Edible Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough Hearts
These edible red velvet protein cookie dough hearts are soft, doughy, and naturally colored with beet powder—no food dye needed. Made with tahini, maple syrup, yogurt, and protein powder, they’re a no-bake, refined sugar-free treat perfect for Valentine’s Day or anytime you want a fun, healthier snack.
QUICK LOOK: RED VELVET PROTEIN COOKIE DOUGH HEARTS RECIPE
⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
❄️ Chill Time: 20 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 35 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 36 Mini Cookie Dough Hearts
🔢 Calories: ~139kcal per date (estimated)
💡 Difficulty: Easy, Beginner-friendly
🥣 Key Ingredients: Tahini, maple syrup, yogurt, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar, cassava flour, vanilla protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, beet root powder, chocolate chips
🌿 Dietary Info: No-bake, Naturally Sweetened (Refined Sugar-Free), Gluten-Free, Dye-Free
✨ Best for: Valentine’s Day, healthy treats, no-bake desserts, protein snacks
Soft, doughy, lightly chocolatey, and gently sweet, these edible red velvet protein cookie dough hearts are the kind of treat you can snack on straight from the fridge. No food dye, no baking, no fuss, just simple ingredients, that classic red velvet taste, and fun heart shapes that makes them feel extra special, especially around Valentine’s Day.
This recipe is simple, quick and the cookie dough tastes like red velvet with that classic tang from the addition of apple cider vinegar and yogurt. They’re cute enough for Valentine’s Day but easy enough to make any time of the year – change up the shapes or just eat it straight out of the jar!
And if you’re looking for more Valentine’s recipes, check out my collection of healthy, high-protein & traditional chocolatey treats everyone will love.
If you love edible cookie dough recipes, you might also like my cottage cheese cookie dough, which is higher in protein and perfect when you want something creamy and spoonable.
Why You’ll Love These Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough Hearts
What Makes these Edible Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough Hearts Different?
- Naturally dye-free. Did you know that original red velvet cakes got their color from cocoa reacting with acidic ingredients, and sometimes beet juice? These cookie dough hearts use beet powder for a natural red hue without artificial dyes.
- Protein-packed and no chickpeas. Unlike many edible cookie dough recipes that rely on chickpeas or oats, this version uses protein powder and cassava flour for structure, giving you a doughy texture with extra protein.
How to Make Edible Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough Hearts
Time needed: 35 minutes
- Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a medium bowl, add the tahini or almond butter, maple syrup, yogurt, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar. Stir until smooth, creamy, and fully combined.
- Add the Dry Ingredients
Add the cassava flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, beet powder, and salt directly to the bowl. Mix until a thick, soft cookie dough forms. The dough should be pliable and doughy, not crumbly.
If it is dry, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until it forms together.
If the dough feels sticky, chill it for 10 minutes or add 1 teaspoon cassava flour at a time. - Add the Chocolate Chips
Gently stir in the mini dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, if using, and form into a dough ball.
- Roll out the Dough
Roll the dough to about ½-inch thick. If it is sticky, you can roll it between two sheets of parchment paper.
- Cut out the Hearts
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. I used a 1 inch sized heart to make 36 mini hearts. Re-roll scraps as needed or add them to a jar to store and eat.
- Chill to Set
Transfer the hearts to a parchment-lined plate and chill for 20 minutes, or until firm.
- Optional white chocolate drizzle.
Melt the remaining ¼ cup white chocolate chips and drizzle over the chilled hearts. Return to the fridge for 5–10 minutes to set.
Trish’s Tips for Success
- Tahini gives the most classic red velvet flavor, but almond butter is milder and slightly sweeter and can be used if you don’t have tahini.
- Start light with the beet powder—you can always add more for color, but too much can taste earthy. I used 1.5 tsp to get the color you see in these images.
- Protein powders vary a lot. If yours is very absorbent, you may need extra yogurt or almond milk. Start slowly with 1 tbsp at a time.
- These are best chilled. The dough firms up and tastes more like classic cookie dough after chilling. I do not recommend leaving them out of the fridge due to the dairy products in them.
