Oats & Protein Bars
This is no-bake, low sugar and one of my favorite healthy protein bars. These tasty bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or healthy snack. Made with wholesome ingredients, they are thick and chewy and are my healthier take on the store-bought protein bars that in my earlier fitness days I had to rely on to get enough protein in during the day while I was super busy running a gym and training clients. I grew tired of forking out tons of money for a store-bought protein bars, and opted to make my own and immediately felt SO much better about it. Not only are they way healthier but you can make them for around one third of the price of store bought bars.This recipe is for you if you like the creaminess of nuts and coconut mixed with oats, cashew butter, protein powder and a touch of coconut oil to help glue them together. They are a cross between blondies and cookie dough, and needless to say, they taste absolutely sublime! The best part? They are actually good for you.These bars contain no butter or hydrogenated oils, no cane sugar, no artificial flavours and colours and no shelf-extending preservatives that make supermarket-ready bars last as long as possible. Simply smooch up a bunch of ingredients together, press them into a loaf pan, and leave them to set. Open the fridge in the morning and you will wake up to a bunch of yummy bars to enjoy for breakfast, pre- or post- workout, or simply as a snack for school or work.You can customize this recipe as you like. Add chopped nuts, seeds, or dried fruit. You can play around with the nut or seed butters too, and use almond or cashew butter, or tahini (sesame seed butter) instead of peanut butter.If you want you can add seeds like hemp or chia, or use more nut or seed butter, so, go for it. Sunflower seed butter, for example, is delightful in these bars.If you prefer dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cherries, pineapple, cranberries for example) just swap out the chocolate chips!Anything goes! Just make it yours!
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup peanut (or any other nut) butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 scoops protein or collagen powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an 5 x 7” loaf pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting. Or you can use a 12 cavity silicon muffin pan to make little cupcakes.In a bowl, mix together oats, coconut, coconut oil, honey, protein powder, vanilla extract and chocolate chips.Scoop into the prepared dish and press evenly and flatten the top with your spatula.Add a few more chocolate chips on the top for decoration and pop the bars in the fridge for one hour or in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.Once the bars have set, take them out of the fridge, out of the pan, and cut them into 10-12 small bars or more smaller squares.Store in the fridge for 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites