It’s officially summer y’all!
And you know that means school’s out, more sunny weather (hopefully), more time to chillax at the beach, summer road trips, and s’mores by the campfire!
S’mores are a decadent treat in and of itself. But if you’re on a muscle-building diet for the summer like I am, they’ll probably only be enjoyed on a handful of certain occasions.
Maybe, not even at all.
But hey, that’s why we have cheat meals 😜😜!!
Admittedly though, when I’m on a mission to drop body fat and add muscle, I don’t cheat much. This just gets me off track. But if you’re on a diet plan that includes cheat meals, or if you just want to satisfy that s’mores craving with some added protein, then this one’s for you.
I’ve always been a sweets/dessert lover ever since I was a little kid, but at the same time, I’ve evolved into more of a health, fitness, nutrition fanatic.
This requires a fine balance between them both.
That sweet tooth is still there, I just don’t scratch that itch as much as I used to. It mainly just revolves around making smarter food choices and the timing of said “cheat meals,” which is not very often.
So fair warning….this recipe is a little more on the decadent side—
but if enjoyed in moderation….
everything’s all good in the neighborhood 👌👌.
And without further adieu….
Enter….my Peanut Butter S’mores Protein Waffles!!
Protein waffles….
packed with dark chocolate chips, bananas, cinnamon, amaretto….
topped with vegan marshmallows, crushed organic graham crackers, sliced strawberries, a 72% cacao dark chocolate drizzle…
and finished off with some luscious peanut butter….
YOW-ZA!!
These protein waffles are straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥!!
Satisfy that sweet tooth and build some muscle at the same time!
Unlike traditional waffles, which use carb heavy, all purpose flour (why still use this??), the main flour I use is almond flour.
Almond flour is my go-to flour of choice, pretty much every, single time. It provides excellent nutritional value—-high in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants….
And also, according to the Diabetes Education Online website, “because fiber is a type of carbohydrate your body can’t digest, it does not affect your blood sugar levels. You should subtract the grams of fiber from the total carbohydrate.”
Generally, almond flour contains 5 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber per serving. Taking this into account, this means that almond flour only has 2 grams net carbs per serving! Much leaner than the commonly used whole wheat flour or oat flour!
A key ingredient I like to also use is almond extract.
This provides that lovely, sweet amaretto flavor.
Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur from Saronna, Italy flavored from bitter almonds, apricot pits, and sometimes peach. The non-alcoholic substitute for this is almond extract.
And almond extract is my go-to extract over vanilla.
It’s much cheaper, and the flavor is much more apparent versus vanilla extract.
These waffles are then rounded off with whey protein powder to boost its muscle-building capabilities, to go along with the couple of eggs thrown into the mix too.
Cinnamon is added to enhance the flavors, and I use bananas to naturally sweeten.
NO granulated sugars, NO refined flours, and NO butter needed for this waffle batter!
Here are the nutritional benefits of the main ingredients of these Peanut Butter S’mores Protein Waffles…
Dark chocolate has been shown to contain high amounts of antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavonoids—all of which are believed to help fight cancer, fight free radical damage, and fight disease. Certain research has shown dark chocolate to maybe help improve brain function, boost memory, and enhance focus.
Peanut butter, which is basically grounded up peanuts, contain about 8 grams of protein per ounce, this is more than all other nuts. Peanuts contain bioactives like flavonols and phenolic acids, that provide numerous health benefits. Studies have shown that resveratrol (found on the peanut skins), a bioactive found in only a few foods, may help lower the risks of cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Bananas are fully-loaded with potassium, a very important nutrient which has been shown to help support the body’s circulatory system, help move oxygen throughout our cells, and helps to lower high blood pressure. Bananas are high in fiber, which helps to keep our digestive system running smoothly and helps to remove toxins.
Cinnamon is widely-considered as the most antioxidant-rich natural spice available in the world. The antioxidants found in cinnamon are believed to maybe help fight cancer, slow the aging process, fight off disease, and protect cells from DNA damage. Studies have shown cinnamon may help lower blood pressure and help increase blood circulation.
OK, here’s what you’ll need for the waffle batter…
And for the s’mores topping…
Some quick notes before you get started…
-I use organic, non-GMO graham crackers and vegan marshmallows to complete the s’mores. But of course, feel free to use whatever kind you wish.
-Not much graham cracker is actually needed. For one waffle, I crushed only maybe 1/3 of 1 whole cracker. You can use more or less, this is up to you.
–Marshmallow and chocolate chip usage, again, up to you. You control how much or how little you want to add.
-I’d say about 3-4 squares of dark chocolate would be about what you would need to cover 3-4 waffles.
So roughly, 1 choc square per 1 waffle.
-you can sub in 1/2 cup applesauce in place of the banana..
-for any leftovers, you can store the waffles in a airtight container in the fridge, and it’ll be good for about 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave and drizzle more peanut butter on top!
If you like these then you need to check out my…..
- Dark Chocolate Blackberry S’mores Protein Bars
- Rocky Road Protein Pizookie
- Apple Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Chip Protein Waffles
Alright then…let’s get to it!!
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 12-18 minutes |
| Servings |
waffles
|
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 banana (large)
- 2 egg whites
- 1 whole egg
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
- marshmallows (vegan)
- organic graham crackers (crushed)
- cinnamon
- dark chocolate chips
- 3-5 dark chocolate squares (70% cacao or higher)
- peanut butter
- strawberries (optional)
Ingredients
waffle batter:
toppings:
|
|
- Preheat waffle maker/iron.
- In mixing bowl, add flour, protein powder, cinnamon, baking powder. Mix thoroughly.
- In separate larger bowl, mash banana with a fork. Add eggs, almond extract, almond milk. Mix thoroughly.
- Gradually pour dry ingredient bowl contents into larger wet ingredient bowl, while mixing. Mix until fully incorporated. Fold in dark chocolate chips.
- Measure about 1/2 cup of batter and pour onto waffle maker. Let cook for about 4-5 minutes, or as specified by your waffle maker. Repeat process until all batter is done. Makes about 4 waffles.
- Meanwhile, add dark chocolate squares into a bowl. Melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
- Add toppings on top of waffles. Drizzle dark chocolate, peanut butter. Enjoy!!
-I use organic, non-GMO graham crackers and vegan marshmallows to complete the s'mores. But of course, feel free to use whatever kind you wish.
-Not much graham cracker is actually needed. For one waffle, I crushed only maybe 1/3 of 1 whole cracker. You can use more or less, this is up to you.
-Marshmallow and chocolate chip usage, again, up to you. You control how much or how little you want to add.
-I'd say about 3-4 squares of dark chocolate would be about what you would need to cover 3-4 waffles.
So roughly, 1 choc square per 1 waffle.
-you can sub in 1/2 cup applesauce in place of the banana..
-for any leftovers, you can store the waffles in a airtight container in the fridge, and it'll be good for about 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave and drizzle more peanut butter on top!
Did you try this recipe? How did it turn out for you?? I would love to hear from you! Sound off in the comments section below or use the social media buttons throughout the website. Enjoy!!
waffle batter:
toppings: