Mint chocolate and berry protein pizza recipe

When I was tasked by PhD Woman to create a sweet protein pizza, I was well up for the challenge says PhD Woman ambassador Pamela Bustard: and the result was this mint chocolate and berry protein pizza recipe.

I’ve only ever made the cauliflower, low-carb savoury version before, so I was a little apprehensive but had some ideas in mind! After playing around in the kitchen using one of my favourite PhD Nutrition diet whey protein powder flavour (Mint Chocolate) in the base, I was super happy with this protein-packed, low-carb concoction. Together with a vanilla coconut cream topping with colourful berries and a cacao drizzle sauce to decorate, I can confidently say: mission accomplished!

Ingredients:

For the base:

1 cup coconut flour

2 scoops Mint Chocolate PhD Nutrition diet whey protein

¼ cup ground almonds

2tbsp cacao powder (I used Kaizen Living)

1tsp baking powder

2tbsp natural sweetener

2 eggs, whisked

2tbsp coconut oil

½tsp peppermint extract

For the topping:

1 pot Coyo coconut yogurt, chilled

1 scoop PhD Woman Exercise Support Vanilla Creme protein powder

1-2tbsp almond milk

½tsp vanilla extract

A mixture of fresh strawberries (halved), blueberries and fresh mint leaves

For the cacao drizzle:

1tbsp coconut oil

1tbsp date nectar/coconut syrup or honey

1tbsp cacao powder

½ scoop PhD Nutrition Mint Chocolate diet whey protein

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190°C. In a large bowl, mix together the coconut flour, protein powder, ground almonds, baking powder, cacao powder and sweetener.

Gently melt the coconut oil in a small pan, then leave to cool for 10 minutes.

Pour the oil into the bowl along with the beaten eggs and peppermint extract and mix well, until it comes together to form a dough. If it’s too crumbly and dry, add a little water; if it is too wet, add a little more coconut flour.

Dust a clean work surface with some coconut flour and roll out the dough into a circle – it’s up to you how thick/thin you want it (it will rise a bit) but don’t go too extreme!

Transfer to a lightly greased baking tray and bake for about 10-12 minutes, until cooked and slightly golden. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

For the topping, simply mix the ingredients together well in a bowl so you have a thick vanilla paste – you need to be able to spread it but not so thin that’s it’s runny. Chill in the fridge until needed.

For the drizzle, melt the coconut oil in a small pan with the honey/syrup/nectar, then whisk in the cacao powder and protein powder so there are no lumps. You want a sauce that can be used to drizzle, but not too runny (if it is, add more protein powder) or thick (if so, add more honey/nectar/syrup).

Ready to assemble? Once your pizza base has completely cooled, remove the vanilla cream from the fridge and spread evenly over the base (you may have a little extra leftover). Decorate with berries, then drizzle your cacao sauce over and add a few sprigs of mint. Now slice like a pizza and enjoy!

Created by Pamela Bustard, PhD Woman ambassador