These Vega protein brownies are delicious and taste absolutely amazing as a high protein, low carb, low fat brownie!
I really thought that once school was done somehow my cooking mojo would just come flying back and I'd be The Pioneer Woman or Rachael Ray in the kitchen again. Blissfully back to cooking domestication.
But....it's summer. And it's hard. And for two years I've been flying like crazy trying to take care of kids, school and personal stuff going on. And I'm just kind of beat and need a break.
And...I've never really been a Rachael Ray or Pioneer Woman. I'm me. I like eating healthy, but it's also got to fit into my busy schedule. So I LOVE when I can use a healthier mix or something to help me out. I'm all for it. Count me in.
And...most people don't have to cook two different meals each and every meal. Me with all my modifications and the kids I just have to try to make something that they will eat. I love quick and simple meals like this chicken nugget casserole. I just buy premade gluten free chicken nuggets and regular nuggets and toss them into two separate pans. Or I love this chicken pot pie pasta because it's simple and easy to sub out dairy free milk and gluten free pasta for me.
But one thing that I've noticed I have always struggled with is my protein intake. I would LOVE, LOVE LOVE a premade drink mix that I can have and just drink on the way to the gym in the morning. Sometimes I'm not hungry and trying to force down a dry gluten free protein bar just doesn't sound appetizing five minutes after lethargically rolling out of bed.
So when I came across these Vega premade protein shakes I was so excited because it's the plant based protein drink I've been waiting for. I was at Sam's Club and ran across a case and got so excited that I bought two of them. Usually just ONE shake costs me $2.69 or more and the Sam's Club price put them in the $1 range.
You know how lately I've been trying to up the amount of protein I've been taking in? These have helped, but the lack of carbs in my life has not caused my desire for sweets to go away. I know some people are lucky enough to not have that problem--I am not one of them.
I found these that have helped, (you can find them at Target)
but I really wanted a brownie. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and make a nice high protein, low fat, low carb brownie.
These brownies are so good. So, so so good. They are everything you would expect in a brownie.
Ingredients
- 7 tbsp butter (we used Earth Balance) or coconut oil, melted
- 6 tbsp sugar (can use coconut sugar, low carb sugar, or regular sugar)
- 2 eggs
- 5 ounces chocolate, divided(we used Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips)
- ¼ cup plant based chocolate protein powder (you can substitute any type of cocoa protein powder or use plain cocoa powder).
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp chocolate milk (we used Vega ready made chocolate protein shake--if you don't have chocolate milk you can use milk or dairy free milk substitute)
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350 degrees. line a square 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the oil or butter, sugar, and egg for one minute at medium speed.
- Place 4 oz of the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and cook at 30 second intervals until melted. Stir and then cook again until melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate into the egg and butter mixture and stir until combined. Add the protein powder, baking soda, salt and milk, mixing until just stirred. Fold in the remaining 1 oz of chocolate.
- Pour the brownie mixture into the pan, spreading evenly with a spatula.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for approximately 20 minutes. Lift the brownies from the pan and allow them to cool on a wire rack completely.
- Cut into squares and serve.
Leave a Reply