Birthday Cake Protein Bites

Cashew butter is the secret: it's mild enough that vanilla and almond extract shine through and the bites actually taste like cake batter instead of nut butter. The sprinkles are non-negotiable.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cashew butter (or white almond butter)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 scoops (about 60g) vanilla or birthday-cake protein powder
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 tablespoons rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

1. Mix the cashew butter, honey, and both extracts until smooth.
2. Stir in the protein powder and almond flour to form a soft dough.
3. Fold in 2 tablespoons of sprinkles, saving the rest.
4. Roll into 14 balls, then roll each in the remaining sprinkles.
5. Chill 20 minutes before serving; store in the fridge up to 10 days.

Tips

• Almond extract is what sells the 'cake' flavor; don't skip it.
• Jimmies (rod-shaped sprinkles) hold up better than nonpareils, which bleed color.
• A birthday-cake flavored protein powder doubles down on the theme.

FAQ

Why do my sprinkles bleed color into the dough?

Nonpareils (the tiny balls) dissolve on contact with moisture. Use jimmies and fold them in gently at the end.

Can I make these without protein powder?

Yes, replace it with an equal amount of almond flour; you'll lose about 6 grams of protein per bite.