Unbelievably amazing Protein Red Velvet Cheesecake with swirls of red velvet and regular cheesecake batters. Healthy red velvet cheesecake bars are low fat, low carb and have no sugar added!
Jump to RecipeI was actually shocked at how good this protein red velvet cheesecake turned out. Not even kidding! It was so soft and smooth and just so freaking amazing.
Spot on cheesecake texture and just everything you want – and that too low calorie!
Shoutout to my fiancé here for getting me a slice of red velvet cheesecake for my birthday two weeks ago – that was the source of inspiration for me.
Ingredients for Protein Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars:
These light and skinny protein red velvet cheesecake recipe is made with reduced fat cream cheese, Greek Yogurt and Protein Powder, and has no sour cream and no sugar added like the normal recipes.
What you need for the Protein Powder Red Velvet Cheesecake filling:
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese for a low fat and low calorie cheesecake recipe
- Non-fat Greek Yogurt to add the slightly sour flavor, creaminess and even more protein! These Greek yogurt cheesecake bars are made without sour cream.
- Vanilla Protein Powder – this makes for a sugar free protein cheesecake since it serves as the sweetener in place of sugar.
I used the vanilla protein powder from HTLT Supps for this recipe since it’s a whey-caesin and bakes well.
Quest Nutrition is another option. - Some Cornstarch
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Half an Egg
For the red velvet part:
- Chocolate Protein Powder; I used the chocolate donut flavor from HTLT Supps.
- Chocolate Chips: I use the sugar free one from Lakanto here (discount code HAYLSKITCHEN)
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Liquid Red Food Color
And for the healthy cheesecake crust:
- Chocolate Graham Crackers or Biscuits; I used the Kodiak Cakes Chocolate Graham Bear Bites
- Almond Butter; I used Caramel Crunch Cappuccino flavor from American Dream Nut Butter.
ADNB also has a lot of other almond butters that would go perfect here. - Sugar Free Maple Syrup. I used the one from ChocZero for this recipe.
- An Egg White
Tips for making perfect Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
These healthy red velvet cheesecake bars are really easy to make, but here’s some tips to get it right.
- Grease inside of foil pan so the cheesecake doesn’t stick to it.
- Let the chocolate protein cheesecake crust cool
You don’t want to add the cheesecake filling to the crust when it is still warm or it will get a weird texture on the bottom.
- Use room temperature ingredients
The cream cheese, yogurt and egg whites all need to be at room temperature or you will end up with lumpy cheesecake bars.
- Let melted chocolate cool slightly before adding it into the batter
- Beat the cream cheese well
You really want to do this step so the cheesecake turns out light and fluffy and does ot get weighed down by the other ingredients.
- Use a low speed to beat
If you don’t use the low speed setting on the hand mixer or paddle stand mixer, you will get too much air inside.
- Don’t overmix the final batter!
This will cause too much air to get beat into the batter, and may cause the cheesecake to rise and fall.
- Use the waterbath!
This lets the red velvet cheesecake cook slowly and evenly, and also prevents the rise and fall.
- Stop baking when the center is still slightly soft to touch
The cheesecake will continue to cook a bit in the hot pan, and you don’t want it to crack.
To store these Protein Powder Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites
You can make these healthy red velvet cheesecake bites ahead of time and keep them in the fridge for 3 or 4 days in an airtight container.
These healthy red velvet dessert bars are freezer friendly too! Wrap each protein cheesecake bar in plastic wrap, and place in a freezer-safe zipper bag. They’ll last for 2 or 3 months.
