December 22, 2021

Gingerbread Protein Brownies with Amazing Cream Cheese Frosting

Delicious Gingerbread Protein Brownies with a Cream Cheese Frosting! These gingerbread brownies have no molasses, but use protein powder and monk fruit sweetener for a healthy festive dessert.

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Delicious Gingerbread Protein Brownies with a Cream Cheese Frosting! These gingerbread brownies have no molasses, but use protein powder and monk fruit sweetener for a healthy festive dessert.

I think I made a major breakthrough here for a fudgy protein brownie recipe, and that too with an extra flavor boost. And not to forget that amazing cheesecake frosting. 

A real good gingerbread dessert for the holiday season!

Ingredients for Gingerbread Protein Brownies

These chocolate gingerbread protein brownies are made with a few healthy ingredients, and have no eggs, no oil, no sugar and gluten free too; The perfect chocolate protein powder recipe!

  • Chocolate Protein Powder needed for high protein brownie and also replaces most of the ‘sugar’. I used part whey-caesin Chocolate Milkshake protein powder from Quest Nutrition, and part Chocolate Protein World Whey for this recipe.
    Code HAYLSKITCHEN gives a discount on ProteinWorld;
  • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Raw Cacao Powder (HAYLSKITCHEN.15OFF to save on Kiva Cacao)
  • Gluten Free (All Purpose) Baking Flour – or a regular all purpose flour
  • 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Substitute – I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free;  (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too)
  • Non-fat Greek Yogurt contributes to the oil-free part of these high protein brownies since it adds the moisture, and also extra protein 
  • Almond Milk or regular milk
  • Baking Soda
  • Runny Tahini (no butter or oil to keep this recipe low fat)

For all those spiced ginger bread flavors:

  • Ground Ginger
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Cloves
  • Ground Nutmeg

And for the Cream Cheese Frosting in these Gingerbread Brownies:

  • Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, which might also be called Neufchâtel, for a low fat and low calorie recipe
  • Vanilla Protein Powder; This is the source of sweetness in the protein powder frosting since there’s no added sugar in this recipe. Quest again here.
  • More Greek Yogurt
Delicious Gingerbread Protein Brownies with a Cream Cheese Frosting! These gingerbread brownies have no molasses, but use protein powder and monk fruit sweetener for a healthy festive dessert.

Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Protein Powder Brownies

These gingerbread protein powder brownies are rich and tasty and actually very easy to make!

  • Use room temperature milk and yogurt;
    This is so the wet ingredients and dry ingredients of the brownie batter can mix well.
  • Also room temperature or softened cream cheese for the frosting swirl.
  • Use Runny Tahini also so that it mixes well into the batter
  • Don’t over-mix the batter!
    Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
    If you over-mix it, the protein powder will make the fudgy brownies tough, dense and gummy.
  • Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have sugar free and healthy fudgy brownies.
  • Don’t over-bake the brownies or they might get tough; Remove when the tester/knife comes out still moist.
    Underbaking a little is okay.
Delicious Gingerbread Protein Brownies with a Cream Cheese Frosting! These gingerbread brownies have no molasses, but use protein powder and monk fruit sweetener for a healthy festive dessert.

How to store Gingerbread Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting?

This high protein gingerbread brownie with cream cheese frosting keeps well for a meal prep dessert or post workout snack.

Store protein powder gingerbread cheesecake brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for a week.
To freeze healthy protein gingerbread brownies, individually wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer-safe zipper bags or air tight container; They should keep for 2-3 months.

Alternatives for Healthy Gingerbread Brownies

For the perfect healthy low calorie gingerbread brownies without molasses, I used protein powder and monkfruit and I would highly suggest using the ingredients recommended.

I do have some alternatives you can try. I haven’t testing them all, so I can’t say how the recipe might turn out.

  • 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour: All purpose flour or Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, in the same amount by weight not cups.
  • Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
  • Almond Milk: Any other milk 
  • 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar or coconut sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
  • Tahini: Almond Butter, Cashew Butter or any nut or seed butter. Peanut butter might add too strong a taste so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Options for the Cream Cheese Protein Frosting:

  • Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: Dairy Free cream cheese
  • Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt again

More Healthy Ginger Desserts to Try

More Healthy Protein Brownie Recipes:

Gingerbread Protein Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time22 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Servings: 16 2″ pieces
Calories: 80kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Delicious Gingerbread Protein Brownies with a Cream Cheese Frosting! These gingerbread brownies have no molasses, but use protein powder and monk fruit sweetener for a healthy festive dessert.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Cacao Powder, 40g
  • ¼ cup Whey-Caesin Chocolate Protein Powder, 23g
  • ¼ cup Whey Chocolate Protein Powder, 23g
  • ¼ cup Zero Calorie 1:1 Sugar Replacement, 48g
  • 6 Tbsp + 2 tsp 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, 50g, see post for subs
  • ¾ tsp Ginger Powder
  • ¾ tsp Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp Ground Clove
  • Pinch of Nutmeg
  • ⅓ tsp Baking Soda
  • 1¼ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 281g
  • ½ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 120ml
  • 3 Tbsp Tahini, 45g, see post for subs

Frosting:

  • ⅓ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 75g
  • ¼ cup Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, Softened, 56g
  • 1 scoop Whey-Caesin Vanilla Protein Powder, 30g

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8” x 8” brownie pan or baking dish with parchment paper.
  • In a bowl, whisk cocoa powder, chocolate protein powders, zero calorie sugar replacement, flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and baking soda.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt and almond milk.
  • Add dry mix to wet, and gently fold until just combined.
    DO NOT OVER-MIX or protein powder will make the brownie dense.
  • Add in tahini and fold.
    Batter should be thick.
  • Transfer batter into pan and smoothen with a spatula or back of spoon.
  • Bake for 20-22 minutes; Toothpick inserted into the center should come out slightly wet.
    Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Frosting:

  • In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, yogurt and protein powder until smooth.
  • Spread over cooled brownies, cut into slices and enjoy!

Notes

  • Nutrition details are calculated using products recommended below.
  • See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
Product Recommendations:
  • ProteinWorld Whey Protein Powder
    • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 30% off your order
  • Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
  • Lakanto Golden Monkfruit Sweetener
    • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
  • Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
Nutrition:
  • Servings: 16 2” pieces | Serving size: 1
  • Calories: 80kcal
  • Fat: 3g | Saturated fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 9.4g | Fiber: 1.4g | Sugar: 1g
  • Protein: 7.4g

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