No-Bake Beet Protein Cheesecakes with Sugar-Free Chocolate

This easy, no-bake dessert delivers pretty-in-pink style and lots of smiles because it’s so delicious – and No-Bake Beet Protein Cheesecakes are still nutritious featuring lots of protein (39g) and the benefits of beetroot powder.

No added sugar in this beet cheesecake recipe and, depending on the type of sugar-free cookies used for the “crust,” it can also be gluten-free.  

First, let’s jump into the benefits of beetroot powder. The vibrantly-hued supplement contains micronutrients and phytonutrients that studies show may benefit heart, gut, and brain health. Specific benefits link to beet root power include lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and increased stamina in athletic performance.

Ding, ding, ding – did that athlete part get your attention?  I’m always looking for a way to naturally optimize my athletic performance.  I learned that upon eating or drinking beets or beetroot powder, your saliva converts the nitric oxide is activated, which relaxes and expands blood vessels. In turn, this increases blood flow and allows more oxygen to be delivered to your muscles to help get the job done – and it could help you perform better for longer. Increased blood flow also helps you recover faster!

Of course, you can get the benefits from fresh beets, too – but that’s not often convenient (or you may not care for the earthy taste). Plenty of pills and tonics available that capitalize on beet benefits, but I personally just prefer to do a scoop of beetroot powder in water, a smoothie or even my oatmeal about an hour or two before I hit the ground running. I use Force Factor’s Total Beets Organic Powder. It provides all the functional superfood benefits of fresh beets, but much more conveniently — and it has a very lightly sweet taste with no added sugar, or anything artificial.

TIPS FOR MAKING NO-BAKE BEET PROTEIN CHEESECAKES

Beetroot Powder: I recommend Force Factor Total Beets Organic Beet Root powder – no added sugar, nothing artificial or yucky, and a good price point. My main suggestion if you are using another powder is just to read the label to avoid added sugar or flavorings. I just love the pink hue, you can get so creative with beetroot powder recipes!

Protein Powder: Use the vanilla protein powder of your choice, that you like and fits your dietary eating patterns. I like the plant-based Clean Lean Protein from Nuzest. Save 15% with code FITFORK.

Cottage Cheese Type & Blending: Using 2% cottage cheese helps keep the fat down a bit. But, if you like a richer taste, this no-bake cheesecake is made very luxurious with full-fat cottage cheese. To get the smooth taste of a cheesecake, the cottage cheese must be blended. For the 1 ¾ cups that this recipe calls for, I use a personal-sized blender. Scoop out the cottage cheese into the blender, including any liquids (eg: the whey) –don’t drain it off, you need that bit of liquid to encourage a smooth consistency. Be patient blending, it will seem very thick and require several iterations of stopping to scrape sides with a spatula.

Containers: I prefer 8-ounce glass canning jars, because the lids make it easy to store for later. However, small bowls will work too, but if the opening is too wide – there may not be enough chocolate topping to cover the area.

Cookie Crust: I use the term “crust” loosely, as cookies are just crumbled and piled in the bottom of the jar. This keeps the recipe no-bake. It’s a simple, no-bake crust but just NOT a crust that will slice up and serve in cheesecake slices without falling apart.  Use the cookies of your liking – I used the wafers from sugar-free chocolate sandwich cookies.

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These No-Bake Beet Protein Cheesecakes are not only pretty in pink and very delicious, but also include the functional benefits of eating beets and lots of protein thanks to blended cottage cheese and protein powder! A healthy dessert or post workout snack.
No-Bake Beet Protein Cheesecakes
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 

This quick and easy dessert offers lots of muscle-making protein and the functional benefits of beets. No added sugar and can be made gluten-free, depending on the type of cookie chosen for the crust. Balanced enough to eat for breakfast or a post-workout snack!

Course: Dessert, Snack
Keyword: beet, beet powder, cheesecake, cottage cheese, protein powder
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 354 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 ounce sugar-free cookies, crushed any flavor – chocolate, graham, vanilla wafer, etc
  • 1 ¾ cup 2% cottage cheese, blended smooth
  • 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder of choice type of protein source your choice
  • 2 tablespoons beetroot powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar-free dark chocolate chips
  • ½ teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
  1. Crush up cookies and divide among the bottom of two 8-oz jars or bowls. Set aside.
  2. Blend cottage cheese until smooth, mix in protein powder and beet root powder.
  3. Divide cheesecake mixture evenly between cookie crust in jars.
  4. In small bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in microwave for 20-25 seconds. Remove to stir. If not totally melted yet, microwave for 10 more seconds until stirs up glossy and smooth.
  5. Immediately pour chocolate topping over cheesecake mixture, spreading gently around with spoon to cover, if needed.
  6. Set in fridge for 10 minutes for chocolate to set up and become hard.
Recipe Notes

354 calories, 24g carb (11g dietary fiber), 13g fat, 39g protein

No-Bake Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Bomb for One

This better-for-you, no-bake, single-serving dessert is an explosion of flavor without fallout.  Only 200 calories per the single ginormous bomb of deliciousness! All the adjectives I crave in a quick dessert – creamy, juicy, chocolatey, and healthy!

