turn Red Velvet Cake into a breakfast item.  In the form of a cheesecake […]

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