Naked Protein Brownies and Coffee Frosting

Have you ever tried Naked Protein Brownies by Naked Nutrition? We just discovered the amazing flavor and WAY healthier ingredients and fell in love! Plus, they're packed with protein and ready in under 30 minutes. Checks all our boxes! Gluten free, refined sugar free and perfectly sweet. We added a dash of espresso powder and a refined sugar free frosting to make it extra special.

This is a sponsored post by Naked Nutrition. More healthy dessert recipes can be found here. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views.

This recipe makes a perfect dessert any time of year, but we especially love it in summer with an iced coffee, like our Iced White Mocha Recipe.

This recipe was inspired by our Espresso Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies and the fine people at Naked Nutrition.

Jump to:

• Brownie Ingredients
• For the Coffee Frosting
• Instructions
• Other Naked Protein Brownies Recipe Ideas
• Brownie Toppings
• Storage
• Top tip
• Get More Naked
• Naked Protein Brownies with Coffee Frosting

Brownie Ingredients

The best part of this recipe is that it only requires 1 ingredient. Seriously. One container of Naked Protein Brownie Mix will make 3 batches of brownies with 9 squares each. That's 27 protein-packed servings!

The coffee frosting is optional and only 5 ingredients.

After trying this recipe, my husband quickly said he'd rather eat one of these brownies than any of the (many) protein bars he's tried!

For the Coffee Frosting

This frosting is surprisingly creamy and sweet, using just alternative sugar, you can feel good about spreading it on thick on these protein brownies.

• 4 ounces (½ cup) cream cheese (I used a vegan cream cheese)
• 4 ounces (½ cup) butter (I used vegan butter)
• 1 cup date sugar, coconut sugar, or other favorite granulated sugar alternative
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder (or finely ground coffee beans)

Instructions

This recipe is ready to eat in less than an hour, including cooling time. That's only 10 minutes of hands-on time!

• Simply mix Naked Brownie Mix with water and bake in an 8x8 baking dish on the center rack of a 350°F preheated oven.
• For the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
• Add the sugar, espresso powder and vanilla extract and mix again until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).
• Once brownies are cooled, spread the frosting and top it off with a sprinkle of espresso powder or chocolate chips (or both)!

Hint: I like to include these Naked Protein Brownies in my kids lunches for added protein. They feel like they're getting a treat, but I'm sneaking them some extra energy for the playground and classroom.

Other Naked Protein Brownies Recipe Ideas

This brownie recipe already works great for almost any diet, but if you want to make adjustments to the frosting, here's a few suggestions.

• Vanilla - if serving to kids or people who don't like coffee (I don't know many), simply skip adding the coffee to the frosting, and leave it as sweet vanilla.
• Chocolate - if you want to double your chocolate intake, add 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder to the frosting for a double-dose chocolate dessert. Espresso powder optional.
• Fruit - we made this Protein Brownie dessert quite a few times before picking our favorite recipe. Our second choice was a vanilla frosting covered in delicious berries and fruits. We made it with tropical fruits (kiwi, pineapple, mango) and with traditional summer berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries). Both recipes are also an amazing way to make these brownies extra-special.

Brownie Toppings

Without spending extra time in the kitchen, try these easy ways to add your own special flair to these decadent Naked Protein Brownies.

• Coconut Whip - grab a can of coconut whip cream in the dairy alternative section of your grocery store for an even easier topping! Don't forget some cherries on top.
• Candy - we don't want to add lots of junk to the tops of these clean brownies, but we like adding a few Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips or Unreal Gems for a natural sugar boost.
• Nutty - add your favorite nuts to the top of the brownies before baking. Our favorite is pecans or peanuts.

Storage

These Naked Protein Brownies stay fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature or 5 days in the refrigerator. I like to cut them into individual servings and place in the refrigerator for a quick treat.

If adding the frosting, store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

Get More Naked

If you're looking for more ways to add protein without adding time in the kitchen, try the Naked Nutrition Pancake Mix and Banana Bread Mix! Delicious and so incredibly easy to make. Or simply pickup some of their Naked Cookies for a no-bake protein boost.