Cranberry Bliss Bars

Day 7 of “The Twelve Days of Christmas Recipes” is bringing you a familiar favorite, my healthy twist on the Starbucks’ Cranberry Bliss Bar. Every time I go into Starbucks to get my usual iced coffee, I glance over at the glass case housing all the desserts and assorted pastries, it’s actually really good for new dessert recipe inspiration. 🙂 While these treats look amazing I know how much hard work I would have to do just to burn that sweet treat off my behind! This decadent Holiday treat will set you back 280 calories, 14 grams of fat and 26 grams of pure sugar.

My skinny version of the Cranberry Bliss Bar uses freshly ground old-fashioned oats, heart healthy coconut flour and coconut oil, dried cranberries and is sweetened with the plant-based miracle ingredient, Stevia.

If you love cranberry, check out my recipe for Cinnamon Cranberry Protein Muffins! 🙂

Ingredients:

1 cup Oat flour (you can also ground about 1 1/4 cup old-fashioned or gluten-free Oats)
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
1 cup Stevia in the Raw
1/3 cup Coconut flour
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened, reduced-fat shredded coconut
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
3/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoons baking soda

Directions:

1.) In a large mixing bowl combine oat flour, coconut flour, stevia, baking soda and ONLY 1/4 cup of the shredded coconut. Lightly stir with a fork until dry ingredients are incorporated.

2.) Next, add melted coconut oil and stir for a couple seconds.

3.) Add the unsweetened almond milk and vanilla extract until there is no longer any visible dry flour. Do NOT over mix. Finally, add in the cranberries. Lightly fold them in until they are evenly distributed.

4.) Flatten batter onto a shallow and lightly greased pan. I used a 7 x 11″ baking pan for a thinner bar. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut on top of the bars.

*You could also use an 8 x 8″ pan for a thicker bar. Keep in mind you will have to cook them longer. You could even mold these into cookies!

5.) Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until bars are golden brown. Let cool for 20 minutes before serving.

ENJOY!

Created By: Loryn Huff

Certified Personal Trainer, Champion Figure Competitor, NEW Mom and Owner of Femme FIT Company, Ft. Lauderdale.

Twelve Days of Xmas: Peppermint Brownie Bites

It’s my new blogging project, “12 Days of Christmas Recipes”, healthy recipes of course! So I’ve seen this idea on other websites, blogs, etc. This is my version. Twelve recipes that are healthy and fun Holiday dishes and treats that you can enjoy at home or bring to Holiday parties. Fun, right?!

Did you know that studies show most people never lose the weight they gain during the Holidays? That’s pretty scary because even if you only gain one pound (the average American) by the time you’re in your 40’s or 50’s you’re battling an excess of at least 30 pounds. YIKES! (The New England Journal of Medicine).

While I am not a proponent of depriving yourself of your favorite foods on occasion, I do feel it’s very important to be careful with getting carried away with excess calories just because it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. I’ve certainly had days where I’ve indulged a little beyond what I wanted to just because I was at a Holiday party and I felt like I wanted a little bit of everything. 🙂

*Try and have a goal of eating a salad before your Holiday dinners and alternating one glass of water with each alcoholic beverage, we all know there’s tons of hidden calories in drinks! Also, try small bites of desserts, don’t take one serving of each dish! That should get you through the Holidays feeling FIT, festive and satisfied.

This is my first “12 Days of Christmas” recipe, high protein, Skinny Peppermint Brownie Bites!  

Ingredients:

3 scoops (about 2/3 cup) Chocolate protein powder (can sub equal parts healthy baking powder as well)
2 Tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour OR oat flour
1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup Stevia in the Raw
1/4 cup fat-free Greek yogurt
1/4 cup organic white chocolate chips
2 egg whites
2 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.) In a mixing bowl combine protein powder, whole wheat flour, stevia, cocoa powder and baking powder. Stir until blended.

3.) In the same bowl add the wet ingredients. Pumpkin puree, egg whites, Greek yogurt, melted coconut oil and peppermint extract. Stir until completely blended.

4.) Lightly spray 2 mini muffins tins, add the batter. Drop a few white chocolate chips into each brownie bite, I used about 4 in each. Use a fork to press the chips down into the batter so you get some in each bite.

5.) Cook for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.

*Makes 24 brownie bites.