Amazing Hot Cocoa Protein Bites with chocolate, mini marshmallows and hint of cinnamon! Healthy hot chocolate protein bites are very low sugar, low fat and low calorie too.

With the cold weather right now, anything with the hot chocolate theme gets my attention, and I’m up for throwing on marshmallows and chocolate onto anything. So of course, these mini hot chocolate protein brownie bites should come with no surprise.

A real clean recipe though since it uses protein powder, monkfruit and stevia for sweetness instead of sugar.

Ingredients for Hot Cocoa Protein Bites

These hot cocoa protein bites are super simple to make and need a few super simple ingredients too.

Chocolate Protein Powder needed for high protein brownie and also replaces most of the ‘sugar’. I used part whey-casein Chocolate from Quest Nutrition, and part Chocolate Whey from Dymatize for this recipe.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein brownie. Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose here.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Raw Cacao Powder
Whole Wheat Pastry 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)
Some Stevia Sweetener
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
Cinnamon
Baking Soda
Vanilla Extract
Runny Chocolate or Caramel flavored Almond Butter or Cashew Butter;
I used Hot Cocoa flavor Almond Butter from American Dream Nut Butter.
ADNB also has a lot of other almond butters that would go perfect here. Code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount here!

And for the hot cocoa effect:

Mini Marshmallows for that hot cocoa effect
Chocolate Bar: I use the sugar free one from Lakanto here (same code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount)

Tips for Perfect Protein Powder Hot Cocoa Bites

These mini protein powder hot cocoa bites 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.

Use Runny Almond or Cashew 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 hot chocolate brownie bites 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 hot cocoa brownie bites.

Don’t over-bake the brownie bites or they might get tough; Remove when the tester/knife comes out still moist.
Underbaking a little is okay.

Melt chocolate in increments in the microwave; Be careful about this or chocolate may may burn. If you want to be safe, use the double boiler approach.

How to store Mini Hot Chocolate Protein Bites?

This high protein hot chocolate bites keeps well for a meal prep dessert or post workout snack.

Store protein powder hot chocolate bites in an airtight container on the countertop for 2 days, or in the fridge for a week.

To freeze healthy hot chocolate brownie bites, 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 Hot Chocolate Bites

For the perfect healthy hot cocoa bites, I used protein powder, monkfruit and stevia, 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.

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, in the same amount by weight not cups.
Unflavored Protein Powder: 20g more Flour, but also reduce yogurt to 1¼ cup (281g)
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)
Almond Butter: Cashew Butter, Tahini or any nut or seed butter.
Chocolate Chips: Chopped chocolate

Some more Bite Size Protein Desserts to Try

More Hot Chocolate inspired Protein Powder Desserts: