My 7-year-old is a creature of habit. He would eat the exact same breakfast every day, if I let him—a toaster waffle with peanut butter, sliced banana, and a drizzle of maple syrup. It’s actually a balanced breakfast, if you opt for whole-grain and use a light hand with the syrup.

But one morning I was out of bananas and peanut butter, so I pulled a few items out of the pantry, reached for my food processor, and whipped up this super-easy spread.

I always have nuts around for snacking, and cashews are so easy to work with, which is why it made sense to start there. And since I’ve discovered the low-glycemic sweetness of Medjool dates*, those were a no-brainer pick, too. Adding Mama Love Chocolate Protein to the mix gives the spread an extra kick of protein and a hint of cocoa flavor.

I smeared it over his waffle, presented it to him on a plastic dish, and heard: “This is delicious, but I want a real plate next time—I’m a big boy!” (You sure are, little man!)

He didn’t even miss the syrup.  

Ingredients 

• 1 cup Cashews
• 1/3 cup Mama Love Chocolate Protein
• 4 Medjool Dates, pits removed
• 2/3 cups Water

Instructions

Pour boiling water over cashews and soak for 20 minutes, then strain. Add cashews, Mama Love Chocolate Protein, and dates to a food processor. While processing on low, stream in water, 1/3 cup at a time. Continue to process on high until smooth. Serve immediately, or store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to one week. Makes about 2 cups; 14 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Servings: 1 (about 2 Tbsp.)

Calories 85

The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

*The Medjool date is an all-star sweetener. If you love them as much as I do, you’ll also like…

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe
• Chocolate Chia Protein Pudding Recipe
• Butterscotch Brownie Protein Cake-In-A-Cup