Dessert mashups—a combination of different types of desserts, like Oreos and donuts—are perfect for moments when our taste buds are acting indecisive. But they also tend to be pretty decadent and hard on our diets...especially as the holiday season looms. So we put together five healthy chocolate mashups that will help satisfy the most overactive sweet tooth without compromising health goals. Give the mashup recipes below a look, and then let us know which one you’re tempted to try first!
Healthy Chocolate Mashups for Every Occasion
1. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Mashup Bars
Why settle for a peanut butter cookie when you can have a chocolate peanut butter mashup bar? Don’t let the total time scare you. We promise it’s an easy recipe! There’s only 10 minutes of prep work to do and the rest of the work is up to the ingredients.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Mashup Bars
🍽️ SERVINGS: 12 | 🕖 READY IN: 4 hours
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INGREDIENTS
Crust
- Olive oil cook spray
- 24 chocolate wafers
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 ounces dark chocolate morsels, melted
Filling:
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter, creamy
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 4 packets of stevia
- 1 cup arrowroot
- 1 cup Amino Co Heal in Chocolate
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping:
- 1/8 chopped roasted unsalted peanuts
- 1/8 cup chopped pecan
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INSTRUCTIONS
- The making of this delicious dessert starts with the crust. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Grind the crispy cookie wafers using a food processor.
- Add in the butter and pulse, coating the crumbs.
- Next, blend in the melted dark chocolate morsels until you get a smooth consistency.
- Transfer the mixture to your pan, gently spreading it along the bottom. Cover and refrigerate.
- Now for the filling and topping! In a small bowl, mix together 4 packets of stevia with 1-1/2 cup arrowroot and a 1/2 cup Amino Co Heal, which helps fight inflammation, build lean muscle mass, and speed recovery.
- Transfer to a clean blender or food processor and add peanut butter, cream cheese, and yogurt. Blend until smooth.
- Add in 1/4 teaspoon salt and top with peanuts and pecans.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Then it’s up to you when you’d like to indulge in these cookie bars!
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2. Brownie Cheesecake Bars
Next on our list of chocolate dessert recipes are yummy brownie cheesecake bars that have been lightened up to help support your weight goals. We know it’s tempting to use Nutella, but you can fulfill that chocolatey and gooey craving with healthier cocoa powder.
Brownie Cheesecake Bars
🍽️ SERVINGS: 16 | 🕖 READY IN: 1hour
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INGREDIENTS
Cheesecake:
- 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
Brownie:
- 2 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 7/8 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
- Pinch of paprika
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
- 2 egg whites
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 scoop Amino Co Heal in Vanilla
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 350 ºF.
- Line a square 8-inch pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
- For the cheesecake, beat the cream cheese until smooth, and then add in the vanilla and sugar, continuing to beat for approximately 1-2 minutes. Add the egg and beat some more.
- For the brownie, combine the chocolate, butter, and olive oil in a microwave-safe bowl and heat on medium for about 30 seconds. Stir, and microwave for another half-minute.
- Next, mix the flour, cocoa powder, salt, paprika, and baking powder in a separate bowl.
- To a large bowl add the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Then mix in buttermilk, egg whites, and vanilla and whisk well. Add the chocolate brownie mixture and whisk again. As the mixture becomes smooth, gradually add the flour mixture and stir until blended well.
- Separate the brownie batter into halves. Pour half the batter into the pan. Next, pour the cheesecake batter on top. Finish up by adding the second half of the brownie batter. Use a wooden spoon to create swirls in the top batter.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let cool before transferring to a cooling rack and cutting into 2-inch brownie cheesecake bars.
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3. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
Impress your honey for Valentine’s day with this ice cream cookie recipe, which combines a chocolate protein cookie with a scoop of ice cream, or vegan-friendly nice cream if you’d rather.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
🍽️ SERVINGS: 12 | 🕖 READY IN: 25 minutes
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INGREDIENTS
- 1-cup all-natural peanut butter, creamy
- 1/2 cup Amino Co Heal in Chocolate
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup cacao nibs
- 1 scoop ice cream
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Set your oven temp to 350 ºF and prep a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Mix all the ingredients together (except for the ice cream) in a mixing bowl until you get a cookie dough consistency. If it’s too crumbly, add in a teaspoon of melted coconut oil.
- To turn it into chocolate chip cookie dough, add the cacao nibs. We dare you not to taste it!
- Roll 2 tablespoons of dough at a time into balls. Then flatten with your palm and transfer to the baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Let cool for 20 minutes.
- Stick 1 scoop of ice cream (or nice cream!) between two chocolate chip cookies and take a big bite!
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4. Dark Chocolate S'mores Cupcakes
Who needs chocolate cake when you have Dark Chocolate S’mores Cupcakes! Two sweet treats combine into one delicious recipe for the whole family...and you don’t even need a campfire to enjoy these healthy chocolate mashups! For a smooth baking experience, be sure to time out your shortbread baking, or make them the day before. And if you don't like shortbread, you can also swap in a sugar cookie.
Dark Chocolate S'mores Cupcakes
🍽️ SERVINGS: 10 | 🕖 READY IN: 1.5 hours
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INGREDIENTS
Cake batter:
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 4-1/2 tablespoons oat flour
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 scoop Chocolate Heal
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
Marshmallow
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 20 grams gelatin sheets
- 2 egg whites
- 1 stick vanilla
Topping
- Sugar-free shortbread cookies
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Let’s start with making the cupcakes. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave (approximately 30-60 seconds).
- Beat together the sugar and gradually add in the olive oil while beating.
- Stir in the chocolate and butter, and then mix in the rest of the cake batter ingredients.
- Fill up your cupcake or muffin tins 1/2 to 3/4 of the way with the batter and bake for 20 minutes at 350 ºF.
- While the cupcakes are baking, start on your marshmallow mixture. To a pot, add water and sugar. Stir and then bring to a boil.
- Soften the gelatin sheets in really cold water (about 5-10 minutes).
- Beat the eggs into light and fluffy peaks.
- Remove the water and sugar from the heat. Dissolve the gelatin sheets, stirring continuously, and then pour the mix into the egg white peaks. Beat with an electric mixer until the mixture cools (for about 5 minutes).
- Congratulations. You’ve made marshmallow frosting! Put it into an icing bag and decorate your cupcakes. You’ll want to let them set for about 30 minutes before eating. We know...they’re tempting!
- Top with your biscuits and you have yourself a s’mores mashup!
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*We’ll leave it up to you if you want DIY gluten-free vegan shortbread cookies, keto shortbread cookies, or sugar-free shortbread cookies for your s’mores.
5. Dark Chocolate Caramel Apple Pie Bread Pudding
This tasty chewy spin on apple pie and bread pudding is perfect for the fall and winter seasons. Bookmark it in your dessert cookbook, cozy up by the fire, and enjoy!
Dark Chocolate Caramel Apple Pie Bread Pudding
🍽️ SERVINGS: 6 | 🕖 READY IN: 1 hour
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INGREDIENTS
- loaf whole-wheat bread cut into 2-inch squares
- 1 cup small apple chunks
- 1 cup dark chocolate morsels
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1-1/2 cups cashew milk
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
- Caramel sauce
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INSTRUCTIONS
- Whisk together eggs, applesauce, cashew milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt.
- Fold in and coat the bread and apple chunks. Stir in the dark chocolate morsels.
- Transfer to an 8-inch square baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate for an hour.
- While chilling the mixture, preheat your oven to 350 ºF.
- Drizzle on the caramel sauce and bake for 45-50 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean and the top should be golden brown.
- Serve warm and top with the ice cream left over from your s’mores mashup!
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