Say hello to my current and your soon to be, new fave snack obsession . . . No bake choc chip peanut butter protein bars – aka a perfect bar copy cat!!!!

If you follow along on Instagram you may recall that earlier this year spunky husband took me on a surprise vaycay to my home away from home, my beloved happy place, Denver, Colorado. While we were there, we were reunited with one of our fave snacks of all time. The choc chip peanut butter perfect bar! It has been 5 years since we last got to have one and honestly, I had forgotten how incredible they are. If you’re lucky enough to have had the life changing deliciousness that is the choc chip peanut butter perfect bar you already know how amazing they are and how gripping the obsession can be.

They are truly all kinds of incredible, I’m talking dangerously addictive . . . or is it addicting?! I can never decide . . . anyway . . . we were well and truly obsessed . . .

So, when we returned home to the land where perfect bars do not exist *waahhhh* (and the withdrawal had kicked in) my mission was clear . . . a copy cat version must be created. And, well, I don’t want to toot my own horn or anything but (after a few failed attempts) I absolutely nailed it!

These choc chip peanut butter protein bars are just as good, if not, dare I say?! , better than the original . . . the taste, the texture (not the mention the super budget friendly price point) exceeded all of my expectations! They really are well, perfect.

They taste like your eating straight up dessert (think peanut butter cups but in bar form!) and are without question the perfect snack to keep you (and your belly) happy, thriving & crushing your to-do list, all week long!

Made with just a handful of simple, real food ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and come together in one bowl with one spoon (no baking required!!!) and can be ready to devour in just a matter of minutes!

Super simple, I N S A N E L Y delicious and get bonus points in my book because they also happen to be secretly good for you! Im talking gluten free, dairy free, grain free, sugar free, low carb, paleo, keto & 100% vegan friendly – not that anyone would know. I mean, did you hear me up there . . . secretly healthy dark chocolate peanut butter cups but in bar form?! hello deliciousness!!!!!! And yes, all the exclamation points are 100% required plus maybe a few more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, I don’t know what more there is to tell you . . .

1 bowl + 7 ingredients & 15 mins . . . stop what you’re doing, this needs to happen now . . .

From my dark chocolate nut butter loving heart to yours, enjoy xo

* I big puffy heart LOVE Macro Mike plant based almond protein powder (have not tested any other brand in this recipe). Its gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, boosted with probiotics & truly tastes all kinds of incredible. Its hands down without question the smoothest, most delicious, elite tasting protein powder (plant based/dairy free or otherwise!!) I have ever tried. And I have tried A LOT!

** technically optional but it really does elevate the flavour of the bars (and your life by extension)! I use this golden blend which adds a hint of caramel like regular brown sugar does. It’s truly magical & 100% worth it! but regular monk fruit or your preferred granulated sweetener will work just fine too xo

*** can sub almond butter but will change the taste slightly. Still delicious just not as punchy or peanut buttery (obvs)

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Question of the day –

What’s your favourite on the go snack? A girl can never have too many options! LMK

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your choc chip peanut butter protein bars aka – a perfect bar copycat (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) don’t forget to take a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or you can just tag me on Instagram ( I’m @emsswanston ). Sharing is caring remember and it makes my heart so happy to see you re-creating and enjoying my recipes. Truly brings me so much joy!

Do it, do it You know you want to

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The post Choc Chip Peanut Butter Protein Bars – AKA – Copycat Perfect Bars first appeared on Better with Cake.

Pretty sure you and I know my answer will always be treat.

Especially if there is chocolate and nut butter involved!

Who’s with me?!

I know Halloween isn’t something we really celebrate here in Australia but give me an excuse to make some fun and festive treats and I am all in.

I just can’t help myself.

Eve asked if we could make batch of festive cookies to share with her friends for their after school Halloween party and lets just say, she didn’t have to ask twice.

Cookies, chocolate and peanut butter . . . I’m always in!

