I lust for decadent desserts and chocolate confections to celebrate Valentine’s Day. But it’s hard to feel sexy in a slinky dress or rock my skinny jeans when I’ve cheated on my diet!
In order to satisfy a desire for a sinfully sweet (gluten-free!) cookie, yet still remain faithful to my health and fitness goals, I created these luscious Valentine’s Day heart cookies. I chose irresistible double chocolate and white chocolate raspberry, but be creative and experiment with your favorite flavors.
Be discrete.
Shhhhhh… These adorable heart-shaped cookies have a little secret…. they are created from gluten-free Quest protein bars. Using this “cheat” you can whip up a batch in a flash to please yourself or your favorite Valentine.
Be virtuous.
The cookies are delicious unadorned. If you prefer your cookies naked, enjoy them totally guilt-free.
| Chocolate cookies are delicious unadorned. |
Satisfy your desire for something sweet.
In the mood for a sinful snack? Caress your cookies with a sumptuous sugar icing.
Or take a walk on the wild side and love your cookies both ways!
Quest Bar Valentine Heart Cookies
Cookie Ingredients:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Working with one bar at a time, unwrap bar and place on piece of parchment paper. Microwave for 10 seconds until slightly softened.
Fold parchment paper over the Quest bar and roll it out very thin - approximately 1/4 inch. Cut heart shapes with the cookie cutter, trying to fit as many hearts as possible on the Quest bar dough.**
If you are using more than one Quest bar, repeat with the remaining bars.
Line a cookie sheet with a fresh sheet of parchment paper. Place cookie hearts on the pan and bake for approximately 6 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
**Unlike traditional cookie dough, it is extremely difficult to re-roll the scraps after cutting your heart shapes. Eat the scraps while you’re baking or save them for later. Even tiny pieces of Quest dough are delicious!
| White Chocolate Raspberry hearts - sinfully delicious! |
Deliciously healthy! Enjoy the cookies naked for an enticing, guilt-free dessert or post-workout snack.
Nutritional information will vary, depending on your Quest Bar flavor, but most are under 200 calories per bar and all contain 20 grams of protein.
Or caress the cookies with a decadent, glossy icing for an tantalizing treat! Valentine’s Day is a day to indulge all your senses.
| Satisfy your sweet tooth with beautiful heart-shaped cookies! |
Icing Ingredients:
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
2 teaspoons milk (I used almond milk)
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon almond extract (or flavor of your choice)
food coloring, if desired
I used this amazing icing recipe from Allrecipes.com. Unlike traditional royal icing, it does not require a mixer (hooray!) and the glaze dries to a beautiful glossy sheen.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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I know a lot of people that are fans of the Quest bars.. what a unique, cute idea to use them!
Ohhhh, those look so divine! I’m gonna put on my apron and start baking something sweet now! Thanks for the inspiration.
This recipe rocks! I am going to make these for my mom when she comes to visit. She has recently started a gluten free diet. Thanks for sharing!
Yum, what a tasty and beautiful recipe! Pinned it to my Pinterest chocolate board!
Those look delish. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the recipe! I’m going to share this with my gluten-free friends.
It is truly amazing how far gluten free has come! These sound delish!
I love love love your pictures. They are absolutely pin-worthy and beautiful! These sound delish and I’m pinning them to my “Num Nums” board right now
These are a perfect after school snack!
Oh, wow! Those are really cute! I love how you fancied up a simple cookie.
These look amazing and I love your focus on healthy treats. Such a great way to be!
Love that these are gluten-free. Thanks for the inspiration!
These look amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Those look great, I’m currently on a no sweets fast. I wouldn’t mind trying those cookies.
Oh my goodness! These looks delish! Pinning!
Dropping by from SITS. Have a great day!
Oh my gosh, these are so cute!
Yum. I am not gluten-free, but I think these would so be worth trying. I am not gifted when it comes to baking, so seeing people that do bake is awesome! Stopping in from SITS!
These look so yummy! I’ve never even heard of Quest bars. Maybe because I’m usually too busy downing gallons of ice cream straight from the container.
Here from SITS.
These look amazing! I have Celiac so I am always looking out for yummy gluten-free options! Definitely pinning this!
Stopping by from SITS!
These are so pretty! My Father-in-Law is a physician and he has almost convinced me to go Gluten-free. I may have to give these a try. Stopping by from your SITS tribe. Hope you have a great day!
These look beautiful… and GF too! Wowzers! Here from SITS! Love your title!
Now that is a creative way to make a cookie! I’ve never heard of Quest bars but I do love most protein bars. They really do satisfy like cookies. Great idea, Jacqui.
Hi Jacqui! These cookies are adorable. A friend of mine roasted her own almond butter and made dark chocolate & almond butter cups - SO good. Thank goodness I have talented baking friends
What a creative way to make a cookie! Love the recipe! I’m dropping by from SITS-just want to say your blog looks awesome, so glad I could check it out!
These are so cute and pretty! They also look TASTY! Yum!
I had to pin these!
#SITSBlogging
These look tasty! I may be the only person in the world who has never tried a Quest bar though! I came by via the SITS challenge…I love the title of your blog!
These cookies are so cutely decorated and look delicious!
LOVE your blog!!!! These look SUPER yummy! I am trying to eat more gluten free foods, but have a sweet tooth so these are perfect! #SITSblogging
This I a going to HAVE to try!!
I am eating gluten free too! I need to try these! Stopping by from SITs.
Jenna
http://www.choosing-joy.com
These look so yummy! I will definitely be making these. New follower, love your blog
Stopping by from the SITS Challenge!
xo
Janelle
Don’t know what a quest bar is but guess I’ll have to find it to make these yummy looking cookies. Thanks for sharing. #sitsblogging
Love the look of those cookies - and that shade of pink would perfectly match my blog! Hi from SITS and N Ireland
Thanks for this recipe. I’ve been gluten free for nearly a month and I’ve been looking for dessert recipes. Thanks!