Alternate Ingredients for Healthy Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars
I made these healthy and low calorie red velvet cheesecake bars with protein powder and greek yogurt, and the other ingredients above, but here’s some options to try:
Options for healthy cheesecake crust without butter:
- Chocolate Graham Crackers: Oreo cookies (the chocolate biscuit part only)
- Sugar Free Maple Syrup: Regular maple syrup
- Almond Butter: Cashew Butter or Peanut Butter
And for the protein cheesecake bars layer:
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: Regular cream cheese
- Chocolate Protein Powder: Use vanilla flavor
- Almond Milk: Other dairy or non-dairy milk
- Cornstarch: Tapioca Starch
Some more healthy Protein Powder and Cream Cheese recipes to try:
- Protein Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
- Mini Protein Cheesecakes on Protein Bar Crust
- No Bake Mini Protein Cheesecake Bites
- Protein Cheesecake Dip
- Healthy Protein Powder Cream Cheese Frosting
More Protein Red Velvet Dessert Recipes
- (No Bake) Red Velvet Protein Bars
- Protein Red Velvet Scones
- Red Velvet Protein Balls – No Bake, Healthy, Sugar Free
- Red Velvet Protein Pop Tarts
- Protein Red Velvet Cake
- Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough
Protein Red Velvet Cheesecake
Ingredients
Crust:
- 100 g Chocolate Grahams, High protein one recommended below
- 1½ Tbsp Runny Almond Butter, 24g, Flavor recommended below
- 2 tsp Maple Syrup, 10ml, Sugar-free recommended below
- 1 Egg White, 33g
Cheesecake:
- 8 oz Softened Cream Cheese, Reduced Fat recommended, 225g
Cream Cheese Half:
- ½ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 112g
- 2 Tbsp Almond Milk, 30ml
- ¼ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-caesin, 22g
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- ½ Egg
Red Velvet Half:
- 6 Tbsp Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 84g
- 2 Tbsp Chocolate Chips, Melted, Sugar-free recommended below, 28g
- 1 Tbsp Almond Milk
- ¼ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, Whey-caesin, 22g
- 1½ Tbsp Cocoa Powder, 8g
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- 3 tsp Red Food Color
- 1 tsp Vanilla Exrtact
- ½ Egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F, line an 8×8” baking pan with foil (inside and outside), and grease on the inside.
- In a food processor, combine crackers, almond butter and maple syrup until powdered.
- Transfer mix to a bowl, add egg whites and mix to thicken.
- Spread on bottom of pan and press down firmly with back of spoon or small spatula.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, remove from oven and let cool completely.
Cheesecake:
- Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
- In a large bowl, beat cream cheese using an electric hand mixer or paddle attachment of stand mixer until smooth; About 1-2 minutes.
- Divide into 2 halves
Cream Cheese Half:
- Add Greek yogurt and milk and beat again until combined.
- Beat in vanilla protein powder and cornstarch, scraping down the sides if needed.
- Add ½ egg and beat until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Red Velvet Half:
- Place chocolate chips in a small bowl, microwave 30 seconds until mostly melted. Stir to melt; Let cool slightly.
- Add Greek yogurt, melted chocolate and milk and beat again until combined.
- Beat in chocolate protein powder and cornstarch, scraping down the sides if needed.
- Add other ½ egg and beat until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Assemble:
- Scoop batter – alternating between both parts – into pan and smoothen top.
- Water bath: Fill a large, deep baking pan with 2-3” boiling water, and place cheesecake pan in.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes. Center of the top should be jiggly or soft to the touch.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to chill, then slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Nutrition value is calculated using reduced fat cream cheese and products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- HTLT Supps Whey-Caesin Protein Powder
- Lakanto Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
- Kodiak Cakes Chocolate Graham Cracker Bear Bites
- American Dream Nut Butter Almond Butter
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
- Servings: 16 2” bars | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 102kcal
- Fat: 5.4g | Saturated fat: 2.5g
- Carbohydrates: 7.3g | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 6.5g
Hey! I'm Haylee
Google Software Engineer
I use my passion for baking (and eating) to create healthy, high-protein, good-for-you and diet-friendly desserts and sweet treats that are actually delicious.
Come join me in Hayl's Kitchen and let's eat high protein, sweet and guilt free!