Berry Protein Bars

I recently got the chance to try some great products from AdvoCare.  I was especially excited to try baking with some of the fun flavored Meal Replacement Shakes! 

I never tried baking with berry protein, but I knew just what I wanted to make...

Berry Protein Bars!!!

These are not only delicious and nutritious! They are easy to make too! All you need is...

Advocare Berry Meal Replacement, egg substitute, unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened applesauce, canned white beans (navy, great northern, chickpeas, garbanzo), vanilla, baking powder, and sweetener of choice.  

*You can absolutely try other flavors of protein! Try orange, chocolate, vanilla...*

*Any type of milk will work.  I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk*

First you want to drain and rinse your beans.  Then blend together the beans, egg, milk, applesauce, and vanilla. 

Some beans, such as chickpeas, are a little harder so you may need a little extra liquid to blend it all smooth.  It will be like a pudding consistency.  

Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix well.  

Isn't that color gorgeous!? Feel free to chop up some strawberries and toss those in! I am sure some white chocolate chips would be amazing in there too!

Pour your batter into a baking dish coated with non stick spray.  I used a 5x7 dish, but feel free to double the recipe if using a bigger one.  

Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.  

Stick a toothpick in the middle and if it comes out clean, they are done!

This recipe makes six nice sized bars! I consider the whole batch one serving! 

That's because you can have all six bars for only 233 calories!

They are also packed with protein! 

Feeling crazy?!

Top them off with some fat free cream cheese and sprinkles! 

These make such a great breakfast! Full of fiber and protein so they keep you full and satisfied.   

Plus you are basically having dessert for breakfast!

If you are skeptical about baking with beans, don't be!! You cannot taste the beans at all! They give the bars a great texture and replace the sugar, flour, and butter you would find in most recipes.  

Sure, you could just drink a meal replacement or protein shake...but wouldn't you rather enjoy some delicious Berry Protein Bars?!

Berry Protein Bars

• 1/2 pack of AdvoCare Berry Meal Replacement (30g)
• 1/2 cup canned white beans (130g)
• 1 T egg substitute (15g)
• 1 T unsweetened almond milk (15ml)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (60g)
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/2 t vanilla
• sweetener to taste (4-5 packs)

1. Drain and rinse beans
2. Puree beans, egg, milk, applesauce, and vanilla (add a little more milk if needed to blend smooth)
3. Stir in remaining ingredients
4. Pour into baking dish (5x7) coated with nonstick spray
5. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes
6. Enjoy plain or top with fat free cream cheese and sprinkles!!

Makes 6 Bars

Entire Batch (without toppings) - 233 calories

2F 35C 21P

Quest Rice Crispy Treats!

I remember making Rice Crispy Treats as a kid all the time! I still make them with the kiddos I nanny for, but don't eat four or five bars like I used to! I decided to come up with a little healthier version of this childhood treat so I could still enjoy them without the guilt!

Since I didn't want to use an entire bag of sugary marshmallows half a stick of butter, I needed to come up with something to replace those ingredients with...Quest Bar to the rescue!!

Only two ingredients! That is less than what you need for the original recipe.

Puffed Rice cereal and a Cinnamon Roll Quest Bar.  That's it!!

*Get creative!! Try different cereal / bar combos*

First microwave the Quest Bar for about 10 seconds to get it nice and soft.  Break it up into little pieces, put it in a bowl. 

And add a little bit of water (about 1 Tablespoon) Microwave 10 seconds, stir, microwave 10 seconds, stir...

Until you get it to this consistency.  

Stir in your cereal.  

Make sure you get it mixed up really well!

You will want a pretty small container.  I just used some tupperware.  Spray your container with a touch of non stick spray and press the cereal in there. 

Feel free to use two or three bars to make more bars! I consider this one serving.

Place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to let the bar set up.

And there you have it!

Two big rice crispy treats that are not full of sugar and butter!

Both bars are only 230 calories! 

Because of the Quest Bar, they also contain 21 grams of protein.  Great pre or post workout!

I think next time I will use a Chocolate Brownie Quest Bar to make chocolate treats!

The possibilities are endless! 

