5 Valentine's Day Recipes That Won't Destroy Your Diet

While Valentines' Day may seem like a holiday all about love, let's be real: isn't it also a day for enjoying decadent desserts?

We've got your back this year with a roundup of recipes that are treat-worthy yet still nutritious. Most of these recipes are quick to make with minimal ingredients, so even the non-chefs out there can indulge.  

Treat your lover, your friends, - or hey, maybe just yourself - to at least one of these treat recipes this Valentines Day. Whether you're counting macros, avoiding sugar, or eating plant-based, we've got you covered. 

1. High-protein Valentine’s cheesecake for the gym-goer  

 

Cheesecake can be a guilt-ridden choice if you're on the clean eating train, but this rendition is different. 

Thanks to ingredients like greek yogurt and vanilla protein powder, this cheesecake is rich in protein, potassium, calcium, B-vitamins, and other nutrients that support health. 

Make this cheesecake recipe as your base, then top with a heart-shaped arrangement of fresh raspberries or strawberries on top to make it extra V-day special. 

Ingredients:

• 12 oz fat-free cream cheese
• 10 oz plain Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp sugar (or sweetener of choice)
• ¼ cup milk
• 5 scoops Naked Vanilla whey protein
• Salt (to taste)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 F. 
2. Soften the cream cheese by mashing it with a large spoon in a mixing bowl.  Add the eggs and sugar to the bowl and use an electric mixer to combine.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and continue mixing until everything is thoroughly combined. 
4. Pour the mixture into a 6 inch round baking pan and bake for 25 minutes.
5. Turn down the oven to 200F and continue to bake for 1 hour. Once the cake is cooked, allow it to cool in the fridge for about 4 hours.

2. Dairy-free valentine’s chocolate truffles

Chocolate truffles are traditionally made with cream and are therefore a no-go for people who are vegan, paleo, lactose intolerant or following a dairy-free lifestyle for any other reason. 

But we here at Naked have cooked up a dark chocolate dairy-free truffle that everyone can enjoy. 

These chocolates meet your needs by using our vanilla pea protein and by opting for dairy-free melted dark chocolate as ingredients. 

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup dried dates, pitted
• ¼ cup vanilla pea protein
• 1/8 cup oats
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 3 squares dairy-free dark chocolate, melted
• water, as needed (about ¼ cup)

Directions:

1. Place all of the ingredients except for the chocolate in a blender and combine until thoroughly mixed. 
2. Add the chocolate gradually to achieve the correct texture. It should resemble a smooth batter.
3. Roll the mixture into 8 balls and dip in the chocolate. Place the truffles on a parchment-lined cookie sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes or until the chocolate hardens.

 

3. Post-workout Valentine’s treat for the athlete 

 

This "nice cream" recipe relies on frozen bananas for both sweetness and creaminess with zero added sugar or cream in sight. 

Adding chocolate or vanilla casein and peanut butter powders boost up both the protein and the flavor quotient. 

This might seem like a treat, but it's really also an ideal recovery snack after a gym session, thanks to its combo of healthy carbs and protein. 

Ingredients: 

• 4-5 ripe bananas, sliced and frozen
• 2 scoops chocolate or vanilla casein protein
• 2-3 tbsp. milk of choice (cow, coconut, almond, etc.) 
• 1 tbsp. Naked PB (optional) 
• Granulated sweetener of choice to taste (optional)

Directions: 

1. Put a small loaf pan in the freezer to chill.
2. Add all ingredients to a blender and pulse until smooth. Add more milk as needed for desired creaminess. 
3. Eat immediately for a soft-serve texture. For scoop-able ice cream, pour the mixture into a chilled loaf pan and freeze. Stir every 20-30 minutes for the first hour of freezing to prevent the ice cream from getting too icy. Thaw for a few minutes before enjoying! 

4. Gluten-free Valentine’s baked treat

This cookie recipe has a few things going for it. For one, it's naturally gluten-free without relying on any specialty flours. 

It's also super simple to make, thanks to straightforward ingredients you already probably have at home. If you're looking for a last minute sweet treat, these can be whipped up quick. 

Ingredients:

• 2 scoops vanilla Naked Whey
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup sugar (or granulated sweetener of choice)
• 1 cup peanut butter, smooth
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix until combined.
3. Use a spoon to scoop out 3 tablespoons of the dough and shape them in your hands to the cookie shape. Place cookies on the pan and bake for 12-15 minutes.  

5. Valentine’s treat with no added-sugar

If you're avoiding refined sugar, we've got a fudge for you. 

 

This fudge is sweet and decadent thanks to natural ingredients like dates and maple syrup. 

Take your pick of whey, pea, or casein chocolate protein powder, depending on your dietary preferences. 

The only downside of this recipe is deciding whether or not you want to share with your partner (you may want to savor it all yourself).   

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 6 to 8 medjool dates, pitted and softened in hot water
• ½ cup tahini
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons milk of choice (cow, coconut, almond, etc.) 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chocolate protein powder of choice
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon espresso powder

Directions:

1. Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap and set it aside. Place the melted chocolate, dates, tahini, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla in a food processor and combine until smooth.
2. Add the protein powder, cocoa powder, salt, and espresso powder and continue to blend the mixture. Pour the mixture into the pan and spread it out evenly before covering with more plastic wrap.
3. Place the pan in the fridge and chill for at least 4 hours.