Mug Cakes, Mug Muffins, how about a protein CAKE?

The mug food thing reached a frenzy this year, don't you think? It started off with the decadent brownie, then the chocolate chip cookie in a mug. I will be honest, those were freaking good.  But too good. Given I did substitute using  whole ingredients, avoided vegetable oil,  and sugar. I think that is what got every one thinking:  "How can I make this healthier?"
 Many did, and I tried the heck out of them. There's a 100 calorie mug out there. It was like swallowing a sponge.  I would rather have something in a higher calorie content with good things for me than a sponge. Right? How about some protein? Yeah?
I have been doing my own healthy mug cake testing for myself, sharing a long the way on Instagram.  Then there was one little post that got a little more attention than I expected. It is good. Very good.

Things I learned about mug cake testing. If you don't want a dry sponge, or a mug pudding use a bowl. I know its now Bowl Cake. That sounds wrong, mainly in the portion department. But it's not any bigger than any other mug cake.

I went through many bowls and mugs until I found the right one. But if you really do not have anything close to this the best trick is to use the microwave reheating trick. Scootch everything out of the middle using your finger or a spoon. Hollow it out like you're making bunt cake. This way you are avoiding the goo in the middle or having to cook it more and over drying the rest!

The Cherry Mama Protein Mug Cake 

♥2 egg whiles (about 3 TBS of white 28 cal)

♥1/4 Cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce, make it a healthy amount. ( 25 cal unsweetened )

♥1 Scoop of Protein Powder Vanilla or Chocolate  (I used EAS lean for the low calorie count 50 cal.)

♥2 TBS of Coconut Flour (60 cal)

♥*1 TBS of Cocoa Powder (Pure organic Cacao 10 cal per TBS)

♥1/2 tsp Baking Powder

♥Stevia, I used one squirt of Skinny Girl Stevia (equivalent of 1 tsp of sweetener)

173 Calories with cocoa, 163 without. Your calories will vary depending on the brands you buy.


Whisk  ingredients in a bowl thoroughly. Looking for lumps of coconut flour, it tends to be very stubborn! When measuring the apple sauce really make it a healthy portion. Don't make it level, just proud of the measuring cup. Apple sauce really adds the moisture. I scraped it one to make it even and it wasn't the same, a little dry. Once mixed pour into a grease mug. I use an organic olive oil spray. START at 60 seconds in the microwave. Then add 15-20 seconds there after. Mine takes 1 min 20 secs.

*Cocoa powder is optional, protein powder can be pretty sweet. But the cocoa makes it a great treat.

This one below is just Vanilla protein powder. I didn't flip it yet so you can see the top right out of the microwave. You can see I stuck my finger in to test. LOL, I generally test hot things in the worse way. But the texture on top will be slightly soft, but underneath you see a nice sponge cake. This was so delicious.

Cherry Mama's Paleo Chocolate Cherry Bombs

I am just enjoying my afternoon snack while my kiddos nap. I love mommy time. This time of day is very easy to undo how hard I worked all morning. 

But today had *nom nom* not Bon Bon! 

My newest treat is chocolate! *gasp* Using nothing but the most basic ingredients you can become a chocolatier. ( I so feel like one now.)  Sometimes  I think I eat Paleo because I want to be difficult challenged.

The basics of Paleo Chocolate is just coconut oil, cocoa, and honey. Yup. That's it. But I decided to dress it up a bit. Why not. I have always loved dark chocolate and fruit.I don't know what it is about that pairing! *Drool*

★

They got sort of messy when they didn't need to be. I couldn't find my silicone tray. Which would of been adorable because they are cute little stars.  I just had foil cupcake liners and I had to manipulate them a bit.  I think they look like Hans Solo frozen in carbonite. 

★

♥Cherry Mama's Cherry Bombs♥

1/4 cup raw unrefined coconut oil

1/4 cocoa powder (as pure and natural as you can find it)

2 tsp. Raw unfiltered organic honey

1 tsp of Maple extract

Cherries 

★

Melt oil,with honey and optional extract over stove, low heat, you don't want it to boil. Add in  cocoa powder use a whisk or fork.( I recommend using extract, because decadence is the point here). Plus pure cocoa can be a bit bitter for some. I used maple because it reminded me of the filling in those assorted chocolate trays :-)  It went amazing with the cherries. Place your cherries in your silicone tray or foil cups and pour chocolate over them. Move quick because if you dilly dally it starts to set in the pan and it can get a chunky look. Which happened to me, because I was dicking about with the foil cups! Let them set in the fridge or freezer for about 30 minutes. Then *nom nom*. Keep in fridge.

