Remember those Cosmic Brownies from childhood? The fudgy, chocolatey squares speckled with colorful candy “chips”? Well, get ready for a protein-packed, mini-cup version that’s just as delicious (and way healthier!).
I took the fudgy, delicious cosmic brownies from your lunchbox days and made them without corn syrup, truckloads of sugar, unhealthy oils and weird additives so we healthy eating people can enjoy these delicious chocolatey treats. These might even be better than the original Little Debbie’s brownies that debuted in 1999, is a significant source of childhood nostalgia for many people who grew up in the United States during the late 90s and early 2000s. Due to all you kiddos and kiddos at heart, we are getting back to our roots with this recipe.
One of the wonderful things about baking, and non-baking or creating in this case, is the ability to literally create childhood nostalgia – and with this recipe in the form of little handheld brownies! Think fudgy chocolate brownie, FILLED with an easy chocolate ganache and topped with cosmic sprinkles. AKA, the perfect bite.
These bite-sized wonders are seriously addictive. They taste like an indulgent treat, but they are secretly loaded with protein, fiber, and all sorts of good-for-you ingredients. It’s like having your cosmic brownie and eating it too!
The Secret to Cosmic Goodness:
The magic lies in the combination of oat flour, nut/seed butter, honey, cocoa powder, and protein powder. These ingredients come together to create a fudgy, chewy texture that’s reminiscent of a classic brownie. And thanks to the protein powder, these little bites pack a nutritional punch that will keep you feeling full and satisfied.
These healthier, no bake protein brownies are the perfect snack or sweet treat! They are so fudgy, chewy, and melt in your mouth good! Refined sugar free, packed with protein, energizing carbs, and healthy fats, these brownies make a great, balanced treat option! A sprinkle of sprinkles makes these brownies fun too. After all, sprinkles make everything better!
This brownie recipe is just like the kind you buy, but oh so much better, without truckloads of refined sugar and no weird artificial flavours and preservatives. So much healthier and with way better taste and texture than anything you can buy at a store.
Protein is getting a lot of hype right now and for good reason. When I first started studying nutrition, I quickly hopped on the protein train. I try to aim for 30g of protein at each meal and ensure my snacks in between have a little. Another great thing about protein, is when you pair it with your sweet treats and desserts, it helps prevent blood sugar spikes.
There is protein powder in this recipe to make sure we get the satisfying component of eating a sweet healthy treat. I find if the treat is not balanced (not enough protein and lots of carbs), it leaves me hungry a couple of hours after but when there is sufficient protein I stay full and happy for longer. Because of this, I love adding protein into my snacks and treats as it’s an easy way to hit those protein goals – and tastes amazing!
This recipe is an ideal treat that is perfect for placating your sweet tooth when you are on a healthier eating kick. Don’t get me wrong, these brownies aren’t diet food. They are, however, made out of nutrient-dense ingredients and are healthy. Keep some in your fridge or freezer to eat with any dessert or simply eat it them on their own.
Leftovers (if there are leftovers… how could there possibly be leftovers?!) can stay in out for a few days, making these brownies a fantastic option to keep in the fridge for a dessert or any time snack. Enjoy one of these amazing brownies by itself or pair it with a scoop of ice cream for an even more drool-worthy treat! No matter when or where you plan on serving these brownies, everyone will LOVE them.
Great for parties, barbeques or pot lucks and celebrations of all kinds! If you are looking to increase your protein intake or just need a healthy snack, these brownie protein bars are my pick!
Cosmic Brownie Protein Cups: Nostalgia Made Easy
Ingredients
Brownie Protein Dough
- 1/2 cup oat flour (oats blended to a flour)
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut (or any other nut or seed) butter
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1-2 tablespoons any milk as needed
Chocolate Ganache Topping
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon peanut (or any other nut or seed) butter
- 2 tablspoons sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a muffin pan with 6 parchment paper liners or use a silicon muffin pan.In a medium bowl add oat flour, protein powder, nut butter, honey, cocoa powder and stir until no cocoa clumps remain (microwaving for 10 seconds can help loosen up your nut butter).Add protein powder and milk 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring to combine into a non-sticky bar dough. How much milk you need will depend on your nut butter and protein powder.Press the bar dough into your muffin pan liners.
Chocolate Ganache Topping
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Once melted, add in the nut butter and stir to combine.Spread the chocolate coating top of the brownie dough evenly.Sprinkle with sprinkles. Freeze or refrigerate 20-30 min to set.If frozen, thaw a few minutes before enjoying.Store in the fridge 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
