With over 10 grams of protein per bar, these protein carrot cake bars topped with a vanilla protein frosting will satisfy your stomach and sweet tooth!
Carrot Cake Protein Bars
When I was a little kid, I absolutely LOVED Bugs Bunny. In fact, I idolized him so much that every day that I went to preschool, I would ask my mum to give me a carrot for my snack.
As all the other kids were eating granola bars and different types of snack foods, I would sit there with my MASSIVE full-size carrot and chomp away at it, just like good old Bugs!
I actually ate so many carrots that the teacher suggested to my mother that maybe I should cut back as I was getting to be a tad orange, sort of like an Oompa Loompa!
So, it should come as no surprise to you that I still, to this day, love carrots. Whether it be in the form of Keto Carrot Cake Roll Cake, Keto Carrot Cake Bars or this Keto Carrot Cake Cheesecake - Basque-Style!, there is nothing better than the warm and spicy flavour of carrot cake.
That's why I created these Protein Carrot Cake Bars!
Packed with over 10 grams of protein for one small bar and under 100 calories each, these baked protein bars are healthy and delicious! And although you can easily make these carrot cake protein bars without the added protein frosting, the protein frosting makes these bars feel super indulgent!
Healthy Vanilla Protein Frosting???!!!
Yes, that's right, there is such a thing as "healthy" frosting!! Using 2 different types of protein powders (a butter vanilla beef protein powder by The Fittest and a vanilla casein protein powder by Nutricost), this protein frosting tastes just as good as any vanilla frosting with half the calories, carbs and fat!
What is the taste of these carrot cake protein bars?
These carrot cake bars have a fairly prominent "carrot" taste because there is ½ a pound of carrots in the bars. If you do not LOVE the flavour of carrots, you can always reduce the amount of carrots and replace them with a little Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Also, you can also add more spices to suit your tastebuds.
Can I substitute the types of protein?
You have to be very careful when you substitute protein powders. Not only will the different types vary but the brands will all react differently when baked.
When it comes to adding protein powder to baked goods, casein and pea protein powder will act the most like regular flour. Whey protein powder will dry out baked goods so I do not suggest using whey in this recipe.
As for the protein frosting, if you do not have any beef protein powder you can always use collagen protein powder instead. My favourite brand of collagen protein powder is by Naked Nutrition.
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Super High Protein Carrot Cake Bars
With over 10 grams of protein per bar, these protein carrot cake bars topped with a vanilla protein frosting will keep both your stomach and sweet tooth satisfied!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
Ingredients
For the Baked Carrot Cake Protein Bars:
- 8 oz cooked carrots
- 1 cup Casein Vanilla Protein Powder
- ¼-½ cup sweetener*
- ¼ cup liquid egg whites
- ¼ cup almond milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp apple pie spice powder (optional)
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the High Protein Vanilla Frosting:
- ¼ cup organic palm shortening (or butter)
- ¼ cup almond milk, at room temperature
- 25 grams The Fittest Butter Vanilla Beef protein powder
- 25 grams Vanilla Casein
- 50-75 grams sugar-free confectioner sweetener*
- 1-2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Prepare the Protein Carrot Cake Bars:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 8 x 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set it to the side.
- Place the cooked carrots, sweetener, egg whites, cinnamon, apple pie spice (if using) and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Process until carrots are pureed.
- Transfer the carrot puree to a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir to incorporate. Taste the mixture and add any additional salt or sweetener.
- Spread the mixture (it will be thick!) into the baking dish, making sure to smooth out the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bars are set.
- Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool.
Prepare the Protein Frosting:
- In a medium-size bowl, beat the palm shortening and sweetener until nice and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add in remaining ingredients and beat until fully incorporated. Taste mixture and add additional sweetness to suit your taste. Place the mixture in the fridge until ready to use.
Assemble the bars:
- Once the bars have cooled, spread the vanilla protein frosting over the bars. Store in the fridge for 7 days or freeze for 1 month (Tip: I LOVE placing a cold bar in the microwave for about 10 seconds before eating - it is sooooo good slightly heated!)
Notes
* feel free to adjust the quantity of sweetener to suit your taste. Also, different types of protein powders vary in their sweetness so you will need to taste the recipe and adjust accordingly. Also, if you use allulose, your bars will turn brown a little faster than if you use an erythritol-based sweetener.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snack, Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: High protein, low carb, sugar-free
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar with frosting
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 0.9
- Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 4.4
- Fiber: 0.4
- Protein: 10
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