The base recipe

1/4 cup raw unrefined coconut oil

1/4 cocoa powder (as pure and natural as you can find it)

2 tsp. Raw unfiltered organic honey

1 tsp. of Pure Organic Vanilla Extract (optional)

The base recipe

1/4 cup raw unrefined coconut oil

1/4 cocoa powder (as pure and natural as you can find it)

2 tsp. Raw unfiltered organic honey

1 tsp. of Pure Organic Vanilla Extract (optional)

Want more?

Repeat process, this time add orange extract!
The possibilities... endless. I love playing with extracts, I went to the store the other day and I was just in awe of all the flavors available. Too many ideas, I could spend a fortune.
But some basic favorites:
Shredded coconut with Almond Extract
Almonds, with Almond...
Dried fruits with what ev!

I bet you have Almond Butter? Are you ready for big time Paleo Food Porn!!!??? Check out these naughty *nom noms*

Oh I just died... best photo project today. I have had no breakfast or lunch because of all my hard work here;-)

For almond butter cup, I used my base chocolate recipe, with vanilla extract. I didn't do almond I was afraid there wouldn't be any separation of tastes from the almond butter and chocolate. But by all means 'go nuts'. I am sure I will go down that path eventually. 

So don't laugh had to line my muffin pan with tin foil! But it worked perfect. Mkle up a batch pour in your cups, let set. Once hardened use 1/2 tsp of almond butter. Put a dollop in the middle and spread it out a little, but not to the edge. 

I know foil... it so worked!

After adding your almond butter put back in the fridge  while you make up another batch of chocolate. (I only say this because its 90 degrees outside things were getting a bit oily.) Whip those puppies back out and pour your chocolate. Optional add almonds to the top. Toss back in the fridge. Should set in about 30 minutes. I so a little prod test if I am getting a bit 'ancy in the pancies'. 

Did I tell you I LOVED this photo project! 

Maybe a little too much.

Almond Butter Cookies

Like the original article stated: "As a HUMAN, you are obligated to love, cherish and covet the beloved cookie." So true my friend, so true. I eat a Paleo Diet, but even within the Paleo Lifestyle there are debates about how non-Paleo, or Paleo some foods are. I use the tools and ingredients that are available to me in the Paleo spectrum and make stuff (very caveman-ish). I also just love the challenge of creating, or recreating recipes. Thats why when I found Enjoy Life Chocolate Mini Chips at a regular grocery store (and not overpriced) I had to find a recipe to celebrate with.

 Paleohacks.com shared  some great Paleo Cheat Day Recipies. I thought I would give one a try. I don't do cheat days BTW, I do a lot of IF (intermittent fasting).  I have very limited time to get in my calories. So I like to enjoy those few hours without blowing my calorie and sugar intake. I am writing this as the bake, and now are cooling so it could turn out very badly.
 I already had an almond yogurt today, you think I will turn into an almond if I have an almond cookie with almond milk? Here goes....Oh---my-- STARS! These are too good to be  for real. Toddler approved too!

I modified the original recipe and used some of the optional alternatives that were given. I will note those for you so you know what I am raving about. For this I will be in red.

What You Need:

• 2 cups almond flour (or 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup vanilla protein powder) *I used 1 cup of protein powder
• ½ cup raw almond butter
• 2 organic cage free eggs
• ¼ cup honey (or truvia for calorie free) *I used Stevia, would use just a scant  1/4 cup
• tsp baking soda
• tsp vanilla
• tsp salt *I used 100% natural sea salt
• 2 cups dark chocolate chips (Enjoy Life is dairy free and is my favorite brand.) * I so agree great brand BUT, I used 1 cup of the minis, and it was PACKED full of chocolate. I could not imagine using 2 cups!!!

What You Gotta Do:

• Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Roll dough into small balls and smoosh lightly onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

What I will do next time:

• Mix dry ingredients
• whisk eggs separately in a bowl, and then add the almond butter and vanilla
• add dry  ingredients into wet, and then mix in your chocolate chips.

The only reason I would do it like this next time was because the consistency of the mix. I thought I had mixed it really well, but I still had clumps of protein powder at the bottom. If you use a hand mixer for your almond butter and eggs first you will have a softer texture and dry ingredients will mix in more thoroughly.