Protein Brownie Bites: Guilt-Free Indulgence Recipe
Delicious Protein Brownie Bites are a guilt-free indulgence combining ripe bananas, peanut butter, protein powder, and cocoa powder to create a moist, flavorful treat. These bites are perfect as a healthy snack or dessert, offering a great balance of protein and sweetness with optional chocolate chips for extra delight. They’re vegan-friendly when using plant-based protein powder and dairy-free chocolate chips, making them suitable for various dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 brownie bites 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
For the Batter
- 2 medium bananas, very ripe
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter (or sunflower seed butter for nut-free option)
- 1/2 cup protein powder (vanilla or chocolate, plant-based for vegan version)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (raw cacao powder recommended)
Optional Add-ins
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (dairy-free for a fully vegan treat)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare silicone baking cups by placing them in a muffin tin for easy handling.
- Mash Bananas: In a medium-sized bowl, mash 2 very ripe bananas until mostly smooth with some small lumps remaining for texture.
- Mix Nut Butter: Add 1/2 cup of your chosen peanut butter or almond butter to the mashed bananas and stir until the mixture is creamy and well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Incorporate 1/2 cup protein powder and 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder into the wet mixture. Stir thoroughly until the batter is smooth and uniform without overmixing.
- Fill Molds: Spoon the batter into the silicone baking cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips over the top of each filled cup if desired, adding extra bursts of chocolate flavor.
- Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the tops of the brownie bites are set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the tin from the oven and let the brownie bites cool for 10 minutes before carefully removing them from the silicone cups. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moist texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to maintain a tender crumb texture.
- Opt for plant-based protein powder and dairy-free chocolate chips to keep the recipe vegan.
- Silicone baking cups make removal easy and reduce cleanup.
- Store leftover brownie bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate to extend freshness.
Keywords: protein brownie bites, healthy snacks, vegan desserts, peanut butter brownies, banana brownies, guilt-free dessert