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this single-serve strawberry recipe stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. Gluten-free, no added sugar.

Cooking for one dessert recipes are a favorite of mine – I can make just enough to satisfy me at the time, without lots of leftovers sitting around tempting me. Plus, I have young adult sons – they tend to want decadent desserts while I go for the more mindful recipes that fuel my sports goals.

This strawberry cheesecake bomb is based on a childhood favorite recipe, no-bake oatmeal cookies. You just quickly microwave unsweetened cocoa, milk and sugar option (old days we used real sugar, today I’ve used a lower-carb monk fruit blend). Be careful it doesn’t boil over your bowl. Immediately stir in nut butter of choice, oats and coconut.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this single-serve strawberry recipe stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. Gluten-free, no added sugar.

While this quick strawberry dessert sets up for 5 minutes in the freezer, hull an extra-large strawberry (or two smaller ones) and stuff with a bit of cream cheese (no need to sweeten it, this no-bake dessert recipe is already sweet enough.

Just mush and mold the cookie dough over the stuffed strawberry, then pop in the freezer for another 5 minutes to firm up. It’s not the most attractive thing as a whole, but when you slice it open or bite in you see the layers – that vibrant red of the berry pops and the cream cheese, well, looks so creamy!

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this single-serve strawberry recipe stuffed with cream cheese and covered in a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie. Gluten-free, no added sugar.
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This strawberry dessert for one is gluten-free and 200 cal per serving with 12g fat, 24g net carb, 6g protein! Enjoy!!!!!   

This post contains affiliate links.

No-Bake Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Bomb
Ingredients
  • 2.5 Tbsp. granulated sweetener cup-for-cup sugar alternative
  • 1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 Tbsp. milk
  • 1 Tbsp. creamy nut butter
  • 1 Tbsp. old-fashioned oats
  • 1 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 extra-large strawberry or two smaller
  • 1 tsp. cream cheese
Instructions
  1. Mix together sweetener, cocoa powder, and milk. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, watching to ensure it doesn’t overflow. Remove, immediately stir in nut butter, oats and coconut. Stick in freezer for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, hull strawberry and stuff with cream cheese. Remove dough from freezer, mold around strawberry. Return to freezer for 5 minutes to set up. Remove and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

This strawberry dessert for one is gluten-free and 200 cal per serving with 12g fat, 24g net carb, 6g protein! Enjoy!!!!!

No-Bake Chocolate Cashew Oat Bars (Gluten-free, Lower-carb)

Nom, nom, No-bake Chocolate Cashew Oat Bars! In the summer, I’m always looking for a chocolate treat that doesn’t require me to turn on the oven and won’t melt in my hot hands. Chocolate lovers and cashew lovers alike will love to chill out with these easy-make homemade granola bars that are a simple as mixing, mashing into a loaf pan and the sticking in the fridge for a few minutes before cutting.

Many similar cashew chocolate oat bar recipes use ingredients such as honey, maple syrup or pureed dates to sweeten and bind them – absolutely nothing wrong with that, those are smart options to sugar. However, in an effort to moderate the carbohydrates (but still keep a few from the oats for energy), I use various substitutes like a sugar-free honey alternative and monk fruit – this help me keep the carbs to just 14g per bar. Low carb treats not your thing? Then feel free to swap back in the traditional sugar ingredients – the recipe will turn out just as well, just the macros will be different.

