Mint Chocolate Protein Brownies

These mint chocolate protein brownies are a delicious guilt-free dessert! With 14 grams of protein per bar, they make the perfect snack to keep you full for hours!

Brownies aren’t exactly known to be a nutritious food. In fact, traditional brownie recipes contain heaps of butter and sugar.

This provided me with a challenge when it came to crafting a ‘healthier’ version. The good news is that Greek yogurt, whey protein, egg whites, and other ingredients help solve this problem.

I’ve made regular chocolate protein brownies before, which is why I wanted to try something different with this recipe. I’m pleased to say the final results were even better than I imagined!

Brownie Ingredients

• Greek yogurt – Plain Greek yogurt will work best. This butter replacement will keep the brownies moist and add more protein.
• Flour – I like using gluten-free all-purpose flour, because my wife has celiac disease. This is one of the few traditional brownie ingredients we will keep.
• Whey – Protein brownies need to get their protein from somewhere. Unflavored whey will work best, because it won’t disrupt the other flavors.
• Cocoa – This is what will give the brownies a dark and rich chocolate color. Cocoa powder tastes bitter on its own, so we will need to add sweetness.
• Salt – A little bit of salt goes a long way with baking. You won’t be able to taste it, but salt can enhance the flavors in the other ingredients.
• Egg whites – Egg whites alone are an excellent source of protein. They can also help make the brownies lighter and airier.
• Stevia – Zero calorie sweetener is the perfect sugar replacement. A small amount will make the brownies sweet, without the extra calories.
• Vanilla – Vanilla extract is used as a flavor enhancer for baking. It can also be used to take the smell out of raw eggs.

Frosting Ingredients

• Mint – Mint extract will give the frosting a refreshing mint flavor. A little amount goes a long way with this stuff – so you don’t need to use much.
• Cream cheese – We will also avoid using butter and sugar for the frosting. Reduced fat cream cheese is the perfect replacement, because it’s soft and creamy.
• Maple syrup – At this point the frosting will be bland. But that’s where sugar free maple syrup can help. It will add sweetness, without all the extra sugar.
• Food coloring – This ingredient is optional, because green food coloring just makes the frosting look green. It’s a small touch that will make the brownies look more aesthetic.
• Chocolate – Zero sugar chocolate chips will create the top shell to your mint protein brownies. As you may have guessed by now, we are avoiding sugar with this ingredient.

Instructions

For the brownies: Add all-purpose flour, whey protein powder, cocoa powder, salt, and Stevia in a large mixing bowl. Whisk thoroughly to remove any large clumps.

Combine plain Greek yogurt, egg whites, and vanilla extract with the dry ingredients. Whisk everything together until a thick brownie batter forms.

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Then transfer the brownie batter to a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper and bake for 16 minutes.

Make sure to let the brownies cool for 30 minutes before adding frosting.

For the mint frosting layer: Place reduced fat cream cheese in a microwave safe dish. Heat for 20-30 second intervals in the microwave and stir until fully softened.

Then combine the softened cream cheese with Greek yogurt, mint extract, sugar free maple syrup, and green food coloring. Whisk all of these ingredients to make the frosting.

For the chocolate layer: Place zero sugar chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 20-30 second intervals in the microwave and make sure to stir periodically.

Finally, spread the melted chocolate on top of the mint frosting layer. Allow the chocolate to cool and harden in the refrigerator for 1 hour before eating.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are mint chocolate protein brownies healthy?

These brownies are much healthier than a traditional recipe. They are lower in calories, fat, and carbs. That’s because most brownie recipes contain high amounts of butter and sugar.

• Do I need to let the brownies cool?

Allowing the brownies to cool down before applying frosting is a very important step. If the brownies are still warm, the top layer can break apart when you’re spreading the frosting.

• How do I store these brownies?

These mint chocolate protein brownies should be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. You should avoid storing them at room temperature, because they contain cream cheese and Greek yogurt.

More Brownie Recipes:

• Banana Protein Brownies
• Chocolate Protein Brownies
• Healthy Pumpkin Brownies
• Fudgy Chickpea Brownies
• Easy Microwave Protein Brownie