Rice Crispy Treats

• 1 Cinnamon Roll Quest Bar
• 1 cup puffed rice cereal (17g)

1. Unwrap Quest Bar, place on microwave safe plate, and microwave 10 seconds
2. Break bar into little pieces, put in a bowl, and add 1 T warm water
3. Stir, microwave 10 seconds, stir, microwave til bar is dissolved
4. Stir in cereal 
5. Lightly coat your dish and press in bar mixture
6. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes
7. Enjoy!

Makes 2 Bars

230 calories for both

 6F 38C 21P

Check out my recipe video too!

Isn't a Cupcake just a Muffin with frosting??

What is the difference between a muffin and a cupcake? Isn't a cupcake really just a muffin with frosting? So I don't know what you want to call these treats... Vanilla Muffins? 

If you use a different flavor of whey and put a shmear of frosting on top, they magically become Cookies & Cream Cupcakes? 

Either way, they are delicious! 

You will need...

Protein powder flavor of your choice, oat bran, unsweetened almond milk, plain nonfat greek yogurt, egg substitute, vanilla, baking powder, and sweetener of choice.  

*You can sub any flour for the oat bran*

I recommend using MTS whey.  It bakes great and you can use any of the tasty flavors in this recipe.  Use code KH30 to save 30% and order here.

You know me, I like to keep things simple! Throw all your ingredients in one bowl and mix it up. 

I really like using the oat bran for muffins.  It seems to make them a little more hearty and substantial.  Feel free to use any type of flour instead.  I do like oat flour for the cupcakes. 

Pour your batter into muffin cups.  I love these silicon baking cups!

Bake at 350 for 22-25 minutes. 

They smell amazing!! 

Now remember, you can make these as muffins or cupcakes.  

 If you want a fantastic high protein breakfast, then these Vanilla Muffins are perfect! They also freeze well so feel free to make a double or triple batch.  

And yes, all six muffins are considered one serving! The entire batch is only 260 calories! Plus you are getting 30 grams of protein.  Can you say that about your store bought muffin?? Didn't think so...

In more of a desserty mood? Let's make some cupcakes! Get creative with the flavors. I followed the same recipe, but used MTS Cookies & Cream whey this time.  

Yes, these could be Cookies & Cream Muffins, but I am ready for dessert! 

Let's mix up a batch of my favorite frosting! So easy.  Just mix together some fat free cream cheese, about 1 T of protein powder, and sweetener of choice.  

I love this as a dip or spread too! So creamy! You can also get crazy and add a little cinnamon, cocoa powder, or some flavored extract.    

Shmear a little on top and you got yourself one tasty treat! Healthy too!

You can enjoy six frosted cupcakes for about 360 calories 5F 40C 49P.

Dessert for breakfast? Yes please! 

You can also make 3 cupcakes and 3 muffins! This recipe is so versatile and customizable! 

Now go make some muffins and then turn them into cupcakes...

And eat them all!!

Base Muffin Recipe

1/2 scoop MTS whey - any flavor (15g)

1/4 cup oat bran (40g)

1 T egg substitute (15g)

1/2 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt (113g)

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (80ml)

1/2 t baking powder 

1/2 t vanilla

sweetener to taste

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl
2. Pour batter into muffin pan using liners or silicon baking cups
3. Bake at 350 for 22-25 minutes
4. Enjoy!

For Frosting

-4 T fat free cream cheese

-1 T MTS whey - any flavor (5g)

-sweetener to taste

For 6 cupcakes with frosting - 360 calories 5F 40C 49P

For 6 muffins - 260 calories 5F 31C 30P

Do you prefer recipe videos?! Check out the links below :)

 Vanilla Protein Muffins 

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

Does it get any better than a sweet, salty, chocolatey snack?! How about a sweet, salty, chocolatey snack that also has 24 grams of protein!?

Done!

These could not be any easier to make.

You just need a Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar, waffle shaped pretzels, and chocolate chips.

*Experiment with all different Quest Bar flavors!*

Unwrap that tasty protein bar and microwave it for 10 seconds.  

Make sure you use a microwave safe plate or a piece of parchment.  Don't use a napkin or paper towel!!

Once your bar is nice and soft, cut it up into 10 pieces.  

You could make more or less bites.  I am making 10. 

Place 10 waffle pretzels on a baking sheet.

No need to use any spray or parchment paper.  The pretzels won't stick. 

