Sweet Potato Protein Workout Brownies (dairy-free, vegan, baked or no-bake)

Sweet Potato Protein Workout Brownies (dairy-free, vegan)
Baking sweet potatoes into brownies is nothing new, but how about adding protein so they are a fantastic workout snack, both pre- and post? Now I updated this recipe March 2019 so if you made it before, you might see some changes for the better!

Sweet potatoes are generally healthy being high in fiber, vitamins and minerals, and having a low impact on raising blood sugar. And they provide carbohydrates – healthy carbs – needed to burn as energy. So I removed the maple syrup and replaced the sweetener with dates which add a slew of nutrition and fiber.

So this makes them truly excellent as both a post, and pre-workout snack. Also, being high in antioxidants, sweet potatoes help reverse muscle damage caused by workout stress. And finally, of course, replace the lost potassium.

Since a solid workout snack depends largely on protein and healthy carbs – adding protein to this recipe makes sense. But not just any protein – I added a chia-seed egg to contribute protein but also help give the brownie baking texture.

And precisely because we used a chia-seed egg, this recipe can actually be frozen instead of baked – a wonderful option in those hot summer months. I provide instructions below on either method.

Whether you bake or not, the final flavor is sweet but not very sweet – if you want a sweeter taste, add a tsp of vanilla, a sprinkle of salt, and a pinch of cinnamon. All three will increase the impression of sweetness without actually adding more sugar.

Or, of course, you could simply add more sweetener. And if you like coffee – a few tsp of coffee into the batter will enhance the chocolate-y flavor. So many options, so little time, haha! Enjoy!

And if you are looking for topping options, you could make an icing or just drizzle on some melted chocolate and almond chips like I did here. Enjoy!