cosmic protein Brownies (no bake)

These healthy, no bake cosmic protein brownies are the perfect snack or sweet treat! Made with just a handful of ingredients, these brownie bites could not be easier, are so fudgy, chewy, and melt in your mouth good! They are refined sugar free, vegan, and gluten free. Packed with some protien, energizing carbs, and healthy fats, these little bites make a great, balanced treat option!

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I have a special place in my heart for no bake desserts. They were the first kind of recipes I started experimenting with when I started making healthier treats. No bake brownies in particular.. they somehow taste like you’re eating brownie batter in a dense, chewy, fudgy brownie form. WILD.

If you’re a chocolate lover like me, these are the treat for you! Ultra fudgy, chewy brownie bites with chocolate ganache, and all natural sprinkles, these have it all! They have all the flavor and texture of a fudge brownie with no eggs, no flour, and no refined sugar. The best part is that they couldn’t be easier to make and come together in a food processor.

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.

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! 😉

Why you’ll love these protein brownies

• These protein brownies are no bake, made in a food processor, and require minimal clean-up!
• These brownies are made with no eggs, no refined sugar, and are flourless.
• They contain protein, healthy fats, and energizing carbs for a balanced treat!
• Made with just a handful of nourishing ingredients.
• These brownies are vegan and gluten free.
• They are stored in the freezer, so they last awhile and make a great meal prep snack!
• The balance of healthy fats and protein help keep balanced blood sugar and prevent blood sugar spikes.

How to make brownie bites

Full ingredients list & measurements will be in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here/s some important info:

Equipment

• Food processor
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula
• Square baking dish or loaf pan

Ingredients

• Cacao powder: Cacao powder is packed full of antioxidants, but you can also use cocoa powder.
• Chocolate protein powder: If you don’t want to use protein powder, you can try substituting almond flour. I would NOT recommend using more oats. I love Truvani (discount: danishealthyeats) or Macro Mike (discount code: amb-dani) as both chocolate flavors are amazing and made with great ingredients.
• Almond or cashew butter: I do not recommend using peanut butter as this will totally change the flavor of the brownies. If you are nut-free, feel free to use sunflower seed butter.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup is my favorite sweetener, but honey will also work.
• Pantry staples: Vanilla extract, sea salt
• Full-fat canned coconut milk: We use the coconut cream from the top of the can to make the ganache. If you can’t have coconut, you can use a dairy-free cream alternative or regular heavy cream.
• Natural Sprinkles: I opt for sprinkles that don’t contain any artificial colors or flavorings.
• Chocolate bars or chips: If you’re looking for a more macro-friendly option, opt for chocolate bars as chocolate chips will be more calorically dense. I like Hu Kitchen bars (they have both dark and 100% grass-fed milk chocolate). I have a discount code for them – “danishealthyeats“.

Steps to make brownie bites

• Add the oats to a food processor, processing until they resemble flour (or at least mostly flour-like, it’s okay to have a few chunks of oats). Then add in the remaining ingredients, processing until a dough forms. You want the texture to stick together, and it may be slightly sticky to touch.
• Line a loaf pan or square baking dish with parchment paper. Add the dough to the pan. The easiest way to flatten the dough, is to wet your hands. This will prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers.
• Make the ganache by adding the coconut cream to a large heat-proof bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds until it’s warmed through. Pour the chocolate chips in and shake the bowl to make sure the milk covers them. Set a plate or something on top of the bowl to cover it and let it sit for 10 minutes without stirring. After the 10 minutes, stir the chocolate and milk together until it creates a ganache consistency. Then pour over the brownie base. Top with sprinkles.
• Place the brownies in the freezer for 2-3 hours before removing them from the pan and cutting into bars.

What kind of protein powder works best?

I use plant-based protein, so this is all i’ve tested these brownies with. I would NOT recommend using collagen as the texture is totally different than protein powders. Whey protein or other animal-based proteins should also work just fine! Macro Mike’s almond protein powder is my favorite as it tastes like dessert and adds so much flavor to the recipe! You can use my code “amb-dani” for a discount on any order.

If you’re using a whey-based protein or other animal protein and you find your dough to be too sticky, add a tablespoon extra of almond flour or oat flour until your each a workable dough (that is still somewhat sticky to touch, but workable).

Can you make protein brownies without protein powder?

