Protein Pudding Bars

I am really on a healthy dessert kick!! I love dessert but don't always want to sacrifice 500+ calories on one little sweet treat.   

My newest creation is Protein Pudding Bars!

Only about 50 calories per bar.  Basically fat free, and so tasty :)

Let's get baking!

You need any type of cereal, but I like to use Fiber One.  You also need vanilla protein powder, your choice of milk, sugar free vanilla pudding mix, fat free cream cheese, and spray butter.  Sweetener is optional, but I used a little Splenda...big surprise right?!

You could get crazy and use any type of pudding mix and protein powder.  There are so many possible flavor combinations but I just kept this one simple.

First we will make the crust...Take your cereal and grind it up in a food processor or blender.  Get it as fine as possible.  Microwave the cream cheese for about 15 seconds to make it easier to mix.  Mix your cereal and cream cheese together.

Add some spray butter until it is all combined.  It should still be crumbly, but you should be able to mold it together.

This is where some sweetener is optional.  I added two Splenda packets.  You could also add some cinnamon for extra flavor!

You can use basically any size and shape pan.  I have made it in a pie pan, but this time we will make bars.  Press the crust into the bottom of your pan.  If you want a thicker crust, you can easily just use more cereal and cream cheese.

Stick this in the freezer for a few minutes while we get the pudding ready.

Now take the whole package of pudding mix, 1/2 scoop of protein powder, and 1 cup of milk and mix it up in a separate bowl.

Whisk it up until it's nice and smooth.  Use those muscles and get all those clumps out!

You could easily just eat this as is! We are going to make it more fun though...

Take out your crust and slowly pour the pudding mixture over top.

Get all that goodness out of the bowl!

Be sure to lick the spoon when you're done :)

My photographer caught me in the act!

Stick your bars in the fridge for about 2 hours until they are set.  Another super idea is to stick them in the freezer! Either way they are awesome!

I got 6 bars from this recipe.  Of course it will vary a bit depending on what size and shape pan you use.  The whole batch only has 320 calories!! It also has about 23 grams of protein!

Top with a little fat free cool whip and you got one tasty AND healthy dessert! At about 50 calories a bar, feel free to have two or three...or all six!!

That bite!!! Cool, creamy, sweet, and a nice little crunchy crust :)

Hope you enjoy them!

Protein Pudding Bars

• 1 package sugar free fat free vanilla pudding mix
• 1 scoop (30g) vanilla protein powder
• 3/4 cup (180ml) unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 (30g) cup Fiber One cereal 
• 2 T (33) fat free cream cheese
• spray butter
• sweetener optional

1. Put your cereal in a blender or food processor and puree until it's very fine.  Microwave cream cheese until soft and mix with cereal. Add spray butter until you can mold it. Add sweetener if desired.
2. Put crust in pan and stick in the freezer.
3. In separate bowl, whisk together pudding mix, milk, and protein powder.  
4. Pour pudding mixture over crust.  
5. Refrigerate for 2 hours and enjoy!!

53 calories per bar

320 calories for the whole batch

3g Fat

53g Carb

23g Protein