I know it’s a little last minute but these spooky little spider cookies turned out so well I thought I might as well snap a couple of pics and share them here for you to enjoy too.

Just in case you were looking for some last minute festive fun . . . or just a different way to get your daily chocolate, PB, cookie fix!

3 ingredients to make the cookies, 3 ingredients to put it all together and if you don’t want to start from scratch it’s still just 3 ingredients that you’d need to buy, although if your anything like me, cookies, chocolate and peanut butter are life essentials that we ALWAYS have on hand.

Chocolate = happiness.

Peanut butter is the glue that holds my body together

And cookies, well . . . I just love em’

If you haven’t made these quick and easy 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies yet then you my friend are in for a real treat!

Especially with the added chocolate . . . sooooo  good!

The cookies themselves are crisp and crunchy, but not too crunchy, subtly sweet, deliciously buttery – cripsy edges but soft & chewy in the middle which if you ask me, is the best kind cookie!

They come together in 1 bowl with 1 spoon and bake up to delicious, delectable , devour-able perfection in just 6-8 minutes!

While your cookies cool, melt some chocolate , pour into a ziplock (or piping bag if you have one handy), drizzle on some spidery legs, add some google-y eyes to your peanut butter cups and voila.

flourless dark chocolate peanut butter spoooky spider cookies for everyone!

Gluten Free – Dairy free – Refined sugar free – Low carb – Keto – Paleo & Vegan Friendly.

Fun to make, fun to eat, fun to share with the ones you love! Or just keep all to your fine self because, yummmm

All natural, quick and easy , crisp and crunchy, deliciously buttery dark chocolate peanut butter spooky spider cookies . . .

I hope you love them as much as we do, which FYI, is A LOT!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Spooky Spider Cookies

• Cook Time: 10-15 mins
• Persons: 10-12
• Difficulty: Easy

• Ingredients
• For the cookies –
• 1 cup of peanut/ almond or cashew butter – or nut/seed butter of choice
• 1/2 cup of monk fruit sweetener – or coconut sugar
• 1 egg – vegan friends sub flax egg
• 1 Tablespoon of tapioca (arrowroot starch) – optional
• Optional add ins-
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract – optional
• 2 Tablespoons of collagen – for gut healing goodness
• For serving –
• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate
• 2 Tablespoons of white chocolate (or you can just uy those googly eye sprinkles, I just didnt have any at the time)
• Peanut butter cups – “can” sub store bought  but my healthy home made spiced peanut butter cups make these cookies (& your life by extension) at least 10 x more magical
  100% worth it!!

1. Instructions
2. Pre-heat oven to 175’C/350/F
3. Line a baking tray with baking/parchment paper (or a silpat mat) and set aside)
4. Whisk egg, sugar, vanilla, salt and collagen, if using, in a medium size bowl until well combined.
5. Add peanut butter and stir until it comes together to form a dough.
6. Scoop, roll and press into desired shape and size and sprinkle with a little extra salt.
7. If you want the pretty pattern on top use a fork to gently press down in the centre.Note – keep in mind these cookies don’t really spread much so shape them how you want to eat them.I like to make mine on the smaller side and tend to use about 2 Tablespoons of dough per cookie. Feel free to make them as big or small as you like #youdyou just make sure you adjust your baking time accordingly.
8. Bake smaller cookies for 6-8 minutes, or larger cookies for 10-12 – until they are deliciously golden and feel just set. You may think they are slightly under done but trust me, they’re perfect. They firm up as they cool.
9. Now comes the hard part, you need to leave your cookies on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes or so to cool and set before you move them.
10. If you try to move them too soon they will crumble. They will still be delicious but they may fall apart in your hands. If this happens, fear not, either continue on and inhale the crumbs or set them aside and use them as a smoothie topper!
11. While your cookies are cooling melt chocolate by your preferred method.
12. Pour your dark chocolate in to a small zip lock bag and pipe on your spiders legs
13. Use a tooth pick to add google-y eyes to your peanut butter cups (not necessary but still fun) . Start with a dot of white and then add a smaller dot of dark chocolate to make the pupils.
14. Press your peanut butter cup on to the centre of your cookie, ,the melted chocolate should hold them in place.
15. Devour

