Eat Dessert, Get Ripped - A Guide to Protein - Packed Desserts

Author: Dani Shugart

Introduction

Dessert doesn't have to be synonymous with excessive sugar and flour. It's possible to maintain a lean physique and build muscle while indulging in protein - rich desserts. Here's essential knowledge for you:

• Transform raspberry cheesecake into cookies using merely three ingredients.

• Incorporate coffee into your dessert. Create mocha chip cheesecake cookies, which are low - carb and caffeinated.

• Make banana - banana cookies with oats, bananas, and banana protein powder.

• Craft high - protein icing from just two ingredients and drizzle it over various treats.

• Protein poppers are bite - sized balls without honey and dried fruit, with most fat and all sugar removed, resulting in a superior snack.

Beyond the Shaker Bottle

When the objective is fat loss or maintaining leanness, many assume there are only two options: forever abstain from desserts or consume minuscule, unfulfilling portions of delectable items. This is comparable to choosing between having a cavity or an ingrown toenail, hardly appealing. However, there's an alternative: Make healthy desserts and enjoy them to your heart's content. (Trust me, as these desserts are filling, you'll likely consume less.) Here are five methods to achieve this.

1. Banana - Banana Cookies

A batch of soft, sweet banana cookies doesn't need to be laden with sugar, butter, or flour. Nor should it be arduous to prepare or time - consuming. All that's required is a bunch of bananas, banana protein powder, oats, and a few minor ingredients. No blender or food processor is necessary; it's a straightforward process.

Ingredients

• 4 large bananas

• 4 scoops vanilla Metabolic Drive (Available for purchase at Amazon)

• 2 cups old - fashioned oats

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• A splash of vanilla extract

• Generous amounts of ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Mash the bananas in a mixing bowl. A potato masher can be used; otherwise, a fork suffices.

• Add all other ingredients and mix by hand.

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with coconut oil.

• Use a cookie scoop to spoon out the batter, creating relatively uniform cookies. With a medium - sized scoop, approximately 20 - 22 cookies can be obtained.

• Bake for 18 - 20 minutes, depending on the oven and cookie size.

• Err on the side of a shorter bake time. Break one cookie open to check for doneness or insert a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cookies are baked.

Tips: Invest in a cookie scoop with a “sweep,” similar to what's seen on ice cream scoops. Since unconventional ingredients are used, forming the cookies by hand isn't feasible. Use the scoop to ensure uniform size for even baking.

Nutrition Information

Banana - banana cookies contain approximately 77 calories per cookie, 5 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbs, and 1 gram of fat.

Note: These are approximate figures. Due to variances in cookie size, ingredient brands, optional additions, and minor measuring errors, the values won't be exact.

2. Raspberry Cheesecake Cookies

Traditional cheesecake preparation is time - consuming, having more than a slice is often discouraged, and it's usually reserved for special occasions. This is all unjust. Let's simplify the recipe, eliminate excessive fat, retain the flavor, and bake it into cookies that can be assembled in minutes.

Oh, and depending on the cream cheese used, half a batch can be consumed without adverse effects.

Ingredients

• 1 eight - ounce block of cream cheese (Options: low - fat, fat - free, or full - fat)

• 3 scoops chocolate or vanilla Metabolic Drive (Buy at Amazon)

• 1 heaping cup of frozen raspberries or blueberries

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Combine the Metabolic Drive with the cream cheese. Add the berries and mix.

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out the dough into nine cookies.

• Bake for 18 - 20 minutes.

• Err on the side of a shorter bake time. Break one open to check if it's done or use a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cookies are baked.

Tip: Some stores sell cream cheese made with Greek yogurt, which has extra protein and less fat. Use it if available, but regular and fat - free cream cheese work equally well.

Nutrition Information

Using fat - free cream cheese, each cookie contains about 59 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 9 grams of protein, and less than 1 gram of fat.

3. Mocha Cheesecake Cookies

In search of a low - carb treat? This recipe is perfect and comes with a touch of caffeine.

Ingredients

• 1 eight - ounce block of cream cheese

• 3 scoops chocolate Metabolic Drive (Buy at Amazon)

• 1 packet instant coffee, such as Starbucks Via

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Combine Metabolic Drive with instant coffee and water.

• Add the cream cheese and mix until no visible lumps remain. Add optional chocolate chips and mix.

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out the dough into nine cookies.

• Bake for 15 - 18 minutes.

• Err on the side of under - baking. Pull the cookies out of the oven and break one open to check for doneness or use a toothpick.

Nutrition Information

Using fat - free cream cheese, each cookie contains about 59 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 9 grams of protein, and less than 1 gram of fat.

4. The Best Icing of Your Life

This icing can be drizzled over any food item. Layer it over protein cakes, pancakes, cupcakes, brownies - you name it. Dip fruit or fingers in it, or simply eat it with a spoon.

Ingredients

• 2 scoops Metabolic Drive (Buy at Amazon) in any flavor

• 1/3 cup canned, full - fat coconut milk

• Generous dashes of cinnamon

Directions

Mix the ingredients together. Let it chill. Apply it to all your desired treats.

Nutrition Information

If shared, each portion of the icing provides around 158 calories, 21 grams of protein, 5 grams of carbs, and 6 grams of fat.

5. Protein Poppers

Regarding bite - sized balls, other recipes typically call for sticky dried fruit, molasses or honey, and large amounts of nut butter or coconut oil. These ingredients act as binders. While these ingredients aren't unhealthy, they are calorie - dense, especially when combined. For instance, if a paleo - friendly batch of balls contains dates, honey, coconut oil, macadamia nuts, and almond butter, consuming three can make you feel unwell as these three small balls may contain around 700 calories.

I'm not advocating a low - calorie diet or calorie - counting. Instead, I'm suggesting the art of volumizing. This involves choosing foods that occupy more space in your stomach without increasing your body size. You'll feel full as if you've eaten a large amount, but you're actually consuming a reasonable number of calories. By replacing sugary ingredients, you can avoid the carb - induced slump.

Ingredients

• 2 scoops vanilla Metabolic Drive (Buy at Amazon)

• 1 cup PB2 (powdered, defatted peanut butter)

• 1 cup Splenda

• 1 cup old - fashioned oats

• 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cashew or almond milk

• A splash of vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• Generous amounts of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice

• Optional coating: chopped nuts, coconut flakes, mini dark chocolate chips

Directions

• Add the oats and 1/2 cup of milk to a bowl. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes.

• Combine all other dry ingredients in a food processor and mix: Metabolic Drive, PB2, salt, spices. (A powerful blender can also be used.)

• Add the milk - soaked oats to the food processor. Blend until evenly distributed, resulting in a sandy - clump appearance.

• Add the three tablespoons of almond or cashew milk and blend again. Let the food processor run until the dough forms a large ball. If there are dry ingredients at the bottom, distribute them back into the dough.

• Dip your fingers in water to prevent sticking. Pinch off bite - sized pieces of dough and roll them into small balls, approximately half an inch in diameter.

• Roll the poppers in toppings if desired: coconut flakes, chopped nuts, or dark chocolate chips. A dab of water may be needed to make the toppings stick.

• Place them in the fridge to chill.

Approximately 25 balls are made.

Nutrition Information

Without toppings, each ball has around 45 calories, 5 grams of carbs (1g fiber), 4 grams of protein, and 1 gram of fat.