Macros (per stuffed date)
- Calories: ~90 kcal
- Fat: ~6g
- Carbohydrates: ~9g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Sugars: ~7g (from maple, coconut sugar, beets)
- Protein: ~5g (depending on protein powder)
NOTE: Nutrition information is an estimate based on the ingredients used and may vary depending on brands and substitutions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Edible Red Velvet Cookie Dough
Yes! The combination of cocoa powder, apple cider vinegar, yogurt, and vanilla creates that classic red velvet flavor, not just chocolate dough. However, because it is refined sugar free, it is less sweet than the traditional edible cookie dough variations.
Protein powder helps with structure, but you can replace it with more cassava flour or coconut, almond or oat flour. Start with 2–3 tablespoons and adjust texture as needed.
Yes! Because this recipe doesn’t use eggs and uses cassava flour, which is made from dried, processed cassava (not raw cassava root), it’s safe to eat straight from the bowl. Cassava flour in baking and no‑bake treats is already safe to consume — unlike raw wheat flour or truly raw cassava root, which aren’t meant to be eaten uncooked.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge before eating.
Coconut sugar adds a rich, caramel-like depth, while maple syrup keeps the dough soft and chewy. Together, they balance flavor, sweetness, and texture, giving the cookie dough a classic red velvet softness without being gritty.
More Valentine’s & Galentine’s Recipes You’ll Love:
- Date Bark Hearts
- Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates
- Best Fudgy Nutella Brownies (with Nutella Buttercream)
- Birthday Cake Protein Balls
- Fudgy Cherry Chocolate Protein Brownies
- Easy Dubai Chocolate Protein Brownie Mug Cake
I’d love to hear how your baking turned out!
Leave a review and star rating to let me know what you think.
follow along
Edible Red Velvet Protein Cookie Dough Hearts
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Spatula
- 1 1" Heart Cookie Cutter
- 1 Rolling Pin
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup tahini or creamy almond butter
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup Greek or plant-based yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 –2 tbsp almond milk as needed – Only use if the dough feels dry.
- ¼ cup cassava flour
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder – Chocolate protein powder works for a deeper cocoa flavor.
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1½ tsp beet root powder – For natural red color. Adjust to preference.
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp white chocolate chips
- 3 tbsp Mini Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips for drizzling, optional
Instructions
Mix the wet ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, add the tahini or almond butter, maple syrup, yogurt, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar. Stir until smooth, creamy, and fully combined.⅓ cup tahini or creamy almond butter, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, ⅓ cup Greek or plant-based yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla extract, ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
Add the Dry Ingredients
- Add the cassava flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, beet powder, and salt directly to the bowl. Mix until a thick, soft cookie dough forms. The dough should be pliable and doughy, not crumbly. If it is dry, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until it forms together. If the dough feels sticky, chill it for 10 minutes or add 1 teaspoon cassava flour at a time.¼ cup cassava flour, ¼ cup vanilla protein powder – Chocolate protein powder works for a deeper cocoa flavor., 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp coconut sugar, 1½ tsp beet root powder – For natural red color. Adjust to preference., Pinch of fine sea salt, 1 –2 tbsp almond milk
Add the chocolate chips
- Gently stir in the mini dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, if using, and form into a dough ball.1 tbsp white chocolate chips, 3 tbsp Mini Chocolate Chips
Roll out the dough.
- Roll the dough to about ½-inch thick. If it is sticky, you can roll it between two sheets of parchment paper.
Cut out heart shapes
- Use a 1” heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. You can re-roll scraps as needed, if desired. I did not re-roll the scraps and was able to cut out 36 hearts.
Chill to set.
- Transfer the hearts to a parchment-lined plate and chill for 20–30 minutes, or until firm.
Optional white chocolate drizzle.
- Melt the remaining ¼ cup white chocolate chips and drizzle over the chilled hearts. Return to the fridge for 5–10 minutes to set.1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Notes
- Tahini gives the most classic red velvet flavor, but almond butter is milder and slightly sweeter and can be used in place of tahini
- Start light with beet powder—you can always add more for color, but too much can taste earthy.
- Protein powders vary a lot. If yours is very absorbent, you may need extra yogurt or milk.
- These are best chilled. The dough firms up and tastes more like classic cookie dough after chilling.
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months.
Macros
- Calories: ~90 kcal
- Fat: ~6g
- Carbohydrates: ~9g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Sugars: ~7g (from maple, coconut sugar, beets)
- Protein: ~5g (depending on protein powder)