Note – Cookies will keep well in an air-tight container for up to 7 days (ours have never lasted that long so that’s best guess) or can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Enjoy xo

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Question of the day –

What’s your favourite Halloween treat?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your 3 ingredient flourless dark chocolate peanut butter spooky spider cookies (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to ox

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The post 3 Ingredient Spooky Spider Cookies first appeared on Better with Cake.

1 – Today we are making flourless marble swirled peanut butter choc fudge blondie bites!! And who wants to listen to (or read) my ramblings when they are such delicious things to be enjoyed!

2 – I seem to have gone and broken my arm. Well, it’s not actually broken but somehow I managed to give myself tennis elbow which I’ve recently learned has nothing to do with playing tennis at all!

It’s extremely uncomfortable, extremely annoying and just not much fun! I’m suppose to be resting and avoiding any activity that “triggers it” which is pretty much everything.

Squeezing a sponge to do washing up (← not real mad about that one) , typing = ouch, holding my camera (or my phone) = extremely difficult , even something as simple stirring a yoghurt bowl to eat for breakfast is completely exhausting and makes me feel like I need to take a nap. Lucky for me I can hold a brownie (or blondie) with my left hand and eat it pain free #silverlining

3 – Refer to point 1 (also, those swirls!!!!!) – Today we are making flourless marble swirled peanut butter choc fudge blondie bites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes, the excessive amount of exclamation points are 100% necessary, plus maybe a few more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pull up a chair, let me give you allll of the delicious deets . . .

From bottom to top we have a layer or super fudgy rich chocolate brownie that’s stuffed with roughly chopped peanut butter cups, followed by a layer of cinnamon spiced peanut butter blondie, also stuffed with peanut butter cups, finished with a final swirl of brownie batter, an extra drizzle of peanut butter and a couple more peanut butter cups for good measure.

Oh and a cheeky pinch of flaky sea salt because, yes!

Subtly sweet, deliciously indulgent, crispy on the edges, S U P E R fudgy in the middle, just as a good brownie (or blondie) should be, packed with punchy peanut butter flavour and alllll of the chocolate!

Layer, upon layer, upon layer of deliciousness and you need them in your life because yum!

No words needed!

Made with no refined flours or sugars using just 6 simple ingredients that I bet you have on hand already and can be ready to devour in less than 40 minutes!

Gluten Free – Dairy free – Grain free – Refined sugar free –  Low Carb – Paleo –  Keto – Vegan friendly.

From my heart to yours, enjoy xo

Flourless Marble Swirled Peanut BUtter Choc Fudge Blondie Bites

• Cook Time: 30-40 mins
• Persons: 4-9
• Difficulty: Easy

• Ingredients
• For the blondie layer –
• 1 egg – vegan friends sub 1 flax egg or you fave egg replacer
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of natural/monk fruit sweetener – sub coconut sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon of vanillaextract
• 1 Tablespoon of coconut flour
• 1/2-1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• A pinch of salt
• Peanut butter cups (or choc chips or chopped choc) – as many or as few as your pretty little heart desires – I used 4 large! – I used these low carb/sugar/dairy free – Hero cups – Use “EMMA” to get a cheeky discount if you want to try them .
• For the brownie layer –
• 1 egg – or flax egg
• 1/2 cup peanut butter  + 1 Tablespoon extra for swirling on top
• 2 Tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/4 cup monk fruit sweetener (or coconut sugar)
• 3 Tablespoons of cacao
• 1 teaspoon of coconut flour
• 1/2-1 teaspoon of instant espresso – optional to help enhance the richness of the chocolate
• A pinch of cinnamon
• Peanut butter cups (or choc chips or chopped choc) – as many or as few as your pretty little heart desires – I used 4 large! – I used these low carb/sugar/dairy free – Hero cups – Use “EMMA” to get a cheeky discount if you want to try them .
• For topping –
• 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter
• 1-2 Peanut butter cups (or choc chips or chopped choc) – as many or as few as your pretty little heart desires

