Shelly's Sugar Free Chocolate Protein Spread
1/4 cup Protein Powder (dry, any flavor)
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup Almond Butter (I use fresh ground)
3 Tablespoons Sugar Free Torani Syrup (any flavor)
Mix till well blended. You may have to adjust based on your almond butter, I used fresh ground almond butter some jarred, store bought brands of almond butters are looser so just add a dash more protein powder to thicken or alternatively add a little more syrup if it needs thinning out. You want spreadable.
Spread on anything (apple slices, celery sticks, baby carrots, those churro ricotta pancakes that I make, protein cake slices, soy crisps, a spoon, your hand...) I love it on Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples. This recipe makes enough for 4 huge apples-worth of liberal dipping. Store leftovers in a small jar. I put it in the fridge. In Southern California, you really have to do this, just too hot for nut butters to stay out. It won't be around long trust me. Sometimes a girl just needs some chocolate ;)
Sometimes to gild the lily even further dip chocolate spread covered apples slices into crumbled protein bar bits, just put a hunk of protein bar in a snack sized plastic baggie, seal it and give it a couple of whacks with a meat mallet or the bottom of a wine or Torani syrup bottle works great too. Great to get your aggressions out ;)
Variations: Hazelnut spreads (like Nutella) are made with hazelnuts and cocoa so if you are fan of that flavor add Sugar Free Hazelnut syrup. If you love Cookie Butter those are made with Speculoos Cookies so add Sugar Free Belgian Cookie syrup. I love adding Sugar Free Almond Roca and S'mores Syrup. Sugar Free Caramel is a delicious. Sugar Free Coconut would make a classic Almond Joy-ish flavor. One of these days I want to try Sugar Free Black Cherry and make a chocolate-covered cherry spread. Oooh mix in Sugar Free Peppermint syrup at Christmas.
Speaking of the holidays... save this recipe because this is the perfect homemade healthy hostess gift for friends and loved ones or to share with your pals at the gym... put it in a little jar and tie the recipe around it.