Mold the Quest Bar pieces a bit to make them about the same size as the pretzels.  Place one piece on top of each pretzel.  

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes. 

Now, you could absolutely just eat them like this!! They are fantastic! The whole plate is only 260 calories!

Let's make them just a little bit better...How are we going to do that?!

With more chocolate of course!

Take whatever kind of chips you like (white, milk, dark, butterscotch, peanut butter...) and microwave them until they get all smooth and melty.  I do 10 seconds, stir, 10 seconds, stir...

 Drizzle that melted chocolate all over the pretzel bites.

When I say all over, I mean ALLLL over!

 Does it get any better?!

I love that these are the perfect size to just pop in your mouth! Flavor explosion!

You could share these delectable little treats...

But the whole plate is only 360 calories so I eat all 10 myself! You are also getting 11g fat, 53g carb, and 24 g protein.  

If you need some Quest Bars, you can order them here. 

If you are like me and already have a huge stash of Quest Bars, then go get busy making some 

Chocolate Pretzel Bites!

Chocolate Pretzel Bites

• 1 Double Chocolate Chunk Quest Bar
• 1 serving waffle pretzels (20 pretzels)
• 1 T chocolate chips (14g)

1. Microwave Quest Bar for 10 seconds
2. Break into 10 pieces
3. Place 10 pretzels on baking sheet
4. Place one Quest Bar piece on each pretzel
5. Bake at 350 for 5 minutes
6. As soon as they come out of the oven, press a pretzel on top of the warm Quest Bar
7. Let cool
8. Microwave chocolate chips until smooth and melted
9. Drizzle chocolate on top of pretzel bites
10. Let cool and enjoy!

Makes 10 bites - 33 calories each

For all 10 bites - 330 calories

 11g Fat

53g Carb

24g Protein

*Check out my video recipe too*

Caramel Butterscotch Blondies

Caramel, butterscotch, and white chocolate...do I need to say anything else?! Didn't think so!

Let's get baking! 

You will need...

MTS Caramel Sutra whey, garbanzo/chick peas, canned pumpkin, egg substitute, vanilla, baking powder, sweetener, white chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips.

*If you don't have MTS caramel whey, you could sub any vanilla protein powder*

*Any white bean will work*

Add your beans, egg, and vanilla to a blender and puree.

If you need to, you can add a little water, milk, or more egg to get everything to blend smoothly. 

Stir in everything but the chips.  Pour batter into a sprayed baking dish.  I used a 5x7 dish which gives the bars a perfect thickness.  If you use a bigger pan you will just have to adjust the baking time.  Feel free to double the recipe to make more!

Add as much white chocolate and butterscotch chips as you like!! You could even mix some in the batter.  Into the oven at 350 for 2-25 minutes.

Shh...I snuck a handful or two to snack on while the bars were baking...

Feel free to get creative! You can add dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nuts...

I love how the chips get a little melty on top!

Now, would you believe me if I told you that this whole dish is only 345 calories?! 

Well you should because I never rarely tell a lie!

Yup, not only are these bars delicious and easy to make, they are also good for you!

I will easily eat all 6 bars for breakfast! The entire batch will give you 8F 38C 33P.

That means each bar is only about 58 calories! If you can stop after just one, you have some crazy good will powder!

 The MTS Caramel Sutra really is perfect for this recipe!

You can order some here.  

Use code KH30 and save 30%

Don't worry if you don't have any Caramel Sutra whey though...

I have made these bars with vanilla, chocolate, pumpkin, and cinnamon protein powder!! All of them have been amazing! So go grab whatever protein you have, and get busy! 

 You can thank me later :)

Oh, and if you prefer video recipes, just click here!

Caramel Butterscotch Blondies

• 1 scoop MTS caramel sutra whey (30g)
• 1/2 cup chickpeas (130g)
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (60g)
• 3 T egg substitute (46g)
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 t baking powder
• sweetener to taste (4-5 packets)
• 1 T butterscotch/white chocolate chips (14g)

1. Drain and rinse beans
2. Puree beans, egg and vanilla
3. Add everything else except chips
4. Pour batter into sprayed baking dish
5. Sprinkle chips on top
6. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Makes 6 bars - 58 calories each

Entire batch - 345 calories 

8g Fat 

38g Carb 

33g Protein