Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla whey protein powder
• 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp cloves
• 1/8 tsp cardamom
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 6 packets of stevia (note: if your protein powder is not sweetened, you will need more than this)
• 3/4 cup fat-free cottage cheese
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (about 4) egg whites
• 1 apple (pick a firm one so that it grates easily)

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. (I used an 8×8 square.) In one large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients.

In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except for the apple. Mix well to combine. There will be lots of cottage cheese chunks but if this seems gross to you, you can use a blender to smooth them out. If you don’t, they’ll be visible in the baked squares.

Either using a box grater with large holes (or a food processor) remove the core of the apple and grate it into a bowl. Set aside.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir to incorporate evenly. Finally, pour the apple into the bowl and stir again to combine.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Let the pan cool slightly, then remove the entire cake from the pan and cut into 16 squares.

Makes 16 squares.

Nutrition per square: 61 calories, 1g fat (0g saturated), 18mg cholesterol, 69mg sodium, 6g carbs, 1g fiber, 3g sugar, 8g protein.