Chocolate Protein Popsicles
Rich and chocolaty, these healthy Chocolate Popsicles are the perfect any time treat! An easy chocolate magic shell coating makes them even better. This recipe is loaded with nutrition as there is absolutely no reason popsicles can't be healthy and still taste delicious!The trick to making healthy creamy fudgsicles with rich chocolate flavor is to use avocado, banana, coconut milk, and cocoa powder as the base.Avocado is loaded with heathy fats, is a good source of vitamin K, folate, and potassium, and has just 2g net carbs per 100g serving. What is Chocolate Magic Shell?Chocolate magic shell is basically liquid chocolate when you pour it on ice cream, but it hardens almost as soon as it hits the cold ice cream. It forms a deliciously satisfying crunchy hard shell that you crack through when you eat it. Chocolate magic shell is so much fun to eat!I like to make my own homemade version of chocolate magic shell coating because 1) it's easy to make, 2) it's sugar free, and 3) it doesn't have the additives and preservatives that the store-bought kind has.And bonus, when you drizzle or coat these Chocolate Popsicles with chocolate magic shell, you can sprinkle toasted nuts on top for flavor and crunch before the magic shell hardens!I love how amazing new food trends are being created on internet websites like TikTok and some of them go viral and get loads of attention. One of them that is making a huge buzz is around what is called Protein Popsicles.I have tried a few of these recipes recently and they do not disappoint. Its not every day that a food trend exceeds my expectations, but this viral chocolate frozen popsicle recipe is definitely a winner.As a long term fitness professional who is immersed in the health and wellness field, it’s fun to keep tabs on the latest trends.Traditionally, many trends over the last decade or more have (unfortunately)revolved around elimination diets in which certain foods or food groups are restricted or eliminated entirely. Think grains, dairy, carbs, fats, meat and so on.In their place came foods marketed as low-calorie, low-fat, sugar free (often meaning something way worse than sugar) low-this ,low-that were usually interpreted by novice consumers to mean “healthy”, right?However, we are now finally starting to see a paradigm shift. People are beginning to change their mindset around food and paying closer attention to not only the nutrition label, but also the ingredients. Consumers are becoming more interested in ADDING more nutritious ingredients to their diet, as opposed to eliminating foods or entire food groups.What perhaps is even more exciting is that fat is no longer demonized. Items like coconut oil, avocado oil, and nut flours are being used more widely for their nutritional benefits with less emphasis on their caloric value.The world of desserts and sweets is constantly evolving,with new trends and flavors being introduced every day. When I saw this high protein frozen treat on my TikTok for you page I knew I had to try it. I mean,come on! At its core, this dessert is a fusion of two classic treats: cheesecake and ice cream. The result is a creamy, tangy and sweet dessert that is perfect for those who love the taste of both.I’m in my protein era so it was almost like this concept was made for me! Well, I tried it and it is amazing! Literally amazing. This weird frozen concoction is actually not weird at all. I can tell you for certain that this high protein treat is better than any of those healthy or low calorie ice creams you can find at the grocery store.I do recommend allowing all foods unconditionally, but also, if you love dessert I recommend eating it – often. This does a few things for your relationship with food and for your overall health.Firstly, it helps take desserts and sweet treats off a pedestal. Instead of sweet treats being something overly tempting that isn’t allowed, it becomes just another food that you like to eat.We naturally want what we can’t have. So taking away that “can’t have” aspect of dessert can be really powerful. Secondly, eating dessert often helps with cravings. It may sound obvious, but the best way to satisfy a craving is to eat the food you are craving.And if you are craving something sweet, but don’t allow yourself to eat something sweet… not only will you eventually end up eating it (and eventually, you will along with everything else not nailed down), but it will take a lot of that food to feel satisfied.The idea is that incorporating healthy fats into your diet will keep you satiated between meals. They are easily portion controlled, and the richness of the healthy fats is very satiating to the taste buds.And lastly, dessert is just delicious. And so are these Frozen Protein Popsicles. They can be made sugar free and high protein! I love them and I know you will too! But BEWARE: they are crazy addicting!They are ridiculously easy to make and such a fun dessert to have on hand that you have got to keep some stashed in your freezer.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 2 small avocados
- 1 13.5 oz can coconut cream or milk, full fat
- 1/2 cup protein or collagen powder
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Popsicle sticks
Magic Shell
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons toasted almonds, chopped
Instructions
- Add all ingredients for the base popsicles to a blender or food processor and process until smooth.Pour the mixture into 6-8 popsicle molds, making sure not to fill the molds over the “fill” line. Tap the mold several times on a hard surface to help any air bubbles escape.Transfer to the freezer, wait 20 minutes, and then insert the sticks. Let the popsicles freeze completely, about 3 to 4 hours.To easily unmold the popsicles, dip the plastic bottoms in warm water and they should slide right out.
Magic Shell
- Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50% power with 30 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, condensed milk and coconut oil together. Remove the popsicles from freezer and dip each one into the melted chocolate, using a spoon to ensure they are evenly covered or drizzle the magic shell on top and sprinkle on the nuts. Place back on parchment paper and in the freezer to harden again (optional: add flaky salt, sprinkles, or more chopped nuts on top of chocolate).Once the chocolate shell has hardened, remove the popsicles from the freezer and enjoy (I like to let them sit out for 5-10 minutes before eating so the creamy filling is soft).Wrap each popsicle individually in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
