Festive, refreshing, and packed with protein, this Frozen Chocolate Peppermint Protein Bark is just the frozen dessert to put you in the holiday spirit and give your body a dose of nutrition. Lifeway Farmer Cheese stars as the protein powerhouse of this recipe, and it’s one of the best ingredients to use in place of yogurt to make amazing frozen desserts like protein bark. Protein bark recipes can be made with any toppings you like, but for this one, we were inspired to create a better-for-you version of a classic chocolate peppermint bark.
With cooling peppermint, rich dark chocolate, pure maple syrup, and creamy Lifeway Farmer Cheese, the base ingredients of this frozen bark couldn’t be simpler or easier to put together. After this bark spends some time in the freezer, you can pull out a few pieces to indulge in a gut-healthy protein bark whenever the chocolate peppermint cravings come calling.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 4 hours Servings: 5-6
Ingredients
- 1 cup Farmer Cheese
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or raw honey
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 tsp. pure peppermint extract
- 1/4 cup melted dark chocolate (can use chips or bark)
- 2 tbsp. crushed peppermints
Directions
- Blend together Lifeway Farmer Cheese, maple syrup, dark chocolate chips (not melted), and peppermint extract.
- On parchment paper, layer the mixture from step 1, then top with crushed peppermint candies, and drizzle with 1/4 cup melted dark chocolate. Freeze for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!
