These Healthier Valentine’s Day Protein Reese’s are made with only a few simple ingredients, are lower in sugar, higher in protein, and vegan/gluten-free making them the perfect snack or dessert.
I am a sucker for the seasonal Reese’s peanut butter cup shapes… trees during Christmas time, eggs around Easter, pumpkins in the fall, and hearts for Valentine’s Day! What I am not a sucker for is the excessive amount of added sugar and unnecessary ingredients they add (think preservatives, gums, emusifiers, etc.) THEREFORE, I always opt to make my own homemade version. I promise they are even better than the store-bought Reese’s— I may be slightly biased but trust me, others have confirmed this!
With that being said, if I am offered one of the store-bought Reese’s, believe me, I will be the last one to say no. I just prefer my homemade version when I have the option 😊 and that’s the beauty of the balance I’ve come to learn and practice over the years. I love my homemade healthier versions, but I also allow myself to have the unhealthier version if I really want it. And more often than not, when I am able to FREELY choose (rather than choose based off of restriction), I actually go for the healthier version more often. No bingeing involved.
Welp, there’s my intuitive eating talk for the day. But it is something I am passionate about because I struggled to find my own balance for so long. So happy to be in a better place these days and I love helping others to find their happy balance as well.
OK— back to the Reese’s. I love that these are made with vanilla protein powder as a sweetener because 1) more protein (obv) and 2) there is typically little-no added sugar in the protein powder but still gives the Reese’s a super yummy flavor. Aka making them something you can feel good about eating for a dessert but ALSO for an afternoon snack. You can count on these babies to fuel you for awhile rather than leave you feeling hungry immediately after. My kinda snack!
If you don’t have the time or patience to use the heart shaped cookie cutter, you could just roll the dough into balls and dip in melted chocoalte from there. I promise they taste just as delicious 😉
What you need to make these Healthier Valentine’s Day Protein Reese’s
- peanut butter— you’re going to want the natural kind. Look for any brand with the only ingredients “peanuts” or “peanuts and salt”
- vanilla protein powder— my favorite is linked HERE. Discount code is “callascleaneats”
- chocolate chips— I use any brand with simple ingredients. Typically Enjoy Life Foods, Nestle Tollhouse Organic and Allergen Friendly, or Good and Gather Organic from Target
- coconut oil— to help make the chocolate super velvety and easier to dip in. I used both white and dark chocolate for some variety with these!
- all natural sprinkles— I ordered mine on amazon
Be sure to also check out:
Mini Protein Peanut Butter Cups
White Chocolate Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cups
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Balls
Peanut Butter Cup Baked Oatmeal
Healthy Peanut Butter Blossoms
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crunch Balls
Valentine’s Day Protein Reese’s
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- all natural sprinkles for topping
Instructions
- Add peanut butter and protein powder to a bowl and mix well until you reach a thick dough consistency.
- Roll dough into a ball and place on a parchment paper-lined plate. Slightly flatten dough and place in the freezer for 30 minutes – 1 hour.
- Cut out hearts using a cookie cutter (or you can just roll into balls) and set back in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each (or on stovetop).
- Dip each heart into melted chocolate and place on another parchment paper-lined plate. Top with sprinkles and set back in the freezer to set for another hour or 2. Keep stored in the freezer. Enjoy!