1. Instructions
2. Pre-heat oven to 175’C/350’F
3. Line a small baking dish  (or mini loaf pan – I use a 5 x 5 inch) with baking / parchment paper and set aside.
4. In a one bowl mix your blondie batter.
5. In another bowl, mix up your brownie batter .
6. Pour/spread all but 1 Tablespoon of brownie batter in to your prepared baking dish – reserve the last Tablespoon to swirl the top (optional but makes it pretty).
7. Top with chopped peanut butter cups (or choc chips) and gentle press down in to the mix.
8. Add remaining peanut butter cups to your blondie batter and stir to combine.
9. Spread/press your blondie batter on to your brownie/peanut butter cup mix.
10. Add 1 teaspoon of almond milk to remaining brownie batter and stir until smooth.
11. Randomly place spoonfuls of remaining brownie batter along with extra peanut butter over the top of your blondie batter and use a knife (or tooth pick) to swirl through the batter then sprinkle with an extra peanut butter cups (or 2 / chocolate of choice)
12. Bake for 30ish minutes, until the top is looks set and a tooth pick has just a few crumbs attached when inserted into the middle.
13. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes (if you can) – sprinkle with salt.
14. Slice
15. Devour!

 

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Question of the day –

Tell me, corner, edge, middle? Which piece would you choose?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make your donuts (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to xo

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The post {Flourless} Marble Swirled Peanut Butter Choc fudge Blondie Bites first appeared on Better with Cake.

It’s that time again, time for another round of fit Friday fun!!!!

And boy are we going to have some fun today!

Today I’m sharing a short, sharp lower body workout that you can get in and get done in just 20 minutes , with or without equipment, totally your call.

You guys know how how much I love, love, love my lower body workouts, The lower body is where your powerhouse muscles are (I’m looking at you quads, glutes and hamstrings) which means you get a serious bang for your workout butt, I mean buck!

So, here’s what we are going to do – click here to see a demo/workout with me –

Step up
Reverse Lunge – or any variation you like – I do reverse because my knees prefer them
Single leg bench (or chair) squat
Single leg toe touch (or reach if you can’t touch your toes just yet)

Aim to do 10 reps of each exercise (count reps per leg) then repeat the entire sequence through for a total of 3 rounds (or as many rounds as pretty in 20 minutes) , resting as needed. Sound good?

Nothing overly complicated, basic movements done with good form for a short but effective total body workout that will have you feeling strong , energized and ready to take on the rest of your day!

Now, for those of you who are just getting started or may not have access to a gym of any kind of weights you can absolutely do with workout without any added weight and let me tell you, you will be feeling it.

Not even kidding, this was me the day my first attempt at this workout –

Just because you’re “only” using your body-weight as resistance doesn’t not make this an easy workout. Your quads and glutes will be burning by the final round and you will definitely be feeling the effects of it tomorrow I assure you.

You have been warned!

For our fully functioning/more advanced lifters who might be looking to make things a little more challenging – grab yourself a weapon of choice – a set of dumbbells, a barbell, kettlebells, your EmPack, some resistance bands or any combination you like. Make sure you choose something appropriate for your strength but, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

Although, we want quality not quantity, always! Never compromise your form, ever! If your form starts to fail your done, got it?

Take your time, concentrate, focus and breathe through each and every exercise. You are strong, you are amazing, you have big energy! You’ve totally got this!

And, because nothing makes a workout challenge more fun than getting a buddy to join you. Why not grab your BFF or a family member or your fave workmate and have them join you, power in numbers baby!

