The ULTIMATE Chocolate Protein Snack Cake is perfect for your workout snack, or really just any time of the day when you need a healthy dose of chocolate. (Gluten-free, and dairy-free options)
Happy Labor Day! Yay for a long weekend, am I right or am I right? To celebrate, I bring you >>> CHOCOLATE CAKE. Okay, it is not your real, heavy-duty chocolate cake. But still! I mean… just look at it. Can anyone really say NO to this? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Unless you don’t like chocolate… Well, then I think there is SERIOUSLY something wrong with you. You should probably get that checked out.
Guys, it has been way too long since I’ve given you a healthy snack! So I am super excited to share this with you all today. This is probably one of my favorite snacks to keep on hand. Yes, I have a lot of favorites… But this one is just great. Why?
1. Chocolate (duh)
2. Cake
3. Healthy
4. Macros
5. Quick breakfast
6. Always good with <favorite> nut butter
Okay, that was a lot of reasons. But I just need you to understand… THIS CAKE IS SO GOOD. And HEALTHY. So even though you feel like you’re eating something that can’t possibly be good for you in any way, shape, or form… It totally is. HOLLA. Yes, I say that in real life.
ANYWAYS… This chocolate protein snack cake is really easy to put together. The ingredients are fairly simple as well. I used a mix of Aloha’s Chocolate Protein and whey protein recipe this go around… but I’ve also made it entirely with MRM All Natural Whey, as well as half whey, half Sunwarrior Warrior Blend. But I am pretty sure if you’re looking to avoid dairy entirely, using a vegan protein powder and subbing the yogurt with soy or coconut milk yogurt will work just fine. And if you don’t have a banana on hand, you can sub applesauce, or pureed (canned) pumpkin, or even coconut oil. Baking is fun 😉
I am always so happy when I can create a healthy snack with a good set of macros. This recipe I like because it has a decent amount of protein (8g), healthy carbs (about 18g), and lower in fat (5g). In other words, I’m eating this every day before my workout in the afternoon 😉 Which is usually when my chocolate attack hits, so the timing for consumption is rather perfect.
Ultimate Chocolate Protein Snack Cake
The ULTIMATE Chocolate Protein Snack Cake is perfect to fuel your workout, and made with gluten-free oats and almond flour for a healthy snack!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 10 1x
- Category: Protein Snack
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten-free old fashioned oats, ground into flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 scoops Aloha Chocolate Protein*
- 1/3 cup vanilla whey protein powder* (I used MRM All Natural)
- 3 TBS cacao powder (or unsweetened cocao)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup erythritol* (or other dry sweetener of choice)
- 1 small banana, mashed (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt*
- 1 large egg
- 3 TBS liquid egg whites (or 1 egg white)
- 1/4 cup +1 TBS non-dairy milk or milk of choice (I used Unsweetened Cashew)
- 2 TBS mini chocolate chips for topping* (I used Enjoy Life)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, or use a silicone square pan (I use one like this).
- Grind oats into flour using NutriBullet or small food processor.
- In a large bowl, combine oat flour, almond flour, protein powders, cacao powder, baking soda, salt, and erythritol and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mash banana until puree-like consistency.
- Add in yogurt, egg, egg whites, and milk and stir until combined.
- Add wet ingredients to large bowl and stir until just combined. Batter should be thick.
- Pour batter into prepared baking pan, top with 2 TBS of mini chocolate chips.
With wet hands, slightly press the chips into the top of the batter (wet hands will prevent the batter from sticking to you). - Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool in pan for 20 minutes before cutting.
Alternately, after cooling these can be placed in fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. - Cut cake into 10 slices, wrap and store in air-tight container in fridge.
Cake should keep fresh in fridge for up to 1 week.
They can also be stored in freezer, tightly wrapped and stay fresh up to 1 month.
Notes
*You can use all one type of protein powder, whey or vegan blend. I have not made with casein or brown rice, so I cannot vouch for those results if you’re trying to sub.
*The erythritol sweetener I use is a non-gmo sugar derived from a corn source. It is virtually calorie free, a small amount of carbs, and low glycemic-index. You can also sub this with coconut sugar, or another dry sweetener of choice (white and brown will work just fine). The sugar and carb count in the nutrition will change slightly.
*To make dairy free, sub in your favorite non-dairy yogurt.
*Use more chocolate chips mixed in the batter if you want this cake extra chocolately, about 1/4-1/3 cup.
*I like to wrap my bars individually and store in fridge for easy access when packing lunches.
Recipe adapted from here
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 191mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 19
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 43mg
Just go make this already… you’ll be glad you did! <3
P.S. If you want to try the Aloha products, you can get $20 off your first order by using the code ASHLEY550!
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Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
You know what? I actually FORGOT it was a holiday today. Which means here I am up at 4am working and wishing that I had remembered, so I could sleep.
Clearly I need cake in a major way. Specifically THIS cake. Like, all of it. Pinned!
Ashley says
lol Taylor, go back to bed! 😉 Thanks for the pin!! <3
lindsay says
okay, now i need dessert. YOu got this, right? Come over! YUM!
Ashley says
I will gladly supply dessert! 😉
Rachel @ athletic avocado says
can’t believe this is healthy! it looks sinful 🙂
Ashley says
That’s the best kind of dessert if you ask me! 😉
Les @ The Balanced Berry says
This looks AMAZING. So much chocolatey goodness!
Ashley says
Thanks, Les! Chocolatey goodness for sure!
Shannon says
This looks awesome! I am sure it would be good with other protein powder flavors too!
Ashley says
Yes I am betting it would! 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
YUM. Definitely have to make these! They look like the perfect nourishing and healthy snack to keep me sustained at university.
Ashley says
Definitely, Thalia! Let me know how you like em! 🙂
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says
This looks fantastic!! I love chocolate anything…especially snack cake 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks, Tara! If we call it “snack” cake, that means it’s perfectly acceptable to eat it at any time of the day, right?? No questions asked 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
If I haven’t told you before – then let me just say – I luv you – because cake for breakfast is my jam!!! …well…not really “jam” but more like “Cake”…but…
Seriously LOVING this protein packed CHOCOLATE cake!!! This is one of those time I wish I could just reach into my screen and grab a slice!
★★★★★
Ashley says
lol Shashi, if we had food blogger mail fairies I would totally send you this cake for breakfast! 😉
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
GET IN MY BELLY!!!!!! I have nothing more to say – I’m too busy drooling at your amazing photo of decadence.
Ashley says
Hahaha thanks, Chrissa! This made my night 😉
Georgie says
Woah! This looks awesome. These photos are gorgeous. I can totally hear you saying “holla” in my head!
Ashley says
lol, I totally do ALL the time. Missy Elliot style 😉