Naturally Pink Protein Snacks (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)

Bend and snap!  If you’re a “Legally Blonde” fan then you’ll love these chewy and sweet Naturally Pink Protein Snacks!  Inspired by the movie, these delicious treats are the ultimate in girl power and healthy, happily ever afters!   They’re made with healthy ingredients like gluten-free rolled oats, cashew butter, and flaxseeds.  With 14 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber per serving, they’re guaranteed to keep you full for hours!  Whether you’re up late partying at the Delta Nu house or cramming for your next law exam, these delicious bites will give you all the energy you need!  So, go ahead.  Embrace your inner Elle Woods and make this easy, tasty treat!  A perfect gluten-free snack for kids and adults alike!

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Note: This post was originally published on my food blog, A Bite of Inspiration (read more about it in this post here).  It’s been slightly edited and modified to make the content even more inspiring and the recipe even more delicious! Enjoy! 😀

“Exercise gives you endorphins.  Endorphins make you happy.  Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.  They just don’t.”  Every true Elle Woods fan is familiar with this iconic quote from the 2001 smash-hit comedy Legally Blonde.  This hilarious movie stars Reese Witherspoon as the charming, more-than-meets-the-eye, Elle Woods, who goes on a whirlwind adventure through Harvard Law School after being dumped by her college boyfriend.  While many of her classmates assume Elle is an airhead due to her blonde hair and bubbly personality, she quickly proves everyone wrong by cleverly winning her first murder case!  The endorphins thing was only the start.

Speaking of endorphins making people happy, I’ll tell you what else will make you happy—these sweet and chewy Naturally Pink Protein Snacks inspired by Elle Woods.  These delicious bites are filled with cashew butter, gluten-free oats, dried cherries, flaxseeds, and honey then rolled in “naturally pink” finely shredded coconut.  Yum!  One bite and you’ll be addicted.  They’re that good.  The perfect snack for when you want something sweet, but still healthy.  People who eat these snacks just don’t shoot their husbands.  They just don’t.

Elle would love these adorable, healthy protein snacks because:

• Elle’s favorite color is pink! From pink sunglassesto pink hats to a pink outfit for her dog, Bruiser, Elle is clearly a lover of all things pink and these protein balls are PINK!  Naturally pink, I might add.  The pink color comes from beet juice, which dyes the coconut a gorgeous pink without any added taste.  I have a feeling Elle isn’t super into artificial colors (EWWW), so I made sure these protein snacks were all natural.  Perfect!  No yucky artificial stuff here!
• Elle is a law student and law students need their energy! From late night study sessions with Emmett to preparing for her next case, Elle needs a snack with plenty of protein to keep her energized and performing at her best!  This delicious snack is chock full of protein-filled ingredients for lasting energy.  With 14 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber, you’re getting about 30 percent of your daily value of each of these in just ONE serving of this tasty treat!  And if that’s not enough for you (you overacheiver you 😉), you can even add a scoop of protein powder (this particular protein powder tastes just like vanilla ice cream- yum!) or collagen peptides for an extra boost (see recipe notes for details).  No slacking!
• Elle clearly watches her figure. She wouldn’t want to eat anything that could make her chunky—duh!  That’s why every ingredient in this snack is healthy. Cashew butter provides healthy protein, while ground flaxseeds add a ton of health benefits (plus this is Flaxseeds & Fairytales, so there has to be flaxseeds right? 😀).  These protein snacks definitely won’t wreck your waistline.
• Elle demands perfection in every area of her life, so I highly doubt she would eat a dry, tasteless snack, no matter how healthy it was. You shouldn’t either.  Healthy definitely doesn’t mean dull.  With delicious ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, and honey, your taste buds will never get bored.  Fabulous!
• Elle introduces herself: “Hi. I’m Elle Woods and this is Bruiser Woods. We’re both Gemini vegetarians”.  As you can probably guess, these protein snacks are vegetarian, so there we go! Both Elle (and Bruiser—maybe?) are free to happily consume these tasty snacks.  Looking for a vegan version?  Check the recipe notes below!

These delicious snacks will be a hit at your next “Legally Blonde” movie night.  Make this recipe instead of popcorn for a healthier, more satisfying movie snack that will keep you full for hours.  They’re also the perfect gluten-free snack for kids!  I gave a few of these to a friend’s 8-year-old daughter and she was crazy about them!  She couldn’t get over the vibrant pink color and the sweet taste.  From adults to kids, sometimes you just need a pretty, (naturally) pink treat!  Snaps for healthy snacks!

5 from 4 votes

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Naturally Pink Protein Snacks (GF & DF)

These delicious protein snacks are filled with healthy ingredients! Perfect for "Legally Blonde" fans or for anyone looking for a tasty, filling snack that won't wreck your waistline.  Sweet, chewy, and nutty! See recipe notes for vegan option!

Course Snack

Cuisine Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

Keyword healthy gluten-free protein snack

Prep Time 20 minutes

Time in Fridge 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 580 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1 cup cashew butter
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
• 1/2 cup dried cherries roughly chopped
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup finely shredded coconut unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon beet juice

Instructions

1. Mix oats, cashew butter, ground flaxseed, dried cherries, and honey together in a bowl.  Make sure everything is well combined.

2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap.  Place in fridge for at least 30 minutes.  The mixture should be hardened, but still easy to work with.

3. Put shredded coconut in a quart sized ziploc bag.  Add beet juice.  Close bag tightly then shake until coconut is fully coated in beet juice and has a nice, bright pink color to it.  Feel free to add more beet juice by the teaspoon until you've achieved the color pink that you want (the more beet juice you add, the darker the color will be). 

4. Spread the pink shredded coconut onto an even layer on a large plate.

5. Remove the cashew and oats mixture from the fridge.  Spoon out about 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture.  Roll into a ball with your hands.

6. Place the ball onto the plate with the shredded coconut and roll it around with a spoon or your hands until it's fully coated.  Place on a separate bowl or plate (you can cover the bowl or plate with wax paper to prevent sticking).

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with remaining mixture.  The balls will keep in the fridge tightly covered in plastic wrap for up to 4 days.  You can also freeze them.  They'll stay fresh longer and you can enjoy them thawed or frozen!

Recipe Notes

For additional protein, add 2 tablespoons of plain or vanilla protein powder (I like this one here) to the oat and cashew butter mixture before putting it into the fridge.  You can also add 2 tablespoons of collagen peptides, but the balls might be slightly stickier.  

Be sure to choose a bottled beet juice that's JUST beets without any additional ingredients.  A little lemon juice is okay but the primary ingredient should be beets.  I recommend this brand of beet juice or this one here.

To make this recipe vegan, you can replace the honey with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.  

PRO TIP: Beet juice stains!  Wear disposable gloves when rolling the balls in the coconut, so you don't stain your hands.  You should also wear an apron to protect your clothes (this one here is super cute and has pockets!)

Nutrition Facts

Naturally Pink Protein Snacks (GF & DF)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 580 Calories from Fat 315

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 35g 54%

Saturated Fat 13g 65%

Sodium 18mg 1%

Potassium 478mg 14%

Total Carbohydrates 58g 19%

Dietary Fiber 8g 32%

Sugars 22g

Protein 14g 28%

Vitamin A 7.2%

Vitamin C 0.3%

Calcium 6.3%

Iron 24.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.