Yes. I haven’t tested it, but I think almond flour would work as a substitute for protein powder. I would not substitute with more oats. Keep in mind that protein powder adds some flavor/sweetness to the recipe, so you may want to add a little extra vanilla extract, etc. I don’t think you’ll need them sweeter, but if you do, add a granulated sweetener like monk fruit or coconut sugar. Adding more maple will make the dough too sticky/wet.

FAQ’s, Tips, & Tricks

• How to make thick brownie bites: I like to use a 5×5 or 6×6 baking dish for the perfect brownie to ganache ratio. You can also use a bread loaf pan, but your brownie bites may not turn out as thick as the ones shown in my photos (they’ll still be great! You’ll get more than 16 bites).
• How to store leftover cosmic brownie bites: Store leftover bites in an air-tight container in the freezer. They will last up to two months.
• How often can I eat protein brownies? I love that these are cute bite sized treats! That makes them perfect to enjoy like you would an energy ball or protein bite. I enjoy them if i’m craving something sweet after lunch or as an end-of-day treat!
• Do you have to add chocolate ganache? Of course not, but they do add so much to these little bites. They taste extra indulgent and if using a quality, darker chocolate can add antioxidants and magnesium to the recipe!

• What are the macro of these brownies? I don’t track macros, as someone that has struggled with disordered eating for over 10 years. I think it takes the true enjoyment away from the treat. However, I understand that some people need to track. Keep in mind that different brands have different nutritional profiles, but these have roughly 6g protein, 11g carbs, and 4.5g fat per bite.
• Are chocolate chips or chocolate bars better to use for ganache? I like to use chocolate bars and chop them up small. Chocolate bars will be less calorically dense if you are wanting to track macros. I use Hu Kitchen (my discount code is “danishealthyeats“.
• What if my dough is too sticky? Add one tbsp more of almond flour or protein powder at a time, blending a few seconds again, until it’s not wet. The dough should be sticky to touch, but not crazy sticky. You’ll want to wet your hands to press the dough into the pan. Careful not to add too much more as this will create a drier brownie.

More high protein recipes to try

• Healthy cookie dough frozen yogurt/ice cream
• Healthy snickers bites
• Dilly Bars
• Peanut butter espresso protein shake
• Chocolate covered yogurt bites/clusters
• Chocolate sed bars
• Carrot cake bites/truffles

No Bake Cosmic Brownie Protein Bites

These healthy, no bake protein cosmic brownie bites are the perfect snack or sweet treat! Made in one bowl with just a handful of ingredients, these brownie bites could not be easier and are so fudgy and melt in your mouth good! They are refined sugar free, vegan, and gluten free. Packed with some protien, energizing carbs, and healthy fats, these little bites make a great, balanced treat option!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Set time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 7 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16 Bites

Ingredients

  

Brownies

• 1/2 cup organic rolled oats
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 1/3 cup almond or cashew butter *I don't recommend peanut butter
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp chocolate protein powder *See blog post for rec's
• 6 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• good pinch sea salt
• 1-2 tbsp milk, as needed

Chocolate ganache

• 3/4 cup chocolate bars, chopped or chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp full-fat canned coconut milk *can sub heavy cream if not dairy-free. You can use Lite coconut milk but the ganache will not be as thick/decadent
• all-natural sprinkles

Instructions

 

Brownies

• Add the oats to a food processor, processing until they resemble flour (or at least mostly flour-like, it's okay to have a few chunks of oats). Then add in the remaining ingredients, processing until a dough forms. You want the texture to stick together, and it may be slightly sticky to touch.
• Line a loaf pan or square baking dish with parchment paper. Add the dough to the pan. The easiest way to flatten the dough, is to wet your hands. This will prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers.

Chocolate ganache

• Make the ganache by adding the coconut cream to a large heat-proof bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds until it's warmed through. Pour the chocolate chips in and shake the bowl to make sure the milk covers them. Set a plate or something on top of the bowl to cover it and let it sit for 10 minutes without stirring.
• After the 10 minutes, stir the chocolate and milk together until it creates a ganache consistency.
• Then pour over the brownie base. Top with sprinkles.Place the brownies in the freezer for 2-3 hours before removing them from the pan and cutting into bars.

Keyword gluten free brownies, healthy brownies, no bake brownies, protein brownies, raw vegan brownies, vegan brownies