High protein cookie cups that are the perfect hybrid of two favorite childhood sweets- thin mint cookies and Hershey’s cookies n’ cream chocolate bars! Vegan friendly, gluten free and healthier than any other hybrid option!
Recipe by Abby at the Balanced Whisk. Abby is a nutrition guru, healthy cooking enthusiast and fitness junkie or more technically put, certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and recipe developer, children’s cooking instructor, and NPC bodybuilder.
What are protein cups?
Protein cups seem to be everywhere these days, from the high-end health food store to big-box retailers, your local mom and pop deli, the airport, or even your favorite natural foods online retailer. You may have heard of protein cups and have seen them rise in popularity, but before you grab a package and add it to your cart either in person or online, you might ask yourself, what are protein cups? A protein ball is a mix of protein-packed ingredients like peanut butter, protein powder, flaxseeds, nuts, and chia seeds, along with a touch of stevia, or sugars like honey or agave, for natural sweetness and sometimes extra sweet treats like chocolate chips.
What’s the difference between a protein ball, protein cup, protein truffle, and fat bomb?
You may have seen protein cups called by many other names like protein truffles, protein balls, and fat bombs. While they are all similar in ingredients, they differ in a few ways - mainly in ingredient composition and appearance. Protein bites, protein cups, protein cups, and protein truffles are typically low in carbs and low to moderate in fat. They also contain a good bit of protein. Fat bombs on the other hand are low in carbs, low in protein, and high in fat. Fat bombs are typically higher in calories than protein bites.
Are protein cups good for you?
There are a lot of great things about protein cups! Protein cups are quite portable and easy to pack with you for a breakfast boost, afternoon snack, or a quick dessert. These circular sweet treats hold their shape far better than the granola bars of the past that reduce to dust before you reach your destination. Protein cups have various ingredients depending on your dietary needs from higher fat to less sugar to more protein. Protein cups are excellent for those on a keto diet, paleo diet, low-carb diet, vegan diet, or any healthy diet that emphasizes whole ingredients and less processed meals.
Do protein cups provide energy?
Protein cups are frequently prized because they give you a quick boost of energy. They're usually made with a combination of dried fruit and nuts or nut butter, meaning they supply a serious amount of good fats and energy. When you're craving a quick energy boost in the afternoon, it might make more sense to reach for an energy ball than a bar of chocolate.
When should you eat protein cups?
You can eat these thin mint protein cups any time of the day or night, but they can be most impactful if you eat them timed with certain daily activities like going to the gym. If you’re headed to the gym for weight training to gain strength or lifting weights to lose weight, you’ll want to eat a couple of protein cups ahead of time. Usually, it's best to eat these protein cups about an hour before exercise.
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