I also add unflavored collagen powder to my bowl, to add a boost of protein and to provide extra nourishment for overall wellness (and my arthritic joints). I’ve used the Great Lakes Wellness brand for several years and have been really happy with the results – you should check them out and use THEFITFORK10OFF if you need a discount

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 Each batch of these No-bake Chocolate Cashew Oat Bars makes 12 bars and for 162 calories each, offers about 7.5g protein per bar with 10g fat and only 14g carbs.  These are also gluten-free chocolate cashew oat bars, if that is a concern.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission from sales, however price to you remains the same.

save 10% Great Lakes Wellness collagen and products with code THEFITFORK10off
save 10% Great Lakes Wellness collagen and products with code THEFITFORK10off

5 from 3 votes
No-bake Chocolate Cashew Oat Bars
Prep Time
5 mins
freezer to chill
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

A delicious, nourishing snack! These NO-BAKE bars come together quickly to satisfy hunger pains! Made with sugar alternatives to moderate carbs. Gluten free.

Course: cookie, Dessert, Snack
Keyword: cashew, chocolate, collagen, low carb, lower carb, snack
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 162 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1/3 cup sugar-free honey substitute may use regular honey
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 4 tbsp unflavored collagen may use another protein powder
  • ½ cup chopped cashews
  • 3 tbsp granulated monk fruit sweetener may use a different sugar substitute
  • ½ tsp salt
Instructions
  1. In a large mixing bowl, melted coconut oil and honey alternative. In another bowl, toss together oat flour, rolled oats, cocoa powder, collagen powder, sugar alternative, chopped cashews and salt. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stir together with spatula. Mixture should look like cookie dough. Press mixture into 9×5”-ish loaf pan and use clean hands to smash down and flatten smooth on top. Place pan in the freezer for 30 minutes to firm up before slicing into 12 bars. Store in fridge.
Recipe Notes

D’oh! Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites

Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites are a healthier way to satisfy a sweet tooth while helping mend muscles after a run or workout.Yes, I have been guilty of eating REAL cookie dough and a lot of it. Once as a kid, my indulgent grandmother let me eat as much as I wanted while my annoyed mother looked shaking her head and telling me I was going to get sick. So, what happened? I barfed . . . mothers are always right. While I still like to make “real” chocolate chip cookies for the family now and again, I try to stay out of the dough (as much as I can). My recipe for Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites is a healthier option with no raw eggs, no gluten, and no added sugar except for a few chocolate chips.

jen and dough boyWith less than 100 calories and almost 5 grams of protein, one these yummy little no-cook treats also make a sensible alternative to eating that whole chub of cookie dough and turning into the Pillsbury Dough Boy (but, darn if he isn’t the cutest thing).

Your sweet tooth will be satisfied with the smattering of chocolate chips, but you can also omit these from the recipe.

 

Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites are a healthier way to satisfy a sweet tooth while helping mend muscles after a run or workout.I’ve added a whey protein powder for sustained energy, muscle-making and to prevent that sugar crash that comes with eating too many sweets. The protein also makes this no-bake recipe a great choice for your post-workout or run recovery snack.  You can use your favorite brand of protein powder, but note that it may change the nutritional info depending on the brand and exact ingredient list.

Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites are a healthier way to satisfy a sweet tooth while helping mend muscles after a run or workout.

Also, I used Nuttzo  Seven Nut & Seed Butter which is my nut butter of choice – again, you can sub in whatever almond butter, peanut butter or other nut butter you like, but I highly recommend this one because it is packed with so much extra wholesome goodness.  Save 20% on your order with my discount code FITFORK-20 at Nuttzo.com.Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites

jen finish area spartan beast dallas editI’m making an extra batch this week to take along on our road trip to Spartan Houston!  It has been raining buckets all over Texas so it looks like it’s going to be ANOTHER wild, wet and super muddy course. If you’re thinking about running an upcoming Spartan Race (check calendar here), there is a new limited-time discount code SPRING20 you can use at checkout to save 20% .

Admit it, do you eat raw cookie dough? Have you ever run an obstacle course race, which one? Please share in the comments below — thanks, XOXO, Jennifer 

Nut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bites
Prep Time
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Course: Dessert, Snack, Worout
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18 servings
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup protein powder (2 scoops)
  • 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds *Omit if using nut butter blend already including this
  • 1 teaspoon flax seeds *Omit if using nut butter blend already including this
  • 1/2 cup nut butter of choice
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon liquid stevia more or less to taste
  • 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Add protein powder, almond meal and oat flour in bowl; stir to combine. Stir in chia seeds and flax seeds (if using a nut butter that already includes these seeds, simply omit these ingredients).
  2. Add nut butter, 2 tablespoons of almond milk and stevia to bowl. Use spatula to combine well; mixture should be a bit crumbly, but hold together when pinched between fingers. If too dry, add additional almond milk a teaspoon at a time.
  3. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
  4. Roll approximately 1 tablespoon between palms of had to form ball; repeat with remaining dough.