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you did once you’re done. Either leave me a message in the comments below, or you can give me a shout on the Facebook page or tag me (@EmSwanston) on Twitter , or Instagram (@emsswanston) . I mean it, I wanna hear how you did!

Ok enough chit chat time to work –

– 20 minute –
Lower Body Workout

As always make sure you are nice an warm before you start your workout – Run on the spot, do jumping jacks, jump rope, dance around your living room, anything to get you warm then it’s time to get serious.

Finish with a nice little cool down and stretch, maybe take a walk #socialdistancing or something anything to help bring your heart rate down. Finish with a few of your fave stretches. Please don’t skip the stretch people, its like dessert for the body.

Now for this weeks smoothie recipe . . .

How does a nice, tall, subtly sweet, perfectly spiced, deliciously indulgent, secretly healthy, sugar free chai spiced peanut butter cup shake sound?!

So good, right?!

Chocolate = happiness

Chai soothes my soul

Nut butter is the glue that holds my body together.

Put them all together and you get pure magic and that’s E X A C T L Y what we have here!

It’s pretty much tastes like your drinking chai while eating chunks of dark chocolate slathered in peanut butter (please tell me I’m not the only one who does this?!) and I am here for it!

Made with no added sugar, packed with protein and loaded with gut healing goodness, not that anyone would ever know! I won’t tell if you don’t!

Subtly sweet, seriously chocolaty, perfectly spiced and just all kinds of wonderful!

Next level deliciousness I tell you! You are going to LOVE it!

And, not only does our delicious, nutritious, smoothie like straight up heaven in a cup but, it also happens to be Dairy free (if you want),  BANANA FREE, DATE FREE, sugar free, Low Carb, Vegan, Keto and Paleo friendly!

It really is simply divine, the perfect way to treat yo’ self on this fabulous Friday – or anytime because, yummmmm.

Enjoy xo

{Sugar Free} Chai Spiced Peanut Butter Cup Frappuccino

Makes 1
Ingredients –

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk  (or milk of choice) – more or less to desired consistency

1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt – use milk if you want to make a hot latte

1-2 Tablespoons of cacao – depending on how rich and chocolaty you want it

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2-1 teaspoon chai spice mix

1-2 Tablespoon of peanut butter

1 teaspoon of high performance instant coffee – optional but SO GOOD!

A pinch of pink salt

1/4-1/2  cup of ice – more or less to desired consistency

If you prefer a sweeter brew add 1/2 teaspoon of monk fruit sweetener (coconut sugar or sweetener of choice) – more or less to taste

Optional add ins;

1 Tablespoons of melted dark chocolate to swirl your glass  – pure happiness

1 teaspoon of maca – for hormone balance

1-2 scoops of  collagen – for gut healing goodness

1 Tablespoon of natural/sugar free chocolate creamer – makes it extra lush

1 scoop protein powder  – for extra protein

Method –

1 – Place all ingredients into your blender and process until smooth, creamy and well combined (or heat, whisk, froth if serving hot).

2 – Pour into a chilled glass or mason jar (or warmed mug if serving hot) then top with toppings of choice.

Enjoy xoxo

Don’t forget to give me a shout out when you’re done – hit me up in the comments below via the Facebook page on Twitter or on Instagram

Now go, and remember;

and have yourself a killer day xoxo

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Question of the day –

What’s workouts are you loving lately?

Feel free to share recipes, or links to your fave recipes in the comments below or on the Facebook page and please for the love of all that is good in this world when you do make this smoothie (or any of the recipes you find on this blog of mine) go ahead and snap a pic and share it either on the Facebook page, or tag me on twitter or Instagram. Sharing is caring remember.

Do it, do it You know you want to

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The post {Sugar Free} Chai Spiced Peanut Butter Cup Frappuccino & 20 min Lower Body Workout first appeared on Better with Cake.