This is my first baking experiment using hemp protein powder. I was very pleased with the result, but to tell you the truth I “played it safe”: I added one banana and 3 tablespoons of cocoa to be sure I’d end up with something I’d want to eat regardless of the taste of the hemp protein powder (I used an unflavored powder).
I think I’ll use most of my hemp protein powder in cake recipes like this because I’m not a huge fan of hemp protein in shakes. It’s not that it tastes that bad, it’s just that I feel like I “deserve” something tasty to look forward to after a workout. Although an unflavored hemp protein shake does feel kind of “nutritious” in a way, it definitely doesn’t feel like a real “workout reward” like a good whey shake.
All in all, I’m still glad I bought that new protein powder to switch things up. It gives texture to baked things and it’s a good flour replacement. The challenge is just to use other strong tasting ingredients to mask its natural taste. As Anna from proteinpow.com puts it: “it bakes gorgeous chocolatey things. I’m a big fan. But I find it tastes kind of beh on it’s own.”
Ingredients (for 2 servings):
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup hemp protein powder
- 3 tbsp cocoa
- 1 banana
- drops of chocolate and walnut flavorings (optional; can be replaced with a tsp of vanilla and/or almond extract)
I only relied on the banana to sweeten the recipe as I found that it was enough for my taste. However, you might want to add some stevia or sweetener if you want something really sweet. I blended all ingredients together in a food processor and baked the mix for only 10-15 min at 200 degrees Celsius.
Here is the result. I’m sorry to show you these monstrous close-up photos, all the pictures I took looked like this. But it can gives you an idea of the texture:
Nutrition facts for one serving: 294 kcal, 18 g protein, 24 g carbs, 9 g sugar, 14 g fat, 9 g fibers
Verdict: Not a low-calorie food but definitely a chocolate craving-satisfying & belly-satiating food!
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
This looks yummy! I might give this recipe a try on the weekend.
Do you think I can ommit the walnuts to lower the calories?
Also, what hemp prtein powder didi you use? I only have this:
Bob’s Red Mill, Hemp Protein Powder
Hi Phoebe, I used a plain hemp protein powder, without any flavoring. Bob’s Red Mill Hemp Protein Powder seems to be of the same kind, just a plain hemp protein powder. Yes, you can omit the walnuts, but I’d then add a bit more banana, some sweetener or vanilla / almond extracts to ‘counterbalance’ the hemp protein’s earthy taste. And maybe a few tablespoons of almond flour or coconut flour if the batter becomes too runny.
Thanks Elise! I’ll use 1 1/2 banana then and I’ll add some coconut flour as well.
I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Btw, your blog is great, I found it following a pin of your hemp protein brownies because the pic looked so delicious :)
These are delicious!!! I added some coconut to the recipe, and substituted almonds for walnuts, and it was still awesome! Thank you so much for this recipe!
Good to hear! Thank you Regina for your feedback!
Hi Elise,
I want to try this recipe with unsweeten cocoa powder. What can I add to the brownie mix to make it sweeter and how much to add?
Hi Dani, I also used unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe. The only thing that sweetens the brownies is the banana. I prefer eating desserts that are not very sweet, that’s why I didn’t add any additional sweeteners. If you’re looking for a brownie that tastes as sweet as a ‘real’ one, you could add some stevia or agave. About the quantities: it’s really a matter of personal taste. Taste the batter before baking to see if it does the trick for you.
Thank you, Elise! I’m going to try your recipe
Looks wonderful! But what is “one” serving? What size baking dish and how many squares?
Hi Emily, the quantities above make two big servings (294 kcal each). But they’re pretty big, so you could also make 4 smaller servings (4 squares of about 6 cm / 2 inches) out of it.
i did my variation to this Recipe.
instead of walnuts i put 2 Brazil nuts, added just a bit(1-2 teaspoons) of organic maple syrup and did not bake but instead divided and rolled about 4 units and placed for about an hour in the freezer.
Yummy treat to take to work or an hour before heading to the gym.
Hi Eitan, thanks for the feedback! Good idea to freeze it instead of bake it to preserve more nutrients!
thanks for the Inspiration :)