Following the paleo diet is a trend that does not appear to be going away any time soon. Eating like those who lived in the Modern Stone Age has gained popularity because many feel that it is a healthy way of eating.
While you can enjoy your favorite meats, nuts, and fruits, many who adopt this diet miss some of their favorite foods like baked goods. If you are one of these people and are craving a Paleo-friendly treat, this paleo brownie recipe will be your dream come true.
What is the Paleo diet?
A Paleo diet is one that mimics what experts believe humans ate during the Modern Stone Age. Refrigeration and processed foods were not in existence. Many followed the hunter-gatherer model, and therefore staples were meats, fish, eggs, produce, nuts, and seeds.
Foods not permitted include grains, many dairy products, trans-fats, legumes (including soy and peanuts), processed foods, and any other product that we assume were not consumed during the Paleolithic time.
Data published in the Journal of Internal Medicine suggests that following a Paleo diet for five weeks may result in weight loss in certain populations.
Other studies suggest that following this diet is linked to better glucose control and improved cardiovascular measurements when compared with the diabetes diet.
How to Enjoy Sweets When Following the Paleo Diet
The paleo diet restricts most commercially made cookies, brownies, and cakes. Classic ice cream and candy are not an option either. So, how can someone with a sweet-tooth follow the Paleo diet and not lose their mind?
There are many baking ingredients that are permitted to enjoy while following the Paleo diet, and actually offer some health benefits to boot. Including ingredients like high-quality collagen peptides can boost nutrition in recipes while fueling the body with high-quality and clean nutrition.
To whip up some of your favorite treats in your kitchen while still being compliant with the Paleo diet guidelines, here are some simple tips to keep in mind:
- Embrace baking with almond flour
- Choose natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, date syrup, dates, and fruit juice,
- If you are a chocolate lover, 100% cocoa powder or the darkest dark chocolate can be enjoyed (at least 85% cacao). If you are on an autoimmune protocol, you can substitute carob,
- Embrace nut butters, but remember that peanuts are technically a legume, and therefore peanut butter is not paleo-friendly,
- Choose protein powders wisely. Avoid options that contain hidden sources of soy, peanut, or sugar.
Some ingredients that sound paleo-friendly at first may have hidden ingredients that should be avoided.
Consider almond butter: some varieties may contain added sugars or artificial flavors. For a true paleo-friendly dish, the almond butter should be free from anything other than almonds.
Collagen peptides are an ingredient that also may contain hidden ingredients that are forbidden when following a paleo diet. Choosing a collagen peptide powder that is made from ONLY collagen peptides will ensure that you are giving your body what it needs with no surprises.
Naked Collagen is a paleo-friendly collagen peptide that is GMO-free and does not contain any artificial colors or flavors. It is made from only one ingredient: grass-fed bovine hide collagen peptides. Best of all, it mixes well and is a perfect addition to baked paleo treats like brownies!
For an ooey-gooey and satisfying no-bake paleo-friendly brownie recipe, we combined Paleo-friendly ingredients that not only taste good but fuel the body with important nutrients.
Paleo-Collagen Brownies Recipe
Makes 8 brownies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 scoops Naked Collagen
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cacao
- 2 Tbsp. honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth and uniform.
- Line a 9"x5" baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the mixture on top of the parchment paper and in a smooth layer.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of one hour, uncovered.
- Slice into eight brownies.
Key Takeaway
It is entirely possible to enjoy a decadent brownie once in a while when following a paleo diet. The key is choosing the best ingredients that don’t have any hidden ingredients that are made from ingredients that are not paleo-friendly.
Paleo brownies made with the right ingredients is a perfect food that will satisfy any sweet tooth in a healthy way. Now, the only challenge is not eating the entire pan in one sitting!
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